Total factor logistics productivity: A spatial approach to the Italian regions

The evolution of economic systems has produced a new vision of the spatial and localization models in which transport and logistics are deemed to play a major role in generating value to economic areas. Different methods of parametric and nonparametric analysis are applied to deal with the issue of the efficiency and competitiveness of territories. Using an original dataset, we set out to estimate productivity differentials between companies or industries located in different Italian regions. Unlike previous works aimed at investigating logistics productivity, this paper focuses on the main variables affecting Total Factor Productivity (TFP) in the transport and logistics sectors. The findings of this study contribute to filling the gap in transport related literature on the issue of ‘Total Factor Regional Logistics Productivity’ (TFRLP), identifying the most important elements able to improve the TFP level using an econometric estimate. In a second step, we carry out a comparison among the different Italian regions with a view to testing the relationship between the logistics and economic activities of a territory. The results of this latter analysis show that, in the different Italian regions, the logistics sector is characterised by a high resilience capacity, so innovation in the logistics industry is a strong element in driving regional exports.