Sustainability of Tunisia's road transport: is there an environmental Kuznets curve for negative externalities?

Rafaa Mraihi (), Riadh Harizi and Sondes Alaouia

International Journal of Business Performance and Supply Chain Modelling, 2014, vol. 6, issue 3/4, 298-314

Abstract: Negative externalities of transport sector in Tunisia have become serious problems for the environment and population. This article discusses the sustainability of this sector with the application of the environmental Kuznets curve model to a developing country like Tunisia over the period from 1989 to 2008. Results indicate an inverted U-shape relationship for all selected negative externalities: road energy consumption, road accidents, and urban traffic-related air pollutants (sulphur dioxide, suspended particulate and carbon dioxide) except a downward curve with L-shaped for nitrogen dioxide. Analysis of mobility behaviour shows that use of private vehicles increases with the amelioration of the purchasing power, life style and mobility behaviour in Tunisia's mega cities. Given the scarcity of financial resources of the country to develop rail infrastructure, it would be more convenient to apply economic and fiscal instruments to discourage the use of private cars and encourage group travel.

Keywords: transport energy consumption; road accidents; air pollution; environmental Kuznets curve; transport externalities; Tunisia; negative externalities; road transport; sustainability; greening; developing countries; emerging economies; sulphur dioxide; SO2; carbon dioxide; carbon emissions; CO2; suspended particulates; nitrogen dioxide; NO2; mobility behaviour; urban traffic; private vehicles usage; lifestyle; purchasing power; private car; car usage; group travel incentives. (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2014
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