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Corresponding Author:
Anna Bottasso, Department of Economics and Business, University of Genova, Italy

Coauthors:
Maurizio Conti, Department of Economics and Business, University of Genova, Italy
Marta Santagata, CIELI, Centro Italiano di Eccellenza sulla Logistica i Trasporti e le Infrastrutture, University of Genova, Italy

Transport Infrastructure and Trade: A Survey of the Empirical Literature

Volume 75 - Issue 4 - Papers in memoriam of Amedeo Amato, November 2022
(pp. 447-464)
JEL classification: F14; R12; R40
Keywords: Transport Infrastructure; Trade; Literature Review

Abstract

In this study we survey the empirical literature on the effects of transport infrastructures on trade. In particular, we group studies into those that have estimated gravity equations of trade and those that belong to the Counterfactual Impact Evaluation tradition. Our understanding of the empirical literature is that denser and high quality transportation networks generally lead to more international and inter-regional trade. However, for some modes of transport (e.g. maritime trade), more research is needed, as it is perhaps the case for the debate on the net effect versus spatial reorganization of economic activity of transportation networks.

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Transport Infrastructure and Trade: A Survey of the Empirical Literature

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Institute for International Economics of the Genoa Chamber of Commerce

Institute for International Economics
of the Genoa Chamber of Commerce