Classification of Countries by Logistics Performance Using Two New COPRAS-Based Variants and Analysis of Common Features of Highly Developed Logistics Sectors

Abstract

Background: The World Bank's Logistics Performance Index (LPI) aims to help countries identify challenges and opportunities in their logistics systems and improve sectoral performance. Published biennially since 2007, with the most recent edition released in 2023, the index evaluates countries' logistics sectors across six dimensions and ranks them according to their overall performance scores. Unlike LPI, this study seeks to classify countries according to their logistics performance rather than ranking them. The classification approach aims to establish a scientific foundation for the in-depth analysis of each category and to contribute to the further development of the LPI framework. Methods: Two new methodological variants-COPRAS-Sortlp and COPRAS-Sortcp-are proposed for classifying countries based on their logistics performance. In the COPRAS-Sortlp variant, assignment to predefined classes follows the limit values of profiles, whereas in the COPRAS-Sortcp variant, central values are used. These represent novel approaches that have not previously been applied to multi-criteria classification problems in the logistics performance domain. Results: Using the COPRAS-Sortlp and COPRAS-Sortcp variants, countries were classified into five categories according to their logistics performance for the years 2010, 2012, 2014, 2016, 2018, and 2023. To assess the consistency of the proposed variants, results were compared with other multi-criteria classification methods-ARASsort-lp, ARASsort-cp, TOPSIS Sort-B and TOPSIS Sort-C. The findings reveal that the proposed variants achieved 100% agreement with ARASsort-lp and ARASsort-cp, and 95-99% agreement with TOPSIS Sort-B and TOPSIS Sort-C. Conclusions: The analysis indicates that countries with the most developed logistics sectors-those classified in Class 1- tend to be deeply integrated into global trade and the world economy. They are highly globalised, well-connected through both air and sea transport networks, and maintain open economic environments conducive to the growth of trade activities.