In economics, competition plays a regulatory function in balancing supply and demand: as competition increases, the price for similar goods and services is expected to decrease. As transportation agencies search for new, cost-effective ways to preserve existing infrastructure assets, our research shows how increasing inter-industry competition (meaning between firms who pave with material substitutes) can have an impact on the price of paving materials. The work suggests that the introduction of policies that promote industry-wide competition can potentially offer agencies a way to be more efficient with their financial resources.

Topic Summaries

• Industry Competition and Paving Material Unit Costs (August 2020)
• Measuring the Impact of Competition on Paving Material Prices (November 2017)

Research Briefs

• Improving Pavement Network Conditions Through Competition (October 2020)
• Estimating The Impact Of Competition (February 2016)

Peer-Reviewed Publications

• Swei, O., Miller, T.R, Akbarian, M., Gregory, J., and Kirchain, R. "Effects of Industry Competition in the Paving Sector.” Under Review.

Webinar Video

This webinar was presented on December 7, 2017. Click here for a list of upcoming webinars and additional webinar videos.