Transport and logistics facilities expansion and social sustainability: A critical discussion and findings from the City of Gothenburg

• Ports’ importance for international trade and for local, regional, and national economies is often empha-sized by port authorities, governments, and the business community alike. The argument goes that the port has to grow for domestic industry to be competitive internationally and against other ports with over-lapping hinterland. At the same time, port growth also generates more freight to be transported and stored, putting stress on the city, its urban landscape and social sustainability. The aim of this report is to contribute with a critical discussion concerning the relationship between investments and expansions in [transport] infrastructure and logistics facilities, national and local policies, and social sustainability. The point of departure is that the port-city relationship is multifaceted and difficult to delimit spatially, but needs to include factors such as institutions, governance, democratic planning processes, transparency, and citizen participation. The management of road and rail links and the siting and management of ma-jor nodal facilities such as port terminals and warehouses is crucial in this balance. This concern has both a very local neighbourhood dimension and a wider urban dimension. At the local level, the direct interface with communities and the urban landscape is at stake, while at the metropolitan scale, the impact of freight networks and infrastructure on urban structure and performance is important. The work is funded by the Foundation for Economic Research in West Sweden.

Ämnesord

SAMHÄLLSVETENSKAP  -- Ekonomi och näringsliv -- Företagsekonomi (hsv//swe)

SOCIAL SCIENCES  -- Economics and Business -- Business Administration (hsv//eng)

Nyckelord

Urban logistics

Port centric logistics

Social sustainability

Sustainable transport

Publikations- och innehållstyp

vet (ämneskategori)

rap (ämneskategori)