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A quantitative analysis of European port governance

Author

Listed:
  • Patrick Verhoeven

    (Department of Transport and Regional Economics, University of Antwerp, Prinsstraat 13, B-2000, Antwerp, Belgium.
    European Sea Ports Organisation, Treurenberg 6, B-1000, Brussels, Belgium.)

  • Thomas Vanoutrive

    (Department of Transport and Regional Economics, University of Antwerp, Prinsstraat 13, B-2000, Antwerp, Belgium.
    Department of Geography, Ghent University, Krijgslaan 281 S8, B-9000, Ghent, Belgium.)

Abstract

The ever-changing environment in which ports operate has put strong pressure on the role of port authorities. The evolution of port governance has so far mainly been analysed in qualitative terms, through expert knowledge and case studies. This article fills a research gap in providing a quantitative analysis of port governance in Europe, using data from a major survey, which the European Sea Ports Organisation carried out in 2010 to prepare a new edition of its ‘Fact-Finding Report’. These reports have been monitoring port governance diversity since the 1970s. The 2010 survey was based on a new conceptual background, which takes into account the evolution of ports, as well as new perspectives on the role of port authorities. This article provides a quantitative assessment of the survey results, identifying elements that may explain the governance diversity of European seaports. This is done with the help of factor analysis. The results confirm the existence of different types of port governance models in Europe, which to some extent correspond to the hypothetical typology according to which port authorities can be conservators, facilitators or entrepreneurs. Differences are mainly geographically defined and the subdivision in Hanseatic, Latin, Anglo-Saxon and new Member State port authorities proves to be a valuable one. In addition to this geographical explanation of diversity, the analysis also detects different governance practices between small and large ports.

Suggested Citation

  • Patrick Verhoeven & Thomas Vanoutrive, 2012. "A quantitative analysis of European port governance," Maritime Economics & Logistics, Palgrave Macmillan;International Association of Maritime Economists (IAME), vol. 14(2), pages 178-203, June.
    • Handle: RePEc:pal:marecl:v:14:y:2012:i:2:p:178-203
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    Citations

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    Cited by:

    1. Fernando González Laxe & Ricardo J. Sánchez & Lorena Garcia-Alonso, 2016. "The adaptation process in port governance: the case of the Latin countries in South America and Europe," Journal of Shipping and Trade, Springer, vol. 1(1), pages 1-20, December.
    2. VAN DE VOORDE, Eddy & VERHOEVEN, Patrick, 2014. "The economics of port authority reform. A framework for ex-post evaluation," Working Papers 2014017, University of Antwerp, Faculty of Business and Economics.
    3. Magali Geerts & Michaël Dooms, 2020. "Sustainability Reporting for Inland Port Managing Bodies: A Stakeholder-Based View on Materiality," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(5), pages 1-18, February.
    4. Zhang, Qiang & Zheng, Shiyuan & Geerlings, Harry & El Makhloufi, Abdel, 2019. "Port governance revisited: How to govern and for what purpose?," Transport Policy, Elsevier, vol. 77(C), pages 46-57.
    5. de Langen, P.W. & Heij, C., 2013. "Performance Effects of the Corporatisation of Port of Rotterdam Authority," Econometric Institute Research Papers EI2013-06, Erasmus University Rotterdam, Erasmus School of Economics (ESE), Econometric Institute.
    6. Hercules Haralambides & Girish Gujar, 2023. "The ‘new normal’, global uncertainty and key challenges in building reliable and resilient supply chains," Maritime Economics & Logistics, Palgrave Macmillan;International Association of Maritime Economists (IAME), vol. 25(4), pages 623-638, December.
    7. Marion Magnan & Martijn Horst, 2020. "Involvement of port authorities in inland logistics markets: the cases of Rotterdam, Le Havre and Marseille," Maritime Economics & Logistics, Palgrave Macmillan;International Association of Maritime Economists (IAME), vol. 22(1), pages 102-123, March.
    8. Mary R. Brooks & Geraldine Knatz & Athanasios A. Pallis & Gordon Wilmsmeier, 2022. "Transparency in port governance: setting a research agenda," Journal of Shipping and Trade, Springer, vol. 7(1), pages 1-20, December.
    9. Castillo-Manzano, José I. & Castro-Nuño, Mercedes & González-Laxe, Fernando & Pedregal, Diego J., 2018. "Legal reform and the devolution of the Spanish Port System: An econometric assessment," Utilities Policy, Elsevier, vol. 50(C), pages 73-82.
    10. Feng, Lin & Yuan, Liwei, 2017. "A developmental model on quantifying urban policy effectiveness in port city relations," MPRA Paper 81037, University Library of Munich, Germany.
    11. Jonas Mendes Constante & Peter W. Langen & Salvador Furió Pruñonosa, 2023. "Innovation ecosystems in ports: a comparative analysis of Rotterdam and Valencia," Journal of Shipping and Trade, Springer, vol. 8(1), pages 1-19, December.

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