Albania in Transition: International Assistance for Roads but not Public Transport

摘要

It is well known that international financing of enormous road projects in developing countries, justified primarily on "economic" grounds, has fueled the rapid growth in private automobile use with grave environmental consequences. During the transition to a market economy after the fall of communism, Albania has been the recipient of substantial amounts of foreign assistance in the transport sector, which has taken two forms in the capital, Tirana: (1) Technical assistance and funding for the preparation of numerous urban transportation plans and studies, mostly by foreign consultants (2) Financial aid for the implementation of various road infrastructure projects but not for public transport. This paper reviews the outcomes of this assistance.