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Comparing the efficiency of alliance members and independent liner carriers: a metafrontier analysis

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  • Shih-Liang Chao

    (National Taiwan Ocean University)

  • Chun-Wei Lai

    (National Taiwan Ocean University)

Abstract

The liner shipping market is dominated by a few global carriers. The great majority of them have joined forces in strategic alliances while some others are opting to operate independently. This study aims to identify the effect on efficiency of participating in an alliance. The period 2010–2012 has been examined. The leading carriers are divided into two groups: independents and alliance members. We apply the metafrontier approach to further decompose the Malmquist productivity index. The results indicate that independent carriers outperformed alliance members in 2010; their independence was helpful in increasing space utilisation when demand was sufficient (in 2010). However, in the following 2 years, the opposite was true, indicating that alliance members had higher flexibility in terms of adjusting surplus capacity by cooperating with other carriers when the imbalance between supply and demand was serious (in the period from 2011 to 2012). The difference in efficiency between the two groups was shown to be statistically significant. These results support the recent trend towards stronger strategic alliances, from the perspective of higher efficiency.

Suggested Citation

  • Shih-Liang Chao & Chun-Wei Lai, 2019. "Comparing the efficiency of alliance members and independent liner carriers: a metafrontier analysis," Maritime Economics & Logistics, Palgrave Macmillan;International Association of Maritime Economists (IAME), vol. 21(2), pages 157-172, June.
    • Handle: RePEc:pal:marecl:v:21:y:2019:i:2:d:10.1057_s41278-017-0088-2
    DOI: 10.1057/s41278-017-0088-2
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    1. Mohammad Ghorbani & Michele Acciaro & Sandra Transchel & Pierre Cariou, 2022. "Strategic alliances in container shipping: A review of the literature and future research agenda," Maritime Economics & Logistics, Palgrave Macmillan;International Association of Maritime Economists (IAME), vol. 24(2), pages 439-465, June.
    2. Chin‐wei Huang & Hsiao‐Yin Chen, 2023. "Using nonradial metafrontier data envelopment analysis to evaluate the metatechnology and metafactor ratios for the Taiwanese hotel industry," Managerial and Decision Economics, John Wiley & Sons, Ltd., vol. 44(4), pages 1904-1919, June.

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