This book uses the powerful lens of accessibility analysis to answer questions in spatial development, travel behavior, facilities planning, locational efficiency, metropolitan resilience, and more. Its pragmatic and empirical approach - and its bringing together of leading accessibility scholars into a single volume - make it an invaluable reference for scholars and policymakers in the areas of transportation, land use, and public-service provision.' - Jonathan Levine, University of Michigan, US'Efficiency and equity are key issues in accessibility studies. Infrastructure investment should be as economically efficient as possible while ensuring a basic level of accessibility for all social groups and territories. This book is set within the complex relationship between efficiency and equity, providing a number of contributions that reveal the importance of accessibility on regional growth, access to services, house prices, modal choice and transport policies. The authors of these chapters are leading researchers in different disciplines making high level contributions in the field of accessibility. Without a doubt, this book will be very attractive for readers interested in accessibility and transportation.' - Javier Gutierrez, Universidad Complutense de Madrid, Spain Leading researchers from around the world show, in this volume, the importance of accessibility in contemporary issues such as rural depopulation, investments in public services and public transport, and transport infrastructure investments in Europe. The trade-offs between accessibility, economic development and equity are comprehensively examined, and a variety of approaches to measuring accessibility and equality presented. The book's interdisciplinary contributions also provide different geographical contexts, from the US to various European and developing countries, and cover ex ante and ex post evaluation of transport investment. Improving transport accessibility is a main objective in transport policy and planning in developed and developing countries all over the world. Investment is motivated by the need to develop and/or reduce spatial or social inequalities. However, the economic and equity implications of investments in transport are not straightforward. The concepts of accessibility and equity can be defined and operationalized in many different ways, influencing outcomes and conclusions. Moreover, equity and efficiency goals are often conflicting. Accessibility models not only help to explain spatial and transport patterns in developed and developing countries but are also powerful tools to explain the equity and efficiency impacts of urban and transport policies and projects. This state-of-the-art overview of the accessibility-economic efficiency-equity relationship will appeal to researchers as well as transport and urban planners interested in accessibility issues and transport/regional developments. Contributors: P.R. Anciaes, B. Buttner, K. Button, Z. Chen, P. Christidis, H. Demirel, T.P. Dentinho, J. Evans, K.T. Geurs, M. Kompil, K.J. Krizek, L. La Paix, D. Levinson, E. Lopez, D.P. McArthur, P. Mogush, A. Monzon, R. Neiva, E. Ortega, L. Osland, C. Pakissi, R. Patuelli, B.A. Portnov, I. Thorsen, J. Uboe, G. Wulfhorst

This book discusses policy instruments for sustainable infrastructure developments. Railways are one of the most important developmental instruments of a region, province, or country. They play a crucial role in economic development, urban growth, urban mobility, regional susceptibility, market integration, and world trade. Railways are an integral part of regional and urban development, both in terms of freight and passenger transport. By offering case studies from various regions and cities in South Asia, this book examines the evolution of railway transportation and the impact of these infrastructure projects on regional and urban development. It examines the interactions between evolving infrastructures and competing demands and considers the negative and positive externalities of railway transportation for people, places, and locations. The contributions analyze issues such as network infrastructure planning and technological development, passenger mobility and satisfaction, vulnerability to environmental impacts, and cross-border trade.

This book examines urbanization and migration processes in South Asia. By analyzing the socio-economic impacts and infrastructural, environmental and institutional aspects of different conurbations, it highlights conflicts over agricultural land as well as the effects on health, education, poverty and the welfare of children, women and old people. The authors also explore issues of mobility; connectivity and accessibility of public services, and discuss the effective use of new urban-management tools, such as the concept of smart cities and urban spatial monitoring.

This book deals with important issues related to urban housing in South Asia. It analyses various aspects of housing, including spatial and temporal requirements and needs, as well as the challenges of implementing housing projects, such as financial feasibility of estate development projects and housing design. Finally, it discusses the socio-economic and environmental impacts of the rapid urban housing development in South Asia. Written by experts from various disciplines, the book presents several case studies that address issues such as housing provision; legislative, financial and technical support; access to employment opportunities and markets; the cumulative impact on gentrification; exclusion and spatial equity; and the economic, social and environmental sustainability of urban tissue. Researchers, housing planners, and policy makers will find this book a valuable resource in meeting the demand for affordable and sustainable housing and overcoming housing shortages in developing countries

This book discusses policy instruments for sustainable infrastructure developments. Railways are one of the most important developmental instruments of a region, province, or country. They play a crucial role in economic development, urban growth, urban mobility, regional susceptibility, market integration, and world trade. Railways are an integral part of regional and urban development, both in terms of freight and passenger transport. By offering case studies from various regions and cities in South Asia, this book examines the evolution of railway transportation and the impact of these infrastructure projects on regional and urban development. It examines the interactions between evolving infrastructures and competing demands and considers the negative and positive externalities of railway transportation for people, places, and locations. The contributions analyze issues such as network infrastructure planning and technological development, passenger mobility and satisfaction, vulnerability to environmental impacts, and cross-border trade.

