Factors affecting strategic choices of the European Union maritime shipping industry : pre- and post- European Union anti-trust exemption /
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| Format: | Thesis eBook |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
[College Station, Tex.] :
[Texas A&M University],
[2010]
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| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | Link to OAK Trust copy |
| Abstract: | This research explores the factors that affect the strategic decision to use or not use pools and conferences within the European Union (EU) maritime industry. The following research questions were explored: What were the differences pre- EU and post- EU harmonization of pooling regulations? Further, what part do country characteristics play? The importance of this research is to understand the conditions for the selection of strategic choices in the maritime industry. In October 2008, the Exemption Block, created by regulation 4056-86, was repealed. The landscape of the pre-exemption (pre-1986) EU shipping industry changed after the exemption, allowing anti-competitive techniques to be used. In theory, this was to help stabilize the shipping markets by reducing fluctuation in freight rates. It is the hypothesis that the change in regulation will have an effect on the EU liner industry landscape with an increase in merger activity and reduction in freight rate volatility. This research tested the hypothesis by using financial records of major shipping companies, and direct data from companies using pooling techniques, and merger data from industry journals. Using statistical analysis, these data were analyzed using paired t-tests. It was determined that both freight rate volatility and merger activities were affected by the change in regulation. This research relates directly to strategic management issues students will face within the shipping industry and will have a positive impact on our future decision making abilities relating to the maritime industry. |
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| Item Description: | "Major Subject: Maritime Administration" Title from author supplied metadata (automated record created 2010-08-20 08:33:27). Electronic resource. |
| Physical Description: | 1 online resource. |
| Bibliography: | Includes bibliographical references. |