Research On Container Ports Competitive Strategy Based On Path Dependence Theory

The construction of container ports is gradually prosperous with the booming of container shipping, which leads to the increased competition between ports. Due to the huge initial costs of their construction and operations and long investment recovery periods, container ports cannot easily withdraw from the competition between ports after access to market. To make sure when and how to take strategies to hold the small space in the highly competitive container shipping market is considered as a problem.This paper is focus on the competition between container ports. It is the first time to introduce the path dependence theory into the container shipping market. It concludes the following three aspects:Firstly, it analyses the phenomenon of path dependence in the container transport market. In this paper, the theory of path dependence is in deep analysis in terms of the formation process and external manifestations of path dependence. Furthermore, the path dependence theory is introduced into the container transport market to study the path dependency of cargo owners in the container shipping market.Secondly, the model of port path dependence is built. The port path selection model is based on the least-cost path by analyzing the role of different participants and taking the cargo owner as the actual decision maker. Moreover, the formation process of path dependence is truly represented through the visual simulation.Thirdly, the port competitive strategy is put up based on path dependency theory. After studying the essence of port competition, the competitive strategy between two ports is built according to the path dependence and path innovation.Through simulation and empirical studies, we confirm the existence of path dependence in the container port competition. Its formation is a lengthy process, the formation process is subject to a number of fortuitous events and various subjective factors. Container port in the development process should make full use of the advantages of path dependence to maintain a competitive advantage.