The contribution of transport infrastructure to economic activity: The case of Belgium

Based on aggregate growth modelling and a causality test, some error-correction models are estimated using annual data for Belgium. They reveal that for Belgium GDP per capita is not only positively impacted by traditional indicators such as the openness of the Belgian economy, the rate of investment as a whole, and technological change, but also by the length of the motorways, the rail network and the investments in port infrastructure. As a consequence the evaluation of new transport infrastructure projects should take into account this contribution to economic growth.