The Productive Efficiency of Container Terminals An Application to Korea and the UK

This work applies the theory and techniques of economic efficiency measurement to the realistic context of the ports industry. The objective is to assess the practical impact of port privatization policies upon the economic performance of the sector. Specifically, this volume presents Korea’s port and terminal development plans and systematically analyses not only the process and results of privatisation, but also the claims of its proponents that it leads directly to improved efficiency. The Korean experience is given global relevance by applying the same approach to Britain’s main container ports and terminals which, of course, are at a more advanced stage in the privatisation process. This work constitutes a unique contribution to the literature relating to shipping and ports, econometrics and the Korean economy and will be of primary interest to port authorities and practitioners, as well as to students of economics and/or the shipping industry.

Contents: Introduction; An overview of the Korean national economy; The Korean port industry; Privatization theory and evidence; Port privatization: theory and practice; A theoretical framework for efficiency measurement; Productive efficiency of container terminals: an empirical investigation; Discussion, policy implications and conclusions; Bibliography; Appendices.