Determinants of inefficiency in the provision of public parks and gardens services

Abstract

Este artículo analiza la eficiencia en la gestión de parques y jardines públicos en 202 municipios españoles con poblaciones entre 5.000 y 50.000 habitantes. A través del uso de Análisis Envolvente de Datos (DEA) con bootstrap doble, se calcula la eficiencia relativa de cada municipio y se identifican los determinantes clave de la ineficiencia.

El estudio revela que existen grandes márgenes de mejora en la gestión municipal de estos servicios, ya que solo un 1 % de los municipios es eficiente bajo retornos constantes de escala. Entre los factores que mejoran la eficiencia están: la densidad poblacional, el nivel de ingresos y el valor catastral de las viviendas. Por el contrario, factores como una alta carga fiscal, la concentración política y un mayor porcentaje de inmigrantes se asocian con menores niveles de eficiencia.

This study examines the efficiency of public parks and gardens management in 202 Spanish municipalities with populations between 5000 and 50,000 inhabitants. Using Data Envelopment Analysis (DEA) with double bootstrapping, efficiency scores are estimated while correcting for bias and assessing key inefficiency determinants. The results indicate that only 1 % of municipalities achieve efficiency under constant returns to scale, while 10 % do so under variable returns, highlighting significant inefficiencies and the potential for resource optimisation. Several factors significantly influence efficiency. Higher population density (− 21.65), income levels (− 49.84), and cadastral property values (− 3.16) improve efficiency, likely due to economies of scale, increased citizen demand for service quality, and stronger financial oversight. Conversely, higher tax burdens (+0.2188), political concentration (+33.20), and a larger immigrant population (+90.99) correlate with lower efficiency, suggesting weakened expenditure control, reduced accountability, and increased pressure on public space management. The study proposes targeted policy recommendations to address these inefficiencies. Inter-municipal cooperation is encouraged to improve efficiency, particularly in smaller municipalities where shared services could reduce costs. Citizen oversight mechanisms should be reinforced to enhance governance transparency and accountability. Additionally, municipalities with high tax burdens or larger immigrant populations should implement strategies ensuring sustainable public space management. Smart technologies, such as IoT-based irrigation systems and automated maintenance, could further optimise efficiency. By integrating DEA with double bootstrapping, this study provides a robust framework for evaluating municipal efficiency. The findings offer insights for policymakers seeking to improve public resource management while ensuring sustainable and inclusive urban green spaces.