Neglected welfare aspects of Braess’ Paradox

A most spectacular example bearing upon transportation network design was constructed by Braess. According to his example, known also in the literature as Braess’ Paradox, an addition of a new arc to a transportation network, which should presumably speed up someone, instead, may actually slow everyone down. Braess’ illuminating result has understandably generated much interest among scholars who have expressed a great deal of concern about its implications for transportation network design.