Productivity change in Italian airports

This paper examines the total factor productivity of 28 Italian airports during 2000–2006 using non-parametric estimation methods. Moreover, non-parametric inference and hypothesis test on the Malmquist index and its two main components, efficiency and technological change, have been carried out. All the airports have been characterized by technological regress and only a minority of airports experienced an increase in productivity lead by the improvement of efficiency.Airport efficiency; bootstrap; Malmquist index; DEA

The performance of Italian airports

The aim of this work is the analysis of the operational efficiencies of the major Italian airports. The study is based on a cross-sectional, time series dataset of 14 Italian airports for the period 2000-2004. In the sample there are the two international airport systems of Rome and Milan, each composed by two airports, and ten regional airports. The analysis of the industry characteristics have pointed out that both structural and institutional factors cause an high degrees of dissimilarities among the 14 Italians airports. In this framework comparing the efficiency could be troublesome and misleading at the same time. Thus the methodological goal of the paper has been the application of two multivariate techniques, factorial and cluster analysis, in order to reduces dissimilarities and improve the results of the efficiency measures. The two multivariate techniques help in determining variables which mostly affect the airports operational efficiencies. The operational efficiencies have been estimated using non parametric models. In particular, the modified Torqvinst index has been employed to measure both Total Factor Productivity (TFP) and Variable Factor Productivity (VFP) indexes. Moreover, in order to remove the effects of the variables beyond the managerial control the residual Total Factor Productivity (RTFP) and Variable Factor Productivity (RVFP) indexes have been computed.Factorial analysis; Cluster analysis; Torqvinst index; Productivity

Information and communication technology and labour productivity growth: a production‐frontier approach

This work provides evidence of the positive impact of Information and Communication Technology (ICT) on the labour productivity growth of 24 countries, members of the OECD, from 1995 to 2019. Using a non-parametric production-frontier approach, we decompose labour productivity growth into components attributable to technological change (shifts in the world production frontier), efficiency change (movements toward or away from the frontier), physical (non-ICT) capital change and ICT capital change (movements along the frontier). We find that, on average, the most significant improvement in worldwide labour productivity is attributable to technological change, non-ICT, and ICT capital change over 1995-2019. In addition, we confirm the role of ICT as a general-purpose technology that needs to implement complementary changes in business organisations to exploit its growth opportunities fully. Finally, we conclude that ICT capital contributes to convergence

Airport efficiency: a DEA two stage analysis of the Italian commercial airports

In this paper we use a two stage procedure, based on bias corrected DEA, to evaluate the impacts of regulatory reforms on technical efficiency of 28 Italian airports during the period 2000–2006. We employ two different DEA models: physical and monetary. The first relies on the aeronautical activities, the second concerns both aeronautical and non aeronautical business and allows us to evaluate the impact of commercial activities on overall airport efficiency. The main results are: i) mixed government-private ownerships with a private majority are more efficient than those with a government majority; ii) the liberalization of ground handling services has produced an increase of efficiency in airside and landside activities; iii) granting all services to airport management companies can be a source of inefficiency due to the lack of competition in the industry; iv) the introduction of dual-till increases overall technical efficiency

Airport efficiency: a DEA two stage analysis of the Italian commercial airports

In this paper we use a two stage procedure, based on bias corrected DEA, to evaluate the impacts of regulatory reforms on technical efficiency of 28 Italian airports during the period 2000–2006. We employ two different DEA models: physical and monetary. The first relies on the aeronautical activities, the second concerns both aeronautical and non aeronautical business and allows us to evaluate the impact of commercial activities on overall airport efficiency. The main results are: i) mixed government-private ownerships with a private majority are more efficient than those with a government majority; ii) the liberalization of ground handling services has produced an increase of efficiency in airside and landside activities; iii) granting all services to airport management companies can be a source of inefficiency due to the lack of competition in the industry; iv) the introduction of dual-till increases overall technical efficiency

Productivity change in Italian airports

This paper examines the total factor productivity of 28 Italian airports during 2000–2006 using non-parametric estimation methods. Moreover, non-parametric inference and hypothesis test on the Malmquist index and its two main components, efficiency and technological change, have been carried out. All the airports have been characterized by technological regress and only a minority of airports experienced an increase in productivity lead by the improvement of efficiency

The performance of Italian airports

The aim of this work is the analysis of the operational efficiencies of the major Italian airports. The study is based on a cross-sectional, time series dataset of 14 Italian airports for the period 2000-2004. In the sample there are the two international airport systems of Rome and Milan, each composed by two airports, and ten regional airports. The analysis of the industry characteristics have pointed out that both structural and institutional factors cause an high degrees of dissimilarities among the 14 Italians airports. In this framework comparing the efficiency could be troublesome and misleading at the same time. Thus the methodological goal of the paper has been the application of two multivariate techniques, factorial and cluster analysis, in order to reduces dissimilarities and improve the results of the efficiency measures. The two multivariate techniques help in determining variables which mostly affect the airports operational efficiencies. The operational efficiencies have been estimated using non parametric models. In particular, the modified Torqvinst index has been employed to measure both Total Factor Productivity (TFP) and Variable Factor Productivity (VFP) indexes. Moreover, in order to remove the effects of the variables beyond the managerial control the residual Total Factor Productivity (RTFP) and Variable Factor Productivity (RVFP) indexes have been computed

An Evaluation of Energy and Economic Efficiency in Residential Buildings Sector: A Multi-criteria Analisys on an Italian Case Study

The aim of the paper is to evaluate by means of a multi-criteria analysis (Multi Criteria Decision Making - MCDM) the multiplicity of measures regarding energy efficiency and reduction in consumption of fossil fuels, with relative implementation of integrated renewable energy sources, for planning and renovation of single family residential buildings. The work analize the energy (thermal, electrical) consumed by a building of this type (an Italian case study), and, for the choice of the best technology to adopt for environmental heating (hot sanitary water and cooling), a MCDM model was used, which, in addition to economic evaluation, incorporates too energy efficiency, the reduction of CO2 emissions, the ease of procurement of raw material and the governative incentives available. Our results underline that the best solution concerns the installation of solar thermal panels combined with the heat pump. Keywords: energy efficiency, economic evaluation, residential buildings JEL Classifications: Q410, Q420, L94

Is religious diversity good for team performance?

Yes, but when equally sized subgroups form, they may become confrontational, write Alessandro Ancarani, Ali A. Ayach, Carmela Di Mauro, Paolo Mancuso and Simone Gitt

ICT capital and labour productivity growth: A non-parametric analysis of 14 OECD countries

This paper uses a new set of country data for 14 countries, members of the OECD, and a non-parametric approach to provide new evidence on the impact of Information and Communication Technology (ICT) on labour productivity growth between 1995 and 2005. For the first time, in the present paper a bootstrap approach for the decomposition of labour productivity change, proposed by Kumar and Russell (2002), is employed. This approach permits to conduct statistical inference on the parameters of interest, and to analyse the effects of ICT technologies on capital accumulation. The results confirm the role of ICT as a general purpose technology that needs organizational and business process changes to fully exploit its growth opportunities. The paper also finds out, by applying a non-parametric test, that ICT technologies positively contribute to the generation of convergence clubs in the evolution of labour productivity. Finally, the empirical evidence offers some basic guidance for future policy intervention in supporting ICT capital investments