Maurizio Conti - Academia.edu (original) (raw)
Papers by Maurizio Conti
Over the past twenty years the airports sector has faced important changes linked to the liberali... more Over the past twenty years the airports sector has faced important changes linked to the liberalization of the sector and to the deregulation of the airlines market. The main changes have touched the governance structure (privatization) and the regulation of the industry. Experts and economist do not agree on the outcomes of such transformation process, in terms both of allocative
The main of this work is to provide a critical assessment of the economic regulation and governan... more The main of this work is to provide a critical assessment of the economic regulation and governance structure in the Italian water industry after the recent reforms. Through a detailed analysis of the economic literature, of the technological and economic features of the sector as well as of the new rules recently passed by Parliament, we argue that, in the
La regolazione dei mercati rappresenta un elemento fondamentale per il raggiungimento di un'organ... more La regolazione dei mercati rappresenta un elemento fondamentale per il raggiungimento di un'organizzazione più efficiente del sistema dei trasporti insieme ad una distribuzione equa dei vantaggi derivanti dallo stesso. In tale ottica la tutela del consumatore, le norme legate alla qualità e alla sicurezza dei beni e servizi scambiati su un mercato e una consona valutazione delle esternalità sono solo alcuni degli elementi di criticità di cui il regolatore dovrebbe tenere conto.
Transportation Research Part A: Policy and Practice, 2014
ABSTRACT This paper analyses the impact of port activities on local development for a sample of 6... more ABSTRACT This paper analyses the impact of port activities on local development for a sample of 621 TL-3 regions located in thirteen European countries and observed over the period 1998–2009. Using a spatial panel econometric framework which controls for spatial fixed effects, the paper provides an estimate of both the direct and indirect (i.e. spillover) effects associated to port activities. Results suggest that ports might have non-negligible effects on local GDP: interestingly, an important share of the effects takes place outside the region where the port is located.
The main of this work is to provide a critical assessment of the economic regulation and governan... more The main of this work is to provide a critical assessment of the economic regulation and governance structure in the Italian water industry after the recent reforms. Through a detailed analysis of the economic literature, of the technological and economic features of the sector as well as of the new rules recently passed by Parliament, we argue that, in the
Journal of Productivity Analysis, 2009
In this study we estimate a variable cost function on a panel of English and Welsh Water and Sewe... more In this study we estimate a variable cost function on a panel of English and Welsh Water and Sewerage companies, observed over two full regulatory periods (1995)(1996)(1997)(1998)(1999)(2000)(2001)(2002)(2003)(2004). The main aim of the paper is to investigate the presence of a ratchet effect in the cost cutting activity associated with the price cap regulatory regime. By applying the Generalized Index of Technical Change approach suggested by Baltagi and Griffin (J Polit Econ 96(1):20-41, (1988)), we provide some empirical evidence consistent with the existence of regulatory cycles. In particular, firms' cost cutting activity tends to increase in the early phase of the regulatory cycle, while it weakens as the price review approaches. D24, L51, L95.
During the last decade, the proliferation of Low Cost Carriers and the related huge increase in t... more During the last decade, the proliferation of Low Cost Carriers and the related huge increase in traffic has been the most visible effect of the deregulation of the airline market in Europe. Little attention has been paid to how airports were affected by the changes in the new institutional environment. In this study we model the total factor productivity (TFP) for a panel of the UK largest airports over the 2002-2005 period and investigate whether the presence of LCCs has some impact on airports' TFP. Empirical results are consistent with the hypothesis that conspicuous entry of LCCs on European markets has impacted positively on the vertical chain by facilitating airports' productivity improvements. This result is robust to reverse causality issues associated with the possibility that most efficient airports are those that are more likely to attract LCCs. Different possible arguments may explain our results: traffic increases brought about by LCCs for a given installed capacity might have generated higher TFP; more efficient organizational models might have been adopted to meet LCCs operational requirements (short turnaround times); cost reductions might have been realized in order to lower charges and attract LCCs; competition from a larger number of airports induced by LCCs' wider catchment areas (with respect to full service airlines) might have exerted further pressure toward TFP improvements.
