2 - A global analysis of hinterlands from a European perspective

Abstract

This chapter examines the main determinants of hinterland evolution through a literature review. It explores the possibilities and challenges for interregional comparisons, and suggests a tentative common framework. The chapter mainly deals with European issues, though complementing them by integrating studies done on other regions. The literature review covers mainly the last two decades, during which containerisation have reached maturity in most world regions. The chapter is organised as follows. The first section introduces some historical elements to understand the specificity of European hinterlands, mostly shaped during the 16th–18th centuries. The second section presents the current situation of European ports compared with the rest of the world. The third section reviews current determinants of hinterland expansion and shrinkage in various regional contexts. Finally, the conclusion discusses the need for pushing further the elaboration of a common framework notwithstanding challenges for interregional comparison.