Call for Proposals: Transport Infrastructure for the Development of Latin America

The economic analysis and impact evaluation of transport infrastructure projects faces particular identification challenges. First, because it is characterized by its network structure, that is, an improvement in connectivity between two points generates changes in all the links in the network despite not having been directly modified. Second, because when faced with a transport network modified by some investment project, firms and workers react by changing their location, resulting in changes in the spatial distribution of economic activity, even in non-intervened regions. This results in further changes to the mobility flows of people and goods. Third, these infrastructure works not only have aggregate effects, but also have relevant local effects, for example at the town or city level, for which little information is available.

To overcome these challenges, there is a growing set of tools in quantitative spatial economics, in many cases supported by non-traditional data sources (e.g. satellite images, mobile phone data, etc.), that allow increasingly robust analyzes on transport infrastructure projects, with great potential to inform investment decisions and thus contribute to enhancing their impact on the region’s development.

Through this call, CAF–development bank of Latin America– is issuing this call for research proposals that implement quantitative spatial economic models for the analysis of transport infrastructure projects and their impact on the economic development of Latin America. Up to 4 proposals will be selected granted USD 15,000.00, to study prospective or finished projects in Latin America, in the areas of:

• Road infrastructure
• Rail infrastructure
• Air, river or sea transport
• Logistics corridors, including multisectoral nature (e.g. railways and ports, multimodal trade infrastructure, etc.)
• Urban transport infrastructure

To apply, you must complete this online form before August 30 at 23:59 (Buenos Aires time)

apply