Port Infrastructure Connectivity, Logistics Performance and Seaborne Trade on Economic Growth: An Empirical Analysis on “21st-Century Maritime Silk Road”

Abstract

Liang, R. and Liu, Z., 2020. Port infrastructure connectivity, logistics performance and seaborne trade on economic growth: An empirical analysis on “21st-century Maritime Silk Road.” In: Gong, D.; Zhang, M., and Liu, R. (eds.), Advances in Coastal Research: Engineering, Industry, Economy, and Sustainable Development. Journal of Coastal Research, Special Issue No. 106, pp. 319–324. Coconut Creek (Florida), ISSN 0749-0208.This study aims to examine the impact of port infrastructure connectivity, logistics performance, and trade on economic growth. Based on World Bank Indicator data of 32 21st-Century Maritime Silk Road countries, this research conducts an empirical analysis using the Structural Equation Model. The main results are as follows: (1) Port infrastructure connectivity improvement can enhance logistics performance and economic growth, while logistics performance improvement has no significant effect on promoting economic growth. However, logistics performance plays an active intermediary role in port infrastructure connectivity promoting economic growth; (2) Logistics performance improvement can promote seaborne trade, while port infrastructure connectivity is negatively related to the seaborne trade, which may be due to the low efficiency of ports. Thus, logistics performance improvement has a dual role in promoting trade; (3) Port infrastructure connectivity and logistics performance develop simultaneously and promote each other, which can form a synergy to promote trade and economic growth.