6533b825fe1ef96bd12831bc

RESEARCH PRODUCT

Regulation and efficiency: the case of European railways

Joaquín MaudosJoaquín MaudosPedro Cantos

subject

Commercial policyPublic economicsTransportationInternational economicsManagement Science and Operations ResearchFrontierIntervention (law)Order (exchange)EconomicsRevenueProfitability indexProductivityCivil and Structural EngineeringMarket conditions

description

Abstract During the long period of regulation of the railway system in Europe (1950s–1990s) the companies notably improved their levels of productivity. However, parallel to this, the state of their financial accounts also significantly worsened. In order to explain this fact we have estimated both cost and revenue frontier functions, calculating the losses associated with both cost and revenue inefficiencies as well as inefficiencies on the cost side. The results obtained show the existence of significant potential losses of revenue, which can be explained above all by the strong policy of regulation and intervention reigning in this period. A better commercial policy and a supply adapted to market conditions seem to be two unavoidable requisites for the future of European rail policy if the companies' financial burdens are to be reduced.

yearjournalcountryeditionlanguage
2001-06-01Transportation Research Part A: Policy and Practice
https://doi.org/10.1016/s0965-8564(00)00007-0