Abstract:

The objective of the talk is to bring to the forefront, in a scientific way, pertinent and 'hot' issues, such as e-fuels and emissions trading systems (ETS), some of which we may have answered, others not; but issues that, nonetheless, open research doors to maritime economists around the world. The review offers scholars leads, tips and advice on possible avenues their research could take in the future, for higher impact, addressing at the same time 'real' and current issues requiring solutions, which draw the attention of the wider business and policy sectors. Such areas nowadays span a wide kaleidoscope, encompassing global shipping alliances (something of renewed interest following the recent dissolution of the Maersk-MSC (2M) alliance); carrier expectations and shipping market structures; regional port integration; port hinterlands; optimization of container terminal operations; Chinese port investments abroad (BRI); ship-recycling and investment incentives; ship emissions trading: e-fuels for shipping (e.g., hydrogen), and more. The presentation is drafted with an additional objective in mind: Rather than placing the emphasis on the technical prowess of our work, my narrative exposes the ramifications of our research, the reasons it was carried out, the issues at stake and, finally, the doors we have opened to future research on MEL.

The maritime academia is often criticized for its descriptive research since such research stays on the surface of things, containing little analytical depth. Descriptive research does have a certain value for practical and busy businesspeople. However, such output is rarely appreciated in university environments, or respectable scientific reviews (journals). Below, I have stayed away from this type of output, discussing only our more rigorous type of research, published in top peer-review journals. The word 'rigorous' may deserve some more qualification in a presentation such as this. We, economists, like many other professionals, are 'builders' and 'tailors'. To build our houses, to sew our suits, we need tools and, for us, such tools, 'trade tools' if you like, are economic analysis, mathematical economics, statistics, econometrics, and operations research. This is the type of research that is discussed below, again in an attempt to give our readers tips, advice, and leads that may or may not help them, or interest them, in doing the things that they would like to do going forward.

About the Speaker:

Since 1992, Hercules Haralambides is Professor of Maritime Economics and Logistics (MEL), having taught at 9 universities (and in 7 different countries), most prominent of which being Erasmus University Rotterdam, National University of Singapore, and Singapore Management University. Currently, he is "Distinguished Chair Professor" at Dalian Maritime University (China), Visiting Professor at Erasmus University Rotterdam, and affiliated researcher with the Sorbonne Center for Economics - Sorbonne University.

Click here to watch