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Evaluating the water sector in Italy through a two stage method using the conditional robust nonparametric frontier and multivariate adaptive regression splines

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  • Vidoli, Francesco

Abstract

The aim of this paper is to assess the efficiency of the integrated water service in Italy in recent years, through a robust and flexible methodology. This paper, from a methodological point of view, enhances a "two stage" method, based on ideas suggested by Florens and Simar (2005), which estimates the efficiency frontier through conditional robust models and bypasses, at the same time, the choice of a specific functional form in the second stage; the MARS (Multivariate Adaptive Regression splines) method, in fact, provides for approximate production function using linear splines without any assumption of a functional form. Applying this specific two stage method, despite poor assumptions of the production function form, we provide an estimate for the Italian water companies; we have found spatial and dimensional patterns, especially in metropolitan vs. low density areas.

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  • Vidoli, Francesco, 2011. "Evaluating the water sector in Italy through a two stage method using the conditional robust nonparametric frontier and multivariate adaptive regression splines," European Journal of Operational Research, Elsevier, vol. 212(3), pages 583-595, August.
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:ejores:v:212:y:2011:i:3:p:583-595
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    2. España, Victor J. & Aparicio, Juan & Barber, Xavier & Esteve, Miriam, 2024. "Estimating production functions through additive models based on regression splines," European Journal of Operational Research, Elsevier, vol. 312(2), pages 684-699.
    3. Cordero, José Manuel & Alonso-Morán, Edurne & Nuño-Solinis, Roberto & Orueta, Juan F. & Arce, Regina Sauto, 2015. "Efficiency assessment of primary care providers: A conditional nonparametric approach," European Journal of Operational Research, Elsevier, vol. 240(1), pages 235-244.
    4. Tzeremes, Nickolaos G., 2015. "Efficiency dynamics in Indian banking: A conditional directional distance approach," European Journal of Operational Research, Elsevier, vol. 240(3), pages 807-818.
    5. García Nieto, Paulino José & García–Gonzalo, Esperanza & Paredes–Sánchez, Beatriz María & Paredes–Sánchez, José Pablo, 2023. "Modelling energy performance of residential dwellings by using the MARS technique, SVM-based approach, MLP neural network and M5 model tree," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 341(C).
    6. Fusco, Elisa & Vidoli, Francesco & Sahoo, Biresh K., 2018. "Spatial heterogeneity in composite indicator: A methodological proposal," Omega, Elsevier, vol. 77(C), pages 1-14.
    7. Vidoli, Francesco & Canello, Jacopo, 2016. "Controlling for spatial heterogeneity in nonparametric efficiency models: An empirical proposal," European Journal of Operational Research, Elsevier, vol. 249(2), pages 771-783.

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