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131 ORGANISATION FOR ECONOMIC CO-OPERATION AND DEVELOPMENT
TRANSPORT AND DECENTRALISATION Over the past decades many OECD countries have become more decentralised. ECMT member transition countries follow this example or are strongly advised to do so. Are the expected economic benefits justified in the domain of transport policy? Has the experience of transport policy decentralisation been positive?
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Whether decentralisation works for transport depends on the type of decentralisation. In particular, it depends on the transfer of responsibilities being combined with a transfer of financing obligations and taxing powers.
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The success of decentralisation depends on the transport users’ representation in the process of policy decision-making. Decentralisation offers the chance for greater accountability but with the risk of excessive influence being exerted by small interest groups at the local level.
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The answers vary according to the mode of transport. The different modes have varying scale and network economies, leading to differences in the costs of decentralisation.
TRANSPORT AND DECENTRALISATION
The Round Table shows that the answers to these questions depend on three crucial determinants:
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EUROPEAN CONFERENCE OF MINISTERS OF TRANSPORT
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ROUND TABLE
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TRANSPORT RESEARCH CENTRE
REPORT OF THE ONE HUNDRED AND THIRTY FIRST ROUND TABLE ON TRANSPORT ECONOMICS held in Paris on 23rd-24th September 2004 on the following topic:
TRANSPORT AND DECENTRALISATION
ORGANISATION FOR ECONOMIC CO-OPERATION AND DEVELOPMENT
EUROPEAN CONFERENCE OF MINISTERS OF TRANSPORT
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