Can you help me answer this or make a response to this post? I also need to ask an open-ended or a challenging question at the end. Thanks!

I believe that the author of this weeks reading found it necessary to compare the European and North American systems because both are well established and have maintained processes. In comparison to other countries around the world, it is safe to say that the European and North American transportation systems are the most established and regulated. While they have a lot of similarities as far as being well established and maintained, they also have an abundance of differences. I think the author found it important to focus on the two because they really are so different and its worth pointing it out. Things like culture, modes of transportation and even age of cities plays a factor in the differences between the two. A notable difference is the superior public transportation provided by the European industry. In North America our public transportation isnt nearly as nice or equipped as it is in Europe. People travel by rail way more frequently and easily in Europe and there are tons of stops making it accessible from city to city. However, in North America there are a lack of options. A bright line train just began operation in my area but even still the closest station is an hour away so it still isnt a feasible option. So, in my opinion, yes the two transportation systems really are that different.

Costs of transportation impacts global trade because the cost of transporting goods is factored into the price of an item. If the cost of transportation increases, then so does the price of the goods. Money has to come from somewhere in order to pay increased transportation fees. Unfortunately, that comes out of the consumer's pocket.