Efficiency gains from port reform and the potential for yardstick competition: lessons from Mexico

Abstract

This paper shows how measures of relative efficiency performance could promote yardstick competition between port infrastructure operators. The illustration is based on a study of the efficiency effects of the Mexican 1993 Port Reform. It covers 1996-99 and relies on a stochastic production frontier to show that Mexico's ports achieved 2.8-3.3% average annual efficiency gains since reform. The port-specific measures point to consistent leaders and laggards which would not all be identified by common partial productivity indicators. This information could be built into an explicit incentive-based regulatory regime aiming at promoting catch-up by laggards.