Alternative Approaches to Efficiency Measurement

Abstract

This chapter aims to investigate the various approaches to efficiency measurement and to lay the required methodological groundwork for analysing the productive efficiency of a sample of container ports. The relative advantages and weaknesses associated with each of the available alternative approaches, as well as their applicability to this particular context, are critically reviewed. In order to determine the potential for instigating methodological improvements, previous applications of these alternative approaches to the port industry, particularly the container port sector, are also examined.