ROADRUNNER - RUNNING FOR OFFICE BY BUILDING ROADS AND RAILS: POLITICAL DETERMINANTS OF INFRASTRUCTURE AND THEIR ECONOMIC IMPACT

Project objectives: This project investigates the political determinants of transport infrastructure investment and their economic impact. While a recent economics literature has successfully estimated the economic effects of transport infrastructure, the role of political factors in shaping investment decisions has received very little attention. This project aims to fill this gap.
The research focuses on two historical case studies: the expansion of the paved road network in West Africa between 1965 and 2012, and the expansion of the railway network in Italy between 1876 and 1896. In both cases, political motivations have been argued to be an important driver of infrastructure placement.
The project pursues two main objectives. First, it seeks to establish empirically the causal impact of politics (such as electoral incentives and the quality of political institutions) on the placement of transport infrastructure. Second, it seeks to determine the long-run economic implications of such distortions.
The project contributes to three literatures: the economics of transport infrastructure, the political economy of public spending, and the economic history of Italy and West Africa. Its results are intended to inform development agencies and governments on the political constraints they face when promoting infrastructure investment, and on which projects to prioritise.

Duration: 01/04/2020 - 31/03/2023

dSEA staff involved:

• Roberto Bonfatti

Website: NA