F584 Transport Economics June 2012

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  1. Chazzybish's Avatar
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    Re: F584 Transport Economics June 2012
    (Original post by don'tTRIP.)
    Was just flicking through the syllabus and saw this; "discuss how transport policy can meet future needs and requirements, including recent EU policy initiatives in areas such as freight transport"

    We haven't done much work on sustainability in class and from what I gather, it hasn't really been examined much. Anyone know of any recent EU policy initiatives? :indiff:
    If you have the OCR textbook if you look on pages 186 and 187 there is some discussion of EU transport policies.

    If you don't, you might want to look at the 'open skies policy' (airlines based in the EU can operate services from an airport in another EU country, e.g. Ryanair in the UK). You could also look at cabotage in terms of road transport: in 1998 the EU market was fully liberalised which meant that any haulier from any EU member state can do whatever business is available in any other member state.

    There are also some policies with a particular focus on sustainability. These include support for road schemes that reduce congestion and are consistent with the 'polluter pays' principle and a tightening of regulations and controls on road freight transport - the EU wants to see harmonisation of fuel taxes, more stringent emissions standards, and more controls over the work done by drivers, particularly those based in new member states (the most recent being Bulgaria and Romania).
  2. SL25's Avatar
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    Re: F584 Transport Economics June 2012
    The best video to learn about market structures is BrynJones. Click on his other vids aswell, he covers all of them

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NTu0U...VtQ&playnext=1
  3. don'tTRIP.'s Avatar
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    Re: F584 Transport Economics June 2012
    Is there anything that hasn't been examined yet? I'm gonna start writing essay plans for every possible question that could be asked, if I can be bothered that is. They haven't asked about the effectiveness of a PFI scheme yet, have they?
  4. Helendd's Avatar
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    What does 'increased concentration' mean?
    Does it meant an increase in firms/new entrants (contestable)?
    Or does it mean an increase in the size of incumbent firms (oligopoly)?


    This was posted from The Student Room's iPhone/iPad App
  5. don'tTRIP.'s Avatar
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    Re: F584 Transport Economics June 2012
    (Original post by Helendd)
    What does 'increased concentration' mean?
    Does it meant an increase in firms/new entrants (contestable)?
    Or does it mean an increase in the size of incumbent firms (oligopoly)?


    This was posted from The Student Room's iPhone/iPad App
    The latter. As a market becomes more concentrated, incumbent firms gain a greater market share.
  6. don'tTRIP.'s Avatar
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    Re: F584 Transport Economics June 2012
    (Original post by zabin)
    Could you possibly post all the questions that could come up - so I could make some plans for them too. Thanks.
    Discuss the likely impact of increased competition in *insert transport market*
    Discuss the likely impact of increased concentration in *insert transport market*
    Comment on/Discuss the effectiveness of PFI schemes in the construction of transport infrastructure.
    Comment on/Discuss the effectiveness of the COBA model/CBA in in determining the allocation of resources to road building/transport projects.
    Discuss the extent to which HS2 is in line with a sustainable and/or integrated transport policy.
    Discuss the extent to which building more road space to correct market failure arising from congestion is consistent with sustainable transport policy.

    That's all I can think of at the moment, if I think of any more I'll add them to the list. Anyone think of anything else? My teacher pointed out to us that, whilst they've examined the factors that determine the demand of transport modes, they haven't asked about the factors affecting supply :holmes:
  7. Chazzybish's Avatar
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    Re: F584 Transport Economics June 2012
    (Original post by don'tTRIP.)
    Is there anything that hasn't been examined yet? I'm gonna start writing essay plans for every possible question that could be asked, if I can be bothered that is. They haven't asked about the effectiveness of a PFI scheme yet, have they?
    Also hasn't ever been anything on franchising. Other than that I believe they have at some point and in some form covered everything else.
  8. SlewDem09's Avatar
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    Re: F584 Transport Economics June 2012
    What are the determinants of SUPPLY for transport provision (in any transport market e.g. rail/air...) ??
  9. ihategeography's Avatar
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    Re: F584 Transport Economics June 2012
    how would you answer this question?
    Discuss the extent to which the railway industry within the UK can be considered as a natural monopoly. (20)
  10. don'tTRIP.'s Avatar
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    Re: F584 Transport Economics June 2012
    For the road congestion diagram, what exactly does the shaded area represent? The OCR textbook says its a net social gain (the congestion costs saved), but the Tutor2U handbook says it's a net welfare loss :confused:

    Click image for larger version. 

