Understanding connectivity to international markets: a systematic review Articles uri icon

authors

  • CALATAYUD, AGUSTINA
  • PALACÍN, ROBERTO
  • MANGAN, JOHN
  • JACKSON, ELIZABETH
  • RUIZ RUA, AURORA

publication date

  • November 2016

start page

  • 713

end page

  • 736

issue

  • 6

volume

  • 36

International Standard Serial Number (ISSN)

  • 0144-1647

Electronic International Standard Serial Number (EISSN)

  • 1464-5327

abstract

  • Improving freight connectivity is increasingly a topic at the centre of the international trade and transport policy agendas. An examination of available documents and studies in both the policy-making and the academic fields shows that the concept of freight connectivity has often been defined in different ways, and thus has taken a variety of meanings. This poses the question on what connectivity is and what are its determinants in the context of international trade. We are not aware of any studies that have analysed, in a systematic way, the different perspectives and determinants of freight connectivity so as to increase access to international markets. This paper seeks to fill this gap by performing a systematic literature review that spans disciplines such as Transport Engineering, Transport and International Economics, and Supply Chain Management. The outcome of this examination is a multidisciplinary framework that hopefully will help stakeholders to understand freight connectivity to international markets better, as well as guide future research and analysis in policy-making.

subjects

  • Economics

keywords

  • connectivity; transportation; international trade; supply chain; logistics; complex network approach; public-transit connectivity; supply chain integration; air transport network; world-trade network; airline networks; airport network; east-asia; evolution; costs