Physics in Medicine and Biology, 2011
Time-of-flight (TOF) measurement capability promises to improve PET image quality. We characteriz... more Time-of-flight (TOF) measurement capability promises to improve PET image quality. We characterized the physical and clinical PET performance of the first Biograph mCT TOF PET/CT scanner (Siemens Medical Solutions USA, Inc.) in comparison with its predecessor, the Biograph TruePoint TrueV. In particular, we defined the improvements with TOF. The physical performance was evaluated according to the National Electrical Manufacturers Association (NEMA) NU 2-2007 standard with additional measurements to specifically address the TOF capability. Patient data were analyzed to obtain the clinical performance of the scanner. As expected for the same size crystal detectors, a similar spatial resolution was measured on the mCT as on the TruePoint TrueV. The mCT demonstrated modestly higher sensitivity (increase by 19.7 ± 2.8%) and peak noise equivalent count rate (NECR) (increase by 15.5 ± 5.7%) with similar scatter fractions. The energy, time and spatial resolutions for a varying single count rate of up to 55 Mcps resulted in 11.5 ± 0.2% (FWHM), 527.5 ± 4.9 ps (FWHM) and 4.1 ± 0.0 mm (FWHM), respectively. With the addition of TOF, the mCT also produced substantially higher image contrast recovery and signal-to-noise ratios in a clinically-relevant phantom geometry. The benefits of TOF were clearly demonstrated in representative patient images.
The main of this work is to provide a critical assessment of the economic regulation and governan... more The main of this work is to provide a critical assessment of the economic regulation and governance structure in the Italian water industry after the recent reforms. Through a detailed analysis of the economic literature, of the technological and economic features of the sector as well as of the new rules recently passed by Parliament, we argue that, in the
Page 1. How Basic is (Patented) University Research? The Case of GM Crops* Maurizio Conti, Pierre... more Page 1. How Basic is (Patented) University Research? The Case of GM Crops* Maurizio Conti, Pierre Régibeau and Katharine Rockett University of Essex and CEPR June 2003 Preliminary *The authors would like to acknowledge ...
Rivista Internazionale di Economia dei Transporti / International Journal of Transport Economics
Journal of Applied Economics, 2014
Over the past twenty years the airports sector has faced important changes linked to the liberali... more Over the past twenty years the airports sector has faced important changes linked to the liberalization of the sector and to the deregulation of the airlines market. The main changes have touched the governance structure (privatization) and the regulation of the industry. Experts and economist do not agree on the outcomes of such transformation process, in terms both of allocative
The main of this work is to provide a critical assessment of the economic regulation and governan... more The main of this work is to provide a critical assessment of the economic regulation and governance structure in the Italian water industry after the recent reforms. Through a detailed analysis of the economic literature, of the technological and economic features of the sector as well as of the new rules recently passed by Parliament, we argue that, in the
La regolazione dei mercati rappresenta un elemento fondamentale per il raggiungimento di un'organ... more La regolazione dei mercati rappresenta un elemento fondamentale per il raggiungimento di un'organizzazione più efficiente del sistema dei trasporti insieme ad una distribuzione equa dei vantaggi derivanti dallo stesso. In tale ottica la tutela del consumatore, le norme legate alla qualità e alla sicurezza dei beni e servizi scambiati su un mercato e una consona valutazione delle esternalità sono solo alcuni degli elementi di criticità di cui il regolatore dovrebbe tenere conto.
Transportation Research Part A: Policy and Practice, 2014
ABSTRACT This paper analyses the impact of port activities on local development for a sample of 6... more ABSTRACT This paper analyses the impact of port activities on local development for a sample of 621 TL-3 regions located in thirteen European countries and observed over the period 1998–2009. Using a spatial panel econometric framework which controls for spatial fixed effects, the paper provides an estimate of both the direct and indirect (i.e. spillover) effects associated to port activities. Results suggest that ports might have non-negligible effects on local GDP: interestingly, an important share of the effects takes place outside the region where the port is located.
