National port development policies: same problems, different solutions?

National governments in different trade and shipping environments often face a number of common critical issues in port systems but government policies, processes and associated regulation may differ significantly. Why is it so? Ports are essential elements in trade oriented supply chains and during the past thirty years have undergone widespread reform globally. This has resulted in a deregulated market generally associated with denationalisation, privatisation or corporatisation programs, which aimed, inter alia, to increase efficiency; to attract additional investments, from the private sector; and to smooth land/port interfaces developing integrated supply chains. The port reform issue has attracted significant research globally with a focus generally on particular countries or regions. There has been less emphasis comparing countries in different contexts. This paper seeks to fill this gap and compares the main features of reform, government policy and regulation in three national jurisdictions: Australia, Brazil and Italy. It highlights differences, similarities and common aspects: full or partial privatisation, the landlord port model and regulatory regimes enacted. It examines the degree of private sector involvement; government intermediation roles and regulation in an increasingly deregulated market. It concludes that port privatisation policy remains, regrettably but not surprisingly, an intensively divisive and deeply political and politicised issue.