A note on productivity change in European cooperative banks: the Luenberger indicator approach

The Luenberger productivity indicator is employed to estimate and decompose productivity change in a sample of cooperative banks operating in 10 EU member states. An average annualised productivity growth of 2.59% is reported between 1996 and 2003, though there is heterogeneity in growth rates across countries. Generally speaking, productivity growth is driven by technological change. However, cooperative banks in southern European banking markets benefit as much from efficiency growth or catching‐up with industry best practice. The results suggest that technology sharing arrangements and greater competition arising from deregulation are positive contributors towards productivity change.     

Exact relations between Luenberger productivity indicators and Malmquist productivity indexes

In this note we derive an exact relation between Luenberger productivity indicators and Malmquist productivity indexes. The authors are grateful for referee comments which substantially improved the paper.     

Dynamic productivity growth and its determinants in the Indonesian food and beverages industry

ABSTRACT

This research investigates dynamic productivity growth and its determinants in the Indonesian food and beverages industry decomposing dynamic productivity growth into the contributions of dynamic technical inefficiency change, dynamic technical change, and dynamic scale inefficiency change. The empirical application employs unbalanced panel data of 44 subsectors in the Indonesian food and beverages industry over 1990–2014. To estimate dynamic productivity growth, this research uses a Luenberger indicator accounting for the presence of adjustment costs. The results show that dynamic productivity growth exhibits a decreasing trend. Dynamic technical inefficiency change and dynamic scale inefficiency change contribute positively to dynamic productivity growth, while dynamic technical change contributes negatively. Dynamic productivity growth is affected by the change in industrial concentration, the growth rate of capital intensity, the growth rate of exports, the growth rate of foreign direct investment, and location.     

Biased Technical Change and Parallel Neutrality

The Luenberger productivity indicator has many attractive features to evaluate productivity, technical and efficiency changes. Paralleling Färe et al. (1997), this paper shows that the technical change indicator can be expressed as the sum of a magnitude indicator and a bias indicator that is the sum of two bias indicators input and output oriented respectively. Using a recent concept of ``parallel neutrality'' introduced by Briec et al. (2006), some conditions under which each bias indicator makes no contribution to productivity change are established. Among the key contributions of this paper is a new linear programming model involving a graph translation homotheticity property.     

EXACT RELATIONS BETWEEN FOUR DEFINITIONS OF PRODUCTIVITY INDICES AND INDICATORS

Generalizing earlier approximation results, we establish exact relations between the Luenberger productivity indicator and the Malmquist productivity index under rather mild assumptions. Furthermore, we show that similar exact relations can be established between the Luenberger–Hicks–Moorsteen indicator and the Hicks–Moorsteen index.     

The Luenberger productivity indicator: An economic specification leading to infeasibilities

This contribution points out an error in the specification of technology when computing the Luenberger productivity indicator that has been hitherto ignored in the literature. The solution of this problem increases the likelihood that the directional distance functions underlying this productivity indicator are ill-defined.     

中国八大综合经济区绿色全要素生产率增长测算与因素分解

随着绿色发展理念得到贯彻落实,科学测算与解析绿色全要素生产率增长对于经济高质量发展意义重大。为直接完整测度区域层面的绿色全要素生产率增长及其构成,本文构造聚合环境广义Luenberger Hicks Moorsteen生产率指标及分解子项,利用蒙特卡洛模拟检验该指标测算结果的有效性,发现其相对于聚合L指标更具优势。本文根据2003—2019年地级以上城市的投入产出指标数据,测算八大综合经济区的绿色全要素生产率增长及动力来源。结果表明,八大经济区绿色全要素生产率均实现增长,但增速呈现分化特征。八大综合经济区绿色全要素生产率增长在技术层面的动力主要源于技术进步与规模效率增长,在要素层面主要源于期望产出效率增长与非期望产出治理效率增长。技术进步和期望产出效率增长是八大经济区绿色全要素生产率增长差异的主要成因。本文结论对于有针对性地提升地区绿色全要素生产率具有启示意义。     

How enterprise strategies are related to innovation and productivity change: an empirical study of Japanese manufacturing firms

This study analyzes the total factor productivity of 1067 Japanese manufacturing firms. In production estimation, we employ the directional distance function and Luenberger productivity indicator. Research and development strategy survey data are used to analyze the determinant factors related to improvements in innovation and productivity. Our results indicate that increasing technology and knowledge through a ‘black box’ process is related to an increase in productivity. Furthermore, the protection and management of production knowledge and expertise is a valid method of increasing global technical change.     

Luenberger and Malmquist Productivity Indices: Theoretical Comparisons and Empirical Illustration

This contribution establishes, from a theoretical viewpoint, the relations between the Malmquist productivity indices, that measure in either input or output orientations, and the Luenberger productivity indices, that can simultaneously contract inputs and expand outputs, but that can also measure in either input or output orientations. The main result is that a Malmquist productivity index overestimates productivity changes, since it provides productivity measures that are nearly twice those given by the Luenberger productivity index looking for simultaneous contractions of inputs and expansions of outputs. This relationship is empirically illustrated using data from 20 OECD countries over the 1974–97 period.     

