Public Transportation Governance Types
An Analytical Framework for Examining Bus Services in the Global South
Bibliographic Data
| ID | 6404474 |
|---|---|
| Authors | Ivan Souza Vieira (0000-0003-4719-0668, Institute of Social Research, The National Autonomous University of Mexico (IIS-UNAM), Mexico City, Mexico, corresponding author) |
| Year | 2025 |
| Publication date | 2025-08-20 |
| Peer Reviewed | Yes |
| Open Access | Yes |
| Type | ARTICLE |
| Venue | Urban Affairs Review (JOURNAL) |
| Journal identifiers | ISSN: 1078-0874 • E-ISSN: 1552-8332 |
| Publisher | SAGE Publications Inc (PUBLISHER) |
| DOI | 10.1177/10780874251369733 |
| OpenAlex | W4413335837 |
| Language | EN |
| Citations received | 3 |
| References cited | 39 |
Public transportation shapes urban residents’ access to economic opportunities, public services, and full citizenship. Its significance is particularly evident in the Global South, where transport systems vary widely in affordability and quality, influencing who can use and benefit from them. Despite its centrality to urban life, public transportation remains underexamined in mainstream Political Science. The article addresses this gap by proposing a descriptive typology that links the political, economic, and social dynamics underpinning bus systems. Centered on the dimensions of affordability and service quality, the typology identifies four governance types: prohibitive high-end, inclusive top-notch, expensive mediocrity, and cheap service trap. These categories reflect distinct configurations of regulation and state financing, each embedded in particular politics of public goods provision. The framework is illustrated through an analysis of bus systems in Mexico City. The article offers political scientists a conceptual tool for advancing theoretical inquiry and empirical research on urban governance
Business · Corporate governance · Economic geography · Economics · Political science · Public transport · Regional science · Sociology · Transport engineering · Engineering · Public Administration · Public-Private Partnership Projects · Transportation Planning and Optimization · Urban Transport and Accessibility · Finance
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| Unique citing works | 3 |
|---|---|
| Citations per year | 3 |
| Citation span | 2026 - 2026 (1) |
| Citation velocity | current |
| Highly cited | No |
| Citation types | Neutral: 3 |