The Impact of Regional Liberalization and Harmonization in Road Transport Services: A Focus on Zambia and Lessons for Landlocked Countries

34 Pages Posted: 20 Apr 2016

See all articles by Gaël Raballand

Gaël Raballand

World Bank

Charles Kunaka

affiliation not provided to SSRN

Bo Giersing

affiliation not provided to SSRN

Date Written: January 1, 2008

Abstract

Based on a detailed empirical study, this paper argues that regional liberalization of trucking services has had an important effect on transport costs and tariffs for Zambia's economy. Zambia is a peculiar example in Southern Africa as it benefits from relatively low transport costs compared with other landlocked countries in Africa. This is mainly because of competition between Zambian and other regional, mainly South African, operators and because of South African investments in Zambia's trucking industry. As a result, the costs of operators registered in Zambia and South Africa are similar. The study also demonstrates that enhancing trucking interoperability in Southern Africa would significantly impact positively the Zambian trucking industry's competitiveness. The main measures to significantly increase trucking competitiveness in the region would more likely derive from reducing fuel costs in Zambia, improving border-post operations, and relaxing South African truck import rules.

Keywords: Transport Economics Policy & Planning, Rural Roads & Transport, Roads & Highways, Common Carriers Industry, Transport and Trade Logistics

Suggested Citation

Raballand, Gael and Kunaka, Charles and Giersing, Bo, The Impact of Regional Liberalization and Harmonization in Road Transport Services: A Focus on Zambia and Lessons for Landlocked Countries (January 1, 2008). World Bank Policy Research Working Paper No. 4482, Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=1086861

Gael Raballand

World Bank ( email )

1818 H street N.W.
Washington, DC 20433
United States

Charles Kunaka

affiliation not provided to SSRN

No Address Available

Bo Giersing (Contact Author)

affiliation not provided to SSRN

No Address Available