Analysis on total factor productivity of Chinese provincial economy

This paper applies the nonparametric DEA-Malmquist index approach to estimate total factor productivity growth, efficiency change and the rate of technological progress from 1979 to 2003. This is done to conduct analysis on the total factor productivity of China’s provincial economy. Analysis on the evolution of distribution dynamics of relative labor productivity, relative total factor productivity, relative efficiency and relative technological progress is done by using kernel density estimation for the period from 1979 to 2003 in 29 provinces of China. Our analysis indicates that disparities of provincial economic growth are large and have been increasing owing to the relatively large and increasing disparities of total factor productivity growth especially the rate of technological progress. __________ Translated from The Journal of World Economy (世界经6D4E;), 2005, (5) (in Chinese)     

Surplus measures and luenberger Hicks–Moorsteen productivity indicator

This paper extends to production theory some notions of compensated and equivalent variation analyzed in Luenberger (Econ Theory 7:445–462, 1996) in a consumer context. Along this line the Luenberger–Hicks–Moorsteen productivity indicator introduced in Briec and Kerstens (Econ Theory 23:925–939, 2004) is derived from these concepts for multi-output production technologies. The dual properties of this productivity indicator are analyzed and an aggregate indicator is introduced inspired from the resource function proposed in Luenberger (1996). A connection to a suitable Slutsky matrix is established.     

The influences of different R&D types on productivity growth in OECD countries

Productivity has become an important concern for the sustainable development and growth of a country. Countries, such as those in the Organization for Economic Cooperation Development (OECD), that actively innovate and conduct Research and Development (R&D) activities always have high productivity growth, with research to date examining the positive influences of R&D on productivity. R&D activities are classified into three types: basic research, applied research and experimental development. To test the different influences of the different R&D types, panel data from 23 OECD countries for the period 1996–2010 have been constructed and the Data Envelopment Analysis method is used to measure and decompose productivity growth. Moreover, based on Mansfield's [“Basic Research and Productivity Increase in Manufacturing.” The American Economic Review 70: 863–873] model, the influences of each R&D type on productivity growth are tested. The empirical tests show that R&D investments in experimental development and applied research have a positive effect on productivity growth in the immediate period; basic research influences productivity growth with a lengthier lag, even up to three periods.     

Evidence on the impact of R&D and ICT investments on innovation and productivity in Italian firms

Both research and development (R&D) and information and communication technology (ICT) investment have been identified as sources of relative innovation underperformance in Europe vis-à-vis the USA. In this article, we investigate the R&D and ICT investment at the firm level in an effort to assess their relative importance and to what extent they are complements or substitutes. We use data on a large unbalanced panel data sample of Italian manufacturing firms constructed from four consecutive waves of a survey of manufacturing firms, to estimate a version of the CDM model of R&D, innovation, and productivity [Crépon–Duguet–Mairesse 1998. Research, innovation and productivity: An econometric analysis at the firm level. Economics of Innovation and New Technology 7, no. 2: 115–58] that has been modified to include ICT investment and R&D as the two main inputs into innovation and productivity. We find that R&D and ICT are both strongly associated with innovation and productivity, with R&D being more important for innovation, and ICT investment being more important for productivity. For the median firm, rates of return to both investments are so high that they suggest considerably underinvestment in both these activities. We explore the possible complementarity between R&D and ICT in innovation and production, but find none, although we do find complementarity between R&D and worker skill in innovation.     

Human capital,innovation and productivity in Colombian enterprises: a structural approach using instrumental variables

ABSTRACT

In this paper we explore the R&D–innovation–productivity linkage for the Colombian manufacturing industry, paying special attention to the role of human capital. Using data from two firm-level surveys, the Survey of Development and Technological Innovation (EDIT) and the Annual Manufacturing Survey (EAM), we extend the model of Crépon, Duguet, and Mairesse [1998. ‘Research, Innovation and Productivity: An Econometric Analysis at the Firm Level.’ Economics of Innovation and New Technology 7 (2): 115–158] (hereafter CDM) by including human capital at the investment decision stage. We implement an instrumental variable methodology to correct the potential endogeneity that may arise with the inclusion of human capital. Our results suggest that human capital has a causal effect on research and development (R&D) investment decisions, the innovation behavior of the firm, and increases the labor productivity of the firm. The conclusions highlight the relevance of human capital in the surrounding literature which stands in contrast to prior work that has not included this variable.     

Innovation,competition and productivity

We investigate the drivers of firm‐level productivity in catching‐up economies by jointly estimating its relationship to innovation and competition using data from the EBRD‐WB Business Environment and Enterprise Performance Survey (BEEPS) in Eastern Europe and Central Asia. The findings confirm an inverted‐U shaped impact of competition on R&D. Both competition and innovation have a simultaneous positive effect on labour productivity in terms of either sales or value added per employee, as does a high share of university graduates and foreign ownership. Further positive impacts come from firm size, exports or population density. Innovation and foreign ownership appear to be the strongest drivers of multifactor productivity.     

