Suchergebnisse

In the current economical and financial crisis, the economic evaluation of transport infrastructure investment projects is of most importance. Given the need of most governments to reduce spending and control the deficit, having tools that facilitate decision-making seems to be a key objective. This paper examines several high speed lines in Spain, by using the benefit-cost analysis (BCA), in order to obtain more information and determine the social costs and benefits linked to each project. Such analysis allows determining whether costs are higher than benefits, so the net social benefit is positive. Similarly, an Internal Rate of Return (IRR) per project is determined, in order to classify investments with positive BCA. ; En la actual crisis económica y financiera, la evaluación económica de proyectos de inversión en infraestructura de transporte es de mayor importancia. Dada la necesidad de la mayoría de los gobiernos para reducir el gasto y controlar el déficit, contar con herramientas que faciliten la toma de decisiones parece ser un objetivo clave. Este documento examina varias líneas de alta velocidad en España, utilizando el análisis de costo-beneficio (ACB), con el fin de obtener más información y determinar los costos y beneficios sociales relacionados con cada proyecto. Este tipo de análisis permite determinar si los costos son más altos que los beneficios, por lo que el beneficio social neto es positivo. Del mismo modo, a una Tasa Interna de Retorno (TIR) por proyecto se determina, con el fin de clasificar las inversiones con resultados positivos ABC.

ABSTRACT. In the current economical and financial crisis, the economic evaluation of transport infrastructure investment projects is of most importance. Given the need of most governments to reduce spending and control the deficit, having tools that facilitate decision-making seems to be a key objective. This paper examines several high speed lines in Spain, by using the benefit-cost analysis (BCA), in order to obtain more information and determine the social costs and benefits linked to each project. Such analysis allows determining whether costs are higher than benefits, so the net social benefit is positive. Similarly, an Internal Rate of Return (IRR) per project is determined, in order to classify investments with positive BCA. ; RESUMEN. En la actual crisis económica y financiera, la evaluación económica de proyectos de inversión en infraestructura de transporte es de mayor importancia. Dada la necesidad de la mayoría de los gobiernos para reducir el gasto y controlar el déficit, contar con herramientas que faciliten la toma de decisiones parece ser un objetivo clave. Este documento examina varias líneas de alta velocidad en España, utilizando el análisis de costo-beneficio (ACB), con el fin de obtener más información y determinar los costos y beneficios sociales relacionados con cada proyecto. Este tipo de análisis permite determinar si los costos son más altos que los beneficios, por lo que el beneficio social neto es positivo. Del mismo modo, a una Tasa Interna de Retorno (TIR) por proyecto se determina, con el fin de clasificar las inversiones con resultados positivos ABC.

The objective of the present paper is to assess the railway investment project in Spain for the Santander-Madrid route, using the Cost-Benefit Analysis method. The paper aims at answering the following question - what is more viable: a High Speed Train for passengers between Santander and Madrid, or rather a High Performance Train for passengers and cargo between Santander and Madrid? Being able to answer this question is clearly key information for investment decision making in the field of government's or country's transport policy. In this study, a Cost-Benefit Analysis with two options for the railway project has been calculated: only passengers and combined passengers-cargo. In this case, results favour the passengers-cargo option rather than its alternative.

This paper analyses the determinants of knowledge in the European Union of the 27, through estimates of transcendental logarithmic production functions (translog) in different scenarios. For this, a data panel for the period 2003-2010 has been elaborated, selecting the production stochastic frontier as the most reliable model to estimate technical efficiency for European innovation. The empirical result is that technological capital, human capital and relational capital have a positive and significant influence on the generation of knowledge. Also, from the observation of results we can assure that the size (in terms of population) of a country within the EU-27 does not positively influence the technical efficiency of knowledge production. This is an empirical study about the relationship between the determinants of knowledge and the technical efficiency of the generation of knowledge, and such a study does not exist in literature for the EU-27 in the period analysed.

ABSTRACT: This research provides a new theoretical approach to innovation. The work also provides data processed in recent years (2002-2006) to regions of European regions, providing relevant empirical evidence on the relationship between Human Capital, Technological Capital, Innovation Capital, Network Capital and Innovation. In econometric modeling is considered especially for the regions of the European Union. ; This research has been supported financially by the project titled "Dissemination and Networks of Knowledge in Atlantic Area". INTERREG IV-C, European Commission

This research provides a new theoretical approach to innovation. Innovation relies on collaborative relationships between universities, private companies and public administration. This theoretical approach offers an opportunity for scientific discovery in an environment of collaboration. Innovative ideas are not self-contained items; they are more like ecosystems and networks. The article also provides data processed in recent years (2003–2009) for the European Union states, providing relevant empirical evidence on the relationship between human capital, relational capital, technological capital and innovation. In the econometric and statistical modelling, the countries of the Europe of the Fifteen (EU-15) will be considered.

The need to make transport more efficient in order to make it less dependent on fossil fuels, more sustainable and reduce GHG emissions is included in the guidelines of the European Union. One measure to achieve this objective has been for manufacturers to improve engine performance so as to reduce GHG emissions according to regulations EURO I to VI of commercial vehicles for the transport of goods by road. This has resulted in significant savings in the fuel bill for the transport sector; however, the choice of route remains an important element to improve efficiency. In order to make this decision it is important to take into account: Travel time / distance travelled / number of tolls en route. Layout of slopes / consumption / average speeds. Technical characteristics of vehicles / power / number of axles / tonnes transported. In line with these objectives, the 2011 INNPACTO program by the Ministry of Science and Innovation approved a project called "Simulation platform for the development of innovative solutions in freight transport through high capacity roads (INNOTRANSMER, 2011)", with the aim of developing an electronic platform which enabled freight companies to assess the most efficient routes with different vehicles and tracks, in order to determine the transport configuration with the lowest consumption/cost per tonne transported in trucks, thus creating a new instrument to assess transport efficiency and GHG emissions for a certain trip.

This research provides a new theoretical approach to innovation. Innovation relies on collaborative relationships between universities, private companies and public administration. This theoretical approach offers an opportunity for scientific discovery in an environment of collaboration. Innovative ideas are not self-contained items; they are more like ecosystems and networks. The article also provides data processed in recent years (2003?2009) for the European Union states, providing relevant empirical evidence on the relationship between human capital, relational capital, technological capital and innovation. In the econometric and statistical modelling, the countries of the Europe of the Fifteen (EU-15) will be considered. ; This research was supported financially by the European Regional Development Fund under the project Dissemination and Networks of Knowledge in the Atlantic Arc (K-Networks).