Original Research

Logistics and the future: The rise of macrologistics

Jan H. Havenga
Journal of Transport and Supply Chain Management | Vol 12 | a336 | DOI: https://doi.org/10.4102/jtscm.v12i0.336 | © 2018 Jan H. Havenga | This work is licensed under CC Attribution 4.0
Submitted: 07 August 2017 | Published: 31 May 2018

About the author(s)

Jan H. Havenga, Department of Logistics, Stellenbosch University, South Africa

Abstract

Background: The components of national freight logistics costs are still optimised in isolation, instead of systemic optimisation between logistics and other supply chain elements. The risk is the tragedy of the commons effect, where a positive return for economic activities in isolation could lead to a negative collective result in the long-term. Therefore, there is a need to elevate the systemic view of logistics to the macroeconomic realm.

Objectives: The primary objective of this study was to further the macrologistics discipline through its formal definition and to develop an instrumentation construct to support macroeconomic trade-off analysis. The secondary objective was to apply instrumentation outputs to national-level logistics challenges.

Method: A review of macrologistics was conducted, followed by a discussion on macrologistics instrumentation, which is twofold: a freight-flow model and a related logistics costs model. A disaggregated national input–output table was developed, followed by gravity modelling, to determine freight flows. Logistics cost calculations relate these flows to the costs of fulfilling associated logistics functions.

Results: This review contributes to the developing theory of macrologistics, while the instrumentation outputs improve the systemic understanding of the national freight-flow landscape, enabling informed debate and prioritisation analysis. This systemic view enabled macrologistics proposals to address South Africa’s logistics challenges, including proposals regarding a domestic intermodal strategy externality cost internalisation; international trade facilitation; infrastructure investments; and rail branch line revitalisation.

Conclusion: The elevation of logistics to the macroeconomic realm will enable the management of logistics as a national production factor, thereby contributing to reducing national freight logistics costs and improving national competitiveness.

Keywords

macrologistics; logistics costs; freight demand modeling; input-output disaggregation; gravity modelling; South Africa

Metrics

Total abstract views: 6673
Total article views: 14754

 

Crossref Citations

1. Humanitarian Assistance in G5 Sahel: Social Sustainability Context of Macrologistics Potential
Adam Płachciak, Jakub Marcinkowski
Sustainability  vol: 14  issue: 14  first page: 8862  year: 2022  
doi: 10.3390/su14148862

2. Factors impact the current status of logistics service providers in Vietnam and strategies for development
Tuan The Tran, Toan Quang Dinh, Trang Thu Phan
International Journal of ADVANCED AND APPLIED SCIENCES  vol: 10  issue: 1  first page: 130  year: 2023  
doi: 10.21833/ijaas.2023.01.017

3. Addressing the Global Logistics Performance Index Rankings with Methodological Insights and an Innovative Decision Support Framework
Željko Stević, Nazlı Ersoy, Enes Emre Başar, Mahmut Baydaş
Applied Sciences  vol: 14  issue: 22  first page: 10334  year: 2024  
doi: 10.3390/app142210334

4. Including operational costs in warehouse location problems: A case study in USA
Luis Felipe Cardona, Leonardo Rivera-Cadavid
Revista Facultad de Ingeniería Universidad de Antioquia  year: 2023  
doi: 10.17533/udea.redin.20231132

5. Relationships between Logistics Performance and Aspects of Sustainability: A Cross-Country Analysis
Paul D. Larson
Sustainability  vol: 13  issue: 2  first page: 623  year: 2021  
doi: 10.3390/su13020623

6. Logistics Service Providers in Central Vietnam: Current Status and Strategies for the Future
The Tuan , Tran, Quang Hung Do, Quang Toan Dinh
WSEAS TRANSACTIONS ON BUSINESS AND ECONOMICS  vol: 19  first page: 1140  year: 2022  
doi: 10.37394/23207.2022.19.100

7. Türkiye’nin Küresel Rekabet Gücünün Artırılması: Lojistik Altyapı ve Sürdürülebilir Ticarete Odaklanmak
Özden Sevgi Akıncı, Ercan Taşkın
İnsan ve Toplum Bilimleri Araştırmaları Dergisi  vol: 13  issue: 5  first page: 2079  year: 2024  
doi: 10.15869/itobiad.1513435

8. Quality of Transportation Infrastructure and Trade Facilities: Opportunities and Challenges in Increasing Trade and Economic Productivity
Florentinus Pambudi Widiatmaka, Anugrah Nur Prasetyo, Suherman Suherman, Heri Sularno, Tri Cahyadi, Pranyoto Pranyoto, Aryanti Fitrianingsih, Kundori Kundori, Sukrisno Sukrisno
TransNav, the International Journal on Marine Navigation and Safety of Sea Transportation  vol: 18  issue: 3  first page: 521  year: 2024  
doi: 10.12716/1001.18.03.05

9. Developing a border performance index: empirical evidence from Thailand
Ruth Banomyong, Paitoon Varadejsatitwong, Puthipong Julagasigorn, Huay Ling Tay
The International Journal of Logistics Management  first page: 1  year: 2025  
doi: 10.1108/IJLM-02-2025-0116

10. Assessing the effects of logistics performance on export and competitiveness using SEM methodology: evidence from firm-level data
Filip Ž. Bugarčić, Nenad Stanišić, Veljko Marinković
The International Journal of Logistics Management  vol: 35  issue: 6  first page: 1847  year: 2024  
doi: 10.1108/IJLM-07-2023-0289

11. Factors affecting the adoption of drones in the food supply chain
Haaliema Bibi Undre, Osden Jokonya
Frontiers in Sustainable Food Systems  vol: 8  year: 2024  
doi: 10.3389/fsufs.2024.1497595

12. Transit in Regional Economic Development: The Case of the Kaliningrad Exclave
Ksenia Yu. Voloshenko, Ivan S. Gumenyuk, Nils Göran Arne Roos
European Spatial Research and Policy  vol: 27  issue: 1  first page: 263  year: 2020  
doi: 10.18778/1231-1952.27.1.12

13. Logistics system as a factor of business development: The case of the Republic of Serbia
Slobodan Aćimović, Veljko Mijušković, Filip Bugarčić
Ekonomika preduzeca  vol: 70  issue: 5-6  first page: 325  year: 2022  
doi: 10.5937/EKOPRE2206325A

14. Renewable energy and advanced logistical infrastructure: Carbon‐free economic development
Syed Abdul Rehman Khan, Zhang Yu, Muhammad Umar, Hafiz Muhammad Zia‐ul‐haq, Muhammad Tanveer, Laeeq Razzak Janjua
Sustainable Development  vol: 30  issue: 4  first page: 693  year: 2022  
doi: 10.1002/sd.2266

15. Factors influencing decision-making in buying process of express logistics services
Vikash Khatri, Ajay Pandey, Anita Kumar
Journal of Transport and Supply Chain Management  vol: 17  year: 2023  
doi: 10.4102/jtscm.v17i0.949