This study analyses the possible existence of spatial interdependence in port authorities’ capacity expansions in the port industry. We propose a dynamic model that allows quantifying the degree of port authorities’ interdependence in capacity decisions and simulating a hypothetical scenario of cooperation agreements among different port authorities. The econometric specification is based on a structural model of demand, cost and market equilibrium. The empirical results suggest that strategic interdependence exists in port infrastructure services. Furthermore, using a simulation analysis, we show that incentives to invest in port capacity increase under a cooperative setting.

这项研究分析了港口当局在港口行业能力扩展中空间相互依赖的可能存在。我们提出了一种动态模型，该模型可以量化港口当局在容量决策中的相互依存程度，并模拟不同港口当局之间合作协议的假设情景。计量经济学规范基于需求，成本和市场均衡的结构模型。实证结果表明，港口基础设施服务中存在战略上的相互依存关系。此外，通过仿真分析，我们显示了在合作环境下增加港口容量投资的激励措施。