EFFICIENCY EVOLUTION OF LARGEST IBERIAN PENINSULA CONTAINER PORTS: AN APPLICATION OF MALMQUIST PRODUCTIVITY INDEX

摘要

This paper analyzes the changes in the efficiency of major container ports in the Iberian Peninsula during the period 2008-2014, namely thirteen Spanish and three Portuguese container ports. These ports connect with the domestic markets of the peninsula, especially with the logistics hub located in Madrid. The evolution of productivity is measured by the Malmquist productivity index using DEA (Data Envelopment Analysis) methodology. This analysis allows us to decompose total productivity in Technical Efficiency (EFFCH) and Technological Progress (TECH). It is concluded that the increase in container traffic is directly related to an increase in the Malmquist productivity index but to the influence of other variables that act as inputs. This development has been provided by the economic recovery of the last years analysed.