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Technical efficiency and productivity analysis of the Italian prison system: a methodological comparison

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  • Giovanni Cesaroni
  • Aldo Lamberti

Abstract

The paper presents a rigorous frontier-analysis of technical efficiency, returns to scale and the composition of productivity growth of the Italian prison system over the period 2003-2005. The study tries to fill some gaps in the literature on the subject, which mainly suffers from both small-samples applications and the lack of direct comparison between parametric and non-parametric methods. The data-panel considered accounts for almost 80% of the inmates population. Methodological analysis of the differences in their estimated results seems to argue in favour of the data envelopment models (DEA), as a better fit of a 'complex' estimated production-technology. Technical inefficiency ranks high, ranging on average from 25% to 30%. Conversely, scale inefficiency is moderate. Over the period, productivity grows by nearly 3%, with the main contribution provided by technical change (+3.17%). Finally, the analysis shows that a negative statistical correlation occurs between overcrowding and non-parametric technical efficiency.

Suggested Citation

  • Giovanni Cesaroni & Aldo Lamberti, 2014. "Technical efficiency and productivity analysis of the Italian prison system: a methodological comparison," International Journal of Business Performance Management, Inderscience Enterprises Ltd, vol. 15(4), pages 329-350.
    • Handle: RePEc:ids:ijbpma:v:15:y:2014:i:4:p:329-350
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    Cited by:

    1. J. Jorge-Moreno & Laura Gil Delgado & Víctor García Fernández & Silvia García Ventura & Laura Granado Méndez & Ainhoa Samaniego Moreno, 2024. "Efficiency analysis of penitentiary centers in Spain using radial and non-radial DEA and its determinants factors 2015–2020," European Journal of Law and Economics, Springer, vol. 58(1), pages 47-69, August.
    2. Alda, Erik, 2019. "Does Size influence Jail Efficiency?: A Metafrontier analyisis of local Jails in the United States," MPRA Paper 91803, University Library of Munich, Germany.

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