In this paper, we compare the seaport efficiency of two European countries, Greece and Portugal, using data envelopment analysis (DEA). The international benchmarking procedure is implemented, in which the seaports in each country are compared against each other. The broader aim of this study is to seek out those best practices that will lead to improved performance in the context of European seaport policy. We rank the seaports according to their total productivity for the period 1998–2000. Economic implications arising from the study are considered. Maritime Economics & Logistics (2004) 6, 122–140. doi:10.1057/palgrave.mel.9100099
Economies of scale appear when total average cost of production decreases as the level of production increases. The reverse relationship holds when diseconomies of scale are present. Determinants of the precise nature of this relationship may be the technology of production, the organizational structure of a firm, or possibly the level of expertise in producing a certain product or service.
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