PSL Quarterly Review (Sep 2014)
The railway problem in Italy
Abstract
In Italy as elsewhere railway-traffic has been seriously affected in recent years by motor-vehicle competition and the financial position of the State Railways Administration has decisively worsened. The present article evaluates this situation in the aftermath of the changes that have taken place in these recent years of post-war reconstruction. The author considers that the railways cannot secure a balanced financial situation by the mere introduction of technical and administrative improvements and price manipulation. On the other hand he calls attention to the drawbacks and dangers of a throat-cut competition; and among the various alternative policies he advocates the adoption of measures for the coordination of rail and road services. JEL: L62, L92, R41
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