The world's key industry : history and economics of international shipping / edited by Gelina Harlaftis, Stig Tenold, and Jesús M. Valdaliso.

Includes bibliographical references and index.

Introduction -- L. R. Fischer and the progress of Maritime Economic History; D.Williams and L.Scholl -- Shipping and Staple Economies in the Periphery; C.K.Harley -- The Progress of the Steamship in the 19th Century; D.M.Williams and J.Armstrong -- The Advantages of Water Carriage; Y.Kaukianen -- Building the Vital Networks of Trade; E.Lange, E.Ekperg and E.Merok -- The Development of Commercial Infrastructures for World Shipping; G.Boyce -- Government and British Shipping in the Later 20th Century; S.Palmer -- Historical Evolution of the Ports of Antwerp and Rotterdam; S.Vanfraechem -- Institutional Path-dependence and Port Regulation; M.Tull and J.Reveley -- China's Seaport Development 1978-2002; A.N.G.Koi Yu and T.Ka-chai -- Hull's Maritime Business Sector c. 1860-1914; M.Barnard and D.Starkey -- Risks and Rewards -- the Business of Norwegian Shipping; S.Tenold -- Greek and Spanish Shipowners in the 19th and 20th Centuries; G.Harlaftis and J.M.Valdaliso -- Epilogue: A Key Industry or an Invisible Industry?; G.Harlaftis, S.Tenold and J.M.Valdaliso.