Date of Defense

12-15-2023

Date of Graduation

12-2024

Department

Economics

First Advisor

Susan Pozo

Second Advisor

Thomas Kostrzewa

Abstract

In today’s world where globalization is rapidly growing, the role of an effective transportation system is crucial for societal and economic advancement. Among the various modes of travel, high-speed rail has emerged as a transformative force, reshaping the landscape of intercity connectivity, economic progress, and environmental sustainability. You would expect that the United States, as one of the most developed countries in the world, would have huge advancements in their high-speed rail systems for better travel choices and improved mobility for their citizens. However, it is found that the United States only has two high-speed rails currently operating and two in-progress. The concept of high-speed rail in the United States is not as popular compared to other developed countries such as Japan, China, Korea, and the European countries. Therefore, this thesis aims to investigate the factors affecting the advancement of high-speed rail in the United States.

For this thesis, we will use the Supply and Demand Model in Economics as the foundation of our research. This is because the supply and demand model can help conceptualize the market of high-speed rail services in United States. It can also help us assess the probability of investing in the development of high-speed rail systems. To determine the supply of high-speed rail services, we will investigate the cost of building, operating, and maintaining a high-speed rail. To determine the demand for high-speed rail services, we will compare the population density of United States with different countries and the population density of the areas along the HSR lines in each country. We will also look at the competition between alternative transportation methods, and the automobile culture in the United States.

Comments

Co-authored with Jessica Rumfaker

Access Setting

Honors Thesis-Open Access

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Defense Presentation

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