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    Such inconsistency :emo:
  11. SlewDem09's Avatar
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    Re: F584 Transport Economics June 2012
    (Original post by don'tTRIP.)
    For the road congestion diagram, what exactly does the shaded area represent? The OCR textbook says its a net social gain (the congestion costs saved), but the Tutor2U handbook says it's a net welfare loss :confused:

    Click image for larger version. 

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    Such inconsistency :emo:
    WTF is that diagram?! Haha it's a welfare LOSS if it's congestion... but it BECOMES a welfare gain e.g. after road pricing (I think)
  12. Chazzybish's Avatar
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    Re: F584 Transport Economics June 2012
    (Original post by SlewDem09)
    WTF is that diagram?! Haha it's a welfare LOSS if it's congestion... but it BECOMES a welfare gain e.g. after road pricing (I think)
    I think that's correct. I wouldn't try to do any complex diagram like the one from tutor2u that was posted. Just do a simple positive/negative externalities diagram (using MSB/MSC/MPC etc rather than supply and demand) and label appropriately.

    That one on tutor2u is more accurate but also too accurate for this exam!
  13. SamuelJW's Avatar
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    Re: F584 Transport Economics June 2012
    Hi everyone,

    Just realised I have lost my statement of entry - is the exam on Tues 12th AM or PM?

    Thanks
  14. Aimanos's Avatar
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    Re: F584 Transport Economics June 2012
    (Original post by SamuelJW)
    Hi everyone,

    Just realised I have lost my statement of entry - is the exam on Tues 12th AM or PM?

    Thanks
    Its 12:45 pm for me
  15. don'tTRIP.'s Avatar
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    Re: F584 Transport Economics June 2012
    (Original post by SlewDem09)
    WTF is that diagram?! Haha it's a welfare LOSS if it's congestion... but it BECOMES a welfare gain e.g. after road pricing (I think)
    Laawl. That's the best example of it I could find online tbh.

    (Original post by Chazzybish)
    I think that's correct. I wouldn't try to do any complex diagram like the one from tutor2u that was posted. Just do a simple positive/negative externalities diagram (using MSB/MSC/MPC etc rather than supply and demand) and label appropriately.

    That one on tutor2u is more accurate but also too accurate for this exam!
    Depends on the question I guess; if it specifically refers to the road congestion diagram, then you'd be expected to use that diagram. Did that on my January paper and the examiner gave me marks for it when I got my script back :holmes:
  16. Chazzybish's Avatar
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    Re: F584 Transport Economics June 2012
    (Original post by don'tTRIP.)
    Depends on the question I guess; if it specifically refers to the road congestion diagram, then you'd be expected to use that diagram. Did that on my January paper and the examiner gave me marks for it when I got my script back :holmes:
    The January question doesn't refer explicitly to a road congestion diagram though (indeed, there's no NECESSITY to draw a diagram at all). The mark scheme also says this 'A diagram showing supply/MPC shifting to the left AND resulting in a higher price/reduced quantity AS LONG as there is some explanation of the diagram offered.' So basically you don't need to learn really complex diagrams, only the ones which they have said you have to learn: supply/demand, externalities and the market structures.
  17. don'tTRIP.'s Avatar
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    Re: F584 Transport Economics June 2012
    If asked to analyse the characteristics of a contestable market for 15 marks, how would you go about answering it? As in how many features of a contestable market would you explain? This was asked once before and in the mark scheme, it had features of a perfectly contestable market too :confused:
  18. Hicky's Avatar
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    Re: F584 Transport Economics June 2012
    What is COBA? I've been through it and I don't really get exactly *WHAT* it is.
  19. don'tTRIP.'s Avatar
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    Re: F584 Transport Economics June 2012
    We don't have to know about price discrimination, do we? Also, could anyone help me with my last question, please?
  20. don'tTRIP.'s Avatar
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    Re: F584 Transport Economics June 2012
    (Original post by Hicky)
    What is COBA? I've been through it and I don't really get exactly *WHAT* it is.
    A computer model which weighs up the private costs and benefits of road construction. It attaches a monetary value to the private costs and benefits of various road construction projects and then selects the one with the highest net social benefit. Crucially however, it neglects the social costs and benefits of the project; there are various other limitations too.
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