TECHNICAL EFFICIENCY IN MULTI-MODE BUS TRANSIT: A PRODUCTION FRONTIER ANALYSIS

Authors

P A. Viton

Document Type

Journal Article

Publication Date

1997

Subject Area

mode - bus

Keywords

Productivity, Production rate, Multimodal transportation, Multimodal systems, Intracity bus transportation, Efficiency, Economic efficiency, Bus transit, Bus services

Abstract

This paper studies the efficiency of U.S. multi-mode bus transit systems by asking whether they could expand their service (outputs) without requiring additional resources (inputs); or whether they could reduce input utilization without having to reduce service. A system which can do neither is said to be "technically efficient". The technological possibilities facing the industry are identified by computing a piecewise-linear best-practice production frontier exhibiting variable returns to scale and weak disposal. The findings indicate that 80 percent of the bus systems studied are technically efficient, and that the extent of inefficiency in the industry is slight.

Comments

Transportation Research Part B Home Page: http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/journal/01912615

Recommended Citation

Viton, P, (1997). TECHNICAL EFFICIENCY IN MULTI-MODE BUS TRANSIT: A PRODUCTION FRONTIER ANALYSIS. Transportation Research Part B: Methodological, Volume 31, Issue 1, p. 23-39.