Efficiency in the factoring industry

The efficiency and productivity in the Italian factoring industry between 1993 and 1997 is investigated using DEA. The factoring industry is an important part of many financial systems and it has established itself as a major source of finance and credit management for a growing number of companies. However, as far as the authors are aware no studies have applied frontier methodologies to examine the efficiency and productivity of this industry. This paper focuses on the Italian market, the second largest in the world after the UK. The results suggest that there are substantial cost savings to be had in the Italian factoring industry: the mean cost inefficiency in the Italian factoring industry over the period 1993–1997 ranged between 14% and 22%. These inefficiencies are mainly generated by allocative rather than technical inefficiencies. Scale and technical inefficiencies seem to be similar in magnitude and the supposed importance of the latter typically found in the banking efficiency literature, are not observed in Italian factoring. Firm size does not appear to be related to technical, allocative and economic efficiency and the hypothesis that ownership structure influences factoring firm efficiency could not be rejected. In order to analyse efficiency change over time the Malmquist index is used. Total factor productivity was decomposed into technical change and efficiency change and the latter was further divided into pure efficiency and scale efficiency change. Productivity changes were slight over the period 1993–1996, while a substantial increase in productivity occurred between 1996 and 1997: the latter appears to be the result of a large improvement in the technology and a positive scale efficiency change, however, this was slowed down by a negative pure efficiency change.     

What determines the productivity growth? Evidence from Chinese renewable energy firms by using Bayesian stochastic frontier approach

This paper examines the determinants of the total factor productivity (TFP) growth of Chinese renewable energy firms from 2011 to 2016, using a Bayesian stochastic frontier approach. Employing the “Bauer–Kumbhakar” decomposition method, the TFP growth is decomposed into the technology part and the market part. The empirical results reveal that the TFP improvement of Chinese renewable energy firms is mainly due to technical progress, followed by technical efficiency change. With regard to the market part, the misallocation of production factors has hindered the TFP growth. Our findings also indicate that only for large firms, the TFP growth can benefit from the scale economy effect. Compared with non‐state‐owned firms, state‐owned firms suffer much lower allocative efficiency.     

测度政府技术效率的模型与方法比较研究

技术效率是在产出规模不变,市场价格不变的条件下,按照既定的要素投入比例所能达到的最小生产成本占实际生产成本的百分比。政府技术效率是广义的政府绩效或效率的一个部分,它是政府提供公共服务过程中能够测度的政府投入与政府产出之间的比例关系。测度政府技术效率主要的模型与方法有非参数前沿法和参数前沿法。非参数前沿法主要包括数据包络法分析（DEA）和自由处置包（FDH）,而参数前沿法主要包括随机前沿法（SFA）、模糊边界法（TFA）和确定性前沿法（DFA）。通过建立模型科学对政府技术效率进行评估与测度可提高政府各个方面的科学性和有效性,从而促进政府技术效率的提高。     

DYNAMIC ASSET ALLOCATION AND CONSUMPTION CHOICE IN INCOMPLETE MARKETS*

We study the optimal investment and consumption problem of a CRRA investor when the drift and volatility of the stock are driven by a correlated factor. The myopic and non‐myopic components of the optimal portfolio process are characterised in terms of the market price of traded and non‐traded risk of the minimax martingale measure. We find that the optimal policies depend crucially on the nature of the agent, aggressive versus conservative, and the market incompleteness, improving versus deteriorating investment opportunities. Furthermore, we show that the original problem cannot be decomposed into a pure consumption and a pure terminal wealth problem, unless the market is complete.     

Exports,technical progress and productivity growth in a transition economy: a non-parametric approach for China

Theories suggesting either static or dynamic productivity gains derived from exports often assume the prior existence of a competitive market. In the presence of market imperfection and distortion, however, the competition and resource reallocation effects of exports on productive efficiency may be greatly reduced; and there may actually be disincentives for innovation. This paper analyses the impact of exports on aggregate productivity growth in a transition economy using a panel of Chinese manufacturing industries over the period 1990–1997. TFP growth is estimated by employing a non-parametric approach and is decomposed into technical progress and efficiency change. No evidence has been found suggesting significant productivity gains at the industry level resulting from exports. Findings of the current study suggest that, for exports to generate significant positive effect on TFP growth, a well-developed domestic market and a neutral, outward-oriented policy are necessary.     

市场与政府相互替代的不同模式及其特点的比较分析

从资源配置效率的角度看,市场和政府都具有不完善性,即存在市场失灵和政府失灵.市场与政府相互补充和相互替代按其不同的时间顺序可分为顺向替代和逆向替代两种模式.对这两种模式及其特点进行比较分析,具有理论和现实两方面的意义.     

当前制度框架中地方政府的行为分析

已有改革进程和举措,使得地方政府不适当地扮演了市场主体的角色,并表现出一些不合理现象,诸如一味追求GDP,不惜成本追求亮点和辉煌,封闭和地方保护,短期行为和机会主义等.文章认为,在市场经济的体制框架中,地方政府不应当成为市场主体,应将地方政府的角色重新定位和进一步的改革.     

