M22AAE Logistics Economics

Workshop 1 – economic problems.doc 1
You will be organised into teams. Each member chooses one of the tasks.
Workshop 1 – Transport economic problems & the local
economy
Task 1
Listed below are a number of major transport related issues facing society today.
Identify which ones are related to the ‘economics of transport’ using the internet.
Some of them are related to other dimensions such as political or social factors.
You may find that there is no clear division between economic, social or political
factors. Where this is the case you should consider those other factors and
where the economics of the issue ‘fit’ in the wider picture.
1 Politicians and business managers in the UK are often said to suffer
from ‘short-termism’. There are numerous examples of this in UK
transport policy, such as the privatisation of the rail network.
2 The negative impact on the natural environment of all transport related
activities.
3 The role of transport in ‘unifying’ the European Union
4 Increasing levels of trucks and other vehicles on the roads
5 Increasing amount of land being given over to support transport
activities
Task 2
Think of your own local business environment, (especially if you are an overseas
student from the developing world) and identify the main transport initiatives or
projects that have been undertaken over the last 25 to 30 years. Use the internet
to help identify them.
Consider whether they are demand or supplier led projects at both the time of
construction and whether they are still demand or supplier led today.
Deliverables:
Using flipchart paper or slides/word processor for the reflection and list:
? Your answers to each of the tasks
? Any assumptions you have made
? Justify your responses with referenced evidence
M22AAE Logistics Economics
Workshop 1 – economic problems.doc 2
Groups should expect their findings and outputs to be peer reviewed at
least once by the end of the semester
Hints & tips:
Let’s keep it simple.
For the purposes of this exercise, if you find that you are getting into lengthy
discussions on certain points, please use an “Assumptions parking lot”
PHOTOGRAPH OR SCAN YOUR FINAL NOTES, OR INPUT TO A WORD
PROCESSING DOCUMENT AND POST IT IN THE WORKSHOP AREA ON
MOODLE
DO NOT FORGET TO INCLUDE YOUR GROUP MEMBER’S NAMES ON
YOUR CONTENT!
RECORD YOUR FINDINGS FROM THIS ACTIVITY IN THE WORKSHOP AREA