Road Investment Research Articles

Rural Road Infrastructure and Women’s Empowerment in India

Abstract The paper examines the impact of a rural road construction program in India on a range of outcomes that capture women’s empowerment comprehensively. While spatial integration can ease mobility constraints and provide women with increased education and employment opportunities, the extent of benefits might be limited by underlying gender norms. The paper identifies the impact of the policy by exploiting the program rule that assigned roads based on the village population in a two-way fixed effect framework. The results suggest that the policy reduces mobility restrictions faced by women and improves norms around domestic violence and intra-household agency. It also finds a positive impact of the policy on female education; however, there is limited impact on female employment. Additionally, the study documents gendered impact of the policy—men benefit more in terms of employment than women. The paper offers important policy prescription on how investment in rural roads can affect women’s lives.

Modeling and significance assessment of road construction participant and user benefits using expert evaluation methods

Human activities are related to obtain economic, technical, social and environmental benefits. The road construction process participants and road users have direct or indirect benefits from elaboration of new infrastructure. The number of the benefits received by individual entities is publicly discussed by politicians, lobbyists, experts and other decision-makers without having quantitative estimates of benefits, i.e., often relying on intuition or considering theoretical reasoning. The paper suggests a system of 19 benefit entities (criteria) assigned the ranks given by experts. The study involved three categories of experts, including 35 road engineers, 36 transport engineers and 61 road users. The values of the concordance coefficients obtained as a result of the conducted research were found significantly higher than critical values and showed that the opinions of the experts in each category were consistent (not contradictory). This made it possible to consider the average of the opinions of the expert group as a reliable result of solving the problem. Rank averages were replaced by the normalized weights of criteria using Average Rank Transformation into Weight-Linear (ARTIW-L) and – Nonlinear (ARTIW-N) methods. The global averages of criterion weights were used employing the Inverse Hierarchy for Assessment Main Criteria Importance (IHAMCI) method thus calculating the normalized weights of the road-related classified entities (three main criteria). The findings prove that road users benefit the most (weight 0.3485), the road construction contractor (weight 0.3325) is in the next position and the road owner (investor) takes the weight equal to 0.3190. The generated research data can be used for justifying the rationality of road investment.

Resilience to drought and climate change disasters and its determinants in the heterogeneous pastoral Ethiopia

Disastrous livestock losses have been documented over long periods in pastoral Ethiopia, and this challenge has remained unresolved. Nevertheless, this issue has received less attention than it deserves. This study estimated resilience of households to drought and climate change using survey data collected from 2756 households in the four pastoral regions of Ethiopia. A two-step approach, along with factor analysis, was followed to estimate resilience by household categories, intervention groups, and regions. Following this, tobit model was estimated to identify factors influencing resilience. The results indicated, (1) the average resilience estimated for treated and untreated groups range from 0.32 to 0.90 and from 0.32 to 0.55, respectively. (2) The components of income and food-access, public services, social safety net, and liquid and non-liquid assets boosted the estimated resilience. To those components, daily per-capita income and expenditure, food-insecurity, health-post, mobility, time-efficient food-aid, livestock-size and diversity, and irrigated land contributed most. (3) The estimated tobit model indicated months of drought, whether households produce or purchase grain for consumption, among others, significantly influenced resilience. To improve resilience, the study advises diversified income, school-feeding, market access, water points, and timely food-aid. Over time, transformative investments in road and irrigation, augmented by technology and training for forage and crop production require attention.

Management Economic Systems and Governance to Reduce Potential Risks in Digital Silk Road Investments: Legal Cooperation between Hainan Free Trade Port and Ethiopia

