Determinants of Port Performance – Evidence from Major Ports in India – A Panel Approach

The present study’s motivation is to identify the determinant factors for port efficiency of major ports in India during 1993 – 2011. For identifying the factors panel data models like pooled ordinary least square method, fixed effect model and random effect model are used. The hypothesis tested here is outside factors also influence port performance. The results of the study indicated that berth throughput, operating expenses and number of employees affect port efficiency in a significant positive manner, whereas cargo equipment’s and idle time shows negative but significant effect on port efficiency. From the study the inference drawn that only inside factors of the ports are the major determining factors of the performance of ports compare with outside factors.