The Recession And The Eddington Transport Study

摘要

It is clear that the first UK recession since the early 1990s has begun. We do not know how long or how deep it will be. Normal 'trend' annual growth for the economy is around 2.7 per cent. This yields cumulative growth of more than 8 per cent over a three year period. Sadly, it appears as if we will be lucky to witness a zero average over the next three years. That stated, 'every cloud has a silver lining'. In the case of a recession, it offers opportunities for improving longer-term economic growth prospects, if there is a willingness to seize the transport infrastructure opportunities presented by the short-run idle capacity created by the economic downturn. The Eddington Transport Study produced in December 2006 by Sir Roy Eddington, former Chief Executive of BA, provides a blueprint for how to proceed. The Report, commissioned by the then Chancellor of the Exchequer and the Secretary of State for Transport, examined the links between transport and Britain's productivity, growth and stability.