Bookstore

Efficient measurement plays a vital role in any sort of production but there is a dearth of both applications and in-depth research relating to the container port industry. This book analyzes the relationship between ownership, competition and port efficiency by applying traditional theories in industrial organization and examining them empirically. It is the first to conduct comprehensive comparisons of alternative approaches to efficiency measurement for the industry. This original work makes an important contribution to the establishment of central government policy on port investment, policy and governance.

Container Port Production and Economic Efficiency

List of Tables List of Figures PART 1: INTRODUCTION The Importance of the Container Port Industry Performance Measurement, Productivity and Efficiency Problem Statement Objectives Organisation of the Book PART 2: THE ECONOMIC THEORY OF CONTAINER PORT PRODUCTION Introduction The Economic Functions of Ports and their Evolution The Container Port Industry: The Challenge of Complexity The Challenge from other Market Players Traditional Theories of Industrial Market Structure Port Competition Summary PART 3: ALTERNATIVE APPROACHES TO EFFICIENCY MEASUREMENT Background Notation and Symbols Used Data Envelopment Analysis (DEA) Free Disposal Hull (FDH) Analysis Econometric Approaches Using Cross-sectional Data Econometric Approaches Using Panel Data Empirical Comparisons of Alternative Approaches to Efficiency Estimation Performance Measurement and Efficiency Analysis in the Container Port Industry Summary PART 4: MODEL SPECIFICATION AND DATA Introduction A Procedure for Efficiency Measurement Port Objectives Definition of Variables Model Specification Data Collection Summary PART 5: EMPIRICAL RESULTS AND ANALYSIS Introduction Cross-sectional Data Analysis Panel Data Analysis Summary PART 6: A THEORY OF CONTAINER PORT PRODUCTION AND ITS EMPIRICAL VALIDATION Introduction Testing the Hypotheses Summary PART 7: CONCLUSIONS AND FURTHER RESEARCH Introduction A Summary of Major Research Contributions Recommendations for Further Research References Appendices