Multimodal infrastructure, transport networks and the international relocation of firms

This paper outlines the relevance of multimodal transport infrastructure for the locational behaviour of multinational firms. Particular attention is given to foot‐loose firms from the viewpoint of desired infrastructural provisions. An empirical analysis is used to highlight the importance of infrastructure networks for long‐range freight transport and for policy strategies aiming at coping with the phenomenon of the multinational firm. The results indicate that financial barriers and institutional inertia impede the desired development of intermodal and terminal infrastructure, whereas multinational firms recently settled in the Netherlands experience much less barriers in infrastructural provisions.

Keywords:

• Transport networks
• multimodal transport
• infrastructure provision
• locational behaviour
• multinational firms