Received: 2022-05-15  |  Accepted: 2022-07-10  |  Published: 2022-09-30

Title

Determinants of logistics' performance: a new approach towards analysis of economic corridors and institutional quality impact


Abstract

Recently, the relationship between economic corridors and logistics performance has been intensively investigated. However, only few studies analyze other factors through which the economic corridors affect logistics quality. Therefore, we aim to estimate the impact of economic corridors on logistics performance, in a way to account for institutional effect, by constructing multiplicative interaction model. Our proposed model was tested using the difference-in-differences estimator and panel data of 36 European countries along The Belt and Road Economic Corridors between 2007 and 2018. Considering robustness tests and appropriate estimation techniques our analysis showed that economic corridors affect countries logistics performance via institutional quality. However, several limitations need to be acknowledged. The first one is related to the availability of the data as The Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) was introduced only recently, limiting the length of the analyzed period. Secondly, no official or generally accepted definition of the BRI exists, thus it is very difficult to identify its geographical scope. Therefore, applying the same methodology for data, several years after the announcement of BRI, future research could include more countries and additional time periods to explore the matter in more detail. Despite the fact, our approach assumes that the initiatives of economic corridors should be accompanied by stronger institutions and good governance to have higher levels of countries logistics performance. Moreover, this study confirms that economic corridors is very complex economic phenomenon and further studies should consider the role of moderators of this nexus.


Keywords

economic corridors, logistics performance, belt and road initiative, institutional quality, moderators, interaction term


JEL classifications

C23 , C51 , O43 , O52 , R11 , R40


URI

http://jssidoi.org/ird/article/103


DOI


HAL


Pages

11-33


Funding

The publishid was partly supported by the project, which has received funding from the European Union's Horizon 2020 research and innovation programme European Research Council (ERC) under the European Union's Horizon 2020 research and innovation programme Marie Sklodowska-Curie Research and Innovation Staff Exchanges ES H2020-MSCARISE-2014 CLUSDEVMED (2015-2019) Grant Agreement Number 645730730

This is an open access issue and all published articles are licensed under a
Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License

Authors

Rakauskienė, Ona Gražina
Mykolas Romeris University, Vilnius, Lithuania https://www.mruni.eu
Articles by this author in: CrossRef |  Google Scholar

Petkevičiūtė-Stručko, Monika
Mykolas Romeris University, Vilnius, Lithuania https://www.mruni.eu
Articles by this author in: CrossRef |  Google Scholar

Journal title

Insights into Regional Development

Volume

4


Number

3


Issue date

September 2022


Issue DOI


ISSN

ISSN 2345-0282 (online)


Publisher

VšĮ Entrepreneurship and Sustainability Center, Vilnius, Lithuania

Cited

Google Scholar

Article views & downloads

HTML views: 677  |  PDF downloads: 323

References


Aibai, A., Huang, X., Luo, Y., & Peng, Y. (2019). Foreign Direct Investment, Institutional Quality, and Financial Development along the Belt and Road: An Empirical Investigation. Emerging Markets Finance and Trade, 55(14), 3275–3294. https://doi.org/10.1080/1540496X.2018.1559139

Search via ReFindit


Álvarez, I. C., Barbero, J., Rodríguez-Pose, A., & Zofío, J. L. (2018). Does Institutional Quality Matter for Trade? Institutional Conditions in a Sectoral Trade Framework. World Development, 103, 72–87. https://doi.org/10.1016/J.WORLDDEV.2017.10.010

Search via ReFindit


An, H., Razzaq, A., Nawaz, A., Noman, S.M., & Khan, S.A.R. (2021). Nexus between green logistic operations and triple bottom line: evidence from infrastructure-led Chinese outward foreign direct investment in Belt and Road host countries. Environmental Science and Pollution Research, 28(37), 51022-51045. https://doi.org/10.1007/S11356-021-12470-3

Search via ReFindit


Andersson, P., Aronsson, H., & Storhagen, N. G. (1989). Measuring logistics performance. Engineering Costs and Production Economics, 17(1-4), 253–262. https://doi.org/10.1016/0167-188X(89)90074-8

Search via ReFindit


Arvis, J. F., Ojala, L., Wiederer, C., Shepherd, B., Raj, A., Dairabayeva, K., & Kiiski, T. (2018). The Logistics Performance Index and Its Indicators. https://openknowledge.worldbank.org/bitstream/handle/10986/29971/LPI2018.pdf

