Transfer costs in the overseas and internal shipping services of Fiji and Tonga
Date
1974
Authors
Baker, John Richard
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Abstract
The concept of distance is fundamental to an understanding of the
process of spatial interaction. Distance may be expressed in either
absolute or relative terms, in such varied metrics as kilometres or
social distance ranking. The present study places particular
attention on 'economic distance', which in its broadest sense is the
cost of overcoming distance, and within economic distance upon 'transfer
costs'.
The study argues first that the definition of economic distance
implicit in the literature is imprecise. The cost of overcoming
distance appears to have become equated with the user costs (equals the
price or freight rate) of the transport service, expressed simply in
terms of the cost per ton mile or some similar measure. This user cost
is frequently confused with the cost to the transport operator of
providing the service. This is in spite of the fact that most sectors
of the transport industry are characterised by monopolistic or
oligopolistic market structures, which are the complete antithesis of
the perfectly competitive market usually seen by economists as being
necessary for cost (incurred by the transport operator) to equal price
(charged by the transport operator).
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