A prospective analysis of the efficiency in the reorganisation process of Italian seaports

Claudio Quintano,Paolo Mazzocchi,Antonella Rocca

doi:10.31217/p.34.1.1

Abstract

The purpose of this paper is to compare the competitiveness of Italian seaports in terms of efficiency scores as a result of significant policy changes adopted in September 2016. An appropriate data set on seaport activities is used that consists of input and output variables obtained by fixing the statistical classification of economic activities (NACE codes) of a sample of 10,763 active firms involved in the new Italian Port Network Authorities (AdSPs). The investigation analyses the major causes of inefficiency and may be viewed as an analysis of the potential of each AdSP, rather than an analysis based on already existing entities. In the authors’ opinion, the results of the data envelopment analysis (DEA) are suitable to support policy decisions designed to improve operational performance of inefficient AdSPs. The empirical analysis reveals several findings that can be extended to different territorial districts.

Highlights

Seaports have several economic benefits and some of them are indirect economic effects (Panayides et al., 2015; Cheon et al, 2017)
NACE is a four-digit classification providing the framework for the Statistical Classification of the Economic Activities in National Accounts, and it is periodically revised
As above-mentioned, this paper employs the NACE classification to identify all firms involved in AdSP activities

Summary

Introduction

Seaports have several economic benefits and some of them are indirect economic effects (Panayides et al., 2015; Cheon et al, 2017). Increasing competition in Europe has affected seaport performance; attention to efficiency has increased significantly in recent years (Panayides et al, 2009; Jugović and Schiozzi, 2013; Aerts et al, 2014; European Commission, 2016; Nguyen et al, 2016; Siqueira et al, 2017). In addition to efficiency, Coppens et al (2007) and OECD (2016) highlighted that various factors — such as transport costs, port infrastructures, port centrality, and port congestion — determine maritime performance (Eurostat, 2016). Expansion is constrained due to limited land availability

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