Lombard, P C (1991) The relationship between highway infrastructure and regional economic development. PhD thesis, Purdue University, USA.
Abstract
This research investigated the relationship between highways and economic development, using data for Indiana from 1980 to 1988. An extensive literature review was undertaken to assess analogous research and results, to identify methodologies that were used, and to review similar studies in other states. An investigation of the extent of highway infrastructure and expenditures, and economic development was done to compare Indiana to other states in the region. Indiana's local economy was also examined at the county level and in different economic sectors. Multiple regression analysis was used to investigate quantitatively the relationship between highways and economic growth from 1980 to 1988. A series of seven highway variables in the broad categories of pavement condition, highway facility extent, and highway expenditures were used together with several other variables that were hypothesized to affect economic growth. Trends were investigated for the manufacturing, service and total industry sectors in Indiana. A total of 43 industry groups were also examined, as well as four different classifications of counties in the state. Forecasting models were developed to estimate the overall impact that highway expansion and improvement will have on the economic growth within a county. Results indicated that highway mileage density was significantly related to economic development, and evidence was found that multi-lane highways had an especially high association with economic growth. The economic impacts of the construction of corridors that were constructed in Indiana between 1950 and 1980 were analyzed using descriptive statistics to determine how employment levels in the region of such a project were affected over the construction period and beyond. Results indicated that the region through which a highway was built experienced higher economic growth than the rest of the state, although this difference was not statistically significant in most cases. Finally, an analysis of industrial location determinants was done, using nation-wide data for manufacturing industries from the early 1970s. Chi-square tests for contingency tables were utilized. Contract trucking availability and highway access were found to be some of the most important determinants of industry location in a region.
| Item Type: | Thesis (Doctoral) |
|---|---|
| Thesis advisor: | Sinha, K C |
| Uncontrolled Keywords: | economic development; economic growth; contingency; pavement; employment; forecasting; manufacturing; multiple regression; regression analysis; economic impact; highway |
| Index terms: | employment, density, highway infrastructure, local economy, methodology, multiple-regression, economic growth, multiple regression analysis, statistics, regression analysis, estimate, determinant, economic impact, economic development, manufacturing industry, regional economic, literature review, evidence, forecasting, investigation, industry sector |
| Subjects: | financial and cost management, analytical methods, mathematical modelling, prediction and forecasting, research methods, civil engineering, economic analysis, industry analysis, evaluation and assessment methods, statistical analysis, risk assessment, economic development, financial analysis, data collection methods, management, data analysis and analytics |
| Topics: | Research Practice, Risk Management, Sustainability, Urban Studies, Cost Management, Engineering Principles, Human Resources, Business Strategy |
| Descriptive scope: | 4 PCTA |
N.B. Descriptive scope is a count of how many of the five facets of empirical research are indicated by the words used in title, abstract and keywords. It is not intended as a judgement on the research; merely a count of the kind of word we would expect to indicate Phenomenon, Concepts, Theoretical framing, Empirical techniques, Analytical techniques. If all five are present, then a code of “5 PCTEA” will indicate this. If you feel the coding for this record is questionable, we welcome discussion around the terms we matched or the way we categorized them. The facet you would expect may not be coded, or a facet may be coded inappropriately. This can also bear on a larger question, of which facets should be treated as defining in construction management research. Please get in touch, and we will look at it. More details here