Efficiency Analysis of Uzbekistan’s Railway System: A Data Envelopment Analysis Approach with Comparative Perspectives

초록

Uzbekistan’s railway system is critical to national logistics and regional connectivity across Central Asia. Despite its strategic importance, the sector suffers from operational inefficiencies, institutional constraints, and a lack of systematic benchmarking. This study applies Data Envelopment Analysis (DEA) — using both CCR (constant returns to scale) and BCC (variable returns to scale) output-oriented models — to assess the operational efficiency of 12 national railway systems in 2023, with Uzbekistan as the focal country. Three inputs (employees, locomotives, network length) and two outputs (freight tonne-km, passenger-km) are used. Results show Uzbekistan scoring 0.347 (CCR) and 0.521 (BCC), ranking 9th of 12. Approximately one-third of the inefficiency is attributable to suboptimal scale rather than technical factors. Benchmark peers are identified as China and Georgia. The study calls for a two-pronged strategy: operational optimisation and strategic demand-side expansion. Policy recommendations include labour restructuring, rolling stock renewal, electrification, digitisation, and corridor integration

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