Assessing green performance of port enterprises: an improved double-frontier network cross-efficiency approach
Xing Liu, Xianhua Wu, Zhiyong Ji, Junwei Chen
Abstract
Accurate assessment of ports’ green performance is crucial for formulating emission reduction strategies. Data Envelopment Analysis (DEA) is a prevalent method for evaluating port performance. However, previous studies have primarily focused on using the efficiency frontier, which represents an optimistic viewpoint, as the evaluation benchmark. Conversely, studies adopting the inefficiency frontier viewpoint (a pessimistic viewpoint) remain relatively scarce. The Double-frontier Network Cross-Efficiency (DFNCE) model proposed in this study has two advantages. First, a novel two-stage network cross-efficiency strategy is introduced by this model, with the incorporation of undesirable outputs. Second, both optimistic and pessimistic viewpoints are considered by this model, effectively avoiding the bias in evaluations based solely on a single perspective. The proposed model is utilized to comprehensively evaluate the green performance of 16 Chinese port enterprises from 2018 to 2022. The results indicated that the Production Operation Stage (POS) had relatively high average green efficiency (0.571). While the Profit Transformation Stage (PTS) was lower (0.256). Shanghai and Qingdao Ports excelled, and some ports showed significant ranking discrepancies between POS and PTS. Additionally, port revenue and regional openness can improve port enterprises’ green efficiency. Local governments’ emphasis on carbon reduction positively affects POT efficiency but negatively impacts PTS efficiency.