Kindly words written by Kristiaan Kerstens (Université de Lille) for the “Report on Research Activity of the Oviedo Efficiency Group, 1998-2008” regarding the Permanent Seminar on Efficiency and Productivity Analysis.

The Permanent Seminar on Efficiency and Productivity Analysis initiated back in 1998 at the University of Oviedo's Department of Economics as well as the conferences organized in this same context have had a lasting influence on the field of efficiency and productivity analysis at three levels (i) regional, (ii) national, and (iii) international. First, this relentless effort has definitely put the University of Oviedo on the map as an important research center in this area. Good researchers are honoured to present their work in Oviedo and the seminar list reads more or less like a Who Is Who in the field. Second, both the seminars and the conferences have definitely contributed to catalyse research in the area at the national level and have made Spain among the leading countries in this field. Third, the success of the 7th and 8th editions of the European Workshop on Efficiency and Productivity Analysis have contributed to the still growing interest in this area of research. Congratulations to the Oviedo team for these achievements.

Kristiaan Kerstens