Abstract

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Title:: Four economic theoretical issues influencing the development of highway industry

Author(s):: 〗ZHOU Guo-guang; (School of Economics and Management, Chang’an Universtity, Xi’an 710064, Shaanxi, China)

Keywords:: highway; differential benefits of highway; commercialization; public goods; semi public goods; toll highway

Abstract:: Differential benefits, highway commercialization, public goods of highways and semi public goods of toll highways are the four basic economic theoretical issues which have greatly influenced the development of highway industry since the 14th National Congress of CPC and still influence the development direction and pattern of highway industry. The research shows that the highway differential benefits provide the basis for the tolling standards; highways are not commercial goods and the toll highways are not yet semi public goods; Whether the highway should charge vehicle tolls does not depend on the definition of highway as the “public goods” or “semi public goods”, but depend on the needs of social economic management or the choices by the public.