The main of this work is to provide a critical assessment of the economic regulation and governan... more The main of this work is to provide a critical assessment of the economic regulation and governance structure in the Italian water industry after the recent reforms. Through a detailed analysis of the economic literature, of the technological and economic features of the sector as well as of the new rules recently passed by Parliament, we argue that, in the
Journal of Productivity Analysis, 2009
In this study we estimate a variable cost function on a panel of English and Welsh Water and Sewe... more In this study we estimate a variable cost function on a panel of English and Welsh Water and Sewerage companies, observed over two full regulatory periods (1995)(1996)(1997)(1998)(1999)(2000)(2001)(2002)(2003)(2004). The main aim of the paper is to investigate the presence of a ratchet effect in the cost cutting activity associated with the price cap regulatory regime. By applying the Generalized Index of Technical Change approach suggested by Baltagi and Griffin (J Polit Econ 96(1):20-41, (1988)), we provide some empirical evidence consistent with the existence of regulatory cycles. In particular, firms' cost cutting activity tends to increase in the early phase of the regulatory cycle, while it weakens as the price review approaches. D24, L51, L95.
During the last decade, the proliferation of Low Cost Carriers and the related huge increase in t... more During the last decade, the proliferation of Low Cost Carriers and the related huge increase in traffic has been the most visible effect of the deregulation of the airline market in Europe. Little attention has been paid to how airports were affected by the changes in the new institutional environment. In this study we model the total factor productivity (TFP) for a panel of the UK largest airports over the 2002-2005 period and investigate whether the presence of LCCs has some impact on airports' TFP. Empirical results are consistent with the hypothesis that conspicuous entry of LCCs on European markets has impacted positively on the vertical chain by facilitating airports' productivity improvements. This result is robust to reverse causality issues associated with the possibility that most efficient airports are those that are more likely to attract LCCs. Different possible arguments may explain our results: traffic increases brought about by LCCs for a given installed capacity might have generated higher TFP; more efficient organizational models might have been adopted to meet LCCs operational requirements (short turnaround times); cost reductions might have been realized in order to lower charges and attract LCCs; competition from a larger number of airports induced by LCCs' wider catchment areas (with respect to full service airlines) might have exerted further pressure toward TFP improvements.
Physics in Medicine and Biology, 2011
Time-of-flight (TOF) measurement capability promises to improve PET image quality. We characteriz... more Time-of-flight (TOF) measurement capability promises to improve PET image quality. We characterized the physical and clinical PET performance of the first Biograph mCT TOF PET/CT scanner (Siemens Medical Solutions USA, Inc.) in comparison with its predecessor, the Biograph TruePoint TrueV. In particular, we defined the improvements with TOF. The physical performance was evaluated according to the National Electrical Manufacturers Association (NEMA) NU 2-2007 standard with additional measurements to specifically address the TOF capability. Patient data were analyzed to obtain the clinical performance of the scanner. As expected for the same size crystal detectors, a similar spatial resolution was measured on the mCT as on the TruePoint TrueV. The mCT demonstrated modestly higher sensitivity (increase by 19.7 ± 2.8%) and peak noise equivalent count rate (NECR) (increase by 15.5 ± 5.7%) with similar scatter fractions. The energy, time and spatial resolutions for a varying single count rate of up to 55 Mcps resulted in 11.5 ± 0.2% (FWHM), 527.5 ± 4.9 ps (FWHM) and 4.1 ± 0.0 mm (FWHM), respectively. With the addition of TOF, the mCT also produced substantially higher image contrast recovery and signal-to-noise ratios in a clinically-relevant phantom geometry. The benefits of TOF were clearly demonstrated in representative patient images.
The main of this work is to provide a critical assessment of the economic regulation and governan... more The main of this work is to provide a critical assessment of the economic regulation and governance structure in the Italian water industry after the recent reforms. Through a detailed analysis of the economic literature, of the technological and economic features of the sector as well as of the new rules recently passed by Parliament, we argue that, in the
Page 1. How Basic is (Patented) University Research? The Case of GM Crops* Maurizio Conti, Pierre... more Page 1. How Basic is (Patented) University Research? The Case of GM Crops* Maurizio Conti, Pierre Régibeau and Katharine Rockett University of Essex and CEPR June 2003 Preliminary *The authors would like to acknowledge ...
Rivista Internazionale di Economia dei Transporti / International Journal of Transport Economics
Journal of Applied Economics, 2014