Launch date of the SIG: SIG-4 has been launched with a start-up workshop held on April 24th 2009 in Florence (Italy).

Objectives: The SIG-4 on Transport Economic Regulation wants to create a worldwide forum of stable relationships and shared elaboration for scholars of the sector, public regulators and regulated firms. Its ultimate goal is to promote a better regulation, both in theory and practice.

The SIG-4 will focus on all relevant aspects of economic regulation, for the main transport modes (railways, air transport and maritime transport, highways, local public transport).

Since regulation has a vast number of different meanings and cover a broad scope of problems, the SIG-4 will initially promote conferences, common researches and resources referred mainly on the sub-topic of infrastructure regulation. This must not be intended as a limitation, since the aspects of services regulation can be included and integrated at any moment, both when needed dealing with infrastructure, and if and when the forum has expressed a sufficient interest in this extension .

Concerning the sole aspects of infrastructure regulation, a first issue that we suggest is related to the communalities that emerge in regulating different transport infrastructures across modes (common characteristics being large and long-lasting investments, slow technical progress, complex political goals, special relations with the transport services using the infrastructure, peculiar land use implications, etc). This kind of problem can be effectively faced by a worldwide network of scholars, regulators and firms, starting from a common theoretical body and set of data.

Current activities: SIG wants to promote a “soft” survey of the present regulatory frameworks around the world, in order to stimulate research on best practices and interaction among members. Planned activities also include seminars and a school.

Membership: Membership is open to scholars, public regulators, regulated companies and actual or potential “new entrants”.

Registration to the mailing list can be made for free at  the SIG website www.transregulation.org.

Anyone interested in joining and supporting the SIG-4, please do so by visiting the website.

Contact:

Prof. Marco Ponti (or prof. Paolo Beria)

Dipartimento di Architettura e Pianificazione

Politecnico di Milano, Milan

Italy

SIG4 website: www.transregulation.org

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