When it comes to container port efficiency, are all developing regions equal?

In this paper the authors carry out a container port performance analysis of the developing world between 2000 and 2010, using both parametric and nonparametric approaches. From a unique dataset – the authors' sample covers 70 developing countries, 203 ports, and 1750 data points–, the authors examine the evolution and drivers of productivity and efficiency changes across developing regions. The authors show that productivity growth rates between 2000 and 2010 vary significantly and that this heterogeneity is explained by pure efficiency changes rather than scale efficiency of technological changes. Therefore, the authors carry out a detailed efficiency analysis to determine the drivers of port efficiency. Time series results show an upward trend for port efficiency in developing regions, as it increased from 51 percent in 2000 to 61 percent in 2010. The authors' analysis indicates that private sector participation, the reduction of corruption in the public sector, improvements in liner connectivity and the existence of multimodal links increase the level of port efficiency in developing regions.

• Record URL:
  https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tra.2016.01.018
• Record URL:
  http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0965856416000276
• Availability:
  • Find a library where document is available. Order URL: http://worldcat.org/issn/09658564
• Supplemental Notes:
  • Abstract reprinted with permission of Elsevier.
• Authors:
  • Suárez-Alemán, Ancor
  • Morales Sarriera, Javier
  • Serebrisky, Tomás
  • Trujillo, Lourdes
• Publication Date: 2016-4

Language

• English

Media Info

• Media Type: Web
• Features: Appendices; Figures; References; Tables;
• Pagination: pp 56-77
• Serial:
  • Transportation Research Part A: Policy and Practice
  • Volume: 86
  • Publisher: Elsevier
  • ISSN: 0965-8564
  • Serial URL: http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/journal/09658564

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Benchmarks; Container terminals; Developing countries; Economic efficiency; Performance measurement; Port operations; Productivity
• Uncontrolled Terms: Performance analysis; Stochastic frontier analysis
• Subject Areas: Freight Transportation; Operations and Traffic Management; Planning and Forecasting; Terminals and Facilities;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 01597686
• Record Type: Publication
• Files: TRIS
• Created Date: Apr 28 2016 2:43PM