Search via ReFindit


Arvis, J.-F., Saslavsky, D., Ojala, L., Shepherd, B., Busch, C., & Raj, A. (2014). LPI 2014 - Connecting to Compete, Trade Logistics in the Global Economy. Worldbank, 72. http://www.worldbank.org/content/dam/Worldbank/document/Trade/LPI2014.pdf%5Cnhttp://lpi.worldbank.org/sites/default/files/LPI_Report_2014.pdf

Search via ReFindit


Ashenfelter, O., & Card, D. (1985). Using the Longitudinal Structure of Earnings to Estimate the Effect of Training Programs. The Review of Economics and Statistics, 67(4), 648-660. https://doi.org/10.2307/1924810

Search via ReFindit


Barbero, J., Mandras, G., Rodríguez-Crespo, E., & Rodríguez-Pose, A. (2021). Quality of government and regional trade: evidence from European Union regions. Regional Studies, 55(7), 1240-1251. https://doi.org/10.1080/00343404.2021.1873934

Search via ReFindit


Bardal', A. B. (2018). New Silk Road. Problems of Economic Transition, 60(1-3). https://doi.org/10.1080/10611991.2018.1456200

Search via ReFindit


Barisitz, B. S., Radzyner, A., & Nationalbank, O. (2018). The New Silk Road: Implications for Europe. SUERF Policy Note, 25, 1–8.

Search via ReFindit


Barisitz, S. (2020). China's New Silk Road: a stocktaking update and economic review (2017–2019). Focus on European Economic Integration, Q1/20, 20–50. https://econpapers.repec.org/RePEc:onb:oenbfi:y:2020:i:q1/20:b:2

Search via ReFindit


Besharati, B., Gansakh, G., Liu, F., Zhang, X., & Xu, M. (2017). The Ways to Maintain Sustainable China-Europe Block Train Operation. Business and Management Studies, 3(3), 25. https://doi.org/10.11114/bms.v3i3.2490

Search via ReFindit


Blanchard, J. M. F. (2018). China's maritime Silk Road initiative (MSRI) and Southeast Asia: A Chinese ‘pond' not ‘lake' in the works. Journal of Contemporary China, 27(111), 329–343. https://doi.org/10.1080/10670564.2018.1410959

Search via ReFindit


Brambor, T., Roberts Clark, W., & Golder, M. (2006). Understanding Interaction Models: Improving Empirical Analyses. Analysis, 14(1), 63–82. https://doi.org/10.1093/pan/mpi014

Search via ReFindit


Brînzǎ, A. (2019). The “17 + 1” Mechanism. China Quarterly of International Strategic Studies, 5(2), 213-231. https://doi.org/10.1142/S237774001950009X

Search via ReFindit


Buckley, P. J. (2020). China's Belt and Road Initiative and the COVID-19 crisis. Journal of International Business Policy, 3(3), 311–314. https://doi.org/10.1057/s42214-020-00063-9

Search via ReFindit


Busse, M., & Hefeker, C. (2007). Political risk, institutions and foreign direct investment. European Journal of Political Economy, 23(2), 397–415. https://doi.org/10.1016/J.EJPOLECO.2006.02.003

Search via ReFindit


Butkus, M., & Seputiene, J. (2018). Growth effect of public debt: The role of government effectiveness and trade balance. Economies, 6(4). https://doi.org/10.3390/economies6040062

Search via ReFindit


Champion, V. (2019). CMEC secures €120M Bulgarian port project. WorldCargo News. https://www.worldcargonews.com/news/news/cmec-secures-120m-bulgarian-port-project-62182

Search via ReFindit


Chapman, D., Pratt, D., Larkham, P., & Dickins, I. (2003). Concepts and definitions of corridors: Evidence from England's Midlands. Journal of Transport Geography, 11(3), 179-191. 00029-2 https://doi.org/10.1016/S0966-6923(03)

Search via ReFindit


Chow, G., Heaver, T. D., & Henriksson, L. E. (1994). Logistics Performance: Definition and Measurement. International Journal of Physical Distribution & Logistics Management, 24(1), 17-28. https://doi.org/10.1108/09600039410055981

Search via ReFindit


Civelek, E.M., Uca, N. & Cemberci, M. (2015). The Mediator Effect of Logistics Performance Index on The Relation Between Global Competitiveness Index And Gross Domestic Product, SSRN, 11(13), 1857-7881. https://ssrn.com/abstract=3338312

Search via ReFindit


Dawson, J.F. (2014). Moderation in Management Research: What, Why, When, and How. Journal of Business and Psychology, 29(1), 1-19. https://doi.org/10.1007/S10869-013-9308-7

Search via ReFindit


de Vries, J., & Priemus, H. (2003). Megacorridors in north-west Europe: issues for transnational spatial governance. Journal of Transport Geography, 11(3), 225-233. 00033-4 https://doi.org/10.1016/S0966-6923(03)

