DEVELOPMENT OF POLICY SENSITIVE MODEL FOR FORECASTING FREIGHT DEMAND. REPORT ON PHASE 1

Freight transport demand is a matter that has received less than its share of attention both in the theoretical literature and in actual practice. The barriers to the development of appropriate freight transport demand forecasting techniques are developed and explained and methods for overcoming these barriers are suggested. The role of data both in the formulation and the use of the use of the model is explained. Finally, a list of criteria for desirable features of a demand model are developed. Appendices present the specification of a model currently under development at MIT and a short review of the literature.