Ecological Efficiency Based Ranking of Cities: A Combined DEA Cross-Efficiency and Shannon's Entropy Method

In this paper, a method is proposed to calculate a comprehensive index that calculates the ecological efficiency of a city by combining together the measurements provided by some Data Envelopment Analysis (DEA) cross-efficiency models using the Shannon's entropy index. The DEA models include non-discretionary uncontrollable inputs, desirable and undesirable outputs. The method is implemented to compute the ecological efficiency of a sample of 116 Italian provincial capital cities in 2011 as a case study. Results emerging from the case study show that the proposed index has a good discrimination power and performs better than the ranking provided by the Sole24Ore, which is generally used in Italy to conduct benchmarking studies. While the sustainability index proposed by the Sole24Ore utilizes a set of subjective weights to aggregate individual indicators, the adoption of the DEA based method limits the subjectivity to the selection of the models. The ecological efficiency measurements generated by the implementation of the method for the Italian cities indicate that they perform very differently, and generally largest cities in terms of population size achieve a higher efficiency score

Integrating multiple criteria decision analysis and production theory for performance evaluation: framework and review

Accounting, life cycle assessment (LCA) and data envelopment analysis (DEA) are examples of various research areas that independently develop and apply diverse methodologies to evaluate performance. Though, many methods have in common that the results to be assessed are mainly determined by the inputs and outputs of the activities which are to be evaluated. Based on both production and decision theory, our comprehensive framework integrates and systematically distinguishes specific types of production-based performance assessment. It allows to examine and categorise the existing literature on such approaches. Our review focuses on sources which explicitly apply concepts or methods of multiple criteria decision analysis (MCDA). We did not find any elaborated methodology that fully integrates MCDA with production theory. At least, a basic approach to multicriteria performance analysis, which generalises the methodology of data envelopment analysis, appears to be well-grounded on production theory. It was already presented in this journal in 2001 and has rarely been noticed in the literature until now. A short overview outlines its recent insights and main findings. A key finding is that a category mistake prevails among well-known methodologies of efficiency measurement like DEA. It may imply invalid empirical results because the inputs and outputs of production processes are confused with resulting impacts destroying or creating values (to be minimised or maximised, respectively). We conclude by defining open problems and by indicating prospective research directions

Ecological Benchmarking to Explore Alternative Fishing Schemes to Protect Endangered Species by Substitution: The Danish Demersal Fishery in the North Sea

The cod stock in the North Sea is threatened by overexploitation. To recover this fishing stock, pressure needs to be reduced. This implies that catch compositions with small amounts of cod are preferred by public policy makers. The present analysis assesses the technological efficiency of fishing trips in terms of the substitution possibilities away from cod by considering landings of cod as an undesirable output. A conservative non-parametric frontier technology approach imposing minimal assumptions and based on directional distance functions is applied to explore alternative fishing activities for Danish gill netters operating in the North Sea with the goal of reducing cod catches. Since performance on different fishing trips may be influenced by the operating environment, a four-stage approach is applied to correct for exogenous factors (Fried et al. (1999)). The corrected directional distance function efficiency scores reveal the behavioural inefficiencies, i.e., prospects for decreasing the catch of cod while catch of other species are increased.Capacity, Directional distance function, Fisheries, Output Substitution

Regulatory impact of environmental standards on the eco-efficiency of firms

In this paper we propose an approach to implement environmental standards into Data Envelopment Analysis (DEA) and in this way to measure their regulatory impact on eco-efficiency of firms. As one standard feature of basic DEA models (as e.g. CCR from Charnes et al. (1978)) lies in the exogeneity of inputs, desirable and undesirable outputs, it is not possible to introduce environmental constraints for these parameters directly into basic DEA models. Therefore, we use a bounded-variable way, which allows constraints on the efficiency frontier. The regulatory impact is assessed as difference in eco-efficiency scores before and after fictive introduction of an environmental standard. Furthermore, we distinguish between weak and strong disposability of undesirable outputs and develop corresponding models. Assessing the regulatory impact of environmental standards in advance provides support for environmental policy makers in choosing appropriate instruments and in adjusting the intensity of regulation

