This project is ongoing. Descriptions, methods and results may be updated after further validation.
Research question
Did the Porto Sem Papel programme reduce port times and trade costs? What informational transformation did digitalisation produce?
Motivation
Port digitalisation is presented as a source of operational gains. Evaluating that promise with public data and documented adoption dates avoids both automatic optimism and evidence-free rejection.
Data
- ANTAQ berthing statistics, 2010–2026
- Porto Sem Papel adoption dates by port, documented in official publications
Methodology
- Staggered difference-in-differences and event studies
- Stochastic frontier of port efficiency
- PPML models for trade and freight
Preliminary findings
Work in progress, version of 11 September 2026. Results are preliminary and have not yet been submitted to peer review. Do not cite as a final result. Check the latest version and the replication materials indicated on this page.
- Preliminary results do not indicate a generalised operational reduction in port times after digitalisation.
- The main contribution identified may lie in the expansion of coverage and governance of port data.
Limitations
- Preliminary results; the manuscript is being written.
- Adoption dates depend on official records that may not coincide with effective use.
Implications
- Digital-government evaluation instruments based on administrative data.
Planned applied products (possible outreach, subject to registration)
- Dashboards, historical series and maps on port digitalisation
- Policy documentation and digital-government evaluation instruments