A Systematic Literature Review of Technical Efficiency Analysis in Fisheries – Focus on Estimation Methods, Determinants, and the Subsidy-Efficiency Nexus

Le résumé fourni par la source

This study applies a systematic literature review of 53 scientific articles on technical efficiency (TE) analysis in fisheries, focusing on determinants of efficiency, especially subsidies. Stochastic frontier analysis (SFA) was applied in ¾ of the papers, with data envelopment analysis (DEA) in the remainder. Only five articles discuss subsidies as determinants of TE. Owner/crew characteristics and vessel/gear characteristics were the most investigated determinant of efficiency in the literature. The experience of the former increased TE, while the latter showed diverging results, and subsidies increased efficiency. The paper discusses problems surrounding analysis of subsidies in TE analysis, and underlines use of newer models such as the robust and conditional DEA framework, accounting for the presence of outliers and allowing control for the influence of external factors potentially affecting the production process. Moreover, the findings indicate that studies of the subsidy -efficiency nexus lack analysis of TE over time. This is important since the subsidies, especially in open access fisheries, could lead to fish stock depletion, thereby diminishing TE over time. Subsidies could compensate for the reduction in TE, but in the long run, they also enable t he continued depletion of stocks. Thus, unless subsidies rise more significantly than the adverse effects of overfishing on an open access fishery, TE may be expected to decrease over time. Future studies should focus on the relationship between type of subsidy and TE to help policymakers choose the most appropriate subsidy. This since governments often intervene heavily to support fisheries livelihoods, potentially distorting market signals and causing overexploitation.

Ce résumé expose les affirmations des auteurs. BNTIC ne l’interprète pas comme une validation indépendante des résultats.