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Annual Conference on Transport Economics 2025

The conference is organized by the Transport Global Department of the World Bank. It is geared towards young researchers working on transportation issues relevant to developing countries—and is an opportunity to present and discuss their work with researchers, policymakers, and transport practitioners.

The Third Annual World Bank Conference on Transport Economics was held on March 14, 2025, in Washington, D.C., on the sidelines of Transforming Transportation. 

The conference was organized by the Transport Global Department of the World Bank. It was geared towards young researchers working on transportation issues relevant to developing countries—and is an opportunity to present and discuss their work with researchers, policymakers, and transport practitioners.

Treb Allen, Distinguished Professor of Economics and Globalization at Dartmouth College, gave the keynote lecture.

The conference was held at World Bank Headquarters, located at 1818 H Street, NW, Washington DC 20433.

All sessions will were available via livestream for remote participants.

Start Date: Mar 14, 2025

Format: Hybrid

Friday, March 14, 2025

9:00-9:10am

WELCOMING REMARKS
 

Somik Lall, Senior Adviser, Interim Director of the Department for Development Policy, and Director for the World Development Report 2024, The World Bank 

9:10-10:40am

SESSION 1: Urban Transport

CHAIR: Stéphane Straub, Chief Economist for Infrastructure, The World Bank

Market Segmentation and Coordination Costs: Evidence from Johannesburg's Minibus Networks
Oluchi Mbonu, Harvard University

Watch Replay

Discussion

The next bus out: urban public transportation and multidimensional poverty
Luz Yadira Gómez-Hernández, London School of Economics

Watch Replay

Discussion

10:40-11:00am

Break

11:00am-12:30pm

SESSION 2: Transport Decarbonization

CHAIR: Somik Lall, Senior Adviser, Interim Director of the Department for Development Policy, and Director for the World Development Report 2024, The World Bank 

Rust in Motion: Impacts of Brazil's Anti-Scrappage Policy Through Vehicle Ownership Tax
Gabriel Facundes Monteiro, Carnegie Mellon University

Watch Replay

Discussion

Can Unilateral Policy Decarbonize Maritime Trade?
Philipp Ludwig, KU Leuven 

Watch Replay

Discussion

12:30-1:30pm

Lunch break

1:30-2:40pm

Keynote Address

CHAIR: Binyam Reja, Practice Manager for Global Transport, The World Bank

Quantitatively Evaluating Infrastructure Improvements: A Primer
Treb Allen, Distinguished Professor of Economics and Globalization, Department of Economics, Dartmouth College

Watch Replay (Part I) (Part II)

2:40-3:20pm

SESSION 3: Transport Infrastructure

CHAIR: Binyam Reja, Practice Manager for Global Transport, The World Bank

Optimal Investments in Africa's Road Network
Sebastian Krantz, Kiel Institute for the World Economy

Watch Replay

Discussion

3:20-3:40pm

Break

3:40-5:00pm

SESSION 4: Transport and Trade

CHAIR: Matías Herrera Dappe, Global Lead for Transport Economics and Policy, The World Bank

Oligopolies in Trade and Transportation: Implications for the Gains from Trade
Enrico Cristoforoni, Boston College

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Discussion

One Way or Another: Modes of Transport and International Trade
Edoardo Tolva, University of Warwick

Watch Replay

Discussion

KEY DATES

Paper submissions: December 30, 2024

Paper selections: February 3, 2025

Pre-registration ends: February 28, 2024

Conference: March 14, 2025

Date: March 14, 2025

Time: 03:32 PM - 03:32 PM ET

Location: Washington, D.C. and Online