Port Economics and Business

There is growing interest in the port economy in all its facets from the business world, political decision-making and scientific research. In a constantly evolving port environment, pertinent questions arise every day, concerning aspects of financing infrastructure and operations, competitiveness, productivity and horizontal and/or vertical cooperation. All actors involved want to know the economic consequences of decisions that are made, both in terms of commercial companies located within the port perimeter and in terms of the port authority or manager and the government. Port Economics and Business therefore attempts to fill this important gap.

All important aspects of port activities are analysed in an economic manner. The economic decisions of providers and users of port services are studied. All actors who use the port infrastructure in one way or another are explicitly discussed. As far as freight traffic is concerned, this involves shipping companies, transshipment and storage companies, land transport and all possible suppliers and service providers. For passenger traffic, in a similar way, this concerns ferry and cruise lines, terminal operators, land operators and all possible suppliers. The book provides the reader with tools to solve port-related problems independently in the next phase. Emphasising economic aspects and decision-making, Port Economics and Business is a vital resource for students and researchers in port economics and management as well as professional port managers.

About the Authors

Hilde Meersman is Doctor in Applied Economics. She is Emeritus Full Professor at the University of Antwerp, where she teaches in the fields of Econometrics, Transport Modelling and Economics. She also taught at the Technical University of Delft.

Eddy Van de Voorde is Emeritus Full Professor at the University of Antwerp, Faculty of Applied Economics. His activities are situated in Maritime Economics, Port Economics, Air Transport and Logistics.

Thierry Vanelslander is Professor at the Department of Transport and Regional Economics of the University of Antwerp. He is currently the course coordinator for the courses 'Port Economics and Business' at C-MAT, and 'Transport Micro-economics' and 'Maritime and Port Economics' at the Faculty of Business and Economics.

Table of Contents

• 1. Demystifying seaports: An introduction
• 2. Seaports: Links in a maritime chain
• 3. The port playing field
• 4. The demand for handling capacity and port services
• 5. The cost structure of port activities
• 6. Pricing in a port environment
• 7. Port competition and market structure
• 8. Port productivity and efficiency
• 9. Investment analysis and financing
• 10. Land policy, industrialisation and concessions
• 11. Regulation, deregulation, liberalisation