In this paper we have examined the scale and cost efficiency of Italian and Swiss regional bus companies. For this purpose, we have used the estimation of a frontier cost model using a fixed effect approach. Two translog cost frontier models were specified and estimated using panel data. The first model was estimated for a sample of 58 Italian bus companies, whereas the second model was estimated for a sample of 55 Swiss bus companies. The findings on efficiency were discussed in the political and regulatory setting under which the Swiss and the Italian regional bus companies are operating.

Massimo Filippini, Michael Kuenzle, in "ECONOMIA PUBBLICA " 6/2003, pp. , DOI: