Methodological Advances in DEA: A survey and an application for the Dutch electricity sector

We survey the methodological advances in DEA over the last 25 years and discuss the necessary conditions for a sound empirical application. We hope this survey will contribute to the further dissemination of DEA, the knowledge of its relative strengths and weaknesses, and the tools currently available for exploiting its full potential. Our main points are illustrated by the case of the DEA study used by the regulatory office of the Dutch electricity sector (Dienst Toezicht Elektriciteitswet; Dte) for setting price caps.     

Market Failures in Real-Time Metering

Policies to promote real-time metering (RTM) require more than showing benefits from more timely responses to variations in cost. They require positive externalities to imply that too few meters would be installed through private transactions. RTM presents no systematic externalities when utilities must serve peak period users, and may present negative externalities under some conditions. Positive externalities are likely when electricity is rationed through blackouts. RTM may or may not increase welfare when peak period wholesale markets are not competitive; a prohibition on RTM might be appropriate in such situations even if metering itself were costless.     

In at the deep end: Conducting processual research on organisational change

This article provides a series of reflections on the practice of carrying out processual research on organisational change. At a broad level, some of the main tasks associated with conducting company case studies are described and the benefits of this approach for dealing with complex change data are outlined. At a more specific level, the article addresses three main areas tied to the actual “doing” of processual research. First, the notion of tacit knowledge and “getting your hands dirty” by engaging in ongoing in-depth fieldwork. Second, the design and implementation of a longitudinal case study research programme. Third, the advantages and concerns of combining a range of different data collecting techniques in carrying out processual studies. Overall, the main intention is to provide some useful reflections and practical insights, as well as providing something of the flavour of carrying out this type of research.     

建立和完善国库集中收付制度的构想

建立和完善国库集中收付制度,是社会主义市场经济体制下公共财政的发展要求。借鉴国际通行做法和成功经验,结合我国具体国情,建立和完善以国库单一账户体系为基础、资金缴拨以国库集中收付为主要形式的财政国库管理制度。有利于进一步加强财政监督,提高资金使用效益,更好地发挥财政在宏观调控中的作用。本文首先分析了建立国库集中收付制度面临的新问题,在充分调查研究基础上,提出了建立和完善国库集中收付制度构想。     

会计准则实施后税收征管应注意的若干问题

近年一系列会计准则的实施进一步规范了会计工作，但财务会计与税务会计之间出现了新的差异，而且两者间的差异呈现日益扩大的趋势。本文结合近年实施的会计准则和有关税收法规，从各项准备金计提、或有负债确认、权益法与成本法核算长期股权投资三方面分析会计利润与应税所得的差异，并分析非货币性交易的潜在税收问题，以及接受非现金资产捐赠交易事项中纳税义务发生时间的变化。     

北京市基本养老保险基金现状与对策研究

基本养老保险基金是国家为保障法定范围内的退休人员的基本生活所筹集的资金，充足的基本养老保险基金是确保基本养老保险制度顺利运行的物质基础，加强基本养老保险基金在征缴、营运和给付方面的管理具有重要意义。由于北京市基本养老基金不够充足，使基本养老保险制度存在一定风险，亟待采取措施加以解决。     

消费税制的国际比较及其对我国的启示

消费税制改革是我国新一轮税制改革的任务之一。改革和完善我国消费税制，应借鉴国外一些成功经验，丰富和完善我国消费税的立法原则，适当扩大征税范围，调整税收负担，改革计税依据和征税方法。     

Forecasting recovery rates on non-performing loans with machine learning

We compare the performance of a wide set of regression techniques and machine-learning algorithms for predicting recovery rates on non-performing loans, using a private database from a European debt collection agency. We find that rule-based algorithms such as Cubist, boosted trees, and random forests perform significantly better than other approaches. In addition to loan contract specificities, predictors that refer to the bank recovery process — prior to the portfolio’s sale to a debt collector — are also shown to enhance forecasting performance. These variables, derived from the time series of contacts to defaulted clients and client reimbursements to the bank, help all algorithms better identify debtors with different repayment ability and/or commitment, and in general those with different recovery potential.     

征税成本领先性假设与中国税务组织结构优化——兼析中国国税、地税机构是否存在合并趋势

本文从征税成本领先性假设出发探讨了中国税务组织结构的优化问题 ,并分析了社会各界广泛关注的中国国税、地税机构是否存在合并趋势的问题。本文在对中国现行税务组织机构运行绩效考察的基础上 ,发现中国征税成本曲线呈抛物线状 ,表明中国征税成本正呈递减趋势。以此为出发点 ,本文详细论证了中国国税、地税机构不存在合并的趋势 ,相反 ,分设更为彻底却是今后的发展趋势 ,得出了与一般看法不同的结论 ,并对优化中国税务组织结构提出了政策建议     

Regulating an Externality-Generating Utility Environmental Taxes Under Limited Information

Global warming is currently an important item on most nationalenvironmental agendas. In many countries, coal-fired electricity generatingstations represent an important source of greenhouse gases. We examinehow regulations to curb emissions affect public utility pricing regulationwhen regulators act non-cooperatively. We show that, when there is limitedinformation on fixed abatement costs, an environmental regulator prefersan emission tax over an output tax or a lump sum environmental tax. Thepublic utility regulator prefers the lump sum tax regime.