The Politics of Road Expansion Debunking Misled Economic Growth Narratives

List of Illustrations

Acknowledgements

CHAPTER ONE: Introduction

1.1. A little boy and the experts

1.2. Background

1.3. The key terms and conceptual framework

1.4. The research questions and aim

1.5. The structure of this book

References

CHAPTER TWO: Road investment and economic growth

2.1. Introduction

2.2. The struggling experts

2.2.1. Roads investment and economic growth: locational challenges

2.2.2. Relating regional growth with roads expansion

2.2.3. Local development, roads investment and economic growth

2.2.4. Roads investment and local economic growth prospects

2.3. Externalities shape the economic, social, environmental and spatial aspects of road projects

2.3.1. Economic externalities

2.3.2. Social externalities

2.3.3. Environmental externalities and climate change

2.3.4. Spatial externalities

2.4. Handling urban externalities by promoting dialogue and pragmatism in planning

2.4.1. Traditional measurability tools

2.4.2. Towards better solutions: can communication work?

2.4.3. Why economic discourse?

2.5. Conclusion

References

CHAPTER THREE: Practical wisdom – the master virtue

3.1. Introduction

3.2. Phronesis, urban planning and decision-making

3.2.1. Phronesis in the context of urban planning

3.2.2. Power as an inseparable component of phronesis and decision-making

3.3. Power, context and perception in a theoretical perspective

3.4. Choosing PPR framework

3.5. The methodological framework

3.6. Qualitative case study research

3.7. Developing a comparative case for the Global North and Global South

3.8. Research integrity

3.9. Case study methods

3.10. Conclusion

Appendix 1

References

CHAPTER FOUR: MacKays to Peka Peka Expressway, New Zealand

4.1. Introduction

4.2. How does transport policy justify achieving economic growth?

4.2.1. MacKays to Peka Peka: How economic justifications were advanced?

4.3. How were economic benefits perceived by the stakeholders?

4.4. The discourse behind the claims of economic growth

4.5. Conclusion

References

CHAPTER FIVE: London Orbital Motorway, Britain

5.1. Introduction

5.2. The policy justifications for economic growth

5.2.1. London Orbital Motorway: a brief anaylsis of policy and investment

5.3. The perception of economic benefits by the stakeholders

5.4. Unpacking the claims of economic growth

5.5. Conclusion

References

CHAPTER SIX: Interstate Highway 610, Houston, United States

6.1. Introduction

6.2. Transport policy and economic growth arguments

6.2.1. A policy and investment analysis of the I-610 project

6.3. How stakeholders view the economic growth arguments?

6.4. A discourse analysis of the economic growth narratives

6.5. Conclusion

References

CHAPTER SEVEN: Lahore Ring Road, Pakistan

7.1. Introduction

7.2. Land transport policy and planning in Pakistan

7.2.1. Lahore Ring Road: an investment and policy analysis

7.3. A power analysis: how do people perceive economic growth narratives?

7.4. A discourse of the claimed economic benefits

7.5. Conclusion

References

CHAPTER EIGHT: Mário Covas Ring Road, Brazil

8.1. Introduction

8.2. Reviewing transport policy and planning in Brazil

8.2.1. MCRR: a policy and investment analysis

8.3. Understanding people's mindset

8.4. Evaluating the arguments of economic growth

8.5. Conclusion

References

CHAPTER NINE: The Nairobi Expressway, Kenya

9.1. Introduction

9.2. Transport policy and planning in Kenya

9.2.1 The Nairobi Expressway

9.3. How stakeholders treat claimed economic benefits?     

9.4. Circumventing transport pragmatism

9.5. Conclusion

References

CHAPTER TEN: Conclusions and future economic growth prospects

10.1. Introduction

10.2. Understanding transport policy approach towards economic growth

10.3. Delineating power and interest in the transport policy processes

10.4. Undermining questionable practices through problematisation

10.5. Implications for the world

10.6. Roads investment and economic growth: paving the way for alternative methods

10.7. Limitations and future research

10.8. Conclusion

References

Index

Biography

Babar M. Chohan is a seasoned civil servant and diplomat of the Government of Pakistan. Currently, he serves as Trade & Investment Counsellor/Head of Trade Mission at the Embassy of Pakistan, Brazil. He has previously held positions as Commissioner, Additional Commissioner and Deputy Commissioner across various field formations of the tax administration in Pakistan. He holds a PhD in Planning from Massey University, New Zealand, and an MA in Economics of Development from the International Institute of Social Studies, Erasmus University, the Netherlands. He also holds an MA in Economics and an MSc in Applied Geology from Punjab University, Pakistan. He is a member of Pakistan’s Central Superior Service. He has extensive experience in economic planning, trade diplomacy and government administration. Some of his research articles have been published in leading international journals and conference proceedings. He also writes articles for the Pakistan-based newspaper, The Express Tribune. His research areas include economic planning, economic growth and the built environment.