This book highlights various challenges and opportunities for water management and cooperation in South Asia. In light of increasing urbanization and development in the region and related pressure on water resources, the contributions investigate water conflictual and cooperative attitudes and gestures between countries and regions; analyse management trade-offs between nature, agriculture and urban uses; and examine water sustainable management and related policies. By studying major river basins in the region, such as Indus, Ganges, Brahmaputra, Narmada, Godavari and Krishna, the chapters highlight socio-economic, infrastructural, environmental and institutional aspects of water scarcity in South Asia and present best practices for improved sustainable water management and security in the region.

This book examines urbanization and migration processes in South Asia. By analyzing the socio-economic impacts and infrastructural, environmental and institutional aspects of different conurbations, it highlights conflicts over agricultural land as well as the effects on health, education, poverty and the welfare of children, women and old people. The authors also explore issues of mobility; connectivity and accessibility of public services, and discuss the effective use of new urban-management tools, such as the concept of smart cities and urban spatial monitoring.

In a period of increasing globalization and rapid growth in emerging countries, recognizing sources of regional competitiveness is of paramount importance. This timely and informative book identifies and analyzes changes in the origins of regional advantage. The expert contributors illustrate that sources of regional competitiveness are strongly linked with spatially observable yet increasingly flexible realities, and include building advanced and efficient transport, communications and energy networks, changing urban and rural landscapes, and creating strategic and forward-looking competitiveness policies. They investigate long-term interactions between regional competitiveness and urban mobility, as well as the connections that link global sustainability with local technological and institutional innovations, and the intrinsic diversity of spatially rooted innovation processes. A prospective analysis on networks and innovation infrastructure is presented, global environmental issues such as climate change and energy are explored, and new policy perspectives - relevant world-wide - are prescribed. Networks, Space and Competitiveness will prove an invaluable resource for academics, students and researchers across a range of fields including international and regional economics, regional science, economic geography and international business. Contributors: C.R. Azzoni, R.N. Baleiras, A. Bhattacharjee, R. Capello, J.I. Carruthers, E.A. Castro, T.P. Dentinho, P.C. Ferrao, A.M. Fuertes Eugenio, M. Grillitsch, E.A. Haddad, C. Hoglinger, J.L. Marques, C.S. Silva, K. Spiekermann, F. Todtling, J.M. Viegas, M. Wegener

This timely book investigates the challenges that emerge for local economies when faced with the new globalization trends that characterize today's world economy. In this instance, globalization is interpreted as a process of internationalization of production and markets which can take various forms - such as increasing international trade or increasing foreign direct investments - all of which give rise to the growing integration and interdependency of European economies with regard to the other main world economies. The expert contributors use a fresh perspective in their analysis of globalization trends, emphasizing recent changes and providing an up-to-date picture of current developments in both foreign investments and the consequent migration of human capital. Qualitative rather than quantitative trends in human capital and financial capital flows are taken into account, with a particular focus on their impacts on regional growth perspectives. Highlighting the European economy's strengths and weaknesses in facing the challenges of the new globalization trends, this book will provide a stimulating read for a wide-ranging audience encompassing scholars of regional science, regional economics, economic and regional geography, international economics and international business. Contributors: T. Baycan, C. Behrens, R. Camagni, R. Capello, F. Carballo-Cruz, L. Casi, J.C. das Neves, T.P. Dentinho, K.P. Donaghy, N.O. Martins, A. Mendes, B. Neuts, P. Nijkamp, J.P. Pontes, L. Resmini, M. Sahin, J.R. Silva, A. Todiras

This book highlights various challenges and opportunities for water management and cooperation in South Asia. In light of increasing urbanization and development in the region and related pressure on water resources, the contributions investigate water conflictual and cooperative attitudes and gestures between countries and regions; analyse management trade-offs between nature, agriculture and urban uses; and examine water sustainable management and related policies. By studying major river basins in the region, such as Indus, Ganges, Brahmaputra, Narmada, Godavari and Krishna, the chapters highlight socio-economic, infrastructural, environmental and institutional aspects of water scarcity in South Asia and present best practices for improved sustainable water management and security in the region.

This book deals with important issues related to urban housing in South Asia. It analyses various aspects of housing, including spatial and temporal requirements and needs, as well as the challenges of implementing housing projects, such as financial feasibility of estate development projects and housing design. Finally, it discusses the socio-economic and environmental impacts of the rapid urban housing development in South Asia.  Written by experts from various disciplines, the book presents several case studies that address issues such as housing provision; legislative, financial and technical support; access to employment opportunities and markets; the cumulative impact on gentrification; exclusion and spatial equity; and the economic, social and environmental sustainability of urban tissue. Researchers, housing planners, and policy makers will find this book a valuable resource in meeting the demand for affordable and sustainable housing and overcoming housing shortages in developing countries