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Quality of Life in Major Italian Cities: Do Local Governments Cost Efficiency Contribute to Improve Urban Life Style? An Introductory Analysis

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  • Simona Bigerna
  • Paolo Polinori

Abstract

In this paper we set forth a novel analysis of urban quality of life (QoL) using Data Envelopment Analysis (DEA) approach. We use a newly constructed municipality database, which includes all 103 provincial capitals. In our approach we follow a two-stage method. In the first stage, we estimate efficiency scores through a nonparametric DEA with desirable and undesirable outputs. Estimated rankings are compared to Legambiente index. In the second stage, we regress efficiency scores on economic, social and political variables. Our main objective is to estimate non discretionary variables effects on efficiency. According to Simar and Wilson (2007) results show that local government efficiency is highly heterogeneous and that there exists high correlation among our rankings and Legambiente index. Considering exogenous effects, geographical conditions and political aspects constitute the main determinants of municipalities? efficiency.

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  • Simona Bigerna & Paolo Polinori, 2013. "Quality of Life in Major Italian Cities: Do Local Governments Cost Efficiency Contribute to Improve Urban Life Style? An Introductory Analysis," ECONOMICS AND POLICY OF ENERGY AND THE ENVIRONMENT, FrancoAngeli Editore, vol. 2013(3), pages 121-144.
    • Handle: RePEc:fan:efeefe:v:html10.3280/efe2013-003005
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    2. Ana Cárcaba & Eduardo González & Juan Ventura, 2017. "Social Progress in Spanish Municipalities (2001–2011)," Applied Research in Quality of Life, Springer;International Society for Quality-of-Life Studies, vol. 12(4), pages 997-1019, December.
    3. Ana Cárcaba & Eduardo González & Juan Ventura & Rubén Arrondo, 2017. "How Does Good Governance Relate to Quality of Life?," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 9(4), pages 1-16, April.

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    JEL classification:

    • C24 - Mathematical and Quantitative Methods - - Single Equation Models; Single Variables - - - Truncated and Censored Models; Switching Regression Models; Threshold Regression Models
    • C61 - Mathematical and Quantitative Methods - - Mathematical Methods; Programming Models; Mathematical and Simulation Modeling - - - Optimization Techniques; Programming Models; Dynamic Analysis
    • R38 - Urban, Rural, Regional, Real Estate, and Transportation Economics - - Real Estate Markets, Spatial Production Analysis, and Firm Location - - - Government Policy

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