It has often been observed in the literature that non-parametric approaches to the estimation of production frontiers are hardly robust in the presence of outliers. This paper proposes a class of robust frontier estimators based upon extreme value theory. The nature of the proposed method is...

In this paper, we analyse the impact of business incentives on the technical efficiency of Italian manufacturing firms. Using DEA allows a novel treatment of the omitted-variable and sample-selection bias. Through DEA one carries out direct comparisons between similar observations akin to those...

In this paper, we estimate indices of technological catch-up, technological change and variations in scale efficiency for a sample of 52 countries through the FDH approach with variable scaling parameters (VP-FDH) proposed in Kerstens and Vanden Eeckaut (1999). We compare the results with those...

GARCH (1,1) models are widely used for modelling processes with time varying volatility. These include financial time series, which can be particularly heavy tailed. In this paper, we propose a log-transform-based least squares estimator (LSE) for the GARCH (1,1) model. The asymptotic properties...

This note is intended to provide an initial assessment of the potentialities of the data reconstruction work, relating to labour market series, carried out as part of the SVIMEZ volume for the Sesquicentennial of the Unification of Italy. To this end, we develop some considerations on a key...

Relying mainly on the use of the "OECD Diagnostic Tool", we highlight the skill demand-supply imbalances existing across the Italian territory, as well as some of their determinants. Having clarified that the promotion of the matching between skill demand and supply is an essential element of...

In this paper we show how the nature of economies of scale can be assessed using a set of procedures based on non-parametric frontier analysis. Through these procedures it is possible to characterise qualitatively the nature of returns to scale for each observation, yielding important...

In the present work we argue that in order to appraise the explanatory power of the existing explanations of dualism in the Italian economy it is important to examine their empirical predictions relatively to the territorial dispersion of some efficiency measures. Applying the non-parametric FDH...

To be successful in today’s knowledge economy, communities need to boost not only the skills of local people but also the utilisation and deployment of these skills by employers. By ensuring that skills are utilised effectively, local economies can become more competitive and host better...