Relationship between port performance and economic development: a theoretical approach

Abstract

Maritime transport has been an important human activity throughout history, especially where prosperity depends primarily on international and interregional trade. The global economic development ofrecent decades has been characterized by rapid progress in world trade and the international division oflabor. As a result of the expansive development of international merchandise trade, maritime freight transport has been one of the fastest growing economic sectors. This makes maritime logistics a suitable sector for economic development. Seaports are an important factor in regional economies, since their operations generate positive effects on the economy. The application of new technologies and innovations is important for the successful operation of seaports; its use reduces costs, facilitates business, in creases transparency and attracts new commercial entities, so the objective of this work is to identify the theoretical and empirical evidence of the relationship between economic growth and port development.