Un modello per la determinazione del costo standard nei servizi di trasporto pubblico locale su autobus in Italia°

We estimate the standard costs in the Italian local bus transport system by means of a top down approach. Commercial speed results the most important cost driver, while economies of scale are low and only present in the case of small transport operators. Medium sized and large operators exhibit diseconomies of scale. We find a positive correlation between investments in bus fleet and service cost. The model aims at introducing policy criteria for the allocation of public funds earmarked to the local public transit sector among Italian regions.