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The determinants of efficiency and productivity in European railways
[journal article]
Abstract This paper evaluates the economic performance of European railways over the period 1972 to 1999. The cost structure of the railway industry is analysed using a stochastic frontier approach estimated within the framework of a translog cost system. The results confirm that European railways experience... view more
This paper evaluates the economic performance of European railways over the period 1972 to 1999. The cost structure of the railway industry is analysed using a stochastic frontier approach estimated within the framework of a translog cost system. The results confirm that European railways experience significant cost increases due to inefficient behaviour. In contrast to previous studies, however, the estimates indicate a much greater role for allocative rather than technical inefficiency. Overall, inefficiencies can essentially be explained by the supply of excess capacity and by the over-employment of labour inputs. Regarding productivity, it appears to be technological progress, and not levels of efficiency or scale economies, that provide the most convincing explanation for variance in growth rates within the sample.... view less
Classification
National Economy
Economic Sectors
Document language
English
Publication Year
2009
Page/Pages
p. 2827-2851
Journal
Applied Economics, 41 (2009) 22
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1080/00036840801949782
ISSN
1466-4283
Status
Postprint; peer reviewed
Licence
PEER Licence Agreement (applicable only to documents from PEER project)