The balanced theory of port competitiveness
Document Type
Article
Date of Original Version
3-1-2016
Abstract
Due to weakening demand since the 2008 global recession, ports have had to reconsider how to compete differently to attract new business and new investors. Extant literature mainly focuses on either customer competitiveness or investor competitiveness. This study develops a new model of port competitiveness that simultaneously considers the effect of port strategy on customers and investors. This model is referred to as the "balanced theory of port competitiveness." An analytical hierarchy process model builds on 10 factors that customers and investors consider important, and it is tested on 12 global seaports. The results show that port managers should consider the effect of their decisions among the factors because failure to do so can improve one factor of competitiveness while harming another. This study tests a theory that explains the behaviour of port managers and provides them with a practical guide to evaluate the effect of their decisions on customers and investors.
Publication Title, e.g., Journal
Transportation Journal
Volume
55
Issue
2
Citation/Publisher Attribution
Hales, Douglas, Jasmine Siu Lee Lam, and Young Tae Chang. "The balanced theory of port competitiveness." Transportation Journal 55, 2 (2016): 168-189. doi: 10.1353/tnp.2016.0010.