BUS DEREGULATION: A WELFARE BALANCE SHEET

The effects of local bus deregulation in the United Kingdom are assessed over the period 1985/86 to 1988/89. After taking account of lower earnings and fuel costs, a substantial reduction in operating cost per bus-kilometre through improved productivity is shown. However, ridership losses were greater than expected, and substantial losses to users through higher fares and service instability emerge. Large increases in bus-kilometres operated did not produce any aggregate increase in ridership, but offset much of the reduction in unit cost. Overall, a small net benefit is shown in the metropolitan areas, but a net loss elsewhere. In contrast, London (not deregulated, but subject to a competitive tendering system) shows no user or worker losses, and a substantial net benefit through higher productivity. (Author/TRRL)

• Availability:
  • Find a library where document is available. Order URL: http://worldcat.org/oclc/856156
• Corporate Authors:

  Bath University, England

  Claverton Down
  Bath BA2 7AY,   England 
• Authors:
  • White, P R
• Publication Date: 1990-9

Language

• Undetermined

Media Info

• Features: References;
• Pagination: p. 311-32
• Serial:
  • Journal of Transport Economics and Policy
  • Volume: 24
  • Issue Number: 3
  • Publisher: University of Bath
  • ISSN: 0022-5258
  • Serial URL: http://www.jtep.com

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Analysis; Buses; Costs; Deregulation; Economic analysis; Economic efficiency; Operating costs
• Uncontrolled Terms: Cost analysis; Efficiency
• Geographic Terms: United Kingdom
• ITRD Terms: 155: Administration; 1272: Bus; 235: Competition; 226: Cost benefit analysis; 9009: Decrease; 237: Economic efficiency; 653: Level of service; 221: Operating costs; 744: Public transport; 241: Tariff; 8119: United Kingdom; 9084: Use
• Subject Areas: Economics; Finance; Highways; Planning and Forecasting; Public Transportation;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00623949
• Record Type: Publication
• Source Agency: Transport and Road Research Laboratory (TRRL)
• Files: ITRD, TRIS, ATRI
• Created Date: Jul 31 1992 12:00AM