This article analyses regulation, ownership and unobserved managerial ability as factors affecting the performance of a representative sample of European airports by means of frontier models. The Alvarez et al. (2004) frontier model is used. These airports are ranked according to their technical...

In this paper we examine the effects of asymmetric information on the nature of financial equilibrium and on the capital structure of firms. In the first model presented, the financial contracts on offer involve pooling equilibrium with no adverse selection. However, in the special case...

This short communication evaluates the influence of congestion on the technical efficiency of airports using three different approaches. To accomplish this aim a sample of 141 worldwide airports is used. The results show considerable signs of congestion inefficiency in some airports,...

This article looks at the use of institutionalized public–private partnership (PPP) arrangements by local governments for the delivery of different types of infrastructure. It starts by analyzing the mixed company model from a theoretical point of view, in particular the potential for internal...

With this paper we identify a number of the theoretical principles that apply to public–private partnership (PPP) contracts, introducing new case studies and policy discussions relevant for Europe and elsewhere. We discuss to what extent these contracts can and should be applied in the waste...

So far, in the nonparametric literature only full frontier nonparametric methods have been applied to search for economies of scope and scale, particularly the data envelopment analysis method (DEA). However, these methods present some drawbacks that might lead to biased results. This paper...

Managing financial resources efficiently is a requirement for all levels of government. However, measuring the performance of governments or other public authorities is usually highly complex. The results of this type of assessment are likely to be biased or perverse. This study attempts to...

The economic crisis in most developed countries is fostering the search for new models for infrastructure planning and management. There is great uncertainty surrounding these investments and, therefore, it is necessary to capture the latent value from infrastructure projects. The principle is...

This article analyses the market structure, the privatisation model and the regulation of port operations in Portugal. The regulation of the port sector in Portugal is developed at three levels. The first one regards regulation by contract (first level) which establishes rules (rights and...

<title>Abstract</title> The increase in cargo transportation has not necessarily corresponded to an improvement in the productive efficiency. Quite on the contrary, particular infrastructures are prone to the congestion phenomenon. In this case, after a given value the increase in inputs can lead to a decrease...