Environmental risks and efficiency performances: The vulnerability of Italian forestry firms
Corresponding Author
Pierluigi Toma
Dipartimento di Scienze dell'Economia, Università del Salento, Centro Ecotekne, via per Monteroni, Lecce, Italia, 73100 Italy
Correspondence
Pierluigi Toma, Universita del Salento, Italy.
Email: pierluigi.toma@unisalento.it
Search for more papers by this authorPier Paolo Miglietta
Dipartimento di Scienze e Tecnologie Biologiche ed Ambientali, Università del Salento, Via per Monteroni, Lecce, 73100 Italy
Search for more papers by this authorDomenico Morrone
Facoltà di Economia, Università LUM Jean Monnet, S.S 100 Km 18, Casamassima, Italy, 70010 Italy
Search for more papers by this authorDonatella Porrini
Dipartimento di Scienze dell'Economia, Università del Salento, Centro Ecotekne, via per Monteroni, Lecce, Italia, 73100 Italy
Search for more papers by this authorCorresponding Author
Pierluigi Toma
Dipartimento di Scienze dell'Economia, Università del Salento, Centro Ecotekne, via per Monteroni, Lecce, Italia, 73100 Italy
Correspondence
Pierluigi Toma, Universita del Salento, Italy.
Email: pierluigi.toma@unisalento.it
Search for more papers by this authorPier Paolo Miglietta
Dipartimento di Scienze e Tecnologie Biologiche ed Ambientali, Università del Salento, Via per Monteroni, Lecce, 73100 Italy
Search for more papers by this authorDomenico Morrone
Facoltà di Economia, Università LUM Jean Monnet, S.S 100 Km 18, Casamassima, Italy, 70010 Italy
Search for more papers by this authorDonatella Porrini
Dipartimento di Scienze dell'Economia, Università del Salento, Centro Ecotekne, via per Monteroni, Lecce, Italia, 73100 Italy
Search for more papers by this authorAbstract
This study adopts a nonparametric approach to assess the efficiency performances in the forestry firms and then stratifies them according to an environmental risk metric, revealing the existing nexus between economic profitability, environmental vulnerability and risks. Data cover the period 2013–2015 and refer to 69 Italian firms which carry out forestry and use forest areas. Results highlight that the input- and output-oriented efficiency performances in Italy are, on average, higher for forestry firms belonging to the medium and high environmental risk classes. Nevertheless, forestry firms exposed to low environmental risk show greater improvement towards efficiency over time, demonstrating that the adoption of responsible firm strategy can lead to concrete operative results, both economically and environmentally, even in a short-term perspective. As a scientific contribution, both methodological and empirical, the study highlights managerial and policy implications in terms of environmental risk management strategy for the Italian forestry firms and devoted regions.
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