The Persian translation of the book “The Economics of Urban Transportation” by Dr. Alireza Mahpour, assistant professor of the Faculty of Civil, Water and Environmental Engineering of Shahid Beheshti University, Mostafa Shafaati and Masoud Salehi has been published recently by SBU Press in 496 pages. The book was originally authored by Kenneth A. Small and Eric T. Verhoef in 2007.
Economy and transportation are two sides of the same coin; with the change of one side, the other is also affected. What gives importance to the issues of transportation and economy is their undeniable role in sustainable development. In the case of urban transportation, this two-way relationship has more complications. Transportation management policies, both from the demand and supply sides, have deep economic effects. It is necessary for policy makers, planners, managers and urban transport officials to predict the usages of new transport facilities. On the other hand, for the rational pricing of these facilities and to determine the best exploitation policy, it is also important to know the reaction of users when faced with their prices and service characteristics. Finally, to evaluate the efficiency of these facilities, the amount of profit obtained is important. All of these matters are related to the field of economic analysis of urban transportation. Having such analysis, it is possible to make scientific and accurate comments on the pricing of services and facilities, as well as investment in transportation. The authors of the book have addressed these issues in seven chapters. Although other books have been written or translated about transportation economics, the comparative advantage of this book is its emphasis on the transportation aspects of the subject, which makes it appropriate and distinctive for researchers and activists in the transportation field.