Port policy, governance models, and their incentives in developing countries: A systematic review

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Abstract

This study presents a systematic review of the scientific literature from 2019–2024 on port policy and governance models in developing countries, with a focus on South American nations. Through rigorous Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) methodology, we analyzed 30 articles from indexed journals to examine port policies, governance structures, and incentive mechanisms. Results reveal significant heterogeneity in governance models, transitioning toward increased private participation and service-oriented approaches (Vélez Altamirano, 2021). A consistent finding across studies highlights specialized human capital as critical for successful policy implementation (Fuenzalida-O’Shee & Valenzuela-Klagges, 2019). Digital transformation emerges as essential yet unevenly developed, with notable gaps between leading and secondary ports. Environmental sustainability gains relevance, though economic incentives for clean technologies remain insufficient. The study concludes that effective port policies must transcend infrastructural approaches to embrace integral visions incorporating human capital development, innovation, sustainability, and digitalization. This review contributes significantly by providing a structured synthesis of current knowledge, identifying research gaps, and deriving implications for evidence-based policy formulation in developing countries.

Keywords: Port Policy, Port Governance, Maritime Logistics, Developing Countries, Systematic Review

Authors’ individual contribution: Conceptualization — A.G.B.V. and C.D.C.O.; Methodology — J.S.V.L. and C.D.C.O.; Validation — J.S.V.L. and C.D.C.O.; Formal Analysis — A.G.B.V. and J.S.V.L.; Investigation — A.G.B.V., J.S.V.L., and C.D.C.O.; Resources — C.D.C.O.; Data Curation — A.G.B.V. and J.S.V.L.; Writing — Original Draft — A.G.B.V. and J.S.V.L.; Writing — Review & Editing — A.G.B.V., J.S.V.L., and C.D.C.O.; Visualization — J.S.V.L.; Supervision — C.D.C.O.; Project Administration — C.D.C.O.

Declaration of conflicting interests: The Authors declare that there is no conflict of interest.

JEL Classification: H54, L98, R42

Received: 30.04.2025
Revised: 26.07.2025; 13.11.2025
Accepted: 04.12.2025
Published online: 08.12.2025

How to cite this paper: Benavente Valdivia, A. G., Valdivia Lima, J. S., & Corrales Otazú, C. D. (2025). Port policy, governance models, and their incentives in developing countries: A systematic review [Special issue]. Journal of Governance and Regulation, 14(4), 412–421. https://doi.org/10.22495/jgrv14i4siart17