posted on 2022-06-15, 14:27authored bySaleh Al-Otaibi, Mohammed Quddus, Craig MortonCraig Morton, Marianna Imprialou
This paper examines the impact of large-scale transport investment and the resulting increase of accessibility on the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA). Spatial and temporal economic data for the 13 regions of the country from 1999 to 2018 are analyzed using static and dynamic panel data models. Both first difference GMM (Generalised Method of Moments) models and system GMM models fit the data satisfactorily, with system GMM models generally offering better modelling accuracies. The results show that the elasticity of the one-year lagged GDP variable is positive and statistically significant in all specifications considered, indicating the presence of a dynamic pattern toward economic growth. Generally, the value of transport investment for the one-year lag shows positive and significant statistical relationships with regional GDP among several specifications of the dynamic models. On the other hand, railway accessibility value presents positive and significant impact on GDP in two years lag. Our study finds that the impact of the monetary value of transport investment, in general, was manifested immediately in the following year. However, the railway accessibility improvement requires a period to deliver its benefits.
Funding
Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
History
School
Architecture, Building and Civil Engineering
Published in
Research in Transportation Business and Management
This paper was accepted for publication in the journal Research in Transportation Business and Management and the definitive published version is available at https://doi.org/10.1016/j.rtbm.2021.100702.