Thomai TASOPOULOU
Researcher, Department of Regional Development and Planning,
University of Thessaly, Volos, Greece
thtassopoulou@gmail.com
Dimitrios TSIOTAS
Assistant Professor, Department of Regional and Economic Development,
School of Applied Economics and Social Sciences, Agricultural University of Athens, Amfissa, Greece
tsiotas@aua.gr (Corresponding Author)
Serafeim POLYZOS
Professor, Department of Regional Development and Planning,
University of Thessaly, Volos, Greece
spolyzos@uth.gr
Abstract
Bus companies are transport operators that support the demand in local markets for transport and at the same time promote regional development. This paper studies the topological and geographical characteristics of the Greek Bus Transport Network (GBTN) of the Joint Reciepts Fund of Buses (KTELs) of five regions of Greece in relation to their socio-economic environment, aiming at studying the effectiveness of the GBTN in comparison to the inter-regional road transport network in Greece. For this purpose, we apply complex network and econometric analysis to delve into the interaction between the topology of bus transport networks and regional development, focusing on the case of Greece. The methodological approach promotes the analysis of complex spatial networks, as a modeling tool in spatial planning. Overall, this paper highlights and evaluates the contribution of the interurban network to the overall road network of the country and the support and promotion of the economic profile of local markets.
Keywords: public transport, regional and local economy, network science, spatial networks, network analysis,
JEL classification: R41, R42, R1
pp. 25-46