Agric. Econ. - Czech, 2024, 70(11):565-576 | DOI: 10.17221/190/2024-AGRICECON

Micro-data efficiency evaluation of agricultural companies: The case of Germany and neighbouring countriesCase Study

Kevin Nowag1, Jitka Janová ORCID...1
1 Department of Statistics and Operation Analysis, Faculty of Business and Economics, Mendel University in Brno, Brno, the Czech Republic

This study uses micro-financial data to examine the efficiency of agricultural enterprises in Germany and its neighbouring countries. The aim of the study is to introduce a model for the agricultural sector and conduct an efficiency analysis using these data, interpreting the results with specific knowledge in the management of an agriculture company. Both technical and allocative efficiencies were determined, and the companies were ranked. Possible correlations between company size, measured by turnover, and the determined efficiency were analysed. At present, there is a lack of studies in the agricultural sector with high aggregated financial data, which are the basis and necessity for well-founded decision support to increase efficiency. The data envelopment analysis method was used, as a non-parametric procedure from operations research and economics field. Both the constant returns to scale (CCR) and variable returns to scale (BCC) models were used to calculate the efficiency values. The results showed that large and very large companies achieved the highest levels of efficiency. Interestingly, very large companies lost efficiency compared to large companies, suggesting that the optimal efficiency level lies with the latter. Furthermore, the Netherlands was the absolute efficiency leader, while the other countries achieved similar lower efficiencies. This study contributes to the literature by providing a comprehensive efficiency analysis in the agricultural sector based on financial data, thus offering a basis for future studies and political decisions.

Keywords: bioeconomy; company size; data envelopment analysis; efficiency analysis; non-perennial crop

Received: June 1, 2024; Revised: October 25, 2024; Accepted: November 5, 2024; Published: November 29, 2024  Show citation

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Nowag K, Janová J. Micro-data efficiency evaluation of agricultural companies: The case of Germany and neighbouring countries. Agric. Econ. - Czech. 2024;70(11):565-576. doi: 10.17221/190/2024-AGRICECON.
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