--- canonical_url: "https://csls.ca/research/the-impact-of-transport-infrastructure-on-productivity-in-canada/" title: "The Impact of Transport Infrastructure on Productivity in Canada" author: name: "CSLS" url: "https://csls.ca/author/cslc/" date_published: "2026-07-02T10:13:21+00:00" date_modified: "2026-07-02T10:13:21+00:00" post_type: "research" summary: "" post_tag: - "Canada" - "Cobb-Douglas" - "highways" - "infrastructure investment" - "production function" - "productivity" - "railways" - "transport infrastructure" country_focus: - "Canada" province_region: - "National" research_theme: - "Productivity and Economic Measurement" - "Sector/Industry Analysis" featured_image: "https://csls.ca/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/old-reports_hero_banner_bg.webp" status: "publish" --- # The Impact of Transport Infrastructure on Productivity in Canada Canonical URL: https://csls.ca/research/the-impact-of-transport-infrastructure-on-productivity-in-canada/ # The Impact of Transport Infrastructure on Productivity in Canada [Download full PDF report](https://csls.ca/pdf/csls2022-02-1.pdf) Cite this report × Cite this report as: Jacques-Arvisais, Paskynel, and Simon Lapointe. 2022. “The Impact of Transport Infrastructure on Productivity in Canada.” CSLS Research Report 2022-02. Ottawa: Centre for the Study of Living Standards. https://csls.ca/research/the-impact-of-transport-infrastructure-on-productivity-in-canada/ ## Authors: - Paskynel Jacques-Arvisais Centre for the Study of Living Standards (CSLS) - Simon Lapointe Centre for the Study of Living Standards (CSLS) ## Report 2022-02 February 2022 45 pages ## Related research [Measuring the Appropriate Outcomes for Better Decision-Making: A Framework to Guide the Analysis of Health Policy Matthew Calver March 2016 | Report 2016-03 | 132 pages](https://csls.ca/research/measuring-the-appropriate-outcomes-for-better-decision-making-a-framework-to-guide-the-analysis-of-health-policy-2016-03/) [Living Standards Domain of the Canadian Index of Wellbeing Andrew Sharpe, Christopher Ross November 2011 | Report 2011-17 | 124 pages](https://csls.ca/research/living-standards-domain-of-the-canadian-index-of-wellbeing-2011-17/) [Productivity: Key to Economic Success Centre for the Study of Living Standards (CSLS) March 1998 | Report 1998-01 | 99 pages](https://csls.ca/research/productivity-key-to-economic-success/) [Apprenticeship in Canada: A Training System Under Siege? 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We estimate different specifications of a static Cobb-Douglas production function (in levels and in differences). The impact of highway infrastructure is mixed. For the 1997-2018 period a higher stock of highways does not translate into higher productivity for the business sector, But from 2009 to 2018, the impact of highways is positive and statistically significant, when we account for province-specific characteristics. The long run elasticity of output with respect to railway lines is statistically significant and quite large (0.27). For this type of infrastructure, then, our results are more conclusive and point to a positive impact of railways on output and productivity. Cette étude examine la relation entre les infrastructures de transport et la production et la productivité au Canada. Nous estimons différentes spécifications d’une fonction de production statique de Cobb-Douglas (en niveaux et en différences). L’incidence des infrastructures routières est mitigée. Pour la période 1997-2018, un stock plus élevé d’autoroutes ne se traduit pas par une productivité plus élevée pour le secteur des entreprises. Mais de 2009 à 2018, l’incidence des autoroutes est positive et statistiquement significative lorsque l’on tient compte des caractéristiques propres à chaque province. L’élasticité à long terme de la production par rapport aux lignes ferroviaires est statistiquement significative et plutôt élevée (0,27). Pour ce type d’infrastructure, nos résultats sont donc plus concluants et indiquent une incidence positive des chemins de fer sur la production et la productivité. [Download full PDF report](https://csls.ca/pdf/csls2022-02-1.pdf)