ECONOMICS OF TRANSPORTS AND LOGISTICS

The course aims to provide the conceptual framework and some analytical tools useful for understanding how the green, digital and geographical transitions currently underway influence the world of transport and logistics and, vice versa, how this world contributes to accelerating or slowing down these transitions.
Our focus will be mainly on the green (energy) and geographical (or geotransition) transitions fuelled by the pressures of globalisation and the fragmentation of global markets in a context of post-Covid 19 geopolitical shocks (war in Ukraine and the Middle East).
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 scale
On a global scale, particular attention will be given to maritime transport (services and networks) connecting world regional markets and world regional production locations, mainly along global supply chains.
A privileged focus will focus on the disruptive effects on maritime transport (flows and infrastructures) resulting from the adoption of successive waves of technical progress triggered by the container revolution
At the European level, the relationship between transport, typically rail and road, their infrastructures (the Ten-T trans-European transport networks) and the development of the European single market, also seen as a tool for increasing European competitiveness on world markets, will be addressed.
The transport corridors serving trade relations between Europe and Asia – the world's new economic centre of gravity – will be analysed from both an Asian and EU perspectives, as outlined in the recently agreed revision of the EU's Trans-European Transport Network (TEN-T). Particular attention will be given to the evolution of the role of the Mediterranean Sea both as a transit area and as a commercial area.
On an Italian scale, we will focus on a transport planning exercise: the elaboration of "preferable priorities" to maintain or possibly improve the international competitiveness of: manufacturing, incoming international tourism and "new economy" (hybrid manufacturing and non-tourism services)

Knowledge of the evolution of freight transport flows at a global, European and Italian level
Knowledge of the main models of analysis of the determinants of the geography of freight transport flows and their interaction with the geography of infrastructure networks

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 ongoing digital, energy and geographical transitions
Digital, green and geographical transitions at the scale: global, European, Italian.
Geographical Transition: The 21st Century as an Asian and African Century
Transport and international trade between globalization and fragmentation
Maritime transport and global supply chains.
Ocean freight and technical progress sparked 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" of transport infrastructures in Italy for the international competitiveness of manufacturing, incoming international tourism and the new knowledge-intensive 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) Slides distributed during the course and avaiable online

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

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

English

None

written

This subject deals with topics related to the macro-area "Cities, infrastructure and social capital" and contributes to the achievement of one or more goals of U. N. Agenda for Sustainable Development