2024/25 Taught Postgraduate Module Catalogue

TRAN5050M Principles of Transport Economics

15 Credits Class Size: 200

Module manager: Alexander Stead
Email: A.D.Stead@leeds.ac.uk

Taught: Semester 1 (Sep to Jan) View Timetable

Year running 2024/25

This module is not approved as an Elective

Module summary

This module introduces students to the fundamentals of transport economics, with a focus on pricing, demand, firm costs, and user monetary and time costs.

Objectives

To ensure that students can determine appropriate approaches to the measurement of costs, determination of prices and allocation of resources in the transport sector, given the special problems in terms of peaking, increasing returns to scale and joint costs of that sector.

Learning outcomes

On successful completion of the module students will have demonstrated the following learning outcomes relevant to the subject:
1. Derive and discuss optimal equilibria in transport
2. Assess the efficiency of outcomes relative to theoretical optimum
3. Explain and apply the concepts of transport user monetary and time costs
4. Calculate elasticities and marginal concepts and apply these to the analysis of transport demand and supply
5. Describe and critique analytical methods used in understanding demand and costs in transport economics
6. Apply the transport economics concepts and models to analyse real world problems

Skills Learning Outcomes

On successful completion of the module students will have demonstrated the following skills learning outcomes:
7. Skills in numeracy and literacy, including the interpretation and analysis of mathematical models.
8. Academic writing skills – the ability to write in a clear, concise, and focused manner.
9. Critical thinking skills – the ability to evaluate different arguments.

Syllabus

Details of the syllabus will be provided on the Minerva organisation (or equivalent) for the module

Teaching Methods

Delivery type Number Length hours Student hours
Lecture 9 2 18
Seminar 2 2 4
Private study hours 128
Total Contact hours 22
Total hours (100hr per 10 credits) 150

Opportunities for Formative Feedback

- Progress monitoring is by means of problem sets and in-class discussions.
- A 2hr workshop session is held in Week 4 which covers problems set in Week 1 and allows students to gain feedback on their workings and solutions.
- Written feedback is given on the coursework assignment, providing formative feedback ahead of the online time-limited assessment.
- A 2hr revision session for the OTLA is also held at the end of the semester in which students are able to receive feedback on their answers to example questions.
- Students may also choose to submit a formative non-credit bearing essay to get feedback.

Methods of Assessment

Coursework
Assessment type Notes % of formal assessment
Assignment Coursework 33
Assignment Online Time-Limited Assessment 67
Total percentage (Assessment Coursework) 100

Normally resits will be assessed by the same methodology as the first attempt, unless otherwise stated

Reading List

The reading list is available from the Library website

Last updated: 03/10/2024

Errors, omissions, failed links etc should be notified to the Catalogue Team