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ECON30260

Academic Year 2024/2025

The Economics of the Transport Sector (ECON30260)

Subject:
Economics
College:
Social Sciences & Law
School:
Economics
Level:
3 (Degree)
Credits:
5
Module Coordinator:
Professor Aisling Reynolds-Feighan
Trimester:
Spring
Mode of Delivery:
On Campus
Internship Module:
No
How will I be graded?
Letter grades

Curricular information is subject to change.

This module is an applied microeconomics course that introduces principles of transport economics. The course examines the role of transport in the economy at a number of scales (e.g. city, region, continent). The nature and characteristics of transportation systems are described along with an overview of the objectives, roles and functions of various groups of actors in the transportation system. The demand for transport is examined in detail, as are issues related to the supply of transport. Transport firms are analysed in terms of their costs, revenues and outputs. Transport markets have traditionally been heavily regulated. The rationale for and approaches to regulation of transport markets are analysed and the key issues for public policy are identified. The evolution of European transport policy is traced and the emerging issues in the EU27 are outlined. An understanding of the nature and characteristics of transport networks is crucial to economic analysis of transportation systems; the course introduces transport network models and examines pricing and traffic flow outcomes using these models.

About this Module

Learning Outcomes:

By the end of this course, students should have a detailed knowledge of the nature and characteristics of transport systems. Students should have an understanding of the implications of these characteristics for economic analysis of transport demand and transport supply. The application of microeconomic analysis to the transport sector should be understood. Students should have an understanding of the objectives and approaches to regulating transport industries and be able to critically evaluate the costs and benefits associated with different forms of regulation. Students should know the basic form of simple transport network design problems and understand the pricing and traffic flow outcomes. Students should be familiar with current EU transport policy and appreciate the emerging issues and trends.

Student Effort Hours:
Student Effort Type Hours
Lectures

20
Specified Learning Activities

50
Autonomous Student Learning

40
Online Learning

5
Total

115

Approaches to Teaching and Learning:
Lectures
Guest Lectures
Active/task-based learning

Use of AI is permitted in this module. All assessments are in-person exams.

Requirements, Exclusions and Recommendations

Not applicable to this module.


Module Requisites and Incompatibles
Incompatibles:
ECON20150 - Transport Economics


 

Assessment Strategy
Description Timing Component Scale Must Pass Component % of Final Grade In Module Component Repeat Offered
Exam (In-person): A final in-person end of semester exam will take place after teaching finishes during the main university examination sessions. End of trimester
Duration:
2 hr(s)
 Standard conversion grade scale 40% Yes
75
 Yes
Exam (In-person): A midterm MCQ test (50 minutes - 30 questions) will be administered at the halfway point of the term. The exact date will be posted in the first week of class. Week 7 Standard conversion grade scale 40% No
25
 Yes

Carry forward of passed components
Yes
 

Remediation Type Remediation Timing
In-Module Resit Prior to relevant Programme Exam Board
Please see Student Jargon Buster for more information about remediation types and timing. 

Feedback Strategy/Strategies

• Feedback individually to students, post-assessment

How will my Feedback be Delivered?

Feedback will be given via BrightSpace after each assignment has been completed.

Timetabling information is displayed only for guidance purposes, relates to the current Academic Year only and is subject to change.
Spring Lecture Offering 1 Week(s) - 20, 21, 23, 24, 25, 26, 29, 30, 31, 32 Mon 11:00 - 11:50
Spring Lecture Offering 1 Week(s) - 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33 Thurs 15:00 - 15:50
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