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Port-city evolution in the long run (1880-2020): global and regional trends

Author

Listed:
  • César Ducruet
  • Barbara Polo Martin

Abstract

Based on untapped data on vessel movements and urban population, this paper investigates the changing relationship between ports and cities since the late 19th century. We refer to a number of models in maritime geography and history that converge about port-city spatial and functional disconnection. The principal results show that the average distance between ports and cities doubled over the period, from 4.9 km in 1880 to 10.1 km in 2020. While the correlation between vessel traffic and city size grew since 1880, it declined rapidly from 0.66 in 1946 to 0.33 in 2020. In turn, vessel traffic became more and more correlated with the size of city-regions, of which port and non-port. Such trends are differentiated across regions of the world, due to historical legacies and specific patterns of port hinterlands.

Suggested Citation

  • César Ducruet & Barbara Polo Martin, 2025. "Port-city evolution in the long run (1880-2020): global and regional trends," EconomiX Working Papers 2025-25, University of Paris Nanterre, EconomiX.
    • Handle: RePEc:drm:wpaper:2025-25
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    File URL: https://economix.fr/pdf/dt/2025/WP_EcoX_2025-25.pdf
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    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Chengjin Wang & César Ducruet, 2012. "New port development and global city making : Emergence of the Shanghai-Yangshan multilayered gateway hub," Post-Print hal-03246961, HAL.
    2. César Ducruet & Sung-Woo Lee, 2006. "Frontline soldiers of globalisation : Port-city evolution and regional competition," Post-Print hal-03246480, HAL.
    3. Ducruet, César & Juhász, Réka & Nagy, Dávid Krisztián & Steinwender, Claudia, 2024. "All aboard: The effects of port development," Journal of International Economics, Elsevier, vol. 151(C).
    4. Ducruet, César & Guerrero, David, 2022. "Inland cities, maritime gateways, and international trade," Journal of Transport Geography, Elsevier, vol. 104(C).
    5. Adolf K.Y. Ng & Zaili Yang & Stephen Cahoon & Paul T.W. Lee & Brian Slack & Elisabeth Gouvernal, 2016. "Container Transshipment and Logistics in the Context of Urban Economic Development," Growth and Change, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 47(3), pages 406-415, September.
    6. repec:hal:journl:hal-03247143 is not listed on IDEAS
    7. César Ducruet & Theo E. Notteboom & Brian Slack, 2023. "Port migration patterns in the global seaport system since the 1950s," Post-Print halshs-04588346, HAL.
    8. Notteboom, Theo, 2016. "The adaptive capacity of container ports in an era of mega vessels: The case of upstream seaports Antwerp and Hamburg," Journal of Transport Geography, Elsevier, vol. 54(C), pages 295-309.
    9. Theo E. Notteboom * & Jean-Paul Rodrigue, 2005. "Port regionalization: towards a new phase in port development," Maritime Policy & Management, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 32(3), pages 297-313, July.
    10. César Ducruet & David Guerrero, 2022. "Inland cities, maritime gateways, and international trade," EconomiX Working Papers 2022-17, University of Paris Nanterre, EconomiX.
    11. repec:hal:journl:hal-04292896 is not listed on IDEAS
    12. Lisa M. Grobar, 2008. "The Economic Status of Areas Surrounding Major U.S. Container Ports: Evidence and Policy Issues," Growth and Change, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 39(3), pages 497-516, September.
    13. Chengjin Wang & César Ducruet, 2012. "New port development and global city making: Emergence of the Shanghai-Yangshan multilayered gateway hub," Post-Print halshs-00717879, HAL.
    14. César Ducruet & David Guerrero, 2022. "Inland cities, maritime gateways and international trade," Post-Print hal-03764224, HAL.
    15. Fujita, Masahisa & Mori, Tomoya, 1996. "The role of ports in the making of major cities: Self-agglomeration and hub-effect," Journal of Development Economics, Elsevier, vol. 49(1), pages 93-120, April.
    16. Wang, Chengjin & Ducruet, César, 2012. "New port development and global city making: emergence of the Shanghai–Yangshan multilayered gateway hub," Journal of Transport Geography, Elsevier, vol. 25(C), pages 58-69.
    17. Wouter Jacobs & Hans Koster & Peter Hall, 2011. "The Location and Global Network Structure of Maritime Advanced Producer Services," Urban Studies, Urban Studies Journal Limited, vol. 48(13), pages 2749-2769, October.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    globalization; hinterlands; port city; maritime transport; regionalization;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • R12 - Urban, Rural, Regional, Real Estate, and Transportation Economics - - General Regional Economics - - - Size and Spatial Distributions of Regional Economic Activity; Interregional Trade (economic geography)
    • R40 - Urban, Rural, Regional, Real Estate, and Transportation Economics - - Transportation Economics - - - General

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