North American containerport productivity: 1984–1997

This paper undertakes two tasks: measurement of seaport infrastructure productivity growth in North America from 1984 to 1997, and exploration of several theorized causal relationships between infrastructure productivity and industry structure and conduct. A methodology is presented, data envelopment analysis (DEA), for measuring infrastructure productivity. Tobit regression is presented as a means of examining the determinants of infrastructure productivity in seaports. The study supports the presence of economies of scale at the containerport and terminal level. Among other factors, the longstanding relationship between seaports and the rail industry appears to remain a critical determinant of containerport infrastructure productivity.