Jet Fuel Prices, 1990-2023

Source: US Energy Information Administration, U.S. Gulf Coast Kerosene-Type Jet Fuel Spot Price FOB, USD per gallon. Fuel accounts for about 40% to 50% of air transport operating costs of a single flight, depending on the type of plane used (economies of scale and fuel efficiency are directly related). While

Road Fatalities per 100,000 People, Selected Countries

Source: OECD/ITF. Worldwide, more than 1 million people are killed, and several million are injured each year due to transport accidents. Still, since the 1970s, the fatality rate has substantially declined. In many cases, the fatality rate has been cut by more than half (five times less in some instances,

Trade, Transportation and Geographic Specialization

Source: Adapted from: E. J., Gauthier H. L. and M. E. O’Kelly (1996) Geography of Transportation. The evolution of transport systems impacts regional economies in terms of their level of specialization. More connected regions tend to be more specialized, while less connected regions tend to have a lesser degree of

The lifespan of Main Transport Assets

Source: some data from Living Planet Report, 2006 and Summary result of second Eurostat questionnaire on CFC on public infrastructure, DOC.CFC 15, Eurostat, 2003. The lifespan of a transport asset is the approximate number of years over which it is expected to perform under normal operating conditions while receiving regular

A Multi-Layer Perspective about Transport and Economic Development

Source: adapted from Notteboom, T. and J-P Rodrigue (2007) “Re-assessing Port-Hinterland Relationships in the Context of Global Supply Chains”, in J. Wang et al. (eds) Inserting Port-Cities in Global Supply Chains, London: Ashgate. Transport service operations and the associated traffic flows do not take place in a vacuum. Transport markets

Diminishing Returns of Transport Investments

A common fallacy in understanding and assessing the economic impacts of transport investments is the lack of consideration of the diminishing returns these investments can face. Three main geographical contexts in which similar transport investments can have different multiplying effects are identified: The impacts of transport investments are thus highly influenced

Long Wave Cycles of Innovation

Source: Adapted from Hargroves, K. and M. Smith (2005) Natural Advantage of Nations: Business Opportunities, Innovation and Governance for the 21st Century. London: Routledge. Technological innovation and economic growth are closely related and can be articulated within the concept of cycles or waves. Each wave represents a diffusion phase of

3.4 – The Provision and Demand of Transportation Services

Authors: Dr. Jean-Paul Rodrigue and Dr. Theo Notteboom Transport supply is the capacity of specific transportation infrastructures and modes over a time period. Transport demand is mobility needs for the same time period, even if they are only partially satisfied. 1. The Supply and Demand for Transportation Each transport mode shares

3.3 – Transport Costs

Authors: Dr. Jean-Paul Rodrigue and Dr. Theo Notteboom Transport costs are a monetary measure of what the transport provider must pay to produce transportation services. 1. Transport Costs and Rates Transport systems face requirements to increase their capacity and reduce mobility costs, an objective that has seen continuous improvements in

3.2 – Transportation and Society

Author: Dr. Jean-Paul Rodrigue Transport systems support complex economic and social interactions and are thus a component of society. Transportation reflects the aspirations of a society such as accessibility and mobility, which expands its horizon. 1. Mobility and Society Mobility is one of the most fundamental characteristics of human activities.