Path dependence and change in the Spanish port system in the long run (1880–2014): An historical perspective

  1. Castillo, Daniel 1
  2. Valdaliso, Jesus M. 2
  1. 1 Universidad de Las Palmas de Gran Canaria
    info

    Universidad de Las Palmas de Gran Canaria

    Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, España

    ROR https://ror.org/01teme464

  2. 2 Universidad del País Vasco/Euskal Herriko Unibertsitatea
    info

    Universidad del País Vasco/Euskal Herriko Unibertsitatea

    Lejona, España

    ROR https://ror.org/000xsnr85

Revista:
International journal of maritime history

ISSN: 0843-8714

Año de publicación: 2017

Volumen: 29

Número: 3

Páginas: 569-596

Tipo: Artículo

DOI: 10.1177/0843871417712636 DIALNET GOOGLE SCHOLAR lock_openAcceso abierto editor

Otras publicaciones en: International journal of maritime history

Resumen

The aim of this article is to describe and explain the evolution of the Spanish port system and its main ports over the long run. Building on the literature on path dependence and port evolution, we set up an analytical framework with three broad driving factors – economic, technological and institutional – in order to explain path dependence and change in the ranking of the largest Spanish ports. The port system shows a trend towards de-concentration between 1880 and 1990, mainly due to the decline of former leading ports in the first half of the twentieth century and by the appearance of emergent ones in the second half of that century. Besides, there is a small club of leading ports that have managed to maintain themselves among the top ten throughout this period.