Abstract
A methodology to estimate current commodity inflows to a substate region using a variant of the standard regional input-output model and commodity flow data from the 1993 Commodity Flow Survey is presented. Existing data in the Commodity Flow Survey do not go below the state level, making the estimation of commodity flows to a particular substate region difficult. By combining state-level commodity flow data with a “supply-side,” commodity-by-industry input-output model, an estimate of commodity flows to a region can be carried out based on the region’s existing industrial structure. The information on current commodity inflows is particularly useful for analyzing the total potential demand that might be captured by a new mode or service. For example, one application could be estimating the potential for air cargo shipments to an area that is not currently served by local air cargo.