The importance of Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs) is a much debated question with extensive literature aimed at understanding the role of ICTs in increasing economic growth, firm productivity and firm efficiency. Different methods to estimate firm efficiency are used in this study. In particular, both the translog and the Cobb-Douglas production functions are used in order to estimate the impact of ICT on Technical Efficiency (TE) in Italian manufacturing firms over the period 1995 to 2003. Results show that ICT investments positively and significantly affected firms' TE. Moreover, group, size and geographical position have a positive influence on TE. Finally, the results show that older firms are, on average, more efficient than newer ones. © 2012 Taylor & Francis.
Technical efficiency and ICT investment in Italian manufacturing firms
Castiglione C.
2012-01-01
Abstract
The importance of Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs) is a much debated question with extensive literature aimed at understanding the role of ICTs in increasing economic growth, firm productivity and firm efficiency. Different methods to estimate firm efficiency are used in this study. In particular, both the translog and the Cobb-Douglas production functions are used in order to estimate the impact of ICT on Technical Efficiency (TE) in Italian manufacturing firms over the period 1995 to 2003. Results show that ICT investments positively and significantly affected firms' TE. Moreover, group, size and geographical position have a positive influence on TE. Finally, the results show that older firms are, on average, more efficient than newer ones. © 2012 Taylor & Francis.I documenti in IRIS sono protetti da copyright e tutti i diritti sono riservati, salvo diversa indicazione.
