The bar chart illustrates the changes in funds being used by governments on roads and transport in four countries: Italy, Portugal, the UK, and the USA between 1990 to 2005.
Overall, it is noticeable that all countries saw a significant changes and a clear reduction in the government spending on roads and transports by 2005 compared to 1990.
With regard to Italy and Portugal, both countries start at relatively high percentage in 1990, with Italy standing at 20% and Portugal slightly higher at 27%. Italy witnessed a gradual decline over the next decade, decrease to around 17% in 1995 and further to 13% by 2000. However, unlike Portugal, Italy experienced the modest rebound, increasing slightly to 14% in 2005. Sharing the similar trends, Portugal saw a marked drop over the same period, from 26% in 1990 then down to 18% and finally 16% in 2005.
On the other hand, the UK and the USA have a lower spending level in 1990, at approximately 12% and 14%, respectively. The UK started at about 12% in 1990, but quickly have a dramatic drop, reaching a trough of just 6% in 2000 – only a half of the USA’s spending level at that time. However, it have a slight recovery back to 7% within the final 5 years. Meanwhile, the USA experienced some fluctuation over times and remain steadily at around 13%.