Institutional analysis of stakeholder collaboration in freight movement at the Ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach

The primary focus of this study has been the identification of the incentives and barriers to collaboration between stakeholders in freight movement at the Ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach (POLA/LB). Additionally, I also discuss how these incentives and barriers influence specific governance mechanisms required for the management of such partnerships.;In this study, I attempt to identify characteristics of the collaboration necessary for the alignment of institutionalized practices and information sharing between stakeholders. Employing a theoretical framework that combines new institutional economics and partnerships, I synthesize a theoretical framework that incorporates factors affecting partnerships.;To address my research questions, I utilized a combination of a survey of freight movement and interviews with key representatives of selected stakeholder organizations.;Using the theoretical framework, review of institutional context and data from survey and interviews, I argue that for the successful implementation of stakeholder collaboration in freight movement at POLA/LB, the following are necessary but not sufficient conditions. The incentives and barriers to collaboration, specifically, differences between private and public entities, the risk of mistrust and free riders and information gaps should determine the governance mechanism to monitor the partnership.;The presence of a large number and types of stakeholders, free riders, and mutual distrust between stakeholders means that the governance mechanisms should, (a) be determined by contracts that try to cover substantially the risk from future uncertainties due to mistrust and free riders; (b) have an independent arbitration body that maintains the mutuality and parity between partners; and (c) relies on the pre-existing informal arrangements between stakeholders and industries to reinforce the collaboration.