中国粮食生产资源配置效率及其区域差异——基于动态Malmquist指数的经验

提高生活水平是人类社会永恒的主题,而资源配置的有效性是保证这一主题实现的必要手段。文章基于非参数生产前沿面理论,将资源配置效率分解为规模效率、纯技术效率和要素可处置度,分析中国粮食流通体制市场化以来,粮食生产资源配置效率及其时空特征、变化态势以及主要制约因素。结果表明,全国及其三大流域粮食生产资源投入要素并没有得到充分利用;但中国粮食生产资源配置效率的平均水平是上升和改善的;中国及其三大流域制约粮食生产资源配置效率的因素是产出规模效率。因此,政府应该加大力度以提高粮食生产资源配置效率,加快农业剩余劳动力转移,有效消除制约中国粮食生产资源配置效率的因素,最大程度地发挥规模效益;同时还应根据市场化进程中我国粮食生产所表现出来的新特点,适时做出进一步激励粮食生产、最大程度提高资源配置效率的政策安排,同时这也是弥补市场失灵、稳定粮价、促进粮食高产稳产的有效手段。     

Negative international transmission of economic expansion

This paper uses a conventional two-sector real trade model and demonstrates how, within that framework, the relative price effect resulting from a demand expansion in one country may quite plausibly generate negative effects in overall activity abroad. It is shown how, under the chosen assumptions of wage rigidities, the transmission of an expansion which occurs through the relative price effect may be decomposed into (a) an employment effect and (b) a terms-of-trade effect, either of which may be positive or negative. Expansions resulting from (i) an increase in the money supply and (ii) increases in government expenditure on the importable and exportable commodity are discussed.     

征地议价:政府与市场的和谐构建

政府规制征地活动的合理性表现在它引致合理征地补偿价格的形成,而非取代参与征地活动的市场主体进行计划定价。与政府失灵相反,被征地村民集团与用地方集团直接进行征地议价可能导致市场失灵,其原因在于被征地村民集团的利益短视和用地方集团的用地成本最小化动机。在征地活动中,政府作用和市场作用都合理发挥出来才是增进社会福利的最优选择。征地议价机制为政府与市场的和谐构建提供了契机。     

中国钢铁行业全要素生产效率实证分析

基于动态DEA的非参数Malmquist指数法,分析了1992～2007年中国28个省市钢铁行业全要素生产率以及七大经济区钢铁行业全要素生产率变动情况,并将全要素生产率的变动分解为技术进步、纯技术效率、规模效率三个指标,分析了这三个指标对中国钢铁行业全要素生产率的影响。结果显示,中国钢铁行业TFP的增长主要是由技术进步推动的,当技术进步促进TFP提升时,总会受到技术效率相对下降对TFP增长的抑制;七大经济区钢铁行业全要素生产率存在明显级差,低效经济区学习和追赶高效经济区的效应也应该发挥更大作用;钢铁产业各经济区产能应实现在高效率地区的相对集中,获取行业的规模经济;各经济区都应该注重钢铁行业管理水平的提高,突破钢铁行业能效提高的技术效率瓶颈。     

住房供求、地方政府行为与 房地产市场调控有效性研究

近年来有关房地产市场调控的政策措施不断出台,然而其调控效果却不尽如人意。本文选用全国40个大中城市的相关数据,通过建立市级面板数据模型对住房供求、地方政府行为以及房地产市场调控有效性之间的关系进行了实证研究。结果表明,政府对房地产市场调控的效果差强人意,除了住房市场供求状况影响房价变化外,地方政府行为对房地产市场价格的波动也有很大的影响。此外,研究显示推进新型城镇化不会造成房价的显著波动。基于实证结果,笔者从继续推进新型城镇化建设和增强地方政府财力等两个方面给出了政策建议。     

Exchange Agreements Facilitate Collusion

A duopoly model with quantity competition is analyzed in which firms collude in two markets. There is specialization in production in order to promote efficiency. Firms may then either exclusively market one good each, or they may agree to exchange goods and cross-supply a part of the production to the other firm. It is shown that, compared to specialization in marketing, positive exchanges of goods relax the incentive constraints that limit the extent of collusion.     

