40 Years On

摘要

There were four founding members of the Journal but I write this memoir as the sole survivor and the only remaining link between the present publication and its birth 40 years ago. All journals start as an idea, which develops through discussion into collaboration, which then grows and spreads. The 'idea' surfaced in March 1966 when I met Denys Munby, Fellow of Nuffield College, Oxford. We discussed the exciting work taking place in transport economics, especially in England, with the application of cost-benefit analysis, the theoretical and practical development of road pricing, and the immense possibilities of quantitative analysis opened up by computers. We knew there were many papers and articles looking for publication and we deplored the lack of opportunities to publicise such work. There were the established journals on economics but they could not offer much space to one corner of their subject. A specialized journal dedicated to transport economics was needed. We also felt that in order to attract the interest of the transport industry and transport users, and not just academic economists, the journal should forge a strong link between economics and policy. The title, Journal of Transport Economics and Policy was chosen to reflect this intention.