The employment impact of airport infrastructure : a critical assessment

Abstract

"This paper deals with the influence of airport infrastructure on employment. The employment effects are divided into direct, indirect, induced and so called catalytic ones. After considering the theoretical impacts we assess the empirical works on this topic. These have to be distinguished between studies for single airports and those testing the influence in a general framework. In Germany the most prominent method is the input-output-analysis. We find out a wide range in the results concerning the multiplier effects on employment. Furthermore constant, diminishing or raising effects were found. Because of these results the reliability of these studies is questionable. The second kind of studies based on production functions and employment functions find positive effects of airport infrastructure on employment in the service sector in the US. But there are also results that show a negative influence in the industry sector. Most importantly the relationship is unclear in the macroeconomic perspective. For determining the overall effect of airport infrastructure on employment one has to strike a balance between positive effects in the airport region and potential negative impacts in other regions due to leeching behavior." (Author's abstract, IAB-Doku) ((en))

Cite article

Bogai, D. & Wesling, M. (2011): Beschäftigungseffekte von Großflughäfen. Eine kritische Bestandsaufnahme. In: Review of regional research, Vol. 31, No. 1, p. 75-91. DOI:10.1007/s10037-011-0049-7