TRANSPORTATION NETWORKS AND REGIONAL DEVELOPMENT: THE CONCEPTUAL AND EMPIRICAL FRAMEWORK IN GREECE

This paper examines the importance of transportation networks for the economic and regional development of Greece, focusing on the country’s infrastructure and its road, rail, maritime, and air transport networks. Based on statistical and economic indicators and the application of a multivariate linear regression econometric model, the link between transport and economic and regional development and its complexity is highlighted. The study underlines that the structure and functionality of transportation networks reflect the social and economic needs of their user societies, providing important information on the development dynamics of a country. Through a literature review, technical reports, and empirical analyses, this information can serve as a thematic basis for examining transport networks at both research and policy levels. Overall, this article is addressed to regional researchers and policymakers, highlighting the need for responsible transport planning, which is associated with high opportunity costs and inelastic infrastructure sunk costs.

Dimitrios TSIOTAS - Professor Assistant, Department of Regional and Economic Development, School of Applied Economics and Social Sciences, Agricultural University of Athens, Greece tsiotas@aua.gr (Corresponding Author)

Serafeim POLYZOS - Professor, Department of Regional Development and Planning, University of Thessaly, Volos, Greece spolyzos@uth.gr

R4, R41, R42