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The innovation-Marshallian industrial district (iMID) effect defines the existence of dynamic efficiency in the Marshallian industrial district (MID) in the form of a positive innovative differential compared to the average of the national economy. Cross-sectional analyses have proven the existence of the iMID effect. Nevertheless, these findings do not provide any evidence on the evolution in the iMID effect over a long period and, in particular, when phases of growth, crisis and economic recovery follow one another, as occurred in the world economy around 1990 and 2007. This paper aims at closing this gap in knowledge by measuring the evolution of the iMID effect for Spain for the period 1991–2014. The measurement is made using an exhaustive database of 143,229 patents and by estimating a knowledge production function for the local production systems (LPSs). The results show that MIDs registered the largest number of patents compared to the other LPSs during the time span considered, that the iMID effect is higher for the highest quantiles of innovative intensity, and that MIDs' innovative intensity has been continuously above the national average, even after the 2007 economic crisis. MIDs are still fundamental for the generation of innovation in the Spanish economy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper analyzes the changes in the total factor productivity index of a Spanish hotel chain in the period from 2007 to 2010 with the purpose of id en tifying efficiency patterns for the chain in a period of financial crisis. The data envelopment analysis (DEA) Malmquist productivity index was used to estimate productivity change in 38 hotels of the AC chain. Results reveal AC hotels' efficiency trends and, therefore, their competitiveness in the recession period; they also show the changes experienced in these hotels' total productivity and its components: technological and efficiency changes. Positive efficiency changes were due to positive technical efficiency rather than technological efficiency. The recession period certainly influenced the performance of AC Hotels, which focused on organizational changes rather than investing in technology. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The current high public deficit situation of the Spanish economy lead us to analyse the management of public service companies, their allocation of resources and how well they are used. Within this article, we shall compare the efficiency of regional public service broadcasters (PSBs) in Spain using Data Envelopment Analysis (DEA) method and benchmarking. That will be done with two goals in mind. One, to evaluate and compare the performance of regional public television networks. And two, to propose policy measures to improve management efficiency. The results from the study indicate that more than a half of public television services in Spain are inefficient. It is recommended that the television services change some of their inputs/outputs to enhance efficiency and ensure future sustainability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The energy-saving strategies and operational costs of stand-alone, hybrid, and dual stream full-scale membrane bioreactors (MBRs) with capacities ranging from 1100 to 35,000 m3 day−1 have been assessed for seven municipal facilities located in Northeast Spain. Although hydraulic load was found to be the main determinant factor for the energy consumption rates, several optimisation strategies have shown to be effective in terms of energy reduction as well as fouling phenomenon minimization or preservation. Specifically, modifications of the biological process (installation of control systems for biological aeration) and of the filtration process (reduction of the flux or mixed liquor suspended solids concentration and installation of control systems for membrane air scouring) were applied in two stand-alone MBRs. After implementing these strategies, the yearly specific energy demand (SED) in flat-sheet (FS) and hollow-fibre (HF) stand-alone MBRs was reduced from 1.12 to 0.71 and from 1.54 to 1.12 kW h−1 m−3, respectively, regardless of their similar yearly averaged hydraulic loads. The strategies applied in the hybrid MBR, namely, buffering the influent flow and optimisation of both biological aeration and membrane air-scouring, reduced the SED values by 14%. These results illustrate that it is possible to apply energy-saving strategies to significantly reduce MBR operational costs, highlighting the need to optimise MBR facilities to reconsider them as an energy-competitive option. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

The article provides the main results of a more comprehensive project on the current situation of the Galician audiovisual (AUGAL) approaching, in this concrete case, the sector of the film production for Cinema and Television. The effects that the economic crisis is causing in this area of the industry are studied in it. In order to understand the situation, we firstly make a thorough analysis of its evolution all through this last decade, of the undertaken strategies of action and of the short-term trends of production. And we finally reflect on the future prospects for this second decade of the 21st century. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Businesses use their resources and abilities to maximise their efficiency, and the implementation of innovative tactics has become common in recent years. Based on the evaluation of a performance model based on the variables of the Cobb-Douglas production function, the present paper intends to empirically confront the ways in which Spanish agribusinesses and farming companies, particularly the ones located in the Murcia region, can improve their management through their efficiency and their relation to innovation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Studying the performance of agricultural cooperatives has become increasingly important in recent years due to the significant role they play in the agricultural food sector. In this context, the purpose of this study is to obtain a performance index of agri-food cooperatives. The opportunity set comprises 42 companies from the Valencian Community region. Their financial statements were used as the primary information source. The additive index was computed by single price model (SPM) operations research methods that allow managerial behaviour to be ranked according to efficiency criteria, identifying the most efficient alternative and distinguishing it from the remaining alternatives in the ranking. This ranking is an aid to detecting leading positions over time. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: This paper analyses the evolution of total factor productivity and its decomposition between 1986 and 2005 in the Spanish port authorities using a parametric distance function approach. During this period, the Spanish port authorities experienced three important regulatory changes. The results show that technical progress and scale efficiency gains improved the total factor productivity, whereas technical efficiency losses reduced the total factor productivity. The change in the model of port management from a tool port model to a landlord port model, the Spanish economic policy in the early nineties, the adoption of particular technologies and the ports’ overcapacity could explain these results. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: The aim of the European Commission''s Single European Sky initiative is to promote a series of structural changes within Air Transport to help improve its efficiency, continuity and sustainability. One of the key elements of the air transport system is Air Traffic Services (ATSs), which must guarantee safe and fluid operations. The Single European Sky initiative puts in place a series of mechanisms to replace the existing public monopolies with free market models. Taking advantage of this new framework, Spain has initiated a process of liberalisation of ATS Services, which may provide a business opportunity for operators with an interest in the area of air transport, and European providers who wish to expand their markets. This document sets out the new legal framework that has been put in place in Spain to promote this process, indicating the motives of these actions and the main implications the process will have, whilst maintaining the objective of guaranteeing continuity of service, and avoiding any barriers to entry, which changes of this type can give rise to. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

This article presents and analyzes a study on the implementation of lean manufacturing within a major company in the Spanish aeronautics industry. With this implementation, the company hoped to improve one of its key operative processes and which involved assembly line production of one of the most important components of the final product. The company was particularly interested in reducing manufacturing costs which, due to a broad variety of incidents, were usually greater than the estimated costs. By using the action research methodology, the implementation of the principals and techniques of lean manufacturing made it possible to identify shop floor tasks that do not add value (MUDA). The methodology applied was an important factor in the project's success and led to the development of an individual model based on the intervention process. Lean techniques were only incorporated when it was clear they were relevant to the organization's change processes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We contribute to the literature on the political determinants of regional financing by analyzing the case of Spain, a largely decentralized country. Using a dynamic panel data model, we argue that the rise in relative bargaining power of regional parties in Spain can partly. explain the increase in budgetary allocations to regions observed during the period 1986-2006. In particular, our results show that the rise in parliamentary representation of the nationalist Catalonian party, measured by the Banzhaf voting power index, has been a significant factor in ensuring increasing financial resources to regional governments. In addition, the traditional hypotheses of the political economy literature on legislative apportionment are tested for the case of Spain, with no significant results observed. The overall distribution of regional financing in Spain seems to be in general well aligned with the basic economic principles of efficiency and equity recommended for such a system. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) is often used for the environmental evaluation of agri-food systems due to its holistic perspective. In particular, the assessment of milk production at farm level requires the evaluation of multiple dairy farms to guarantee the representativeness of the study when a regional perspective is adopted. This article shows the joint implementation of LCA and Data Envelopment Analysis (DEA) in order to avoid the formulation of an average farm, therefore preventing standard deviations associated with the use of average inventory data while attaining the characterization and benchmarking of the operational and environmental performance of dairy farms. Within this framework, 72 farms located in Galicia (NW Spain) were subject to an LCA+DEA study which led to identify those farms with an efficient operation. Furthermore, target input consumption levels were benchmarked for each inefficient farm, and the corresponding target environmental impacts were calculated so that eco-efficiency criteria were verified. Thus, average reductions of up to 38% were found for input consumption levels, leading to impact reductions above 20% for every environmental impact category. Finally, the economic savings arising from efficient farming practices were also estimated. Economic savings of up to 0.13€ per liter of raw milk were calculated, which means extra profits of up to 40% of the final raw milk price. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Over the last few years, there has been a devolutionary tendency in many developed and developing countries. In this paper we propose a methodology to decompose whether the benefits in terms of efficiency derived from transfers of powers from higher to municipal levels of government (the 'economic dividend' of devolution) might increase over time. This methodology is based on linear programming approaches for efficiency measurement. We provide an application to Spanish municipalities, which have had to adapt to the European Stability and Growth Pact as well as to domestic regulation seeking local governments' balanced budget. Results indicate that efficiency gains from enhanced decentralization have increased over time. However, the ways in which these gains accrue differ across municipalities—in some cases technical change is the main component, whereas in others catching up dominates. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Employee training is one of the most important human resource practices to improve organizational competitiveness. But, what does firms really want when they train their employees? Are they looking for something other than becoming more efficient? Drawing on a sample of 374 large Spanish firms, regression analysis showed that training enhanced not only some organizational performance, but legitimacy as well. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: This paper contributes to the airport benchmarking literature in two ways. To our knowledge, this is the first attempt at using a stochastic distance function to measure airports’ productivity changes while considering multiple outputs. Secondly, we calculate the evolution and decomposition of the Total Factor Productivity (TFP) for Spanish airports. The average rate of productivity showed a slight annual improvement of 0.9%, and the core engine of this was 3% increase in technical progress rather than through efficiency. Results, by airport, identify those needing improvement, to be more attractive in the Spanish airport restructuring program. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

