ANALYSIS OF THE LEGACY INDUSTRY STATUS IN THE SOUTHEAST REGION USING DATA ENVELOPMENT ANALYSIS AND MALMQUIST PRODUCTIVITY INDEX

초록

This study investigates the managerial efficiency and productivity changes of legacy industries in Korea’s Southeast region – Busan, Ulsan, and Gyeongnam – between 2018 and 2024. Utilizing Data Envelopment Analysis and the Malmquist Productivity Index, this study evaluates firm-level performance across different sizes, considering external shocks such as the COVID-19 pandemic. The results reveal region-specific trends: Busan’s productivity gains were mainly driven by technological shifts, Ulsan showed strong internal efficiency improvements but lagged in innovation, and Gyeongnam exhibited notable recovery led by small and medium-sized enterprises. Firm size analysis highlights that small and medium-sized enterprises responded more flexibly than large firms. These findings underscore the importance of size-based and regionally tailored industrial strategies. The study contributes to understanding the dynamic nature of legacy sectors and provides implications for regional innovation policy and industrial renewal. © 2026, ICIC International. All rights reserved.

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