The article discusses how decisions about transportation are made by various groups like individuals, businesses, and the government. To make good decisions, it is important to consider the social and economic impacts of these choices. Just looking at a country's wealth (GNP/capita) is not enough because it doesn't consider things like the environment or fairness. The researchers argue that it's crucial to have accurate information about how decisions about transportation affect society as a whole. This means looking beyond just money to understand the bigger picture when planning transportation systems.