Assessing the economic and environmental impacts of improved accessibility: A spatial CGE approach to the Marrakech-Fès highway project in Morocco

This paper assesses the national and regional impacts of the Marrakech–Fès highway project in Morocco using a Spatial Computable General Equilibrium (SCGE) model combined with GIS-based road network data. The analysis captures how improved connectivity alters economic performance and emissions patterns across space and time. Results show that while overall economic gains are modest, the benefits are unevenly distributed—favoring provinces along the highway corridor and adjacent inland regions. These areas experience enhanced accessibility, stronger integration into national markets, and sustained growth over time. However, the environmental effects diverge short-term efficiency gains lead to lower emissions, while long-run economic expansion increases carbon intensity in high-growth regions. The project contributes to slight reductions in regional income disparities but does not significantly reduce spatial inequalities in emissions. The findings highlight the need for infrastructure policies that are not only growth-enhancing but also environmentally sustainable, particularly in emerging logistics hubs and transition regions.