Modelling museum efficiency in producing inter-reliant outputs

The aim of this work was to evaluate the performance of a homogeneous state-run network of museums. Nonparametric models are used to measure relative efficiency in these institutions, and we employ a complex production function embracing a number of inputs and outputs adapted to the various functions which museums fulfil: preservation, research, communication, and exhibition. Our approach considers that managers drive certain outputs, but that others escape their control since they are co-produced by visitors and determined by demand conditions and external factors. Based on this, a network two-stage data envelopment analysis approach is applied to evaluate museums’ overall performance and to distinguish between efficiency in two stages: internal management and external outcomes. The low levels of performance and gaps in the scores from the first to the second stage suggest there are external factors that might determine museum performance. We therefore apply truncated regression models to analyse how and how much certain environmental variables might shape levels of museum efficiency. In this case, we consider indicators such as accessibility, tourism capacity, cultural appeal, museum age and the institutional management model. The application is performed on a sample taken from a Spanish state-run network of museums. Results show that, in general, good levels of efficiency in terms of management do not guarantee success when attracting visitors, and there seems to be a trade-off between the two goals. Variables such as tourism capacity and heritage endowments in the surrounding area, as well as the museum’s management model, may determine museums’ efficiency levels. The research findings may prove useful for running these cultural institutions and for those responsible for public resource allocation in cultural policies as well as for scholars, who may find a fresh approach for modelling museum efficiency and for discussing drivers of museum management success.This research was financed by the Regional Ministry of Education of the Regional Government of Castilla y León (Spain) (Project Ref. VA012G19

Analysing productivity and technical change in museums: A dynamic network approach

Producción CientíficaThe efficiency evaluation of cultural institutions is proving to be a highly fertile area for theoretical and applied research. Nevertheless, few studies have thus far focused on the dynamic analysis of efficiency and on estimating productivity to gauge how receptive these institutions are to technological progress. The present work provides an approach to these two goals for a sample of public museums in Spain by applying a non-parametric technique, the dynamic-network DEA model, and by calculating the corresponding dynamic Malmquist indices. This involves positing a production function broken down into production activities and time intervals, with inputs that are inter-related horizontally (production links) and vertically (time carry-overs). Results show that museum productivity remains practically stable over a long period of time, thus partly confirming the hypothesis of Baumol's cost disease adapted to these activities. Nevertheless, breaking down the indices into catch-up and shift-frontier effects reveals substantial growth in productivity at the stage involving the creation of the cultural supply, due to a displacement of the results frontier as well as significant improvements in museum efficiency at the stage involving the provision of services geared towards attracting visitors. This also reflects a change in museums’ functional priorities, where the goals related to visibility and activities involving dissemination and social impact prove to be particularly important.Junta de Castilla y León (project VA012G19

Performance of cultural heritage institutions: A regional perspective

Producción CientíficaMost studies on performance evaluation in the cultural sector are based on the efficiency assessment of a network of institutions. Nevertheless, very few works take territorial divisions as the case study. Under this approach, we design a spatial production function which merges several cultural resources in order to optimize the impact of a regional system of cultural institutions in terms of cultural production and use of services provided. The aim of this paper is therefore to evaluate the efficiency of cultural heritage institutions in Spain from a regional perspective. We take regional networks of museums and libraries as emblematic case studies over a long period, from 2002 to 2020. We first apply a dynamic-network DEA model to measure efficiency, which allows the production function to be divided into stages and time intervals, considering inter-reliant inputs between production phases and time lapses. We also apply truncated regression models to study the effect of external variables on regional cultural efficiency, especially those related to socioeconomic conditions in regions, the scope of the cultural and tourist sector, and institutional indicators. Results show that regional cultural efficiency depends on the level of training and on the demographic structure rather than on economic wealth. Differences are also found between the goals of cultural production and cultural consumption (visitor impact). These findings might prove useful for policy implications regarding resource allocation vis-à-vis defining and accomplishing cultural purposes at a regional scale, and also for revealing causes of inefficiency with a view to improving quality in institutions –which ultimately drives economic development

Urban public libraries: Performance analysis using dynamic-network-DEA

The aim of this work is to posit a model to evaluate the efficiency of a system of urban public libraries and to examine the impact of certain contextual variables on the level of performance. We take the System of Public Libraries in the city of Medellin (Colombia) as a case study and consider a production function which displays three main characteristics. First, it is a complete production function which spans the different activities undertaken by these institutions, not only the one that identifies it with its function as a repository of knowledge. Second, there is the production function in stages, which allows us to distinguish between the various activities controlled by management from those coproduced with users, together with the link between the two. The third is a production function which takes into account temporal interdependence relations by identifying quasi-fixed inputs that remain for the provision of the service over time. This then allows us to analyse how efficiency evolves during the period in question. Efficiency evaluation is carried out by employing a dynamic-network-DEA model and we also apply truncated bootstrap regression to estimate the effect of certain contextual variables on library efficiency. The results evidence a growing trend in the efficiency indices, with values that are slightly more favourable in the second stage of service provision than in the stage focusing on managing the cultural programme. Factors such as the level of education, population density, youthfulness, and safety are seen to positively affect library performance, particularly in the second stage vis-à-vis the public.Este trabajo forma parte del proyecto de investigación de la Junta de Castilla VA012G1

Evaluating a Cultural Policy in the Dance Sector. Does Efficiency Always Mean Achieving Goals?

This work aims to evaluate cultural policies, specifically in the dance sector, an area which has received scant attention in economic literature so far. Data Envelopment Analysis (DEA) is applied to evaluate public programme performance and the stakeholders involved therein. We select a Spanish public policy supporting dance as a case study, which includes public authorities, theatres and dance companies. The former provide the funding while the others offer the artistic idea taken to the audience. We find that efficiency in resource performance often runs counter to other cultural aims such as increasing audiences or extending repertoire diversity.Junta de Castilla y León (grant VA012G19

Audience success or art for art's sake ? Efficiency evaluation of dance companies in the United States

Producción CientíficaOur aim is to evaluate the performance of American dance companies, considering that the production process may be subdivided into consecutive stages consisting of fundraising, artistic production, and social impact. A three‐stage network‐Data Envelopment Analysis model is applied which takes account of the links between stages in the form of intermediate inputs/outputs and provides an overall indicator of efficiency together with partial performance indicators in the stages. Given the lack of information for some variables, we previously undertook a process to impute missing values following MICE (multiple imputation by chained equations) procedures. Results show that the highest levels of efficiency are achieved during the cultural creation stage, whereas the lowest correspond to social impact, indicating that dance companies pursue artistic excellence in their cultural programming, irrespective of their activity's commercial outcomes. Moreover, public and private funds are seen to be channeled following this guideline, thereby justifying the non‐profit status of these entities.Este trabajo forma parte del proyecto de investigación de la Junta de Castilla VA012G1