Tag: R41

INVESTIGATING THE INTERACTION BETWEEN THE TOPOLOGY OF BUS TRANSPORT NETWORKS AND REGIONAL DEVELOPMENT IN GREECE

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

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A NETWORK-BASED ALGORITHM FOR COMPUTING KEYNESIAN INCOME MULTIPLIERS IN MULTIREGIONAL SYSTEMS

Dimitrios TSIOTAS

Assistant Professor, Department of Regional and Economic Development, School of Applied Economic and Social Sciences, Agricultural University of Athens, Amfissa 33100, Greece

tsiotas@aua.gr

Abstract

In the context of the Keynesian “multiplier effect” approach, regional economic growth and development are conceived as the result of changes in demand stimulating an iterative process of returns of income. Aiming to revisit this established regional economic model, promote multidisciplinary thinking, enjoy better supervision of computations and intuitive interpretation of the results, broaden the applicability of the model, and serve educational purposes in regional economics and development, this paper proposes an algorithm for computing Keynesian income multipliers in multiregional systems. Building on network connectivity, estimations of the regional shares of imports, marginal propensity to consume, and changes in demand, the proposed algorithm provides a framework for standardizing computations of the multiplier effect in multiregional systems. The algorithm is implemented in two theoretical scenarios, contributing to a deeper conceptualization of the computation of the Keynesian income multipliers, and an empirical case of the land interregional commuting network in Greece, providing insights into the developmental dynamics of the labor market (demand for employment) in Greece. Overall, the analysis highlights the symbiotic relationship between the multiplier effect and network structure in regional markets, promotes multidisciplinary thinking in regional science and economics, and provides a code of this network-based algorithm to motivate further research.

Keywords: regional markets, multiplier effect; export-base model; demand for employment; interregional commuting

JEL classification: R11, R15, R23, R41

 pp. 25-46

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THE POTENTIAL IMPACT OF COVID-19 ON MEGA ENERGY PROJECTS AND LNG SHIPPING INFRASTRUCTURE; THE CASE OF EASTMED PIPELINE

Antonios STRATAKIS

PhD Candidate, University of Piraeus – Department of Maritime Studies

stratakismaritime@gmail.com

Theodore PELAGIDIS

Professor of Economics, University of Piraeus – Department of Maritime Studies, Deputy Governor – Bank of Greece, Tpelagidis@bankofgreece.gr

pelagidi@unipi.gr

Abstract

It is a matter of fact that COVID-19 pandemic has brought significant changes in political, economic and social level worldwide. The aim of this paper is to examine the potential impact of the pandemic on the launching of large scale energy projects in Southeast Mediterranean region, and in particular the construction of EastMed Pipeline. During 2020, many energy projects across the globe were postponed and that trend is mainly attributed to: a) the economic recession brought by COVID-19, b) a lack of investment appetite by major energy companies whose financial position was severely hit by the pandemic and the volatile energy prices and c) the switching to the use of alternative energy sources (mainly renewables and hydrogen) in an attempt to minimize the global share of fossil fuels and their emissions, the so-called “energy transition” process. This paper takes into account whether all the above exogenous factors create serious implications to the development of the most important mega energy project of Southeast Mediterranean in terms of energy geopolitics, the EastMed Pipeline. Finally, the paper examines the conflicted geopolitical interests of regional players such as Greece, Cyprus, Israel, Turkey and Egypt, as well as the role of European Union and the United States in the energy equation of Southeast Mediterranean.

Keywords: COVID-19, Economic recession, EastMed pipeline, Alternative energy sources, Southeast Mediterranean, Investments

JEL classification: F10, F51, R41, R42, R48

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