Coordination problems in container barging in the port of Rotterdam: an institutional analysis

Container barging has gained in importance in port-related transport along with the need for sustainable transport. Nevertheless, coordination problems between terminal operator and barge operator exist, and performance lags behind. This paper analyses factors that may hinder or stimulate a better future performance of container barging in the port of Rotterdam. A case study is accomplished and guided by a framework rooted in Institutional Economics. Despite favourable conditions set by governments and the port authority, the share of container barging has hardly grown. The container barging sector in Rotterdam is embedded in a history with many alliances, a high degree of organisation, and a good track record in the development of institutional arrangements to solve coordination problems. However, the present contractual relations in the transport chain form an inadequate condition. From a theoretical perspective, the paper shows the value of studying port-related transport chains by acknowledging their institutional context.     

基于社会剩余最大化的铁路繁忙线路货运定价策略研究

分析得出货主对运输成本的错误感知及部分支付是导致铁路繁忙线路需求拥挤的原因之一,按照个人边际成本确定的个人最优货运需求会导致社会剩余的流失,并未达到社会最优。提出通过收取需求拥挤费用,把拥挤效应的外部不经济性内部化,把货运需求调控在按照社会边际成本确定的社会最优货运量,以合理调节铁路繁忙线路货运供需均衡,达到社会剩余最大化,实现帕累托最优。     

The introduction of innovation in Urban transport

More than 200 new systems of transport have been proposed as solutions to problems of urban congestion. However, very few of these have reached even the prototype stage and practically none at all have ever actually been installed.

The author asks himself why this is so. If an invention is to be introduced into a field which is poorly receptive to innovation, it must not only bring something really new and attractive for the users on the functional level as opposed merely to the technological level, but must also consider the political, industrial, social and human context.

The author gives two examples of innovation conceived and developed at the Battelle Geneva Research Centre: one for private transport, a new system for an electric car which will include the interests of the petrol industry, and the other for public transport, the “Speedaway” sponsored by Dunlop Limited. These two systems will be put on the market shortly and will attempt to fulfill the criteria mentioned above.     

Measuring the Cost of Beach Retreat

We estimate the cost over the next 50 years of allowing Delaware's ocean beaches to retreat inland. Since most of the costs are expected to be land and capital loss, especially in housing, we focus our attention on measuring that value. We use a hedonic price regression to estimate the value of land and structures in the region using a data set on recent housing sales. Then, using historical rates of erosion along the coast and an inventory of all housing and commercial structures in the threatened coastal area, we predict the value of the land and capital loss assuming that beaches migrate inland at these historic rates. We purge the losses of any amenity values due to proximity to the coast, because these are merely transferred to properties further inland. If erosion rates remain at historic levels, our estimate of the cost of retreat over the next 50 years in present value terms is about $291 million (2000$). The number rises if we assume higher rates of erosion. We compare these estimates to the current costs of nourishing beaches and conclude that nourishment make economic sense, at least over this time period.     

金枪鱼围网渔船技术经济分析

对金枪鱼围网渔船作了技术经济分析,指出金价与资源情况对金枪鱼围网渔船的净现值（ＮＰＶ）有着较大的影响,燃油价与渔港至渔场的距离对ＮＰＶ只有中等程度的影响,停港天数及造价系数对ＮＰＶ的影响不大;同时围网渔船相对于每种鱼价,每种资源情况及每种渔港至渔场的距离都有一最佳船型区。     

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为证明“轴-幅”式运输网络有独立于密度经济而存在的范围经济,在假设运输网络密度收益不变的前提下建立了独立分段运营与整合运营两种模式下运输网络的成本函数,对比发现采用独立分段运营与“轴-幅”式整合运营两种模式的运输网络运营成本差异较大,当采用“轴-幅”式整合运营模式且运输网络达到最佳运营结构时才能实现范围经济,其原因在于采用“轴-幅”式整合运营模式进行运营线路整合优化时能使营运车辆及人员工作效率得到提高。结果表明,密度收益恒定时“轴-幅”式网络运营模式下存在范围经济,但范围经济的取得需通过运营线路结构优化才能实现。     

Experimental Economics and choice in transportation: Incentives and context

This paper reviews the preconditions for successful applications of Experimental Economics methods to research on transportation problems, as new transportation and research technologies emerge. We argue that the application of properly designed incentives, the hallmark of Experimental Economics, provides a high degree of experimental control, leading to internal validity and incentive compatibility. Both of these are essential for ensuring that findings generalize to contexts outside the immediate application. New technologies, such as virtual reality simulators, can generate external validity for the experiments by providing realistic contexts. GPS and other tracking technologies, as well as smart phones, smart cards and connected vehicle technologies can allow detailed observations on actions and real-time interactions with drivers in field experiments. Proper application of these new technologies in research requires an understanding of how to maintain a high level of internal validity and incentive compatibility as external validity is increased. In this review of past applications of Experimental Economics to transportation we focus on their success in achieving external and internal validity.     

关于经济学“学格”与出路的思考

从经济学的科学性谈起，阐述了经济学应该具有的“学格”，即致用性、异变性、批判性，通过对当今经济学存在根本性困扰即“同质化困扰”的分析，探讨了经济学发展的“异质化出路”．     

关于我国航海人才培养的经济学思考

随着经济全球化进程的加快,国际贸易持续增长,航海人才业已成为航运业发展的重要支撑。中国是一个人力资源大国,开发航海人才资源前景广阔。本文首先分析了我国航海人才供需现状,阐述了航运业存在的突出问题是人才的供需失衡,进而从经济学角度对航海人才的供给进行分析,并提出了解决问题的相关建议。     

货币与经济学关系之思考

现实经济之中,货币与经济学都不可或缺.在经济学与货币关系层面,人类社会既要发挥好货币的作用,也要发挥好经济学的作用.研究货币与经济学的关系,思考货币作用,既有利于理解货币的实质,也有益于探讨经济学的本质.