Examining the association of smoking with work productivity and associated costs in Japan

Aims: Smoking is associated with significant health and economic burden globally, including an increased risk of many leading causes of mortality and significant impairments in work productivity. This burden is attenuated by successful tobacco cessation, including reduced risk of disease and improved productivity. The current study aimed to show the benefits of smoking cessation for workplace productivity and decreased costs associated with loss of work impairment.

Materials and methods: The data source was the 2011 Japan National Health and Wellness Survey (n?=?30,000). Respondents aged 20–64 were used in the analyses (n?=?23,738) and were categorized into: current smokers, former smokers, and never smokers. Generalized linear models controlling for demographics and health characteristics examined the relationship of smoking status with the Work Productivity and Activity Impairment questionnaire (WPAI-GH) endpoints, as well as estimated indirect costs.

Results: Current smokers reported the greatest overall work impairment, including absenteeism (i.e. work time missed) and presenteeism (i.e. impairment while at work); however, after controlling for covariates, there were no significant differences between former smokers and never smokers on overall work impairment. Current smokers and former smokers had greater activity impairment (i.e. impairment in daily activities) than never smokers. Current smokers reported the highest indirect costs (i.e. costs associated with work impairment); however, after controlling for covariates, there were no significant differences between former smokers and never smokers on indirect costs.

Limitations and conclusions: Smoking exerts a large health and economic burden; however, smoking cessation attenuates this burden. The current study provides important further evidence of this association, with former smokers appearing statistically indistinguishable from never smokers in terms of work productivity loss and associated indirect costs among a large representative sample of Japanese workers. This report highlights the workplace benefits of smoking cessation across productivity markers and cost-savings.     

Circularity of the Malmquist productivity index

The geometric mean version of the Malmquist productivity index does not satisfy the circular test, and its component adjacent period indexes can give different productivity change measures for the same data. A fixed-base version of the index solves both problems, but it is not independent of the base period. It has been argued that time-neutrality of technical change is necessary and sufficient for all three properties to hold. We show that time-neutrality is sufficient, but not necessary, for all three properties. We develop a weaker version of time-neutrality that is necessary and sufficient for all three properties to hold. We thank a very perceptive referee for helpful comments, although content remains our responsibility. A longer working paper is available on request.     

R&D and productivity: evidence from large UK establishments with substantial R&D activities

ABSTRACT

We use Office for National Statistics' micro data for large UK establishments in the production industries in the period 1997–2008 to study the relationship between their productivity and the presence of substantial R&D activities, either at the production unit itself, or at other UK reporting units owned by the same enterprise group. We estimate that total factor (revenue) productivity is on average about 14% higher at the establishments which have substantial R&D themselves, compared to those with no R&D. Among the establishments with no R&D themselves, we estimate that productivity is on average about 9% higher at those which belong to enterprise groups which do have substantial R&D elsewhere in the UK in the same sub-sector. For the establishments with substantial R&D themselves, we also estimate a significant positive relationship between current productivity and past R&D expenditure using dynamic specifications which allow for both establishment-specific ‘fixed effects’ and a serially correlated error component.     

技术进步、结构变迁与中国铁路运输业生产率增长——基于Hicks-Moorsteen生产率指数的实证分析

利用具有完全可乘性的非参数Hi cks-Moorst een生产率指数,对中国铁路运输业在1 997-201 0年期间的全要素生产率进行测算和分解,并对区域铁路运输业生产率进行绝对收敛检验。研究发现,平稳快速的技术进步是样本期间内中国铁路运输业全要素生产率快速增长的主要原因,而投入产出混合效率的下降则是各时段某些地区综合效率下降的重要因素;全国及三大地区的铁路运输业生产率在统计上均存在着显著的绝对收敛。此外,还应用面板计量模型实证检验了结构变迁、资本深化和引致需求等诸多因素对于铁路运输业全要素生产率、技术进步以及效率变动的相关影响。研究发现,产业经济结构和铁路运输内部结构分别与铁路运输业生产率之间存在显著的正相关和负相关关系;资本深化程度则呈现出显著的负向影响;各种引致需求因素和铁路路网密度均呈现出显著的正向影响;国有铁路所占比例与公路设施等替代竞争因素则均呈现出不同程度的负相关影响。     

产业集聚与地区间劳动生产率差异

Locally increasing returns is the source of industrial agglomeration, and it improves regional labour productivity and drives up regional inequality. Using data of 261 cities in 2004 in China, I find that the estimated elasticity of (average) labor productivity with respect to employment density is about 8.8%, compared with 5% in the USA and 4.5% in the EU. Further, I find that the difference of agglomeration effects among provinces exists two cases: insignificant difference and significant difference. However, under the polarization of industrial location, both two cases enlarge the inequality of labor productivity among provinces, and drive up the divergence of regional income. Translated from Jingji Yanjiu 经济研究 (Economic Research Journal), 2006, (11): 72–81