This research explores the interplay between innovation, economic systems, governance structures, and law, and how they interact with one another in the context of China and Ethiopia’s investments in the Digital Silk Road. The way cutting-edge methods related to governance and economic systems might help lower the risks involved in major infrastructure projects, like the Digital Silk Road, particularly in light of law and 5G developments, is investigated. China–Africa connections are to be strengthened, sustainable development is to be encouraged, and healthy economic progress is the goal of the partnership between Ethiopia and the Hainan Free Trade Port. The impact of these transnational investments on fair growth and sustainable development is assessed, while exploring the evolving agendas and procedures governing investments. This research draws attention to how the law and legal cooperation between Ethiopia and China may promote mutually advantageous outcomes, promote transparency and governance mechanisms, and lessen the likelihood of disputes. This research on the factors influencing the future of the Digital Silk Road and its consequences for long-term, sustainable economic growth, and business in the area, aims to provide valuable insights for policymakers, development professionals, and academics, and for the copromotion of China and Ethiopia in terms of digital investment. This research relates to the promotion of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), in terms of construction and economic development. It also examines how the DSR raises concerns about data security and privacy, cross-border transactions, technology transfer, and cyberterrorism, as well as encourages digital investment, such as through enhancing digital governance regulations, modernizing international investment agreements (IIAs), and bolstering global health, coordination, and cooperation; the article concludes by analyzing the implications for Africa. The findings show that such cooperation would support Africa’s digital transformation and sustainable development, while strengthening China–Africa cooperation.

Electoral incentives to target investment in roads: Evidence from Italian municipalities

Using a comprehensive dataset on Italian municipalities, we test whether investments in road services are affected by political manipulations motivated by the need of targeting a specific group of voters (construction firms). We show that road services investment in the year before election is 26% higher in municipalities with low density of construction firms and 40% higher in municipalities with high density of construction firms than in the electoral year. This result is confirmed by the fact that in the pre-electoral year the probability that public procurement on road services is assigned to a local firm increases by 52 percentage points with respect to the electoral year, for municipalities with high density of construction firms. Finally, we do not detect any relationship between investments in road services and the local road safety. These findings suggest that politicians manipulate investments in road services for re-electoral purposes.

A study of the impact of traffic investment on traffic fatalities in China, 2004–2020

PurposeRoad traffic injuries (RTIs) have been one of the most serious public health problems in China. The purpose of this study was to investigate the extent to which traffic investment affects traffic fatalities in China as well as regional differences. MethodsThe study analyzed the correlation between traffic investment and traffic fatalities, incorporating additional factors such as economic conditions, road infrastructure, population density, and lighting. The selected variables included the number of traffic fatalities, traffic investment, urban per capita road area, urban road length, road mileage, urban road lighting, population size, and per capita gross domestic product. Relevant data between 2004 and 2020 were collected for an analysis using a fixed effect regression model. A p < 0.05 is considered statistically significant. To reduce the heterogeneity caused by regional differences, the provinces were divided into 6 groups according to administrative districts, and the clustering standard error analysis was carried out. ResultsOverall, there has been a significant improvement in road safety in China from 2004 to 2020, but some regions show an increase in traffic fatalities. The model reveals that traffic investment is significantly and positively correlated with the number of traffic fatalities. Holding all other factors constant, each 10,000 yuan increase in transport investment was associated with an average increase of 0.22 road traffic fatalities. In the analysis of regional differences, there was a significant positive correlation between traffic investment and traffic fatalities in the Northwest region and an increase of 10,000 yuan leads to an increase of 0.47. There was a significant negative correlation between road mileage, urban road lighting system, and population and traffic fatalities. For example, holding other factors constant, a 10,000 km reduction in road length would increase the number of traffic deaths by 45.56. The model results of urban per capita road area, urban road length, per capita gross domestic product, and the explained variables showed that p > 0.100, which was not statistically significant. ConclusionsTherefore, traffic investments are essential for governments to develop measures to enhance road safety and reduce the risk of road fatalities. Adjusting traffic road investment and other covariates is conducive to improving traffic safety and reducing the risk of road fatalities. The road safety situation in different regions of China varies greatly. Local governments should consider the actual conditions to provide better road safety configuration policies.

Wybrane zagadnienia dotyczące prawa do odszkodowania za wywłaszczoną nieruchomość pod inwestycje drogowe

One of the important issues in the process of real estate expropriation is defining the group of entities entitled to compensation. This arises from the undetermined legal status of properties, limited rights in rem, claims by banks and bailiffs, and the lack of inheritance proceedings determining the current circle of owners. Another difficulty is the lack of precise legal norms and inconsistent jurisprudence. The aim of the study is to identify the problems related to determining the group of entities entitled to compensation for real estate expropriated by law based on the decision granting permission for the implementation of a road investment. The research thesis is that the legal norms regulating compensation need to be supplemented to streamline and standardise the processes of determining compensation for real estate expropriated for road investments.

