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Productivity, efficiency and technical change in the European railways: A non-parametric approach

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  • Pedro Cantos
  • José Pastor
  • Lorenzo Serrano

Abstract

The purpose of this paper is to analyse the evolution of productivity in the European railways in the period 1970–95. We use a non-parametric approach that enables changes in productivity to be broken down into variations in efficiency and technical change. The results indicate that the productivity growth is concentrated in the last period (1985–95), when the majority of the companies undertook processes of reforms. This increase in productivity is mainly due to technical progress. We also analyse the determinants of efficiency and, unlike other papers, the technical change, finding that the greater the degree of autonomy and financial independence, the higher the efficiency levels and technical change. Copyright Kluwer Academic Publishers 1999

Suggested Citation

  • Pedro Cantos & José Pastor & Lorenzo Serrano, 1999. "Productivity, efficiency and technical change in the European railways: A non-parametric approach," Transportation, Springer, vol. 26(4), pages 337-357, November.
  • Handle: RePEc:kap:transp:v:26:y:1999:i:4:p:337-357
    DOI: 10.1023/A:1005127513206
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Fare, Rolf, et al, 1997. " Biased Technical Change and the Malmquist Productivity Index," Scandinavian Journal of Economics, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 99(1), pages 119-127, March.
    2. Rolf Färe & Emili Grifell‐Tatjé & Shawna Grosskopf & C. A. Knox Lovell, 1997. "Biased Technical Change and the Malmquist Productivity Index," Scandinavian Journal of Economics, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 99(1), pages 119-127, March.
    3. Caves, Douglas W & Christensen, Laurits R & Diewert, W Erwin, 1982. "The Economic Theory of Index Numbers and the Measurement of Input, Output, and Productivity," Econometrica, Econometric Society, vol. 50(6), pages 1393-1414, November.
    4. Oulton,Nicholas & O'Mahony,Mary, 1994. "Productivity and Growth," Cambridge Books, Cambridge University Press, number 9780521453455.
    5. E. Grifell-Tatjé & C. Lovell & J. Pastor, 1998. "A Quasi-Malmquist Productivity Index," Journal of Productivity Analysis, Springer, vol. 10(1), pages 7-20, July.
    6. Ann F. Friedlaender & Ernst R. Berndt & Judy Shaw-Er Wang Chiang & Mark Showalter & Christopher A. Vellturo, 1991. "Rail Costs and Capital Adjustments in a Quasi-Regulated Environment," NBER Working Papers 3841, National Bureau of Economic Research, Inc.
    7. John Vickers & George Yarrow, 1988. "Privatization: An Economic Analysis," MIT Press Books, The MIT Press, edition 1, volume 1, number 0262720116, December.
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