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Road infrastructure and economic development : some diagnostic indicators

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  • Queiroz, Cesar
  • Gautam, Surhid

Abstract

The authors investigate the association between per capita income and the magnitude and quality of road infrastructure. They adopt an empirical approach, directly comparing or correlating a countries income with selected variables associated with existing road networks. Cross-section analysis of data from 98 countries, and time series analysis of U.S. data since 1950, show consistent and significant associations between economic development (per capita GNP) and road infrastructure (per capita length of paved network). The data shows that the per capita stock of road infrastructure in high income economies is dramatically greater than in middle- and low-income economies. For instance, the average density of paved roads (km/million inhabitants) varies from 170 in low-income economies to 1,660 in middle-income and 10,110 in high-income economies. That is, the average density of paved roads in high-income economies is 59 times that in the low-income group. Road conditions also seem to be associated with economic development: the density of paved roads in good condition varies from 40 km/million inhabitants in low-income economies to 470 middle-income and 8,550 in high-income economies. The empirical information presented can be used as indicators of areas of weakness or strength in a country's stock of road infrastructure.

Suggested Citation

  • Queiroz, Cesar & Gautam, Surhid, 1992. "Road infrastructure and economic development : some diagnostic indicators," Policy Research Working Paper Series 921, The World Bank.
    • Handle: RePEc:wbk:wbrwps:921
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    2. Canning, David, 1998. "A database of world infrastructure stocks, 1950-95," Policy Research Working Paper Series 1929, The World Bank.
    3. Sinem Kilic Celik & M. Ayhan Kose & Franziska Ohnsorge, 2023. "Potential Growth Prospects: Risks, Rewards and Policies," CAMA Working Papers 2023-19, Centre for Applied Macroeconomic Analysis, Crawford School of Public Policy, The Australian National University.
    4. Leopoldo Laborda & Daniel Sotelsek, 2019. "Effects of Road Infrastructure on Employment, Productivity and Growth: An Empirical Analysis at Country Level," Journal of Infrastructure Development, India Development Foundation, vol. 11(1-2), pages 81-120, June.
    5. Masárová Jana & Ivanová Eva, 2016. "Road infrastructure in the regions of the Slovak Republic and Poland," Bulletin of Geography. Socio-economic Series, Sciendo, vol. 33(33), pages 79-90, September.
    6. Mukul GUPTA & Rahul BUDHADEV & Varun CHOTIA & N V Muralidhar RAO, 2016. "Integrating the issue of infrastructural investment with economic growth: The case of India," Theoretical and Applied Economics, Asociatia Generala a Economistilor din Romania / Editura Economica, vol. 0(3(608), A), pages 141-162, Autumn.
    7. Gros, Daniel & Suhrcke, Marc, 2000. "Ten years after: What is special about transition countries?," HWWA Discussion Papers 86, Hamburg Institute of International Economics (HWWA).
    8. Shahid Hussain & Fangwei Zhu & Zaigham Ali & Xiaohang Xu, 2017. "Rural Residents’ Perception of Construction Project Delays in Pakistan," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 9(11), pages 1-16, November.
    9. Mukul GUPTA & Rahul BUDHADEV & Varun CHOTIA & N V Muralidhar RAO, 2016. "Integrating the issue of infrastructural investment with economic growth: The case of India," Theoretical and Applied Economics, Asociatia Generala a Economistilor din Romania - AGER, vol. 0(3(608), A), pages 141-162, Autumn.
    10. Sharareh Kermanshachi & Elnaz Safapour & Apurva Pamidimukkala, 2022. "Study of Design and Construction of Transit Facilities in Rural Areas in USA," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(3), pages 1-16, January.
    11. Zhenhua Chen & Kingsley B. Haynes, 2014. "Regional Economic Output and Public Surface Transportation Infrastructure: A Spatial Granger Approach," The Review of Regional Studies, Southern Regional Science Association, vol. 44(3), pages 263-279, Winter.
    12. Escobal, Javier, 2005. "The Role of Public Infraestructure in Market Development in Rural Peru," MPRA Paper 727, University Library of Munich, Germany.
    13. Marie-Ange VEGANZONES-VAROUDAKIS, 2000. "Infrastructures, investissement et croissance : un bilan de dix années de recherches," Working Papers 200007, CERDI.
    14. Jimenez, Emmanuel & DEC, 1994. "Human and physical infrastructure : public investment and pricing policies in developing countries," Policy Research Working Paper Series 1281, The World Bank.
    15. Iimi, Atsushi, 2007. "Infrastructure and trade preferences for the livestock sector : empirical evidence from the beef industry in Africa," Policy Research Working Paper Series 4201, The World Bank.
    16. Anastasios Mouratidis & Fotini Kehagia, 2014. "On the Track of Road Evolution," Journal of Infrastructure Development, India Development Foundation, vol. 6(1), pages 1-15, June.
    17. Ng, Choy Peng & Law, Teik Hua & Wong, Shaw Voon & Kulanthayan, S., 2017. "Relative improvements in road mobility as compared to improvements in road accessibility and economic growth: A cross-country analysis," Transport Policy, Elsevier, vol. 60(C), pages 24-33.
    18. Xie, Cong & Xie, Lunyu & Xu, Jintao & Yi, Yuanyuan, 2022. "The Impact of the Three-North Shelter Forest Program on Rural Income: Evidence from Inner Mongolia in China," EfD Discussion Paper 22-2, Environment for Development, University of Gothenburg.

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