On January 23, 2023, the Mosbacher Institute’s Global Value Chains Program joined the Texas A&M Energy Institute in hosting a Special Joint Seminar on Transport and Logistics, entitled “The Footprint of E-commerce and the Distribution Network of Amazon.” The event featured Dr. Jean-Paul Rodrigue, a professor in the Department of Global Studies & Geography at Hofstra University and a Distinguished Fellow in the Hagler Institute for Advanced Study at Texas A&M University. Dr. Jean-Paul Rodrigue’s research interests mainly cover the fields of transportation and economics as they relate to logistics and global freight distribution.
Dr. Rodrigue’s presentation revolved around the association between the emerging e-commerce industry and the shift from commercial retail stores to distribution centers. He claims forms of distribution-based consumption are emerging where the demand is contingent upon logistical capabilities. His research and presentation focused on the commercial footprint of the company Amazon and featured the geographical analysis of more than 900 Amazon distribution facilities in the United States. His presentation outlined how Amazon’s efficient distribution network allows it to expand volumes and improve performance. The presentation concluded with questions about the environmental sustainability of e-commerce and the potential policy implications shaping the e-commerce industry moving forward.
You can view “The Footprint of E-commerce and the Distribution Network of Amazon” on the Energy Institute’s website.
