The changing context of transport and infrastructure policy

In the article the author describes the interdependencies of transport and communications with patterns of economic and social activity. Some relevant interconnections and changes in the most important components are grouped under four headings: economic trends, trends in technological developments, changes in life-styles, and changes in the overall political context. The results of the combined trends are not completely in line with the ideas which many people have about economic and social well-being. As transport and communications play a key role in the process of development, some basic changes in transport and infrastructure policy are recommended. In order for policy-oriented research to provide a better back-up, some important changes in, and a broadening of, the research approach seem further desirable.