Eficiencia portuaria y modelos de gobernanza

Abstract

Maritime transport is strongly influenced by the evolution of the economy and world trade. Industrial activity, economic production, merchandise trade and maritime transport grow at different speeds, but all these factors ultimately depend on the evolution of the world economy. On the other hand, logistics performance is one of the key factors in international trade, since economies with a higher level of logistics development grow faster, and therefore are more competitive and efficient. The interest of the subject is that it allows evaluating the convenience of carrying out new investments in infrastructures and port facilities that improve the living conditions of the population and the efficiency of ports. In this doctoral thesis, two models are estimated. The first studies the effects on GDP per capita of changes in containerized maritime transport and a set of socio-economic variables of the countries analyzed using panel data and making the suitable estimates (fixed effects and panel corrected standard errors). This study reveals that the movement of containerized goods has a positive impact on GDP growth per capita (in Purchasing Parity Power expressed in constant 2011 dollars). The second model used a stochastic frontier analysis, in which the effects caused by the existence of gantry cranes and mobile cranes as determinants of port inefficiency are analyzed and the technical efficiency of each port is calculated. In addition, variables such as the frequency of scales or governance systems are introduced within the boundary function. The originality of the analysis carried out in this thesis differs from the work carried out to date, in the geographical area selected, in the choice of the temporary period, in focusing the study on containerized goods, in the specification of the type of cranes used and, finally, in the introduction of trade agreements and port governance.