On the Use of Value Efficiency Analysis and Some Further Developments

The purpose of this paper is to discuss the use of Value Efficiency Analysis (VEA) in efficiency evaluation when preference information is taken into account. Value efficiency analysis is an approach, which applies the ideas developed for Multiple Objective Linear Programming (MOLP) to Data Envelopment Analysis (DEA). Preference information is given through the desirable structure of input- and output-values. The same values can be used for all units under evaluation or the values can be specific for each unit. A decision-maker can specify the input- and output-values subjectively without any support or (s)he can use a multiple criteria support system to assist him/her to find those values on the efficient frontier. The underlying assumption is that the most preferred values maximize the decision-maker's implicitly known value function in a production possibility set or a subset. The purpose of value efficiency analysis is to estimate a need to increase outputs and/or decrease inputs for reaching the indifference contour of the value function at the optimum. In this paper, we briefly review the main ideas in value efficiency analysis and discuss practical aspects related to the use of value efficiency analysis. We also consider some extensions.     

Introducing Environmental Variables in Nonparametric Frontier Models: a Probabilistic Approach

This paper proposes a general formulation of a nonparametric frontier model introducing external environmental factors that might influence the production process but are neither inputs nor outputs under the control of the producer. A representation is proposed in terms of a probabilistic model which defines the data generating process. Our approach extends the basic ideas from Cazals et al. (2002) to the full multivariate case. We introduce the concepts of conditional efficiency measure and of conditional efficiency measure of order-m. Afterwards we suggest a practical way for computing the nonparametric estimators. Finally, a simple methodology to investigate the influence of these external factors on the production process is proposed. Numerical illustrations through some simulated examples and through a real data set on Mutual Funds show the usefulness of the approach.JEL Classification: C13, C14, D20     

A new bivariate distribution in natural exponential family

We propose a new bivariate distribution following a GLM form i.e., natural exponential family given the constantly correlated covariance matrix. The proposed distribution can represent an independent bivariate gamma distribution as a special case. In order to derive the distribution we utilize an integrating factor method to satisfy the integrability condition of the quasi-score function. The derived distribution becomes a mixture of discrete and absolute continuous distributions. The proposal of our new bivariate distribution will make it possible to develop some bivariate generalized linear models. Further the discrete correlated bivariate distribution will also arise from an independent bivariate Poisson mass function by compounding our proposed distribution (Iwasaki and Tsubaki, 2002).Received March 2003     

A multiproduct Symmetric Generalized McFadden cost function

This paper introduces a flexible multiproduct cost function that permits zero values of one or more of the outputs and can impose restrictions quite easily, if not automatically satisfied, to ensure global concavity property. It satisfies linear homogeneity (in prices) property and is flexible in the output space. Thus the function is ideal for estimating, for example, economies of scope, cost complementarity, product-specific returns to scale, etc., without worrying about zero values of output(s) and extrapolations to points far from the point of approximation. As an empirical application, we use panel data (1978–1985) on 12 Finnish foundry plants to estimate technical progress, overall returns to scale, product-specific returns to scale and economies of scope.     

农业价值负功能现象的探索

农业价值中普遍存在负功能的现象。其特征是:负功能与正功能互为依存、互为转化,依据不同时间、社会、自然、经济条件而变化,有的事物本身既有正功能,又不可避免地具有负功能,负功能成为事物固有功能的一部分,并对总功能产生影响。研究负功能,有利于防止、克服和转化负功能对事物价值的影响,保持农业可持续发展。     

江苏沿江八市物流联合配送初探

首先论述了沿江八市（南京、苏州、无锡、常州、镇江、南通、扬州、泰州），实行联合配送的必要性，其次分析了沿江八市实行联合配送的优势条件，探讨了沿江八市实行联合配送的难点之所在及解决办法，最后着重就沿江八市实行联合配送的神经中枢——联合配送信息平台的构建，提出了一些看法和建议。     

两级供应链中的利益分配

供应链中的利益分配问题是理论界和企业界都十分关注的问题,它关系到供应链联盟的稳定性,关系到企业之间利润分配的公平性。本文介绍了合作对策的一些基本概念;Shapley值求解合作对策的基本原理和公式,以及应用Shapley值方法求解两级供应链中的利益分配问题。     

考虑线路安排的物流配送方案模型及其算法研究

在分析车辆路径问题现有启发式算法的基础上，建立了考虑线路安排的物流配送方案模型，并提出了求解该问题的一种搜索算法，实验结果表明，该算法可有效求得问题的优化解或近似优化解，且具有运算速度快、算法简便的特点。     

基于供应链管理的物流信息平台设计研究

应用供应链管理的思想,结合我国物流信息平台建设的实际情况,从供应链管理的角度对现代物流信息平台的主要目标和功能进行研究,并设计平台的总体结构框架和详细功能,最后给出平台构建的策略和原则。     

运输管理信息系统的研究与设计

本文论述了运输管理信息系统的设计目标以及系统的功能结构，结合具体的应用背景。提出了运输管理信息系统的解决方案，并且以模块划分的方式对于系统功能的实现进行了探讨，介绍了系统的主要特点。