Applying Maritime Economics to Set Foundations for Port and Shipping Policies

Abstract

This special edition of MEL features a selection of outstanding papers that were presented during the event. 1 Under the conference theme 'Maritime Economics -setting the foundations for port and shipping policies', the organisers aimed to encourage papers which are of particular interest to the public sector and policy-makers. Topics such as shipping alliances, the regulation of ports, the economic impact of transport corridors, future intermodal and transshipment patterns, and the relationship between transport costs and trade were considered to be of increasing relevance for policy-makers in Latin America and other regions. It was felt that a meeting of maritime economists under this conference theme would be of mutual interest for researchers and for those dealing with ports and shipping matters in the public sector.This present special issue of MEL includes some of the most interesting contributions in this regard. The first two papers look at regulatory aspects in shipping and ports, the third and fourth paper deal with trade and transport corridors, and the last two papers analyse the relationship between trade and transport costs. Furthermore, the issue also includes a policy perspective from the Panama Canal and a book review covering

Maritime policy in the North Sea region: Application of the cluster approach

“…Transport policy as a whole is ultimately about choices policymakers make concerning investment, subsidies and taxes that affect different transport modes (Hoffmann, 2003). This means the economic, environmental and social impacts of maritime transport have to be estimated, and these estimates need to be incorporated into trade and transport forecasts, which should then help to determine the allocation of public resources and policy mechanisms.…”

“…The United Nations Conference on Trade and Development suggested that the goals of a maritime policy should be (Hoffmann, 2003):…”