Neil Mansfield Award Winner 2026

As a PhD Research Fellow at Nord University in Norway, my research explores sustainable public transport, with a particular interest in how transport policies shape mobility patterns and generate wider societal and economic outcomes. At the European Transport Conference 2026, I presented my research on one of Norway’s most distinctive recent transport policies: the introduction of free ferry services on selected routes.

Receiving the Neil Mansfield Award was a great honor and an especially meaningful milestone for me as an early-career researcher. Beyond the recognition itself, the award reinforced my belief in the value of studying transport policies not only in terms of their immediate effects, but also through the broader questions they raise about accessibility, equity, and sustainable mobility.

Ferries are a lifeline for many coastal and rural communities in Norway. In many places, they are not simply an alternative mode of transport, but an integral part of the road network and of everyday life. When fares were removed from selected ferry routes in July 2022, the policy created a unique opportunity to ask a deceptively simple question: what happens to different travelers and society when the monetary cost of an essential transport connection disappears?

The study applies a difference-in-differences-in-differences framework to analyze and shows that the removal of ferry fares increased traffic, with particularly strong responses among smaller vehicles. It also examines how these effects vary across seasons and considers the wider welfare implications of the policy through changes in consumer surplus. More broadly, the research illustrates how a seemingly straightforward policy measure can generate complex behavioral responses and important questions concerning accessibility, distributional effects, and the long-term sustainability of public transport provision.

Presenting this paper at ETC and exchanging perspectives with researchers and practitioners from different countries was an incredibly rewarding experience. The discussions reminded me that transport research is most valuable when it bridges rigorous analysis with real-world policy challenges. Receiving the Neil Mansfield Award has given me further motivation to continue contributing to research that can support more informed, inclusive, and sustainable transport policy.