The capacity and efficiency of seaports and airports have become critical factors in global trade. Such trade is especially important to California, whose ports are among the busiest in the nation. In California’s Global Gateways: Trends and Issues, Jon D. Haveman and David Hummels examine several aspects of the state’s trade traffic and infrastructure. Focusing on trends and forecasts in international shipping, the regional effects of serving as a global distribution center, the 2002 West Coast port closure, and policy responses to terrorist attacks, the report points to a complex policy question: Should California seek to increase shipments through its ports and cities or adopt policies that, in effect, encourage international cargo to go elsewhere? The answer to this question, the authors note, will shape California’s physical and economic landscape for decades to come.
Topics
Economic Trends Economy