The Spanish textile industry underwent an important transformation during the 1990s. To survive under new market conditions, firms had to refocus their competitive strategies towards an increase in productive efficiency or an investment in technological development. The purpose of this paper is to evaluate the technical efficiency in the sample of 66 micro-, small- and medium-sized textile companies that operated in the Spanish region of Catalonia during the 1996-2001 period. Based on the firm-level accounting data we derive efficiency estimates using Data Envelopment Analysis model with bootstrap. The general result of this study shows that firms in the sample are on average relatively highly efficient in their productive process. The bias-corrected efficiency score reaches the 0.817 level and it slightly fluctuates during the period analyzed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The model of competitive priorities in operations is one of the main pillars of research in operations strategy. These priorities are a part of the content of this strategy, together with the decisions in structure and infrastructure. Different approaches have been appearing in the specialised literature to try to explain how companies compete while considering these priorities. The objective of the current work is to propose a new indicator that positions firms with respect to the competitive priorities, and to analyse how the position relates to business results. This indicator allows us to determine the degree of development of capabilities in the operations competitive priorities that constitute the basis of competence in industrial firms. We apply the proposed indicator to a sample of Spanish industrial firms. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We investigate the main sources of heterogeneity in regional efficiency. We estimate a translog stochastic-frontier production function in the analysis of Spanish regions in the period 1964-96, to attempt to measure and explain changes in technical efficiency. Our results confirm that regional inefficiency is significantly and positively correlated with the ratio of public capital to private capital. The proportion of service industries in private capital, the proportion of public capital devoted to transport infrastructures, the industrial specialization, and spatial spillovers from transport infrastructures in neighbouring regions significantly contributed to improving regional efficiency. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this work, we analyze the relationship between the size, financial profitability, and technical efficiency of banking institutions in Spain. The analysis is carried out by the use of multivariant techniques, factorial analysis, and cluster analysis to establish groups of banking institutions of homogeneous size. A non-parametric methodology, data envelopment analysis (DEA), is used to obtain the coefficient of technical efficiency of each banking institution. In addition, the influence of each institution found to be efficient in the previously conducted efficiency analyses is studied with the aim of determining if any financial institution (bank) affects the results in a particular way. Also, the bootstrap technique is used in order to obtain confidence intervals regarding the average efficiency and median efficiency of the banking system. Finally, the relationship between entity size, financial profitability, and estimations of technical efficiency are analyzed. Information on 82 Spanish banks (36 banks and 45 savings banks), representing nearly the entire Spanish commercial banking system, was used. [TRANSLATION]

Abstract: This paper shows the distortions provoked by ignoring inefficiency in the analysis of cargo handling activities in Spanish ports. Two model specifications applied to a sample of 19 Spanish ports during the period 1990–1998 are used to estimate the effects of both technical and allocative inefficiency on marginal costs, the degree of economies of scale, and the rate of technical change. The general model is based on the shadow prices approach, thus accounting for both technical and allocative inefficiency, and the other, a particular (nested) case of the former, is the traditional neoclassical cost model assuming efficiency. The correct model confirms the existence of productive inefficiency, such that the traditional model over estimates both marginal costs and the degree of scale economies for all ports in the sample. These results show that first best prices casually calculated are above the correct ones and that potential advantages of output expansion are not always present. Finally, the rate of technical change is under-estimated by the traditional cost model, not revealing the true positive effects of the reforms searching for productive efficiency in the Spanish maritime sector. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Whenever policy logic and outcomes are uncertain, the traditional public management reform model, focused on efficiency and effectiveness, seems to be weak. Uncertainty requires not only devolution and follow-up information on results but also the encouragement of an appropriate management approach. Incentives from accountability and performance assessment may facilitate or impede management improvement if they are not coherently oriented. These systems need to be consistent with public managers' roles and circumstances, so that their feedback encourages a management role adequate to contextual characteristics. Uncertainty pressures management to be focused on innovation. This may be reinforced by positive oriented accountability and participatory evaluation. Beyond a conceptual proposal these notes might be a very useful suggestion for public management reform proposals. The example of fighting labour accidents in Spain shows that the model proposed is more pragmatic and feasible than it may sound in theory. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Environmental performance is a matter of major concern both for policy makers and for firm managers. In this paper we interpret firms' environmental performance as their ability to reduce polluting wastes while maintaining observed levels of inputs and desirable outputs. Making use of data envelopment analysis techniques, we compute waste-specific environmental efficiency measures for a sample of ceramic-tile producers located in the eastern Spanish region of Valencia. Our results show that there exists substantial room for improving environmental performance, which would have highly beneficial consequences for the local environment. In a second stage of analysis, we find that affiliation to the regional Technological Institute, ITC, which aims to promote technological innovation within the ceramic-tile industry, improves tile firms' environmental efficiency. In addition, firms located in the local industrial district of the Plana Baixa enjoy what we have broadly defined as ‘environmental spillovers’, which enhance their environmental performance. Also, ceramic-tile firms which outsource the management of wastes show better environmental performance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

