search query: @indexterm Economies of scale / total: 179
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| Author: | Mahlberg, B. |
| Title: | Effizienz und Skalenerträge österreichischer und deutscher Krankenversicherer. |
| Journal: | Journal für Betriebswirtschaft
1996 : VOL. 46:5-6, p. 282-294 |
| Index terms: | HEALTH INSURANCE ECONOMIC EFFICIENCY ECONOMIES OF SCALE DATA ENVELOPMENT ANALYSIS GERMANY AUSTRIA |
| Language: | ger |
| Abstract: | The purpose of this study is to measure efficiency and economies of scale in the Austrian and German health insurance industry. These are important aspects of the competitiveness of the Austrian insurance companies. The background of this investigation is the liberalization and opening of the insurance markets in the EU. I used data envelopment analysis to construct an efficiency frontier to be used as yardstick of productive efficiency. The sources of data are the annual reports 1991 to 1993. Inefficiencies and economies of scale can be proved. However the most Austrian companies are more efficient than their German competitors. The average cost curve appears to be I-shaped, including a minimum efficient scale of about ATS 20 million of premium income. The Austrian companies act in the sector of increasing return to scale. |
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