Frontier models for evaluating environmental efficiency: an overview

Abstract

Our aim in this paper is to provide a succinct overview of frontier-based models used to evaluate environmental efficiency, with a special emphasis on agricultural activity. We begin by providing a brief, up-to-date review of the main approaches used to measure environmental efficiency, with particular emphasis on eco-efficiency models, the materials balance approach and the exergy balance approach. We then review the principal contributions analyzing the determinants of environmental efficiency, and finish by providing some suggestions for future research.

Research on the Structural Features and Influential Factors of the Spatial Network of China’s Regional Ecological Efficiency Spillover

“…In recent years, ecological problems, including global warming, pollution of air and fresh water resources, land degradation, losses of forest resources, cross-border transfer of hazardous wastes, and shape decrease of species diversity, have become increasingly prominent. Policymakers are forced to pay increased attention to ecological effect problems including environmental degradation, resource exhaustion, and climate change effects on economic activities (Lansink et al, 2014) [1]. This is especially true for developing countries, China being no exception.…”

Testing for Environmental Kuznets Curve in the EU Agricultural Sector through an Eco-(in)Efficiency Index

“…Towards this direction, eco-efficiency could be regarded as an effective approximation of sustainability since it measures the efficiency of a production unit in maximizing its desirable outputs whilst keeping the production of its undesirable outputs and the use of natural resources at the lowest possible levels [24,25]. That is, eco-efficiency could produce integrated assessments of various dimensions of production efficiency such as technical, economic, ecological, energy and environmental [26].…”

“…The main methodologies based on the frontier theory are data envelopment analysis (DEA) and stochastic frontier analysis (SFA) [25,28]. The two methods are based on different assumptions concerning their application.…”

Climate Change Effects on Aquaculture Production Performance in Malaysia: An Environmental Performance Analysis

“…The eco-efficiency measurement is the intermediation that helps in improving sustainability of aquaculture production (Gomez-Limon, Picazo-Tadeo, & Reig-Martinez, 2012). The environmental efficiency evaluation would help in the recommendation of new policies as well as enhancing the current environmental policies (Lansink & Wall, 2014).…”

“…Linking eco-efficiency concept with the aquaculture sector and climate change, the eco-efficiency is generally defined as the capability of an aquaculture sector to produce their products using natural resources as minimum as possible, to adjust to the climate change pressures such as temperature and rainfall variability as well as to reduce wastes and pollution with increasing impacts to climate change. On the other hand, eco-efficiency is a ratio or an environmental index of economic value of aquaculture products to environmental pressure added (Kortelainen, 2008;Lansink & Wall, 2014). The environmental performance with larger ratio values is considered as having better environmental performance and this achievement is practical in macro level aquaculture sector as compared to micro level (Huppes & Ishikawa, 2005).…”