Leader: Elisabetta Venezia (UNIBA); Other collaborator(s):
A distributive justice discussion on who benefits from the transport investments is relevant for the allocation of substantial public funds to be directed to infrastructure investments, and for the relevant decision-making processes. Transport infrastructures can substantially change the organization of urban space, making it crucial to evaluate whether local governments mobilize these resources in a way to redress or reinforce existing patterns of urban inequality, especially by considering elderly needs. The contribution of this task is given by theapplication of Social Return on Investments (SROI), by focusing on population structure, and measuring the distributive effects of public interventions in selected relevant geographical areas.
Brief description of the activities and of the intermediate results
November 2023 - March 2024. In this period we have worked on finalizing the experimental design aimed at investigating the effects of cognitive biases in affecting beliefs and individuals choices within the political environment, also considering its relation with the age of the individuals. The implementation of the experiment will be made by an external agency, and the purchase of this service has been formally approved by the Department of Economics' council at Ca' Foscari University in March 2024.
The research focus has been on the sustainable mobility of the elderly population, both active and passive, with reference to the European area. The approach has been distinctly methodological and considered sustainability as a key priority. For these purposes, specific composite indicators have been structured and compared to take into account the key mobility variables in terms of infrastructures dedicated to the mobility of the elderly and the consequent services that this population cluster can benefit from. The idea is to be able to at a representation of the reality that puts sustainable development in terms of equity at the center. This approach provides the basis for monitoring the sustainability of mobility relating to the European area in the light of United Nations Sustainable Development Goals.
The research activity continued by exploiting the structuring of new indicators related to the creation of infrastructures and provision of services for the elderly population and the collection of some specific data and the finalization of a final sample survey to detect mobility habits and needs. Some redistributive effects were measured in a logic of social justice. These results were presented in some events, among which those held at the United Nations in New York.
1. “The distributive dimension of social justice: accessibility of the elderly to the transport system”, United Nations, CSW69, International Workshop Ageing well in an ageing society: analysis of population structure and specific needs in a sustainable view, New York, 17 March 2025.
2. “Gender Indicators and Equity Measurement”, WSIS ICG, United Nations HQ, CSW69 side event, Digital Gender Mainstreaming. Advancing Equity in the Digital Era, New York, 20 March 2025.
3. “Governance frameworks and current challenges. The food-energy-water nexus”, United Nations, CSW69, Water Governance and Gender: towards and integrated management of water resources, New York, 14 March 2025.
In the relevant period, the research on sustainable mobility of the older population and its links with justice and accessibility to services was continued.
Seven contributions were presented in relevant national and international conferences:
1. Dis-4Change – Biennial International Conference, Bari, 24 Jubne 2025: “Urban Sustainable Mobility and The Elderly: A Policy Brief”.
2. ITS STI Canada 2025 – Unlocking Policy, Playbooks & People, Ottawa, 21–23 May 2025: “Distributive effects of transport infrastructures for the elderly: composite indicators”
3. International Symposium on Sustainable Mobility, Cracovia, 16 May 2025:“Benefits of a SUMP: providing accessibility for all”.
4. 2nd Biennial UNICART Trade, Economy & Finance Conference, Arcavacata di Rende (CS), 7–9 May 2025: “Equity and Sustainability: the Economic and Societal Role of Transport Infrastructures for the Elderly”.
5. WiMIT – Women in Mobility, Infrastructure, Transport, 29 aprile 2025 (online): “La mobilità sostenibile, la popolazione anziana e gli indicatori compositi”.
6. 15th International Scientific Conference of Business Faculty, Durazzo, 23–24 April 2025:
“A policy brief for the decision-making choices: the elderly and social justice in the transport sector”
7. AIMAS 2025, Petralia Soprana, 10–12 April 2025: “Distributive Effects of Transport Infrastructures for the Elderly: Sustainability, Equity, and Accessibility”.
Publications:
“The Elderly Mobility and Sustainable Development Goals: Composite Indicators for European Countries”, Transportation Research Procedia, vol. 90, pp. 671–677, DOI: 10.1016/j.trpro.2025.06.093
“Equity and sustainability: the economic and social role of transport infrastructures for the elderly”, in Proceedings Book of the 2nd UNICART International Conference, IARC-ETQA Publishers, ISBN 978-2-931089-50-7
(Forthcoming) Sustainable Mobility and Accessibility: Emerging Trends and Policy Challenges Towards Gender Issues and Ageing Population” Special Issue of European Scientific Journal.