Optimizing the role of rice central market in Java, Indonesia: the effect of toll roads construction to the rice market integration

Rice is considered as the primary staple food that Indonesian people mostly consume on daily basis. The need of rice in Indonesia is always increasing. However, the production of rice in Indonesia has not meet its demand. One of the factors resulting the number of paddy field decreasing is the construction of toll roads. The government of Indonesia has invested intensely in the development of a toll road network. The length of toll road operation has increased from around 750 km in 2014 to over 2,500 km in 2022. The construction encroaching paddy fields and resulting the production of rice decreasing every year. The paper objective is to investigate the implications of toll road investment to the rice market integration by focusing on Java as the central rice-producing region in Indonesia. We used the Vector Error Correction Model (VECM) approach to analyze the long-ranging daily rice price data series. The result of the study found that Cipinang Central Market in Jakarta has not the significant spatial market integration with rice markets in Java. Despite the fact that West Java, East Java, and Central Java with Cipinang Central Market have a major business tie, prices are not increasing. This shows a severe lack of market integration. The phrase “optimal market integration” refers to a more efficient market, especially when it comes to establishing rice market prices.

The use of non-invasive ERT method to diagnose karst in roadengineering in the Lublin Upland (Poland)

Appropriate design in linear construction depends on many factors, including detailed geological conditions. One of the biggest problems are unrecognized erosion forms, in particular karst ones, which have a huge impact on the design and subsequent operation of roads. For this purpose, in addition to conventional methods such as drilling or geotechnical probing, which are point-based, non-invasive spatial geophysical methods are used. This article presents an example of the use of geoelectrical surveys, Electrical Resistivity Tomography (ERT) for the recognition of karst zones for linear investments. The article describes ERT investigations, which to some extent allows to identify dangerous karst phenomena occurring in the Lublin Upland (Poland), which are of great importance at the design stage of roads and in their further safe operation. Non-invasive geophysical research has been verified and confirmed by traditional geotechnical research, which confirms the effectiveness of their use. The Electrical Resistivity Tomography was used as a method providing a broader spectrum of knowledge on the spatial arrangement of soil layers in the subgrade of the planned road investments. It also enabled a more accurate, more detailed interpretation of geotechnical studies. The described geophysical investigations opens wide possibilities for their application to researchers. In the future, non-invasive methods have a chance to become as reliable as geotechnical methods, but this requires a lot of research to improve the effectiveness and accuracy of the interpretation of the obtained results.

The direct employment impact of public investment

Abstract We evaluate the direct employment effect of the public investment in key infrastructure ‒ electricity, roads, schools and hospitals, and water and sanitation. Using rich firm-level panel data from 41 countries over 19 years, we estimate that US$1 million of public spending on infrastructure creates 3–7 jobs in advanced economies, 10–17 jobs in emerging market economies, and 16–30 jobs in low-income developing countries. As a comparison, US$1 million in public spending on R&amp;D yields 5–11 jobs in R&amp;D in OECD countries. Green investment and investment with a larger R&amp;D component deliver a higher employment effect. Overall, we estimate that 1% of global GDP in public investment can create more than seven million jobs worldwide through its direct employment effects alone.

The role of the courts in resolving conflicts over property expropriation

: This article aims to analyse the role of courts in resolving conflicts concerning the expropriation of real estate in Poland. The following research questions were posed: what are the main reasons for conflicts concerning expropriations? how are conflicts concerning expropriations ruled by the court? what are the analogies and differences concerning expropriation conflicts in Poland vis-avis other contexts (discussed in the literature)? From the database of all judgments of Provincial Administrative Courts, 1,059 judgments concerning the expropriation of real estate from 2004 to 2022 were identified and analysed. 76.32% of all judgments examined contained a ruling whereby the court confirmed the legitimacy of the expropriation. The expropriation itself was challenged in only 7.93% of the cases. On the other hand, 48.35% of all judgments examined confirmed the legitimacy of the amount of compensation awarded for expropriation. Road investments justified 50% of all expropriations challenged before the courts. Allegations concerning the amount of compensation occurred in 56% of the examined cases. There were allegations of non-compliance with spatial planning acts in only 5.97% of the cases. The article proposes a method to assess the rationale of judicial decisions in public policies. The article shows a path for statistical analyses of judicial decisions. A broader combination of legal context and statistical research is possible based on the analyses indicated.

