System overview
Economy and public finance
The economy describes the scale of national activity. Public finance records the money available for construction and operations. They influence one another, but they are not the same number.
Start with this cycle
- 01Population and cities
Population and development create demand for travel, production and public services.
- 02Transport investment
Infrastructure improves connections while creating construction, maintenance and operating costs.
- 03Economy and tax base
Stronger fundamentals support economic activity and influence the basis for public revenue.
- 04Budget choices
Available funds determine whether a nation can build, maintain its network and service debt.
Economy collection
How the economy fits together
Start with the complete cycle connecting population, transport, economic activity and public finance.
GDP, population and development
Understand how national scale, capability, resources and transport service combine into economic activity.
Where public money comes from
Separate recurring support, service-related earnings, one-time funding and borrowing.
What your transport network costs
Follow construction, maintenance, depreciation, renewal, upgrades, demolition and debt across an asset’s life.
Travel demand, traffic and capacity
See how passenger and freight demand choose routes, consume capacity and become congestion or served movement.
Tolls, fares and traveller choices
Learn how charges enter route choice, when pricing diverts or suppresses travel, and how each mode charges.
Loans and financial resilience
Understand borrowing limits, interest and principal, and how to keep the fund resilient through renewal cycles.
Reading the economy dashboard
Finish with the panels: which question each one answers, and a monthly reading order for the whole economy.