City logistics policy evaluation with system dynamics

Abstract

In City Logistics (CL) contexts, public stakeholders’ goal is often to implement policies aimed at reducing the negative externalities generated by freight transportation activities, while at the same time maintain and foster the efficiency of the CL system without hindering the profitability of private operators. This task can become quite arduous because of the complexity of CL systems, which are composed by multiple actors with different objectives and driving factors. In this context, we argue that existing literature should explore more deeply the effects of public policies on operation and economic variables that shape the CL context. To this end, we propose a System Dynamics (SD) model that identifies the interconnections between those variables and helps assess the effects of public policies on the system.