Investigating the relationship between Traffic safety and economic growth in Iran

Subject Areas : Applied Economics

نادر  مهرگان ¹ (مسئول مکاتبات)
علی اکبر  قلی‌زاده ² (ندارد)
فریبرز  محمدی ³ (ندارد)

Received: 2011-10-05 Accepted : 2011-11-22 Published : 2010-12-22

Keywords: Road Accidents, Kuznets Hypothesis, Per Capita Income, Investment in Roads, Infrastructure, Kuznets curve,

Abstract :

Road accidents and casualties resulting from the current one of thechallenges communities, which have large economic costs on the economy hasforced countries. Comparison of aspects of development of countries, mostvictims of this crisis in developing countries make up. Unfortunately, Iran isamong the countries where the rate of accidents caused by inattention tosafety principles and other related factors has always ascending; so thatcurrent statistics show the severity of this issue in Iran.This study, aim to evaluate the relationship between road accidents andeconomic indicators in the form of the Environmental Kuznets hypothesis(EKC). Based on the hypothesis, the road mortality rate increases in the earlystages of economic growth and ultimately decreases because of technicalprogress, increasing in capital investment and improve care medical. Theresults show that the relationship between road accidents and per capitaincome is inverted U shape, and actually the Kuznets hypothesis hasconfirmed by Iranian data. The results also indicated that the capitalinvestment in the roads, making safe cars and education have an importantrole in reducing road accidents.