How Do Governments Support the Development of Public Private Partnerships? Measuring and Comparing PPP Governmental Support in 20 European Countries

Abstract

Taking an institutional perspective, in this article we develop an index of the governmental support for public private partnership (PPP) — a ‘PPP Governmental Support Index’ (GSI) — which aims to measure the extent to which national governments provide an institutional framework that is either conducive or preventive for the introduction and diffusion of PPPs within transport infrastructure and other sectors. First, based on a substantive review of the literature, we define the elements of the PPP GSI, including the policy and political commitment regarding PPPs, the legal and regulatory framework, and the presence/absence of dedicated PPP-supporting arrangements. Second, we calculate the PPP GSI for 20 European countries, cluster them and compare similarities and differences in national governmental support of infrastructure PPPs. Third, we explore the potential link between national institutional index scores and infrastructure PPP activity in the 20 countries. Lastly, we discuss the potential and usefulness of the presented PPP GSI, as well as methodological limitations, and elaborate on how this index might be utilised to strengthen future comparative research on PPP in transport and other sectors.     

Benefits of dredging through redueed tidal waiting

Tidal waiting (for random arrivals and a sinusoidal tide pattern) can be approximated by simple formulae. Such formulae may be useful for estimating the benefits of dredging programmes carried out to reduce tidal waiting. Even if no economies of size are expected, a dredging programme may still be justified by time savings as they are especially imporatant for the larger and most time-expensive vessels.     

Urban transportation modeling: The discussion continues

This article is a response to John Polak's article, entitled, A Comment on Supernak's Critique of Transport Modeling, published elsewhere in this issue of TRANSPORTATION. It offers necessary clarifications to the issues discussed in an earlier article in this journal (Supernak, 1983). It also responds to the philosophical issues discussed in Polak's article, such as the nature of transport phenomena, and the role, form and methodology of transport modeling.     

Sociocultural Effects of a Market-Based Fishery Management Program in the Florida Keys

Spiny lobster (Panulirus argus) represents one of the most lucrative fisheries in the State of Florida, and a majority of the catch is landed in the Florida Keys. Over the past three decades, the industry grew significantly, and by the end of the 1980s, state fishery managers agreed that the fishery was overextended. In 1991, the Florida Legislature passed the Spiny Lobster Trap Certificate Program (LTC), created to stabilize the industry by reducing the total number of traps while allowing fishers to transfer trap certificates in a market-based system akin to individual transferable quotas. Data from a survey study suggest that a majority of the respondents are dissatisfied with the LTC, which they view as transitory and unsustainable. The fishers' negative views are motivated by sociocultural changes in the fishing community. Managers need to consider modifications to the LTC and other such marketbased programs to minimize sociocultural impacts and retain small-scale fisher participation in such fisheries.     

Development of a Strategy Model of the Driver in Lane Keeping

Based on vehicle constraints and known human operator characteristics, a strategy model was postulated for describing behavior in the lane keeping task. This model includes nonlinear thresholds operating on vehicle yaw and lateral translation, random input sources to account for spurious driver activity, and smoothing to account for driver response lag. The output of the model is steering wheel position

To determine model parameters and model suitability in describing driver behavior, recordings were made for driver-subjects performing a lane-keeping task in a moving base driving simulator having a computer generated display. A procedure involving both analytic and experimental techniques was then developed for determining the model parameters of each driver

Statistical comparisons and visual inspections made between driver-vehicle and model-vehicle time histories indicate a high degree of correspondence. Models such as these show promise in obtaining a better understanding of driver behavior and driver-vehicle response by incorporating nonlinear elements in the driver model.     

Dynamic routing-and-inventory problems: a review

The paper presents a review of the available literature on a class of problems denoted as dynamic routing-and-inventory (DRAl) problems. They are characterized by the simultaneous relevance of routing and of inventory issues in a dynamic environment, within the framework of distribution logistics. A classification scheme is first proposed for these problems. Then the results obtained in this area are summarized. Finally, the papers available in the literature are clustered and discussed according to the proposed scheme.     

Critical success conditions of collaborative methods: a comparative evaluation of transport planning projects

This paper explores critical success conditions of collaborative planning projects in the area of urban transport, evaluating the impact of new collaborative methods, instruments and processes on project performance. Hypothesis building is based on a comparative, empirical research design, rather than on deductive theory construction. Potential critical success conditions are derived from literature. Based on five urban transport planning projects in Gothenburg (Sweden), London (United Kingdom), Milwaukee (United States), Tokyo (Japan) and Mexico City (Mexico), a rough set analysis of the five cases reveals validated success conditions, which can be used for formulating hypotheses for further research or for policy and process improvement. The results suggest that a dedicated management of the multi-actor network, a high diversity of actors, as well as an extensive use of knowledge integration methods in combination with a high network density are critical success conditions of these planning processes. Surprisingly, the extensive use of unilateral methods also showed to be an important success condition. The traditional role of the planner will have to be complemented with the expertise of network and methodology management. The authors conclude that rough set analysis can be a valuable addition to narrative, single-case analysis of collaborative urban transport planning processes.     

Airport taxi service regulation: An analysis of an exclusive contract

Taxi service at a number of major airports is supplied by one taxi company under an exclusive contract with the airport operating authority. Conventional wisdom suggests that airport taxi service produced under exclusive contract is socially inefficient. This was found to be true at the Dallas/Fort Worth Airport. In this paper we analyze the exclusive airport taxi service at Honolulu International Airport as a case study. At Honolulu International Airport, the terms of the exclusive airport taxi service contract are far less restrictive than those at Dallas/Fort Worth. Our analysis indicates that exclusive airport service can provide high quality service, reasonable prices and revenues to finance airport service. We conclude that is not the exclusivity, but rather the terms of the contract and the circumstances specific to each market that determines which system is best for a particular place.     

萨尔铁路--萨尔布吕肯地区的新城市轨道交通系统

1从有轨电车到现代轻轨系统 萨尔布吕肯市的有轨电车是在60年代中期从街头上消失的,因为当时国家对城市交通系统的着眼点主要是造价的高低,当然今天也仍然如此.萨尔布吕肯市并不是当时德国唯一遭受如此命运的城市.一些已经具备相当发达的有轨电车系统的地方也被迫用更"经济"的公共汽车来取代.因为当时城市交通发展的方向就是如此.特别是随着私有轿车的大量增加,许多中等城市都积极开发道路交通体系;而那些经济更为发达的国家更把私有轿车作为主要的交通手段.目前来看,在一个中等规模的城市中,公共汽车统是否比轨道交通系统更为经济,已经没有必要组织专家来进行讨论.虽然轻轨系统的造价并不低廉,但人们更看重在解决交通问题中的实际效果.所以,许多欧洲城市正在考虑恢复以往的轨道系统,认为当时弃之不用的想法过于性急.     

西门子愿为中国交通发展做贡献

中国在基本建设方面,特别是交通领域的持续发展方面,给我留下了十分深刻的印象.快速的发展对于每个参与其中的人都是机遇和挑战.在此,我将向大家介绍西门子是如何通过技术转让、本地化等战略面对这一挑战的.作为世界上最大的轨道交通技术设备供应商之一的西门子,愿为中国的轨道交通作出自己的贡献,希望中国在21世纪成为世界上令人羡慕的国家.