Airport rail links and economic productivity: Evidence from 82 cities with the world’s 100 busiest airports

• Published in: Transport policy Vol. 52; pp. 89 - 99
• Main Authors: Murakami, Jin, Matsui, Yurika, Kato, Hironori
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Elsevier Ltd 01.11.2016
• Subjects: Airport rail link; Economic development; Gross metropolitan productivity; Transit investment; Gross metropolitan productivity; Airport rail link; Economic development; Transit investment
• ISSN: 0967-070X; 1879-310X
• DOI: 10.1016/j.tranpol.2016.07.009

This article examines the relationship between airport rail links and economic productivity in 82 cities with the world's 100 busiest airports across 10 regions. Our multilevel models for gross metropolitan product per capita reveal that cities with airport rail links or shorter access time enhanced by rail have higher productivity than those without airport rail links or with longer access time by other modes. This macro-geographic snapshot could justify greater investment in airport rail link infrastructure and dedicated express services for the wider economic benefits derived from airport-connected accessibility premiums and agglomeration economies in central business districts. •We examine the relationship between airport rail links and metropolitan productivity.•Cities with airport rail links are more productive than those without airport rail links.•Cities with shorter access time enabled by airport rail links are more productive.•Airport rail links should be discussed as a catalyst for wider economic development.