The preliminary program of the forthcoming meeting of the Port Performance Research Network (PPRN), that will take place on July 15, 2014, in Norfolk, US. suggests a most interesting workshop to advance further port studies around the globe.
The Port Performance Research Network (PPRN) is an informal network of maritime economists interested in issues of port policy. Founded and chaired by Dr. Mary R. Brooks, and PortEconomics co-director Thanos Pallis, it was established at the International Association of Maritime Economists 2001 meeting in Hong Kong to undertake empirical testing of antecedents for port performance and governance and to identify key successes and failures in port reform. PortEconomics members actively participate in PPRN research.
This year, PortEconomcs moves one step forward sponsoring the 12th Annual meting (Links to presentations for the last two meetings (Marseille, sponsored by the Port of Marseille Fos, and Taipei, sponsored by the Chinese Maritime Research Institute) may be found at the bottom of this page.
You might download the preliminary program for Norfolk: Preliminary Programme of the 12th PPRN meeting.
Working Groups within PPRN
Current activities of the PPRN are focused on performance and port management. There are several working groups within the PPRN:
- Port efficiency (led by Gordon Wilmsmeier and Ricardo Sanchez, both of ECLAC)
- Port effectiveness (led by Mary R. Brooks, Dalhousie University, Chair of PPRN)
- Port strategies (led by Michael Dooms, University of Brussels; Larissa van der Lugt, Erasmus University Rotterdam; and Francesco Parola, University of Naples Parthenope)
- Preparing for climate change impacts (led by Adolf Ng, University of Manitoba)
- Cruise ports (led by Thanos Pallis, University of the Aegean)
- Port concessions (led by Theo Notteboom, University of Antwerp)
Publications
Research from the first phase was published in: Devolution, Port Governance and Port Performance (Brooks, M.R. & Cullinane, K. (Eds.), 2007. London: Elsevier), the 17th volume of Research in Transportation Economics contained 26 articles on port governance, port reform and the measurement of performance in ports.
Research from the second phase of findings was published by Elsevier’s Research in Transportation Business and Management in October 2013. The volume (co-edited by Mary Brooks and Thanos Pallis), contains 20 articles on this very important topic in global trade and transportation.
A volume on Cruises and Cruise Ports (co-editors: Thanos Pallis, Jean-Paul Rodrigue and Theo Notteboom) is in progress and expected t be published in late 2014.
Dalhousie University serves as the host for the virtual PPRN network, and organizes the annual meeting for the network, the work of all PPRN members, and other studies on port management economics and policy, is reported by the PortEconomics Group. Find the most recent port literature in the PortEconomics database.
More Information
- Read about the 2013 PPRN Meeting (Marseille, sponsored by the Port of Marseille Fos)
- Read about the 2012 PPRN Meeting (Taipei, sponsored by the Chinese Maritime Research Institute)
- The website of PPRN at Faculty of Management, Dalhousie University, Canada.
