The spatial impacts of a massive rail disinvestment program

The Beeching Axe

Bibliographic Data

ID11079680
AuthorsStephen Gibbons (0000-0002-2871-8562, Centre for Economic Policy Research), Stephan Heblich (0000-0001-6486-3727, University of Toronto), Edward W Pinchbeck (0000-0002-5638-3923, University of Birmingham, corresponding author)
Year2024
Volume143
Pages103691
Publication date2024-09-01
Peer ReviewedYes
Open AccessYes
TypeARTICLE
VenueJournal of Urban Economics (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 0094-1190 • E-ISSN: 1095-9068
PublisherElsevier BV (PUBLISHER)
DOI10.1016/j.jue.2024.103691
OpenAlexW4401669127
LanguageEN
Citations received4
References cited31

This paper investigates the reversibility of the effects of transport infrastructure investments, based on a programme that removed much of the rail network in Britain during the mid-20th century. We find that a 10% loss in rail access between 1950 and 1980 caused a persistent 3% decline in local population relative to unaffected areas, implying that the 1 in 5 places most exposed to the cuts saw 24 percentage points less population growth than the 1 in 5 places that were least exposed. The cuts reduced local jobs and shares of skilled workers and young people

Business · Disinvestment · Economics · Macroeconomics · Aviation Industry Analysis and Trends · Transport and Economic Policies · Urban and Freight Transport Logistics

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