Optimal scale in the Italian gas distribution industry using data envelopment analysis
Optimal scale in the Italian gas distribution industry using data envelopment analysis
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DOI：
10.1016/j.omega.2006.01.003
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发表时间：
2008-04-01
影响因子：
6.9
通讯作者：
Rappuoli, Luca
中科院分区：
文献类型：
--
作者：
Erbetta, Fabrizio;Rappuoli, Luca
意大利的天然气分销行业呈现高度分散化。然而，1970年至1998年的趋势是一个集中的过程。现有的证据支持的论点，当地分销商进行了规模扩大的过程。这就提出了这类经营者规模收益的特点以及经营的最佳规模的问题。规模收益采用数据包络分析（DEA）方法进行分析。结果表明，DMU达到高水平的规模效率的输出空间是广泛的，从而表明一个意想不到的规模特性的回报。技术只对最小的单位显示出收益递增，但这种效应很快就消失了，取而代之的是规模收益不变的制度。主要的管理结论是，通过加强合并过程，包括小规模经营的当地经销商，可以提高生产率。此外，集中过程似乎是一个“可实现的”目标，因为允许利用规模正回报的临界尺度相当小。(c)2006爱思唯尔有限公司保留所有权利。
The Italian gas distribution industry presents a high degree of fragmentation. However, the tendency between 1970 and 1998 was a concentration process. Available evidence supports the thesis that local distributors have undertaken a process of scale enlargement. This raises the question of characteristics of returns to scale for such operators as well as the optimal scale at which they should operate. Returns to scale are analysed by data envelopment analysis (DEA) methodology. The results show that the output space in which DMUs attain a high level of scale efficiency is widespread, thus indicating an unexpected return to scale characterisation. Technology shows increasing returns only for the smallest units, but such an effect is rapidly exhausted in favour of a regime of constant returns to scale. The main managerial conclusion is that an improvement of productivity may be reached via an intensification of the merging process involving local distributors operating at a small scale. Moreover, the concentration process appears as an "attainable" objective since the critical dimension, which permits the exploitation of positive returns to scale, is quite small. (c) 2006 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.