Efficiency and productivity evaluation in the performing arts: A non-radial DEA approach to public cultural institutions

Abstract

This study addresses the challenges of measuring technical efficiency and productivity in the performing arts sector during the post-pandemic recovery period (2022–2023). Utilizing a non-radial Data Envelopment Analysis and the Global Malmquist Index, the research evaluates how human resource allocation influences performance, using 21 Polish philharmonic institutions as an empirical context. The results reveal significant performance variations and relatively low sector-wide efficiency. Notably, philharmonics supervised by regional authorities demonstrated higher efficiency and productivity compared to those under municipal governance. Furthermore, productivity growth was driven primarily by sector-wide technological progress rather than improvements in individual unit efficiency. The study identifies employment as a crucial factor, though its impact is mediated by operational scale. These findings provide broader methodological and practical insights for cultural economics and public policy, particularly regarding staffing optimization in post-crisis contexts, while filling a significant gap in the performing arts efficiency literature.