Publication Type

Working Paper

Version

publishedVersion

Publication Date

5-2023

Abstract

This paper evaluates the distributional impacts of transportation networks in China.We show that the quality of roads and railroads vary substantially over time and space, and ignoring these variations biases the estimates of travel time. To account for quality differences, we construct a new panel dataset and approximate quality using the design speed of roads and railroads that varies by vintage, class, and terrain at the pixel level. We then build a dynamic spatial general equilibrium model that allows for multiple modes and routes of transportation and forward-looking migration decision.We find aggregate welfare gain and less spatial income inequality led by expanding transportation network.

Keywords

regional trade, migration, welfare, economic geography

Discipline

Asian Studies | Industrial Organization | Transportation

Research Areas

Applied Microeconomics

First Page

1

Last Page

82

Identifier

10.2139/ssrn.4118287

Publisher

SMU Economics and Statistics Working Paper Series, Paper No. Paper No. 09-2022

City or Country

Singapore

Copyright Owner and License

Authors

Additional URL

https://doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.4118287

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