| dc.description.abstract | This research is to explore 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 will be 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 In October 2008, the Exemption Block, created by regulation 4056-86, was repealed.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 a similar landscape of competition will develop after the repeal of the pooling exemption, to the pre-1986 landscape forms of competition.
The objective of this research is to test the hypothesis using Dun and Bradstreet Exporters’ Encyclopedia archival data, financial records of major shipping companies, and direct data from companies using pooling techniques. Using linear regression, these data will be analyzed using SAS software. 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. | en |
