Transport costs have been, and still are, an important component of trade costs, which are one the major determinants of the volume of trade, and thus of gross domestic product (GDP) and GDP growth. Studies show that two of the main determinants of transport costs are regulatory frameworks in transport sectors and transport infrastructure. The productivity and competitiveness of goods and services firms depends largely on access to low-cost and high-quality transport services, and those services have a powerful influence on economic growth. Countries commit themselves to increasing the efficiency of transport services, which can largely be achieved through increased competition and hence through liberalization of transport sectors. Since barriers to trade in transport services are typically regulatory in nature, this book provides a thorough discussion of international, regional, and country specific rules and regulations in those sectors. Concentrating on the EU, and Turkey in particular, it considers rules and regulations in transport sectors. It shows that economic liberalization pursued unilaterally, multilaterally, or regionally has beneficial effects for Turkey, and that the benefits from such liberalization are substantial. Furthermore, the volume shows that transport infrastructure is an important determinant of exports, and hence GDP and GDP growth.

This book evaluates the effects of Poland's integration with the EU in the transport sector. Liberalization led to more competitive market structures but the productivity of Polish transport firms is low compared to firms from old EU member states. Nevertheless, Poland's role in the single market is significant in road and rail cargo services.

This groundbreaking book offers a critical and wide-ranging assessment of the global air transport liberalization process over the past 40 years. This compilation of world experts on air transport economics, policy, and regulation is timely and significant, considering that air transport is currently facing a series of new challenges due to technological changes, the emergence of new markets, and increased security concerns.

For decades the partnership between North America and Europe has been a steady anchor in a world of rapid change. Today, however, the transatlantic partnership itself has become unsettled and uncertain. Nowhere is this clearer than in the economic sphere. Nonetheless, the European Union and the United States remain each other’s largest and most profitable markets. And as Europe changes, extended value chains across non-EU Europe have become important to the bottom line of many companies from the United States, Europe, and other parts of the world. Given both the danger of fragmentation and opportunities that exist for deeper economic interaction, it is time to consider new initiatives that include, but go beyond the U.S.-EU partnership to embrace allies and partners across the entire North Atlantic space. The concept of the North Atlantic Marketplace would include non-EU European countries in a broad North Atlantic commercial architecture. Turkey’s evolving commercial ties to the EU and the United States are central to such considerations. In this book, leading experts develop possible ways forward to anchor Turkey in the West by further deepening economic ties between Turkey and its transatlantic partners in the North Atlantic Marketplace.

On 5 November 2002, the European Court of Justice delivered its 'open-skies' judgment, a landmark decision which may be the beginning of a new era in the regulation of international air law. The consequences of this judgment may not only affect the European Union and its Member States; this book shows how it could change the future regulation of international aviation worldwide. The first part of this book describes the difficulties arising from the fact that the competence for the regulation of air transportation in Europe is divided between the EU and the Member States. This division of power will also affect the conclusion of air-service agreements made with countries outside of Europe. In the second part of the book, the author examines a subject that was not part of the 'open-skies' judgment, but which he believes will become a problematic consequence: the distribution of air-traffic rights within the European Union.

The experience of Turkey, its approach to liberalization and its measures to eliminate barriers to trade serve as a useful model for other neighboring countries of the European Union. This book examines the impact of economic liberalization in Turkey and its approach to the elimination of barriers to trade.