Investigation of Project Delays: Towards a Sustainable Toll Road Project

Private investment in toll roads is anticipated to surge due to their potential to cover operational and developmental costs through toll fees. However, the allure for investors and lenders hinges on achieving long-term sustainability, a challenging feat in the context of frequent project implementation delays, especially in Indonesia’s toll road construction. This study delves into the primary obstacles thwarting timely project completion, drawing insights from the literature to gauge their significance in ensuring the sustainability of toll road projects. Based on a 5-point Likert scale questionnaire survey, the report reveals four pivotal challenges, most profoundly linked to variables associated with the Social Environment and Society. Additionally, contract management emerges as a potent factor influencing project time overruns. The model developed herein serves as a valuable tool for academics, researchers, and practitioners seeking an effective approach to address time overrun challenges in toll road projects.

CAN TOURISM BE A WAY TO DIVERSIFY REGIONAL ECONOMIES: THE CASE OF THE ULYTAU REGION OF KAZAKHSTAN

Purpose –Tourism development can provide a sustainable path through which to diversify the economy. The aim of this research is 1) to assess the current economic diversification of a potential tourism region in an emerging economy, that of the Ulytau region of Kazakhstan; 2) to detail the impediments to economic diversification through tourism development, and 3) to recommend ways to foster economic diversification. Methodology/Design/Approach – The research uses secondary data to assess the current situation of the region and in-depth interviews with tourism and economic development experts to understand the current obstacles to economic diversification. Findings – This rural region of Kazakhstan is relatively concentrated in terms of its economic diversification and investment in infrastructure such roads, airports, and telecommunication as well as marking and promotion of the natural and cultural attractions will be a path to diversify the economy through tourism development. Originality of the research – This research uses evolutionary economic geography as a useful framework through which to view how destinations change over time. The research provides a model through which other destinations, dominated by non-renewable resource extraction can pivot towards tourism as a way to diversify the economy.

China's Digital Silk Road investment effect: a boon for European countries or a danger to security

China's Digital Silk Road investment effect: a boon for European countries or a danger to security

Impact of rural road investments in a global economic crisis: Evidence from a temporary policy abandonment experiment in China

Impact of rural road investments in a global economic crisis: Evidence from a temporary policy abandonment experiment in China

Road investments conducted on the principles of a circular economy and their impact on funding for road repairs and ongoing maintenance

Inwestycje drogowe prowadzone na zasadach Circular Economy (gospodarki o obiegu zamkniętym) mają na celu wprowadzenie zrównoważonych praktyk i minimalizację negatywnego wpływu infrastruktury drogowej na środowisko. Jednym z głównych elementów inwestycji drogowych prowadzonych na zasadach Circular Economy jest zastosowanie materiałów z recyklingu. Materiałem coraz powszechniej stosowanym w budownictwie drogowym jest sfrezowany beton asfaltowy oraz skruszone stare warstwy konstrukcyjne, które po odpowiedniej obróbce mogą być ponownie wykorzystane. Przedmiotem badań było określenie wpływu prowadzenia inwestycji na zasadach Circular Economy na finansowanie remontów i bieżącego utrzymania dróg na przykładzie Płocka – polskiego miasta średniej wielkości. W 2011 r. współautor artykułu zaproponował władzom miasta wprowadzenie zasad zagospodarowania materiałów rozbiórkowych pozyskiwanych z inwestycji realizowanych w pasach drogowych ulic miejskich, co z powodzeniem wdrożono w połowie 2011 r. Wprowadzone regulacje dotyczyły nawierzchni: asfaltowych, kamiennych, z żelbetowych płyt drogowych, z trylinki, z kostki betonowej, ale również krawężników, obrzeży, oporników, a także elementów podbudowy. Program odzyskiwania materiałów rozbiórkowych dał w krótkim czasie duże efekty, przede wszystkim w aspekcie ochrony środowiska, gdyż przed 2011 r. wszystkie materiały rozbiórkowe trafiały na wysypisko odpadów komunalnych, a obecnie ilości materiałów tam przekazywanych równe są zeru. Badania oparte o dane z ostatnich 10 lat, zestawiono z wydatkami ponoszonymi przez zarząd dróg na bieżące utrzymanie i remonty dróg. Celem badań była w konsekwencji odpowiedź na pytanie czy gospodarka drogowa oparta o recykling, może przyczynić się do obniżenia kosztów ponoszonych na utrzymanie i bieżące remonty dróg.

