Methods of evaluation of transport investments in France. The main issues in ongoing research
BURMEISTER ; JOIGNAUX
Type de document
COMMUNICATION AVEC ACTES INTERNATIONAL (ACTI)
Langue
anglais
Auteur
BURMEISTER ; JOIGNAUX
Résumé / Abstract
THE ARGUMENT DEVELOPED IN THIS COMMUNICATION ORIGINATES IN THE OBSERVATION OF A GREAT DIVERSITY OF METHODS IN USE IN THE EVALUATION OF TRANSPORT PROJECTS IN FRANCE, DESPITE THE PROGRESSIVE CONSTRUCTION OF A COMPREHENSIVE LEGISLATIVE FRAMEWORK. EVALUATION PRACTICE GOES FROM STRICT IMPLEMENTATION OF COST-BENEFIT ANALYSIS TO VERY DIVERSIFIED MULTI-CRITERIA ANALYSIS. THE CURRENT REVERSAL OF THIS SITUATION DEMONSTRATES THAT ECONOMIC THEORY IN THE FIELD OF TRANSPORTATION HAS STILL AN IMPORTANT RESEARCH AGENDA IN ORDER TO FILL THE TOOLBOX FOR EVALUATORS. COST-BENEFIT ANALYSIS CONTINUES TO BE THE MAJOR ANALYTICAL FRAMEWORK FOR EVALUATION, SINCE THE VARIOUS APPROACHES OF STRUCTURAL IMPACTS OF TRANSPORT INFRASTRUCTURE FAIL TO OFFER A COHERENT FRAMEWORK FOR THE CAUSAL RELATIONSHIP. NEVERTHELESS, OUR EXPLORATION OF NEW DIRECTIONS IN SOCIO-ECONOMIC RESEARCH SHOWS THAT THERE IS A STRONG NEED FOR ALTERNATIVE FRAMEWORKS ALONGSIDE THE TRADITIONAL APPROACH - A NEED WHICH IS CONSTANTLY EXPRESSED BY PUBLIC DECISION-MAKERS AND EVALUATORS. EXPLICIT SEARCH FOR COMPLEMENTARITY OF APPROACHES, RATHER THAN CONVERGENCE TOWARDS A SINGLE MODEL OF EVALUATION, SHOULD BE THE MOST INTERESTING DIRECTION FOR FURTHER RESEARCH.
