The Importance of railroad transportation in transportation sector in Turkey from an economic perspective and an analysis of demand for domestic shipping by railroad through econometric model (1980-2000)

Ill ABSTRACT THE IMPORTANCE OF RAILROAD TRANSPORTATION IN TRANSPORTATION SECTOR IN TURKEY FROM AN ECONOMIC PERSPECTIVE AND AN ANALYSIS OF DEMAND FOR DOMESTIC SHIPPING BY RAILROAD THROUGH ECONOMETRIC MODEL (1980-2000) Meserret NALÇAKAN Head Department of Economics Anadolu University, Institute of Social Science, Oktober 2003 Advisor: Prof. Dr. C. Necat BERBERO?LU The fact that Turkey's transportation and shipping system highly depends on roads and highways causes not only ecenomic loses but also environmental problems. Therefore; Turkey should give more importance and greater financial support to railroad transpcnation as an indispensable part of transportation sector, which is considered crucial in globalization and economic growth. In this study, the importance of railroad transportation sector in overall Turkish transportation system has been examined in detail. Trie first part introduces the definitions of transportation and shipping sectors, their economic values and activities. In the second part, the historical development öf transportation sector in Turkey has been presented. Following a brief introduction of transportation systems, railroad transportation system has been compared to other systems. The third part deals with Turkish railroad system dii a sectoral basis. In the fourth part, the demand for shipping by railway in Turkey has been analysed through econometric model.