There is no competitiveness problem when there are no competitors. For that reason, differentiation constitutes a key strategy for the company; then it contributes to generate a captive market for the product reducing this way its competition. Supposing that differentiation is not possible, costs and efficiency appear as the only possible way (Esteban y Coll, 2003). Focusing the attention in the last one, this paper analyzes -by employing a non parametric methodology: the data envelopment analysis (DEA)- the technical efficiency of textile industry in Spain. For that, we have studied a group of companies of each and every activity that constitute the textile industry following the classification CNAE93. The evaluation has been done from financial-economic information obtained from the profit and losses account and balance sheet. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper analyses the effect of public infrastructure on private factor productivity and efficiency in the Spanish regions. The focus is on the role of investment in public infrastructure and on analysing how the relative endowments of public to private capital affect productivity growth. The results obtained indicate that, although public investment contributes to enhance private productivity growth, the less productive regions are suffering from a relative deficit of private capital. Other variables that might condition productivity (i.e., human capital, asymmetries in the economic cycle, and the sector structure) are also considered. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

This paper examines the relationship between convergence in GDP per worker and the evolution of total factor productivity (TFP). Specifically, data envelopment analysis (DEA) is used to estimate TFP in the Spanish regions between 1964–91. As original contributions, public capital is included as a productive input, and different price indices are applied for each region, thus isolating any possible effect of price evolution on regional efficiency and convergence. Finally, the TFP indices are introduced into a neoclassical convergence equation. The findings show, in constrast to other studies, that convergence has taken place in TFP, though this process may have now run its course. It is also concluded that the convergence to be observed in labour productivity across the Spanish regions may be much more closely linked to catch-up in total factor productivity than to diminishing returns to productive factors, and that public capital has a relevant role as a production factor. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Combining complementarity services such as frequency containment reserve (FCR) and photovoltaic self-consumption (PV SFC) can increase revenues for household-prosumers supported by battery/supercapacitor-based hybrid energy storage systems (HESSs). Nonetheless, to calculate the best financial profitability, optimization algorithms should be applied to power and energy management as well as component sizing. For this purpose, this research developed a four-dimensional optimization algorithm based on the teaching-learning-based optimization (TLBO) method. The optimization of management strategies was based on wavelet transform. An objective function was expressed in economic terms, including the investment, cycling, energy exchange and FCR provision, among other costs. Furthermore, a battery durability model was introduced. This algorithm was illustrated by a case study in Spain. The algorithm not only determined the optimal management, but also the best overall component sizing. A HESS was found to be a cost-effective way of enhancing PV SFC and providing FCR by increasing the profitability of the asset. Planning both complementarity services led to maximum revenues. The results showed that the optimal supercapacitor hybridization was 3.98–10.50%, depending on the planned services. This increased the profitability of battery-only configurations by more than 5.37–10.37%. Battery aging played a crucial role because of replacement cost. Image 1 • The modelling optimizes the sizing and power management of PV household-prosumers. • The optimal SC hybridization ranges 3.98–10.50%, depending on planned services. • The profitability of HESS configurations vs. only battery increases up to 5.37–10.37%. • Optimization management approach vs. that based in rules yields a 10% LCOE reduction. • FCR provision reduces battery aging per normalized kWh delivered up to 4.7%. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

'Energy efficiency first' is one of the key principles of the Energy Union, mainly due to it being the most cost effective way to reduce emissions, improving energy security, enhancing competitiveness and making energy consumption more affordable for all consumers. In light of the revised EU Energy Efficiency Directive, this paper discusses new developments brought by the EU together with the national case studies of Slovenia and Spain. Given that the paper has a specific focus on the industrial sector, it discusses the selected measures of the Energy Efficiency Directive, such as defined in Articles 7, 8, and 14, which are the most relevant to this sector. The paper also explores the newly issued integrated national energy and climate plans together with national measures and policies that support energy efficiency in industry, including the quantification of achieved and forecast energy savings in these two EU Member States. • The revised EU Energy Efficiency Directive is the key driver of change in Member States. • More ambitious energy efficiency targets are projected in Slovenia and Spain for 2030. • The integrated National Energy and Climate plans inspired further national developments. • Both countries committed to continue their national measures/schemes on energy efficiency. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]