Examining the Influence of Rural Road Network Development on Livelihood - A Case Study on Kilinochchi District

TThe population of Sri Lanka, an island country in the Asian zone, is projected to be about 22 million in mid-2030. In Sri Lanka, the transportation economy plays a significant role. Roads provide the benefits to enhance the socio-economic conditions of communities. Roads are linked to locations, individuals, and social and economic activities. Better road conditions promote better connections between rural and social and economic activities. While rural road investment is widely believed to reduce poverty, there has been little systematic analysis or evidence on whether rural roads affect people experiencing poverty or the impact. After the war ended in 2008, the government carried out some road projects nationwide. Kilinochchi district is also not exceptional. This study focused only on rural roads and how they relate to livelihood. A questionnaire survey was conducted, covering four dimensions; impact on (i) Transportation Services, (ii) Traveling Patterns, (iii) Village Profile, and (iv) Income and Welfare before and after the road projects in Kilinochchi District. One hundred twenty-two families were selected for the research. For the change in the aesthetic value of the village after the road development, none of the respondents rated it as reduced or reduced dramatically. Around 100 respondents accepted that school connectivity has significantly improved after road development. The study proves that road development positively impacts people’s social and economic practices.

Has China's belt and road initiative positively impacted the economic complexity of host countries? Empirical evidence

Upgrading the production capabilities in all countries is a target of the UN's 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development Goal 9. Increasing economic complexity, that is, a country's ability to manufacture more sophisticated products and thus moving up the value chain, is a key driver for sustainable economic growth. This paper investigates whether Chinese Belt and Road investments have impacted the economic complexity of host countries — a topic not addressed in the literature to date, using a sequential generalised method of moments model selection approach. The research focuses on the countries whose economic complexities are below that of China. Our empirical results show significant positive effects of Chinese investments on such host countries’ economic complexities. The inflows of Chinese investments have thus supported the upgrading of production capabilities in these countries. This is encouraging, especially for the Global South countries, to intensify their interactions with the Belt and Road initiative.

Highway networks and regional poverty: Evidence from Chinese counties

This paper establishes a staggered difference-in-differences (DID) model to estimate the impact of highways on regional poverty using county-level panel data from China. We construct a multidimensional poverty index and use satellite-monitored night light brightness as a proxy indicator. The results demonstrate that highways significantly reduce county poverty and that the poverty reduction effect becomes increasingly pronounced over time. This result remains robust after controlling for non-random highway route selection. Furthermore, the poverty reduction effect of highways is conditional, with a significant poverty reduction effect in the less economically-developed western regions and non-municipal counties, and no significant poverty reduction effect in the economically-developed eastern and central regions and municipal districts. Moreover, the poverty reduction effect of highways gradually decreases as the average altitude of counties increases. Our tests provide empirical evidence for effective road investments in developing countries that incorporate poverty alleviation targets.

Rural road stimulus and the role of matching mandates on economic recovery in China

This paper explores the implications for economic recovery of a rural road stimulus program in China that led to the sudden suspension of local matching mandates. The main results reveal that a temporary cost share exemption stimulates short-term income growth in treated villages. As an explanation, I find that a cost share exemption leads to larger increases on local investment mainly on allied road improvements and to a lesser extent support for rural enterprise development and agricultural services. The observed crowding-in effects are further linked to the reallocation of households out of agriculture and a rise in entrepreneurial activities by returning migrants. The findings imply that matching mandates impede the ability of fiscally constrained locales to mobilize sufficient resources to cover their share of project costs, contributing to inadequate road investment from upper-levels of government. Suspending matching mandate helps to relax local budget constraints, stimulating income and local multipliers that help to accelerate economic recovery.