Despite its economic development, the average length of trials in Italy is one of the highest in the world. In this paper we analyze the efficiency of the Italian courts of justice for the period 2003 to 2008. Results show that technical efficiency (lack of best practice adoption) is almost 40% and size inefficiency (courts operating on a too large scale) is about 35% of total inefficiency of the sector. It emerges clearly that the single most effective (and feasible) policy intervention is the splitting of large courts of justice. This would boost the ability of the system to process cases and it should put it on a sustainable path with beneficial effects for economic growth.

Large Courts, Small Justice! The inefficiency and the optimal structure of the Italian Justice Sector

ZAGO, Angelo;
2012-01-01

Abstract

Despite its economic development, the average length of trials in Italy is one of the highest in the world. In this paper we analyze the efficiency of the Italian courts of justice for the period 2003 to 2008. Results show that technical efficiency (lack of best practice adoption) is almost 40% and size inefficiency (courts operating on a too large scale) is about 35% of total inefficiency of the sector. It emerges clearly that the single most effective (and feasible) policy intervention is the splitting of large courts of justice. This would boost the ability of the system to process cases and it should put it on a sustainable path with beneficial effects for economic growth.
2012
Industry Efficiency; Directional Distance Function; Size Inefficiency; Break-ups; Mergers.
File in questo prodotto:
Non ci sono file associati a questo prodotto.

I documenti in IRIS sono protetti da copyright e tutti i diritti sono riservati, salvo diversa indicazione.

Utilizza questo identificativo per citare o creare un link a questo documento: https://hdl.handle.net/11562/478159
Citazioni
  • ???jsp.display-item.citation.pmc??? ND
  • Scopus ND
  • ???jsp.display-item.citation.isi??? ND
social impact