Interventions to Reduce Logistic Costs for Trade Competitiveness and Poverty: A Productive Transformation Platform (Contributions to Economics)

Logistics are a critical element for country competitiveness and economic performance, including poverty reduction. Most emerging countries such as Asia, Africa, Latin America and the Caribbean are focusing on export-led growth strategies and poverty reduction strategies, and their performance is adversely affected by their high logistic costs that range from 10% to 50% of product value. This book illustrates the relevance and impact of logistics on these areas while also offering an effective logistics and infrastructure framework that addresses the full spectrum of the productive chain (upstream, midstream and downstream). It provides a structured agenda for designing and implementing holistic policy interventions (soft and hard components) to reduce logistic costs. Featuring case studies and examples of specific interventions and their impact in many countries, a number of them in Latin America,this book is useful to scholars, academics, practitioners and policy makers interested in the reduction of logistics costs and poverty reduction in the global economy. Contents About the Author Chapter 1: Motivation for Analysis and Evaluation of Logistic Costs References Chapter 2: Objectives and Content of a Logistic Costs Evaluation Task Reference Chapter 3: Methodology: Definition and Selection of Variable to Measure Logistic Cost 3.1 Definition 3.2 Selection of Variable for Logistic Costs References Chapter 4: A Case in Point to Illustrate the Problematic of Logistic Costs References Chapter 5: Impact and Benefits of Decreases in Logistic Costs 5.1 Increased Productivity and Income per Capita 5.2 Increased Trade Flows 5.3 Impact on Food Prices 5.4 Increased Number of New Products and Volume in the Product and Export Basket 5.5 Regulations and Standards 5.6 Border Processes 5.7 Connectivity Matters for Freight Rates 5.8 Impact on Poverty 5.8.1 Increased Earnings for the Poor 5.8.2 Reduced Food Prices with a Positive Impact on Poverty and Nutrition References Chapter 6: Sources and Incidence of Cost 6.1 From the Hardware of Infrastructure 6.1.1 Infrastructure 6.2 From the Software of Infrastructure 6.2.1 Inland Transportation: Trucks 6.2.2 Customs Clearance and Border Crossings 6.2.3 Warehousing, Storage, and Inventory Costs 6.2.4 Cold Services and Capacity 6.2.5 Specific Logistics Services 6.2.6 Time and Financial Costs 6.2.7 Maritime Transport 6.2.7.1 Additional Adverse Impact on SMEs References Chapter 7: Methodological Notes and Phases for the Evaluation of Logistic Costs 7.1 Part I: Identification 7.2 Part II: Follow the Product 7.3 Part III: Identification of Sources of Information 7.4 Part IV: Compiling/Collecting Data 7.5 Part V. Evaluations 7.6 Part VI: Identification of Drivers of Costs 7.7 Part VII: Further Enrichment: Analysis of the Functioning of Relevant Markets 7.8 Part VIII: Platform of Initiatives and Actions to Reduce Logistic Costs Reference Chapter 8: Factors and Component of Logistic Cost: Typology of Costs 8.1 The Three Key Logistic Costs Factors: Times, Losses, and Direct Costs of Services 8.2 What Should Logistic Costs Exclude 8.3 Summary of Broad Components of Logistic Costs Reference Chapter 9: Moving Forward: Transformation Platform and Interventions (Soft and Hard) to Reduce Logistic Cost 9.1 Infrastructure Hardware Interventions 9.1.1 Advancing Strategic Infrastructure Investments 9.1.2 Institutionality: Establishing Clear Leadership to Manage and Implement the Logistic Program 9.1.3 Strategic Identification and Selection of Key Production Sites and Products and of Corridors to Move the Products to Destiny 9.1.4 Identify Modalities of Interventions and Financing Constraints 9.2 Infrastructure: Software Interventions References Chapter 10: Specific Examples on Interventions to Reduce Logistic Costs and Impact 10.1 Country Examples of Reforms 10.2 Infrastructure 10.3 Creating an Intermodal Logistics Platform of Transport in Argentina 10.4 Linking Ports and Logistics 10.5 Eurogate Initiative of Intermodal Container Terminals 10.6 PSA and China Merchants Initiative of Freight Forwarding Network 10.7 On Customs and Border Crossing 10.8 Improving Logistic Services 10.8.1 Addressing Cold Chain Issues in Kenya (World Economic Forum, 2018) 10.8.2 Facilitating Articulation Down Stream the Value Chain: Associativity and Anchor Firms Programs 10.8.3 Packaging Intervention 10.8.4 Quality Certification and Licensing 10.8.5 Trade Finance Assistance 10.8.6 Stream Lining Small Scale Exports: Poverty Impact/Productive Mainstreaming 10.8.7 NOVA CEASA Project in Piau, Brazil 10.8.8 Better Life Farming Project in India, Indonesia, and Bangladesh References Chapter 11: Conclusion Annexure. Case Study: Logistic Cost Evaluation for Quinoa Products in Peru Identification of the Geographical Location of Product Production Centers in the Country Overview of Costs and Logistical Times Main Bottlenecks Summary of Evaluation Specific Initiatives/Recommendations. Feasible Objective: Reduce Costs, Shorten Times, and Reductions of Losses Initiatives for the Improvement of Road Infrastructure Initiatives to Improve the Performance of the Transport Sector Initiatives to Improve the Performance of Collection Centers Initiatives to Improve Cold and Packaging Services Initiatives to Cut Cross-Border Costs Initiatives to Improve Certified Procedures and Inspections Key Corridor Initiatives Initiatives to Improve Use and Times in Storage and Port Processes Initiatives in Governance and Jurisdictions for Reform Program Bibliography Featuring case studies and examples of specific interventions and their impact in many countries, a number of them in Latin America, this book is useful to scholars, academics, practitioners and policy makers interested in the reduction of logistics costs and poverty reduction in the global economy.