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A dynamic approach to measuring ecological-economic performance with directional distance functions: greenhouse gas emissions in the European Union

Author

Listed:
  • Andrés J. Picazo-Tadeo

    (Departamento de Economía Aplicada II. Universidad de Valencia)

  • Juana Castillo

    (Departamento de Economía Aplicada II. Universidad de Valencia)

  • Mercedes Beltrán-Esteve

    (Departamento de Economía Aplicada II. Universidad de Valencia)

Abstract

The impact of economic activity on the environment is a matter of growing concern for firm managers, policymakers, researchers and society as a whole. Building on previous work by Kortelainen [Kortelainen, M., 2008. Dynamic environmental performance analysis: A Malmquist index approach. Ecological Economics 64, 701-715], we contribute an approach to assessing dynamic ecological- economic performance, or simply dynamic eco-performance, and its two determinants, ecologicaleconomic efficiency change and technical change, at specific-environmental-pressure level. In doing so, we use Data Envelopment Analysis techniques, directional distance functions and Luenberger indices. Our approach is employed to assess dynamic eco-performance in the emission of greenhouse gases in the European Union-27 over the period 1990-2010. The main result is that eco-performance has been boosted by technical change rather than by increases in eco-efficiency. Accordingly, policy measures aimed at enhancing eco-efficiency are recommended to improve eco-performance in European countries regarding greenhouse gas emissions.

Suggested Citation

  • Andrés J. Picazo-Tadeo & Juana Castillo & Mercedes Beltrán-Esteve, 2013. "A dynamic approach to measuring ecological-economic performance with directional distance functions: greenhouse gas emissions in the European Union," Working Papers 1304, Department of Applied Economics II, Universidad de Valencia.
    • Handle: RePEc:eec:wpaper:1304
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    Cited by:

    1. Tang, Liwei & Hu, Zongyi & Zhang, Yongjun, 2014. "基于非径向bml-Dea模型的中国地区工业环境绩效测度 [The measurement of regional industrial Environmental Performance——based on non-radial BML-DEA model]," MPRA Paper 55380, University Library of Munich, Germany.
    2. Bonfiglio, Andrea & Arzeni, Andrea & Bodini, Antonella, 2017. "Assessing eco-efficiency of arable farms in rural areas," Agricultural Systems, Elsevier, vol. 151(C), pages 114-125.
    3. hu, zongyi & tang, liwei & su, jin, 2013. "区域环境绩效测度及收敛性分析 [Regional eco-performance measure and its convergence]," MPRA Paper 60367, University Library of Munich, Germany.
    4. Zuoren Sun & Chao An & Huachen Sun, 2018. "Regional Differences in Energy and Environmental Performance: An Empirical Study of 283 Cities in China," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 10(7), pages 1-28, July.

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Dynamic eco-performance; directional distance functions; Data Envelopment Analysis; greenhouse gases emissions; European Union;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • C61 - Mathematical and Quantitative Methods - - Mathematical Methods; Programming Models; Mathematical and Simulation Modeling - - - Optimization Techniques; Programming Models; Dynamic Analysis
    • O44 - Economic Development, Innovation, Technological Change, and Growth - - Economic Growth and Aggregate Productivity - - - Environment and Growth
    • Q01 - Agricultural and Natural Resource Economics; Environmental and Ecological Economics - - General - - - Sustainable Development
    • Q54 - Agricultural and Natural Resource Economics; Environmental and Ecological Economics - - Environmental Economics - - - Climate; Natural Disasters and their Management; Global Warming

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