Dr Alberto M Zanni

I have joined the OU in 2021 as an Associate Lecturer and became a Lecturer and Staff Tutor in 2025. I also work, on a consultancy basis, for the University of Kent and the Free University of Bolzano/Bozen (Italy).

Previously, I worked at SOAS - Cedep (Centre for Environment, Development and Policy), the University of Kent, (Department of Economics), Loughborough University (Transport Studies Group - School of Civil and Building Engineering) and at Imperial College London (Wye Campus) where I obtained my PhD in Economics. 

I have an MSc in Agri-environmenal economics from the University of Montpellier I and ENSAM (Ecole Nationale Superieure Agronomique Montpellier) and a first degree in economics from the University of Modena and Reggio Emilia (Italy). 

At the OU, I have been working on DD226 (Economics in Practice) and DD309/320 (Doing Economics). I am also part of the module team of DD125 (You and your personal finance). 

I am a transport and environmental economist and I have worked on a diverse portfolio of policy-relevant research and consultancy projects, in highly multi-disciplinary teams. I have looked at ways to reduce a range of environmental externalities from both personal and freight transport, at how the ‘users’ element of the transport and mobility systems can adapt to climate change, and explored people’s preferences for complex environmental assets.

More specifically, my work has looked at the following topics, among others: freight carbon emissions in London, public acceptability and potential behavioural effects of environmental and transport policy schemes, valuation of noise externalities from transport sources, extreme weather impact on transport infrastructure and demand, surface access to airports and airports expansion, the potential of alternative fuel and fuelling infrastructure for freight usage, demand for new transport services, determinants of cycling, travel to school, economic valuation of different elements of street design.

I am currently working on preferences for rural landscapes, the transport system in the Maldives Islands and sustainable travel to and within small islands in the Mediterranean. 

I have also been involved in practical transport projects and, in 2021, was awarded the Individual Contribution to Sustainable Transport Award by Modeshift (an agency of the Department for Transport) for my commitment to a school street scheme. 

Publications in academic journals

Van Ruymbeke, K., Zanni, A.M., Bailey, A., Davidova, S., Bakucs, Z., Mathijs, E., Vranken, L. (2026). Valuing the view: Public preferences for aesthetic qualities of agricultural landscapes across Europe. Journal of Rural Studies 123, 104037. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jrurstud.2026.104037

 Botes, C.M., Zanni, A.M. (2021) Trees, ground vegetation, sidewalks, cycleways: users’ preferences and economic values for different elements of an urban street—a case study in Taipei. Environmental Economics and Policy Studies, vol. 23:145-171

Zanni, A.M., Goulden, M., Ryley, T., Dingwall, R. (2017) Improving scenario methods in infrastructure planning: A case study of long-distance travel and mobility in the UK under extreme weather uncertainty and a changing climate. Technological Forecasting and Social Change, vol. 115:180-193

Zanni, A.M. and Ryley, T. (2015) The impact of extreme weather conditions on long distance travel behaviour Transportation Research Part A: Policy and Practice, vol. 77: 305-319

Ryley, T. and Zanni, A. M. (2015) Surface access issues at a regional airport in the UK: the case study of Robin Hood Airport Doncaster Sheffield (RHADS), International Journal of Aviation Management, vol. 2:241-255

Ryley, T., Stanley, P., Enoch, M., Zanni, A. M., Quddus, M. (2014) A survey-based evaluation of the potential for Demand Responsive Transport as a form of sustainable local public transport, Research in Transportation Economics, vol. 48: 364-372

Kirk, J. L, Bristow, A. L., Zanni, A. M. (2014) Exploring the market for Compressed Natural Gas light commercial vehicles in the UK. Transportation Research Part D: Transport and Environment,  vol. 29:22-31.

Ryley, T. J. and Zanni, A. M. (2013) An examination of the relationship between social interactions and travel uncertainty. Journal of Transport Geography, vol. 31:249-257

Zanni A. M., Bristow A. L., Wardman M. (2013) The potential behavioural effect of personal carbon trading: results from an experimental survey. Journal of Environmental Economics and Policy, vol. 2: 222-243

Ryley T., Elmirghani J., Budd T., Miyoshi C., Mason K., Moxon R., Ahmed I., Qazi B., Zanni A. M. (2013) Sustainable development and airport surface access – the role of technological innovation and behavioural change. Sustainability, vol. 5: 1617-1631

Walsh C. L., Dawson R. J., Hall J. W., Barr S. L., Batty M., Bristow A. L., Carney S.,  Dagoumas A., Ford A. C., Harpham C., Tight M. R., Watters H., Zanni A. M. (2011) Assessment of climate change mitigation & adaptation in cities. Proceedings of the Institution of Civil Engineers: Urban Design and Planning, vol. 164: 75-84

Bristow A. L, Wardman, M., Zanni, A. M., Chintakayala, P. V. (2010) Public acceptability of personal carbon trading and carbon tax. Ecological Economics, vol. 69: 1824-1837

Zanni A. M. and Bristow A. L. (2010) Emissions of CO₂ from road freight transport in London: trends and policies for long run reduction. Energy Policy, vol. 38:1774-1786

Zanni A. M., Bailey A., Davidova S. (2008) Analysis of vocational and residential preferences of rural population: application of an experimental technique to rural Slovenia. Spatial Economic Analysis, vol. 3: 89-114