Search via ReFindit


De, P., & Iyengar, K. (2014). Developing Economic Corridors in South Asia. https://www.adb.org/sites/default/files/publication/162073/developing-economic-corridors.pdf

Search via ReFindit


Donald, S. G., & Lang, K. (2007). Inference with Difference-In-Differences and Other Panel Data. The Review of Economics and Statistics, 89(2), 221-233. https://doi.org/10.1162/rest.89.2.221

Search via ReFindit


Fujita, M., & Krugman, P. (2003). The new economic geography: Past, present and the future. Papers in Regional Science, 83(1), 139-164. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10110-003-0180-0

Search via ReFindit


Ge, Y., Dollar, D., & Yu, X. (2020). Institutions and participation in global value chains: Evidence from belt and road initiative. China Economic Review, 61, 101447. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.chieco.2020.101447

Search via ReFindit


Gleave, S. D. (2018). Research for TRAN Committee: The new Silk Route - opportunities and challenges for EU transport. 585907_EN.pdf https://www.europarl.europa.eu/RegData/etudes/STUD/2018/585907/IPOL_STU(2018)

Search via ReFindit


Gudjonsson, H., & Nielsson, E. T. (2015). China Can Play Key Role in Arctic Shipping. The Maritime Executive. https://www.maritime-executive.com/features/china-can-play-key-role-in-arctic

Search via ReFindit


Haavisto, I., & Vaillancourt, A. (2017). The Effect of ICT on Supply Chains of Emerging Markets. CIRANO Working Papers. https://ideas.repec.org/p/cir/cirwor/2017s-28.html

Search via ReFindit


Halaszovich, T. F., & Kinra, A. (2018). The impact of distance, national transportation systems and logistics performance on FDI and international trade patterns: Results from Asian global value chains. Transport Policy, April, 1-13. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tranpol.2018.09.003

Search via ReFindit


Halaszovich, T., Luttermann, S., & Kotzab, H. (2020). The impact of logistics performance on exports, imports and foreign direct investment. World Review of Intermodal Transportation Research, 9(1), 27. https://doi.org/10.1504/WRITR.2020.10027962

Search via ReFindit


Hillman, J. E. (2018). The Rise of China-Europe Railways | Center for Strategic and International Studies. https://www.csis.org/analysis/rise-china-europe-railways

Search via ReFindit


Imbens, G. W., & Wooldridge, J. M. (2009). Recent developments in the econometrics of program evaluation. Journal of Economic Literature, 47(1), 5-86. https://doi.org/10.1257/jel.47.1.5

Search via ReFindit


Jeffrey, R. (2019). China secures Bulgaria foothold. Port Strategy. https://www.portstrategy.com/news101/world/europe/cmec-secures-us$135.5m-bulgarian-port-project

Search via ReFindit


Krugman, P. (1998). What's new about the new economic geography? Oxford Review of Economic Policy, 14(2), 7-17. https://doi.org/10.1093/oxrep/14.2.7

Search via ReFindit


Krugman, Paul. (2009). The Increasing Returns Revolution in Trade and Geography. The American Economic Review, 99, 561-571. American Economic Association. https://doi.org/10.2307/25592474

Search via ReFindit


Kulish, A., Yunin, O., Us, O., Shapovalova, I., Yaromii, I. (2021). Smuggling as a threat to economic security of the state. Entrepreneurship and Sustainability Issues, 8(3), 384-399. http://doi.org/10.9770/jesi.2021.8.3(25)

Search via ReFindit


Lai, K.P.Y., Lin, S., & Sidaway, J.D. (2020). Financing the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI): research agendas beyond the “debt-trap” discourse. Eurasian Geography and Economics, 61(2), 109–124. https://doi.org/10.1080/15387216.2020.1726787

Search via ReFindit


Larson, P.D. (2020). Corruption, gender inequality and logistics performance. International Journal of Logistics Management, 31(2), 381-397. https://doi.org/10.1108/IJLM-02-2019-0062

Search via ReFindit


Levitin, O., Milatovic, J., & Sanfey, P. (2016). China and South-Eastern Europe: Infrastructure, trade and investment links, 185, 1-15. https://www.ebrd.com/news/2016/ebrd-papers-highlight-potential-of-southeastern-europe.html

Search via ReFindit


Li, X., Sohail, S., Majeed, M. T., & Ahmad, W. (2021). Green logistics, economic growth, and environmental quality: evidence from one belt and road initiative economies. Environmental Science and Pollution Researc, 28(24), 30664-30674. https://doi.org/10.1007/S11356-021-12839-4

