Transport economics is a branch of
economics founded in 1959 by American economist
John R. Meyer that deals with the allocation of resources within the transport sector. It has strong links to
civil engineering.
Transport economics differs from some other branches of economics in that the assumption of a spaceless, instantaneous
economy does not hold. People and goods flow over networks at certain speeds. Demands peak. Advance ticket purchase is often induced by lower fares. The networks themselves may or may not be
competitive. A single trip (the final good, in the consumer's eyes) may require the bundling of services provided by several firms, agencies and modes.