Pablo Coto-Millán Livres

This book explores analytical methods used in transportation economics and policy analysis. Encompassing fields of economics such as Industrial Organisation, Welfare Economics, General Equilibrium Theory and Input-Output-Analysis, the study of transport from an economic point of view serves as a test bench for applying methodologies of economic science to the real world. Each chapter opens with a brief theoretical introduction before evaluating case studies, using the state-of-the-art statistical and econometric techniques.

In this book the reader is provided with an overview of the most interesting ideas in Competitive General Equilibrium Theory as well as Welfare Economy. In doing so, the author adopts a methodological approach of a closed and inter-related system where all variables are simultaneously determined. By using theorems of fixed point, revealed preference and local and global stability, the author proves the existence of unicity and stability. Furthermore, he analyses those situations where the competitive system does not allocate resources efficiently. In this sense, he examines allocation problems in regard to property rights, information problems and choice and negotiation problems. Finally, the text includes a chapter that presents a topical guide of questions related to Social Choice.

Grateful acknowledgement is made to CICYT (Comision Intenninisterial de Ciencia y Tecnoiogia), National Plan R+D, Projects N-TXT96-2467 and N TXT98-1453 for its financial support. This text presents the economic theories on Utility and Production. In addition, such theories are used to explain the real problems of consumers and firms and several studies carried out by the author are displayed. Some collaboration by other professors of Economics is mentioned in the corresponding footnotes. The responsibility for errors and omissions, however, rests entirely upon tbe author. In chapters 1 and 4 of the book try to present the theory of Utility and Production. Chapter 3 presents new functional forms and two empirical applications, on demand functions and systems. In chapters 2 and 5, the main theorems and properties presented in chapters 1 and 4 are applied. Chapter 6 presents new functional forms and two empirical applications, on production and cost functions respectively.