Search via ReFindit


Lugt, S. van der, & Wang, D. (2020). The Impact of the Coronavirus (COVID-19) on the BRI: The show must and will go on. - https://www.iseas.edu.sg/im

Search via ReFindit


Mardell, J. (2020). China's “Health Silk Road”: Adapting the BRI to a pandemic-era world | Merics. MERICS-Mercator Institute of China Studies. https://merics.org/en/short-analysis/chinas-health-silk-road-adapting-bri-pandemic-era-world

Search via ReFindit


Mariano, E. B., Gobbo, J. A., Camioto, F. de C., & Rebelatto, D.A. do N. (2017). CO 2 emissions and logistics performance: a composite index proposal. Journal of Cleaner Production, 163, 166-178. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jclepro.2016.05.084

Search via ReFindit


Martí, L., Puertas, R., & García, L. (2014). The importance of the Logistics Performance Index in international trade. Applied Economics, 46(24), 2982-2992. https://doi.org/10.1080/00036846.2014.916394

Search via ReFindit


OECD. (2018). The Belt and Road Initiative in the global trade, investment and finance landscape, 61-101. https://doi.org/10.1787/bus_fin_out-2018-6-en

Search via ReFindit


OECD. (2020). Trade Policy Brief: Trade Policy Implicaitons of Global Value Chains. Global value chains and trade (Issue February). https://www.oecd.org/trade/topics/global-value-chains-and-trade/

Search via ReFindit


Priemus, H., & Zonneveld, W. (2003). What are corridors and what are the issues? Introduction to special issue: The governance of corridors. Journal of Transport Geography, 11(3), 167-177. 00028-0 https://doi.org/10.1016/S0966-6923(03)

Search via ReFindit


Putten, F.P. (2016). The Role of OBOR in Europe–China Relations. Europe and China's New Silk Roads. https://www.clingendael.org/publication/europe-and-chinas-new-silk-roads

Search via ReFindit


Raza, Z., Schøyen, H., & Østreng, W. (2014). A Comparative Study of The Northern Sea Route (Nsr) In Commercial And Environmental Perspective With Focus on Lng Shipping. 6th International Conference on Maritime Transport 2014. https://www.researchgate.net/publication/272828954

Search via ReFindit


Rezaei, J., van Roekel, W. S., & Tavasszy, L. (2018). Measuring the relative importance of the logistics performance index indicators using Best Worst Method. Transport Policy, 68, 158-169. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tranpol.2018.05.007

Search via ReFindit


Ruta, M., Dappe, M. H., Lall, S., Zhang, C., Churchill, E., Constantinescu, C., Lebrand, M., & Mulabdic, A. (2019). Belt and Road Economics: Opportunities and Risks of Transport Corridors. Belt and Road Economics: Opportunities and Risks of Transport Corridors https://doi.org/10.1596/978-1-4648-1392-4

Search via ReFindit


Savy, M. (2016). Logistics as a political issue. Transport Reviews, 36(4), 413-417. Routledge. https://doi.org/10.1080/01441647.2016.1182793

Search via ReFindit


Scimia, E. (2019). CHINA – EUROPE European ports a key plank of China's Belt and Road. AsiaNews.It. http://www.asianews.it/news-en/European-ports-a-key-plank-of-China%26rsquo%3Bs-Belt-and-Road-48561.html

Search via ReFindit


Seabra, F., Flores, G.P., & Gomes, K.C. (2016). Effects of Corruption and Logistics Performance Inefficiencies on Container Throughput: The Latin America Case. https://doi.org/10.5281/ZENODO.1126896

Search via ReFindit


Soh, K.L., Wong, W.P., & Tang, C.F. (2021). The role of institutions at the nexus of logistic performance and foreign direct investment in Asia. Asian Journal of Shipping and Logistics, 37(2), 165–173. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ajsl.2021.02.001

Search via ReFindit


Staalesen, A. (2013). First container ship on Northern Sea Route. Barentsobserver. https://barentsobserver.com/en/arctic/2013/08/first-container-ship-northern-sea-route-21-08

Search via ReFindit


Stainer, A. (1997). Logistics - A productivity and performance perspective. Supply Chain Management, 2(2), 53-62. https://doi.org/10.1108/13598549710166104

Search via ReFindit


Stock, J. H., & Watson, M. W. (2008). Heteroskedasticity-Robust Standard Errors for Fixed Effects Panel Data Regression. Econometrica, 76(1), 155-174. https://doi.org/10.1111/J.0012-9682.2008.00821.X