集体行动的逻辑与可持续发展的困境

个体理性的效率追求是经济活动的动力,但个体理性往往导致集体非理性。本文从个体理性与集体理性概念的相对性出发,探讨个体、地方政府、国家在经济活动中本位利益的追求与可持续发展目标的背离。纯粹的市场效率追求会导致“市场失灵,”政府在解决“市场失灵”时如果无法有效约束个体理性的本位利益追求与政绩偏好,在可持续发展问题上就会出现一定程度的“政府失灵”。在“双重失灵”的情况下,集体行动的逻辑必然导致可持续发展陷入困境。要在个体理性的效率追求与集体理性的“共同信念”中实现可持续发展战略,必须明确政府责任并进行追加性制度投资。     

区域创新环境是否提高了中国信息技术产业创新效率——基于两阶段创新过程的实证研究

信息技术产业创新过程与一般高新技术产业相比有其特殊之处,且创新环境在不同创新阶段影响不同,然而既有文献对此关注较少。将创新过程分解为技术研发和市场转化两个阶段,运用面板随机前沿模型测度了2011—2016年中国各省份及经济区域信息技术产业创新效率,并实证检验了创新环境对创新效率的影响。研究发现：中国信息技术产业创新效率在两阶段均处于较低水平,且都具有明显的时间趋势,技术研发阶段效率逐年递减,市场转化阶段效率逐年递增;区域产业规模对技术研发阶段效率影响不显著,但对市场转化阶段效率影响非常显著,呈倒U型关系;区域研发资源和区域研发环境正向影响技术研发阶段效率;区域经济资源对市场转化阶段效率有显著正向影响;区域市场环境对市场转化阶段效率影响不显著;创新环境整体上促进了大部分经济区域技术研发阶段创新效率,但没有促进东部沿海和黄河中游地区创新效率;创新环境整体上促进了中国各经济区域的市场转化效率。     

Permit markets, market power, and the trade-off between efficiency and revenue raising

This paper focuses on an emissions permit market dominated by one firm and with a government concerned about social efficiency and permits revenue. In this setting, it is shown that the dominant firm's market power reduces the opportunities for the government to raise non-distortionary revenue from permits without loss of consumer surplus. Since the government's objectives are thus hampered in auctioning permits, the dominant firm should be excluded from the auction. Specifically, the regulator should sell permits directly, through bilateral negotiation, to the dominant firm, and auction off the remaining permits to the fringe firms.     

产业政策、信贷配置与创新效率

近年来,国家产业政策对微观企业创新活动的影响正日益成为学界的关注热点,但是关于产业政策与市场力量协调性的研究却并不多见.文章以"十二五"期间(2011?2015年)沪深A股上市公司样本为考察对象,研究了产业政策和信贷配置分别作为一种外部因素而对企业创新产出效率所产生的影响,以检验政府政策、信贷配置和创新产出三者之间的关联性,对深度理解产业政策效应具有重要参考价值.实证结果表明:产业政策借助于政策引导和财政手段刺激了受产业政策支持企业专利产出的增加;外部信贷融资获得性低时,产业政策诱导有利于促进专利产出增加;而外部信贷融资获得性高时,则会削弱产业政策的诱导刺激效应(或呈倒"U"形关系).进一步研究表明,信贷配置在产业政策与专利产出关系中的调节效应是由财政扶助与信贷配置之间的替代效应所导致,这一结论为协调政府及市场力量的作用提供了经验证据.     

Optimal taxation and public production in an open dual economy

This paper analyses the determinants of optimal tax policy, trade policy and shadow prices for cost-benefit analysis in a dual economy. It breaks new ground by combining in one model the tax and public investment policies considered in the public economics literature with the notion of labor market imperfection central to contributions on the dual economy.Optimal policies are first derived analytically, providing rules for organizing production, setting taxes and off-setting labor market distortions. Production efficiency is shown to obtain for the taxable part of the economy, a generalized Ramsey rule derived for producing-cumconsuming households in the directly non-taxable sector of the economy and new characterizations of optimal rural-urban migration established in the presence of distortionary taxation. A simple general equilibrium model is then numerically implemented on data for a particular developing country. The optimal policies analytically derived before are computed in the model under alternative assumptions about government revenue requirements, the degree to which different sectors of the economy are directly taxable, the nature of property rights and technological substitution possibilities. The results of these computations provide further insight into the theoretical results as well as clarifying their quantitative significance.     

市场失灵、政府失灵与住房保障

住房市场作为一种特殊的市场,存在着三种不同形式的市场失灵,需要政府干预加以弥补。但同时出现的政府失灵则要求我们不能完全依靠政府去矫正所有的市场缺陷。因此,政府应该从促进市场效率和增进社会公平的角度来介入住房市场,以提供住房保障为核心来定位政府在住房市场中的职能,以市场失灵为起点,以政府失灵为警戒线来确定住房保障的边界。     

中国电信服务市场准入管制的随机试验模型分析

文章针对我国电信市场的行业特征,在充分讨论消费者选择和企业决策的基础上构建了一个N次多期迭代的基于随机试验的模型,模拟政府管制政策影响下的市场演化,以判断当前的市场准入管制是否有效率。研究结论认为:在技术存量不足和创新效率不高的条件下,依靠外国资本无法提高本国的消费者利益和最优技术存量。不仅如此,中国电信企业将因此而失去对本国市场的主导地位和控制力,所以我国暂不具备允许外资设立独资电信企业的条件。