Assessing inequalities on public transport affordability in two latin American cities: Montevideo (Uruguay) and Córdoba (Argentina)

Abstract

This paper addresses public transport affordability inequities for Córdoba, Argentina, and Montevideo, Uruguay. In calculating public transport affordability, we consider two different criteria based on the “observed mobility” and the “potential mobility”. Using household travel survey data, we estimate that on average, observed public transport affordability indexes are below 7% (6.2% in Córdoba and 3.8% in Montevideo). Nonetheless, for the lower quintile, this index reaches 11.7% in Córdoba and 6.4% in Montevideo. The observed affordability index is based on the expenditure on observed public transport trips, which does not consider those trips that, even when necessary, may not be performed due to financial restrictions. Because this measure underestimates financial constraints for the poorest groups, we propose to consider a new measure: potential affordability as an attempt into build a more realistic basket trip. It is computed considering motorized trip rates of the middle-class groups’ as a benchmark. After analyzing potential affordability results, assessing its limitations and controlling by household composition we conclude that this is a very promising complementary measure since it helps to better understand the affordability gap for low-income groups.