Search via ReFindit


Taksami, N. (2018). A Survey of Finnish Media Debates on the Arctic Corridor Railway Planned to Connect the Silk Road and the Polar Silk Road Introduction-China's Interest in the Arctic. Islanti. https://erepo.uef.fi/handle/123456789/7165

Search via ReFindit


Tillman, H., Yang, J., & Nielsson, E. T. (2018). The Polar Silk Road: China's New Frontier of International Cooperation. China Quarterly of International Strategic Studies, 4(3), 345-362. https://doi.org/10.1142/S2377740018500215

Search via ReFindit


Uca, N., Ince, H., & Sumen, H. (2016). The Mediator Effect of Logistics Performance Index on the Relation Between Corruption Perception Index and Foreign Trade Volume. European Scientific Journal, 12(25), 37. https://doi.org/10.19044/esj.2016.v12n25p37

Search via ReFindit


Uyar, A., Fernandes, V., & Kuzey, C. (2021). The mediating role of corporate governance between public governance and logistics performance: International evidence. Transport Policy, 109, 37-47. https://doi.org/10.1016/J.TRANPOL.2021.05.023

Search via ReFindit


van Duinen, L. (2013). Mainport and corridor: exploring the mobilizing capacities of Dutch spatial concepts. Planning Theory & Practice, 14(2), 211-232. https://doi.org/10.1080/14649357.2013.782423

Search via ReFindit


van Leijen, M. (2018). China wants to connect Arctic to New Silk Road. RailFreight.Com. https://www.railfreight.com/beltandroad/2018/05/01/china-eyes-polar-silk-road/

Search via ReFindit


Wang, L., Zhu, Y., Ducruet, C., Bunel, M., & Lau, Y. yip. (2018). From hierarchy to networking: the evolution of the “twenty-first-century Maritime Silk Road” container shipping system. Transport Reviews, 38(4), 416-435. https://doi.org/10.1080/01441647.2018.1441923

Search via ReFindit


Wang, M. L., Choi, C. H., Wang, M. L., & Choi, C. H. (2018). How logistics performance promote the international trade volume? A comparative analysis of developing and developed countries. International Journal of Logistics Economics and Globalisation, 7(1), 49-70. https://econpapers.repec.org/RePEc:ids:injleg:v:7:y:2018:i:1:p:49-70

Search via ReFindit


Witte, P., & Spit, T. (2015). Challenges for corridors: Future perspectives on European corridor development. In Integrated Spatial and Transport Infrastructure Development: The Case of the European North-South Corridor Rotterdam-Genoa (pp. 99-114). Springer International Publishing. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-15708-5_6

Search via ReFindit


Witte, P., Wiegmans, B., Braun, C., & Spit, T. (2016). Weakest link or strongest node? Comparing governance strategies for inland ports in transnational European corridors. Research in Transportation Business and Management, 19, 97-105. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.rtbm.2016.03.003

Search via ReFindit


Wong, A. (2018). China: We are a “Near-Arctic State” and we want a “Polar Silk Road.” CNBC. https://www.cnbc.com/2018/02/14/china-we-are-a-near-arctic-state-and-we-want-a-polar-silk-road.html

Search via ReFindit


Wong, W.P., & Tang, C. F. (2018b). The major determinants of logistic performance in a global perspective: evidence from panel data analysis. International Journal of Logistics Research and Applications, 21(4), 431-443. https://doi.org/10.1080/13675567.2018.1438377

Search via ReFindit


Wong, W.P., & Tang, C.F. (2018a). The major determinants of logistic performance in a global perspective: evidence from panel data analysis. International Journal of Logistics Research and Applications, 21(4), 431-443. https://doi.org/10.1080/13675567.2018.1438377

Search via ReFindit


Xiaoli, Z. (2016). Speech by Ambassador Zou Xiaoli at the Seminar “The New Silk Road of China: One Belt, One Road (OBOR) and Greece.” http://gr.china-embassy.org/eng/zxgx/t1351970.htm

Search via ReFindit


Yu, L., Zhao, D., Niu, H., & Lu, F. (2020). Does the belt and road initiative expand China's export potential to countries along the belt and road? China Economic Review, 60, 101419. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.chieco.2020.101419

Search via ReFindit


Zeneli, V. (2020). The Western Balkans: Low Hanging Fruit for China? Belt and Road News. https://www.beltandroad.news/2020/02/25/the-western-balkans-low-hanging-fruit-for-china/

Search via ReFindit


Zhylankozova, A. (2018). Towards the Silk Road economic zone initiative: historical perspective, Entrepreneurship and Sustainability Issues, 6(2), 548-557. http://doi.org/10.9770/jesi.2018.6.2(6)

Search via ReFindit