The purpose of this updated edition is to highlight the significance of economics for maritime transport and shipping. Through a range of 13 chapters and various sub-sections, the reader becomes familiar with important issues in maritime economics. The book is divided into three parts.

In the first part, significant introductory economic concepts are developed, such as resource allocation and production factors, opportunity cost, production and utility, etc. Subsequently, the basic techniques for studying and analyzing various diagrams are presented. A significant reference is also made to production possibility curves and the analysis of mean and standard deviation for specific maritime transported cargo.

In the second part, the fundamental economic theory of shipping is analyzed. The most important factors that determine shipping supply and demand are recorded, based on which the price in each shipping market is determined. Issues of demand and supply elasticity are also studied, as well as the structuring of transportation costs and its significance in the structure and conduct of international maritime trade. Finally, the various structures of the shipping market (perfect and imperfect competition, monopoly, oligopoly, etc.), issues of price discrimination, and profit maximization are analyzed.

In the third and final part, the most important sectors of shipping are analyzed. More specifically, the bulk dry cargo sector, tanker shipping, and liner shipping. The historical development of these specific sectors, the long-term demand and supply, and the cost structure of each sector are recorded. Lastly, a significant analysis of the port industry is conducted, addressing issues of port investments and costs, productive capacity, and optimal methods of port management, as well as limiting the phenomenon of port congestion.