8: Decoupling Transport from Economic Growth

Question 1

Transport and decoupling, why?

Answer 1

Transport activities tend to increase as the economy grows, because transport is a derived demand
Rapid increase in negative transport externalities

Question 2

Transport intensity formula

Answer 2

c = nte / y
c = intensity of negative transport externality i per income
nte = amount of negative externality i
y = income

Question 3

Relative and absolute decoupling

Answer 3

Relative: y and nte change in the same direction but with a lower c (both indicators keep growing but nte increases at a slower rate)
Absolute (best case scenario: we get richer and less negative externalities): nte decreases as income increases or stays at the same level (y and nte change in different directions)

Question 4

Relative and absolute coupling

Answer 4

Relative: y and nte change in the same direction with increasing or same c
Absolute (worst case: poorer and more externalities): y and nte change in different directions with nte increasing and y staying the same or falling (c increases)

Question 5

Basic principles (Loo and Banister)

Answer 5

1. Positive economic growth is desirable

2. Negative transport externalities are undesirable

Question 6

Measures to reduce travel demand while maintaining economic growth and enhancing environmental quality (Tight et al.)

Answer 6

Changing travel behavior measures
Car sharing
Controlled parking zones
Urban road pricing
Hydrogen fuel cell vehicles
High-speed rail
Road pricing for freight traffic

To reduce transport intensity of economy or reduce unit environmental load