Title: The relative technical efficiency of European transportation systems concerning air transport and railways

Authors: Ville-Veikko Savolainen, Olli-Pekka Hilmola

Addresses: Lappeenranta University of Technology, Kouvola Research Unit, Prikaatintie 9, FIN-45100 Kouvola, Finland. ' Lappeenranta University of Technology, Kouvola Research Unit, Prikaatintie 9, FIN-45100 Kouvola, Finland

Abstract: Usually, the transportation sector|s actors are evaluated within the national or company level through bunch indicators without emphasising performance as a whole system and the nature of these indicators (the division of outputs and inputs is blurred). In this research, we propose Data Envelopment Analysis (DEA) efficiency models for passenger and freight transport concerning both air transportation and railways. Our analysis results regarding larger Europe show that efficiency differences exist mostly in railway operations, but specialisation among actors is existent in both transportation subsectors. In a correlation analysis between these subsectors, we find an interesting link with passenger transportation.

Keywords: railways; airlines; efficiency modelling; Europe; air transport; data envelopment analysis; DEA; freight transport; passenger transport.

DOI: 10.1504/IJBPM.2009.023799

International Journal of Business Performance Management, 2009 Vol.11 No.1/2, pp.19 - 42

Published online: 12 Mar 2009 *

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