Template-Type: ReDIF-Article 1.0
Author-Name: Anna Bottasso
Author-Name: Maurizio Conti
Author-Name: Claudio Ferrari
Title: EFFICIENCY AND PRODUCTIVITY GROWTH IN A SAMPLE OF ITALIAN CONTAINER TERMINALS
Abstract: In this study we estimate a production frontier for a sample of Italian container terminals observed over the period 2001-2008 in order to assess the pattern of Total Factor Productivity
(TFP). Estimates of different stochastic frontier models suggest the existence of a modest but positive TFP growth rate over the period 2001-07 and an abrupt fall in TFP in 2008, which
probably reflects the onset of the 2008-9 world recession. We also find that scale economies and technical change have positively contributed to TFP growth over the sample period ; in turn, all
models find a decline in technical efficiency. Finally, the different stochastic frontier methods considered in this paper give a broadly consistent picture of the productivity and efficiency
developments that have occurred in this sample.
Volume: 38
Issue: 2
Year: 2011
Handle: RePEc:jte:journl:2011:2:38:1