ECONOMICS OF TRANSPORTS AND LOGISTICS

The course aims to provide the conceptual framework and analytical tools needed to understand how the green, digital, and geographical transitions currently underway are influencing the world of transport and logistics and, conversely, how this world is contributing to accelerating or slowing down these transitions.
Our focus will be mainly on the green (energy) transition and the geographical (or geotransition) transition fueled by pressures opposing globalization and the fragmentation of global markets in a context of geopolitical shocks (war in Ukraine and the Middle East) post-COVID-19.
The transitions will be analyzed knowing that they are “observed” on a global scale, ‘planned’ on a European scale, and still “to be planned” on an Italian and local scale.
On a global scale, particular attention will be given to maritime transport (services and networks) connecting global regional markets and global regional production sites, mainly along global supply chains.
A special focus will be placed on the disruptive effects on maritime transport (flows and infrastructure) resulting from the adoption of successive waves of technical progress triggered by the container revolution.
At the European level, we will examine the relationship between transportation, typically rail and road, their infrastructure (the Trans-European Transport Networks, TEN-T), and the development of the European single market, also seen as a tool for increasing European competitiveness in global markets.
At the local level, reference will be made to how transport and its infrastructure determine intra-urban connectivity, which in turn determines the balance between economies and diseconomies of agglomeration.
The transport corridors serving trade relations between Europe and Asia – the new economic center of gravity of the world – will be analyzed both from the Asian perspective, both Chinese and Indian, and from the EU perspective, as reflected in the recently revised EU Trans-European Transport Network (TEN-T). Particular attention will be given to the evolution of the role of the northern Adriatic Sea within the Mediterranean Sea, both as a transit area, with and without Suez, and as a trade area.
At the Italian level, the discussion will focus on a planning exercise aimed at developing the role of transport in maintaining or possibly improving the international competitiveness of Italian manufacturing, international tourist arrivals, and the new knowledge-intensive economy.
At the urban level, the focus will be on transport in the cities of the new knowledge economy.

Knowledge of the evolution of freight transport flows at global, European, and Italian levels and their interrelation with the competitiveness of economies at different scales.
Knowledge of the main models for analyzing the determinants of the geography of freight transport flows and their interaction with the geography of infrastructure networks and the location of economic activities.

Principles of general and applied (regional and transport) economics, basic knowledge of economic geography and strategy and organization design, working knowledge of English language.

CONTENTS OF THE COURSE
The global economy and the digital, energy, and geographical transitions underway at the global, European, and Italian levels
The green transition in maritime transport
Geographical transition: the 21st century as the Asian century
Transport and international trade between globalization and fragmentation
Maritime transport and global supply chains.
Maritime transport and technical progress triggered by the container revolution
International trade between Europe and Asia and the role of the Mediterranean Sea.
Transport, infrastructure, and European economic integration: the TEN-T networks
The “preferable priorities” for transport infrastructure in Italy for international competitiveness in manufacturing, incoming international tourism, and the new knowledge-intensive economy
Transport and cities in the knowledge economy

SUGGESTED READINGS:
1 COSTA, P., MARESCA, M. (2014). The European future of the Italian port system. Venezia, Marsilio (skipping pages from 121 to 216)
2) ITF-OECD (2023). ITF Transport Outlook 2023. OECD Publishing
3) UNCTAD (2023) Review of Maritime Transport, 2023
4) UNCTAD (2024) Review of Maritime Transport, 2024
5) Letta,E. Much More Than a Market, European Union, 2024
6)Collection of essays highlighted during the course
7) Slides distributed during the course and avaiable online on Moodle

The exam takes place through a written test consisting in answering some questions related to the topics discussed in the course.
The question will be formulated in order to verify the ability to use concepts and methods acquired and used in the course with reference to Italian, European and world realities

written

Grades out of 30 will take into account the demonstrated ability to critically use concepts and knowledge acquired during the course.

Cooperative learning and case studies. Students are required to actively paticipate to the classroom debate

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