Assessing social performance of construction companies in public-works procurement: Data envelopment analysis based on the benefit of the doubt approach

[EN] There is an urgent need to improve the assessment of construction companies' Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) in public-works procurement. Current procurement procedures assign a high level of subjectivity to CSR assessment and lack transparency. Existing research basically highlights the need to define weighting systems in which the importance of each social criterion is objective and based on the social weaknesses in the context of a project. In order to fulfill this gap, this research proposes a composite indicator for assessing CSR in public construction procurement. A Data Envelopment Analysis based on the Benefit of Doubt Approach (DEA-BOD) was chosen to define the weighting system based on the main social weaknesses that exist in the country where the contract is procured. The research employs simulation to assess the validity of this indicator. The results highlight that the use of national indices as a proxy for CSR indicators can be helpful in determining the level of importance of CSR in public procurement. The simulation showed that the proposed approach allows the objective comparison of CSR performance of construction companies, regardless of their size. This research assists decision-makers in properly integrating social sustainability in procurement procedures.The authors acknowledge the financial support of the Universitat Politecnica de Valencia (PAID -00-17) . The authors are grateful to the expert panel for their participation in this research.Montalbán-Domingo, L.; García-Segura, T.; Sanz-Benlloch, A.; Pellicer, E.; Torres-Machí, C.; Molenaar, K. (2022). Assessing social performance of construction companies in public-works procurement: Data envelopment analysis based on the benefit of the doubt approach. Environmental Impact Assessment Review. 96:1-15. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.eiar.2022.1068441159

Performance assessment of major European ports: an empirical investigation

In the recent literature, the strategic relevance of ports has improved, and this paper provides a comparative analysis of 24 European ports. The port performance has been evaluated considering data envelopment analysis and Shephard’s distance function. This latter approach offers an alternative method to address a significant restraint of the standard Stochastic Frontier when the model needs to consider multiple outputs. From a policy point of view, the conclusion could offer valuable insights to support policy measures targeted to expand port efficiency. The findings obtained from the analysis reveal that several contextual indicators must be included in benchmark analysis

Technologijų perdavimo proceso aukštojo mokslo institucijose efektyvumo vertinimas

Higher education institutions (HEIs) play the key role as the link to encourage science and business partnerships within innovation systems worldwide. Notwithstanding one of the most important issue is to increase Lithuanian innovation potential. This dissertation analyses the problems of inefficient technology transfer (TT) and commercialization process, financial and human resource allocation at universities. The object of the research is the efficiency of technology transfer process (TTP) in higher education institutions. The analysis of technology transfer offices (TTOs) within the TTP allows the best model to be suggested for the evaluation of TTP as well as the improvement of TT results in the future perspective. This model is designed to assess the performance of the HEIs, to identify key indicators that demonstrate the efficiency of TTP, allowing to design future strategies to improve the efficiency of HEIs TTP financial and human capital. The goal of the dissertation is to examine TT process, propose and empirically test the efficiency evaluation model of the technology transfer process at HEIs. It is important to assess how the institutional (TTO employees, tasks, PhD-share) and regional (industry concentration, startups, patent applications) factors of TTO influence TT performance and commercialization. This research work resolves a few key tasks: 1. To conduct a theoretical analysis of the TTP (discussing the concept of the TTP and the key attributes, reviewing the foreign TT models, discussing factors encouraging the improvement of the TTP); 2. To perform a theoretical analysis of the efficiency of the TTP activities; 3. To create an original TTP efficiency evaluation model based on a comparative analysis of multicriteria research methods suitable to perform evaluation of TT activities of HEIs; 4. To conduct an empirical research and to validate the efficiency evaluation model of TTP using multicriteria research tools (FARE, TOPSIS, MULTIMOORA, COPRAS and DEA), to gather and aggregate the research data needed to evaluate the efficiency of the TTP, and to create a database for empirical research; 5. To analyse and discuss the research results of TTP, to formulate final conclusions to assess HEIs’ TTP efficiency, which would help to im-prove the performance of economic and other indicators through a more efficient allocation of financial and human resources. Analysis of research results shows that the number of employees working in TTO correlates with the number of intellectual (inventions) products that are being developed during the research and development (R&D) process.Dissertatio