ORIGINAL ARTICLE A dynamic view of the socioeconomic significance of ports A. M. P. Santos 1 • R. Salvador 1 • C. Guedes Soares 1 Ó Macmillan Publishers Ltd 2017 Abstract This paper presents a methodology for the provision of a dynamic view on the economic role of ports by means of input–output analysis. The focus is on assessing the role of ports as a source of market expansion for firms located in the hinterland, particularly for export-oriented firms. Structural change in the economy is accounted for by incorporating a bi-proportional matrix adjustment technique in the general input–output framework. By assessing yearly impact changes encom- passing a number of years, the outcome of the proposed methodology can serve as a decision support tool for transport policy decision makers, namely by incorporating results in predictive models making use of econometric techniques. Additionally, it allows ex-ante evaluations of port-related investments. By relying on data regularly collected by regional or national statistical offices, the proposed methodology provides a generally applicable and transparent framework for assessing the eco- nomic role of ports in their respective hinterland, while also allowing for compar- isons between ports and across time. An application of the proposed methodology is illustrated by evaluating the economic significance of exports moving through the Portuguese port system. Keywords Input–output analysis  Port socioeconomic impact studies  Maritime exports economic impacts  Port development  Economic growth  Dynamic analysis of port impacts & C. Guedes Soares c.guedes.soares@centec.tecnico.ulisboa.pt 1 Centre for Marine Technology and Ocean Engineering (CENTEC), Instituto Superior Te ´cnico, University of Lisbon, Lisbon, Portugal Marit Econ Logist DOI 10.1057/s41278-017-0081-9