Evaluation of the transport infrastructure in Spain and development of a methodology to assess the cost and benefits of transport infrastructure investments.

General objectives

In its 2017 Country-Specific Recommendations, the Council urged Spain to «undertake a comprehensive expenditure review in order to identify possible areas for improving spending efficiency» (CSR 1). 2018 Country report noted some progress in the implementation of this recommendation as the Spanish Autoridad Independiente de Responsabilidad Fiscal (AIReF) had been commissioned by the government to carry out the Spending Review. The assignment extends over the years 2018 to 2020. The action plan for the 2019 review includes the topic of transport infrastructure.

The review of transport infrastructure spending includes:

I. A general analysis of the transport infrastructure investment framework in Spain, with three specific objectives:
a) assessing the legal framework and existing analytical tools supporting public infrastructure investments decision-making in Spain, including benchmarking with selected countries;
b) assessing the transport infrastructure in Spain and the economic, social and environmental impact of transport infrastructure investments over the period 1986-2016;
c) developing a methodology to assess the economic, social and environmental impact of transport infrastructure investments, and transfers aiming at increasing connectivity and reducing mobility costs.

II. Three cost-benefit analyses on:
a) The high-speed railways investments,
b) Suburban railways investments,
c) Transfers aiming to ensure an adequate level of connectivity between non-peninsular territories (Baleares, Canarias, Ceuta and Melilla) and Mainland Spain and facilitate mobility of residents in these territories.

The Fundación de Estudios de Economía Aplicada (FEDEA) and its director of infrastructure research, Profesor Ginés de Rus were comissioned to carry out the research of the three Cost-Benefit Analyses and the specific objective of I.c.

Technical details

Project code: ECO2016-80268-R.
Participating entities: AIREF (Autoridad Independiente de Responsabilidad Fiscal), IVIE (Instituto Valenciano de Investigaciones Económicas) and FEDEA (Fundación de Estudios de Economía Aplicada).
Collaborating or Sponsoring entities: Structural Reform Support Service of the European Commission.
Time period: June 2019 – January 2020.

Researchers and Associate Personal

Ginés de Rus Mendoza, Pilar Socorro Quevedo, Javier Campos Méndez, Jorge Valido Quintana, Dan Graham, Per-Olov Johansson and Armando Ortuño Padilla.

Archivos y Documentos

PART I: Methodology for the cost-benefit analysis of transport projects and policies. (AIReF Project)

PART II: Cost-benefit analysis of railway projects: high-speed lines and suburban lines. (AIRef Project)

PART III: Cost-benefit analysis of transfers to residents in air transport. (AIReF Project)

Sponsors and Partners