World Bank Tokyo Online Morning Seminar #208 “Shrinking Economic Distance: Understanding How Markets and Places Can Lower Transport Costs in Developing Countries”

Even though transport costs have decreased in recent decades, the global economy is still not fully integrated. Developing countries face higher transport prices and longer shipping times than developed countries. For example, exporting to the United States from a low-income country is 57% more expensive than from a high-income country.

Shrinking the economic distance, or reducing transport prices and time related costs, between people and firms can greatly benefit developing economies by boosting productivity, creating jobs, raising incomes, enhancing food security, and lowering carbon emissions. Achieving these benefits requires efficient, high-quality transport.

This report examines the factors that keep transport costs high, delivery times long, and reliability low, aiming to guide policymakers in making reforms with impact.

At this online seminar, Matias Herrera Dappe, Senior Economist, Aiga Stokenberga, Senior Transport Economist, and Mathilde Lebrand, Senior Economist, shared the main findings of the report.   

Speakers:

Matias Herrera Dappe
Senior Economist, World Bank

Aiga Stokenberga
Senior Transport Economist, World Bank

Mathilde Lebrand
Senior Economist, World Bank

Presentation Material:

Shrinking Economic Distance: Understanding How Markets and Places Can Lower Transport Costs in Developing Countries (PDF)

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