Measuring the correlation between port infrastructure quality and port competitiveness indicators using the autoregressive distributed lag method

Purpose This scientific article investigates the correlation between the quality of port infrastructure (QPI) and port competitiveness in 20 Mediterranean port systems, examining both the short-run and the long-run dynamics. This study aims to addresses the notable gap in the literature concerning recent advancements in port competitiveness research, particularly in the Mediterranean context. Design/methodology/approach The analysis uses statistical methods such as regression modeling to establish relationships. The authors use the Autoregressive Distributed Lag (ARDL) model to obtain dependable estimates, incorporating five explanatory variables: port container traffic (CT) in 20-foot equivalent units (TEU), export cost in US dollars per container (EC), import cost in US dollars per container (IC), regular maritime transport connectivity index (CONNECTIVI) and QPI. The ARDL model is chosen for its flexibility in handling variables with mixed orders of integration; however, potential limitations such as parameter instability (especially in the presence of structural breaks) were addressed via robustness tests including the CUSUM and CUSUMSQ tests. Findings The analysis findings emphasize the impact of port infrastructure quality on port competitiveness indicators. The ARDL model results enable us to validate the hypothesis of both long-run and short-run relationships between port infrastructure quality and port competitiveness variables. Furthermore, sensitivity analyses were conducted to validate the robustness of these results. Originality/value This research contributes to the field by using ARDL modeling, distinguishing it from previous studies that have used different econometric methods. Moreover, the study integrates recent literature (2021–2025) to refine the theoretical framework and empirical approach, thereby providing a significant update to the extant research.