Title: Impact of technical and efficiency changes on productivity

Authors: Christina Bampatsou; George Halkos; Dimitra Kaika; Efthimios Zervas

Addresses: Laboratory of Operations Research, Department of Economics, University of Thessaly, 78 October 28th Street, 38333, Volos, Greece ' Laboratory of Operations Research, Department of Economics, University of Thessaly, 78 October 28th Street, 38333, Volos, Greece ' School of Science and Technology, Hellenic Open University, Parodos Aristotelous 18, 26335 Patra, Greece ' School of Science and Technology, Hellenic Open University, Parodos Aristotelous 18, 26335 Patra, Greece

Abstract: Better management of natural capital, an efficient allocation of resources and technological progress can contribute to productivity change. The present study uses data envelopment analysis to determine the total factor productivity index, in the case of the EU15 countries, using panel data on energy consumption for a period spanning from 1995 to 2011. The aim is not only to determine the index of total factor productivity change but also to record its driving forces for the decision making units under consideration, showing whether the productivity gains come mainly from an improvement in efficiency or derive merely as a result of technological progress. In terms of eco-efficiency, the paper contributes in showing whether the overall development is more driven by input-saving or environmental-saving processes. The detailed decomposition offers policy makers additional insights into more valuable reference material representing the driving forces of productivity gains or losses.

Keywords: data envelopment analysis; total factor productivity index; panel data; energy consumption; carbon emissions; eco-efficiency; efficiency change; technical change; production possibility frontiers; undesirable output.

DOI: 10.1504/IJGENVI.2018.091459

International Journal of Global Environmental Issues, 2018 Vol.17 No.2/3, pp.144 - 162

Received: 11 Feb 2017
Accepted: 10 Mar 2017
Published online: 01 May 2018 *

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