Some socio-economic impacts of toll roads in rural China

This paper investigates the impact of road tolling in rural China. The country's lack of capital for transport development has made tolls common place. Toll roads have been established in both urban and rural areas. Examining the interactions between peasants and rural markets in a county in Guangdong province, this study demonstrated road tolling has restricted people's choice of market venues by blocking the free movement of people between towns. Indeed, road tolling has delayed economic benefits created by transport improvements.