Accounting for Efficiency: Productivity Assessment of Merged Hospitals in Portugal Using DEA–Malmquist Analysis

This study analyses the effects of public hospital mergers in Portugal, particularly the creation of hospital centers, on productivity levels. Grounded in the theoretical frameworks of New Public Management and Efficiency Theory, a Data Envelopment Analysis (DEA) approach, combined with the Malmquis...

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Main Authors: Natália Maria Pereira Macedo, Anabela Martins Silva, Amélia Silva
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2025-05-01
Series:World
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2673-4060/6/2/69
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author Natália Maria Pereira Macedo
Anabela Martins Silva
Amélia Silva
author_facet Natália Maria Pereira Macedo
Anabela Martins Silva
Amélia Silva
author_sort Natália Maria Pereira Macedo
collection DOAJ
description This study analyses the effects of public hospital mergers in Portugal, particularly the creation of hospital centers, on productivity levels. Grounded in the theoretical frameworks of New Public Management and Efficiency Theory, a Data Envelopment Analysis (DEA) approach, combined with the Malmquist Productivity Index, was used to evaluate performance. Results for the 2013–2015 period show no statistically significant difference in productivity levels between merged hospitals (hospital centers) and non-merged hospitals (hospital units). However, for hospitals merged in 2007, there is evidence of significant productivity gains in the post-merger period (2008–2014). These findings partially support the assumptions of New Public Management and Efficiency Theory concerning efficiency improvements through hospital mergers in the public sector.
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spelling doaj-art-9cfac0c6515b4d27a5d8da9ad15cf5a92025-08-20T03:26:57ZengMDPI AGWorld2673-40602025-05-01626910.3390/world6020069Accounting for Efficiency: Productivity Assessment of Merged Hospitals in Portugal Using DEA–Malmquist AnalysisNatália Maria Pereira Macedo0Anabela Martins Silva1Amélia Silva2School of Economics and Management, University of Minho, Campus de Gualtar, 4710-057 Braga, PortugalSchool of Economics and Management, University of Minho, Campus de Gualtar, 4710-057 Braga, PortugalCEOS.PP, Instituto Superior de Contabilidade e Administração do Porto, Polytechnic of Porto, Rua Jaime Lopes Amorim, s/n, 4465-004 Matosinhos, PortugalThis study analyses the effects of public hospital mergers in Portugal, particularly the creation of hospital centers, on productivity levels. Grounded in the theoretical frameworks of New Public Management and Efficiency Theory, a Data Envelopment Analysis (DEA) approach, combined with the Malmquist Productivity Index, was used to evaluate performance. Results for the 2013–2015 period show no statistically significant difference in productivity levels between merged hospitals (hospital centers) and non-merged hospitals (hospital units). However, for hospitals merged in 2007, there is evidence of significant productivity gains in the post-merger period (2008–2014). These findings partially support the assumptions of New Public Management and Efficiency Theory concerning efficiency improvements through hospital mergers in the public sector.https://www.mdpi.com/2673-4060/6/2/69Data Envelopment Analysis (DEA)hospital mergersMalmquist indexproductivitypublic hospitals
spellingShingle Natália Maria Pereira Macedo
Anabela Martins Silva
Amélia Silva
Accounting for Efficiency: Productivity Assessment of Merged Hospitals in Portugal Using DEA–Malmquist Analysis
World
Data Envelopment Analysis (DEA)
hospital mergers
Malmquist index
productivity
public hospitals
title Accounting for Efficiency: Productivity Assessment of Merged Hospitals in Portugal Using DEA–Malmquist Analysis
title_full Accounting for Efficiency: Productivity Assessment of Merged Hospitals in Portugal Using DEA–Malmquist Analysis
title_fullStr Accounting for Efficiency: Productivity Assessment of Merged Hospitals in Portugal Using DEA–Malmquist Analysis
title_full_unstemmed Accounting for Efficiency: Productivity Assessment of Merged Hospitals in Portugal Using DEA–Malmquist Analysis
title_short Accounting for Efficiency: Productivity Assessment of Merged Hospitals in Portugal Using DEA–Malmquist Analysis
title_sort accounting for efficiency productivity assessment of merged hospitals in portugal using dea malmquist analysis
topic Data Envelopment Analysis (DEA)
hospital mergers
Malmquist index
productivity
public hospitals
url https://www.mdpi.com/2673-4060/6/2/69
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