tailieunhanh - Spatial infrastructure and productivity in Sweden

These approaches are applied to a cross-section data set of regions in Sweden. These approaches show that metropolitan regions have relatively low road efficiencies in comparison with other regions in Sweden. On the other hand the northern regions are more efficient than the southern regions. | Yugoslav Journal of Operations Research 16 (2006), Number 1, 67-83 SPATIAL INFRASTRUCTURE AND PRODUCTIVITY IN SWEDEN Nikias SARAFOGLOU Mid Sweden University Arne M. ANDERSSON, Ingvar HOLMBERG, Olle OHLSSON Göteborg University Received: February 2005 / Accepted: May 2005 Abstract: Infrastructure consists of durable resources that are classified as "collective goods" generating external effects. The purpose of this paper is to analyse the role of spatial infrastructure on the industrial productivity in Sweden by utilising two complementary approaches: A non-parametric approach - Data Envelopment Analysis and a parametric approach – Production Function. These approaches are applied to a cross-section data set of regions in Sweden. These approaches show that metropolitan regions have relatively low road efficiencies in comparison with other regions in Sweden. On the other hand the northern regions are more efficient than the southern regions. Keywords: Infrastructure, productivity, Data Envelopment Analysis (DEA), production function. 1. INTRODUCTION The development of income and standard of living in a society is highly dependent upon its productivity. During the last decade the productivity growth has been stagnating in the western industrial countries thereby reducing the base for private and public consumption. A common characteristic of the industrial countries is that a diminishing percentage of GNP has been allocated to public investments leading to a reduced growth of the infrastructure stock. Recent research shows that the productivity slow-down to a substantial extent can be explained by the reduced investment rate in public infrastructure, see . Aschauer (1989), Berndt and Hansson (1991), Gramlich (1994), De Haan, Sturm and Sikken (1966), Seitz (2001). In this context we should make a distinction between material and non-material infrastructure. Non-material 68 N. Sarafoglou et al. / Spatial Infrastructure and Productivity in Sweden infrastructure