Developing a border performance index: empirical evidence from Thailand

Purpose This research introduces and validates the border performance index (BPI), a comprehensive tool to assess border efficiency across four dimensions: infrastructure, institutional framework, logistics service providers (LSPs), and shippers and/or consignees. Design/methodology/approach The research used a mixed-methods approach to design and validate the BPI, grounded in Banomyong’s macro logistics system. It involved stakeholder analysis, questionnaire development through literature review and expert consultations and deployment at nine Thailand border checkpoints. BPI scores were calculated and ranked to identify performance gaps and recommend improvements. Findings The findings demonstrated that the BPI effectively evaluated border operations, highlighting infrastructure as the weakest dimension and institutional frameworks as generally adequate. LSPs and shippers and/or consignees performed well, reflecting strong delivery capabilities. Minimal differences in total BPI scores across nine Thai border checkpoints suggested a need for further refinement to capture nuanced variations. The BPI was validated as a valuable tool for identifying inefficiencies and bottlenecks, benchmarking performance and guiding policy development to enhance cross-border trade efficiency. Research limitations/implications The study is limited to Thailand’s land border checkpoints, excluding neighboring countries’ input and bilateral gap analysis. Practical implications The BPI offers policymakers and stakeholders a holistic framework and comprehensive tool to benchmark border operations, identify improvements in cross-border trade operations and guide targeted interventions. Originality/value The BPI is a novel tool for assessing border efficiency, addressing macro- and micro-level dynamics across the four dimensions.