Allocative and scale efficiency among maize farmers in Zambia: a zero efficiency stochastic frontier approach

The commonly used stochastic frontier model assumes that all firms are inefficient. In this specification, inefficiency is non-negative, and the probability of inefficiency being exactly zero is also zero. To the extent that efficiency varies widely across farms in under-developed economies, it is important to employ techniques that account for both inefficiency and full efficiency to ensure unbiased efficiency estimates. In this study, we employ a zero-inefficiency stochastic frontier model to examine allocative efficiency and scale economies, as well as key determinants of efficiency among Zambian maize farmers. The results show that, unlike the stochastic frontier model, the zero-inefficiency stochastic frontier model successfully allows for both fully efficient and inefficient firms to be accounted for in the estimation procedure. The estimates also reveal the presence of scale economies, with the zero-inefficiency stochastic frontier model better predicting scale efficiency compared to the stochastic frontier model. The findings also show that inefficiency is explained by the level of education, access to extension services, distance to markets and access to credit.     

统筹城乡基本医疗保险制度的路径研究

我国虽然已经建立起覆盖全民的基本医疗保险制度,但同时我们也该看到,由于制度的历史性问题,该保障制度存在非常明显的碎片化特征。具体说,就是我国基本医疗保险制度参保人群的区分是以是否就业、不同行政区以及城市与农村的差别为参照的,其能获得的保险待遇、基金管理都存在巨大差异,造成了城乡医疗保障之间的不公平现象,缺乏可持续性。为解决基本医疗保险制度的“二元”性,我国应当尽快推进统筹城乡医疗保险制度,因此,将主要探讨城乡基本医疗保障制度现状,以及统筹城乡基本医疗保障制度实施路径,并提出具体的整合框架与建议。     

河南省城乡居民财产性收入实证分析

从党的十七大到十八大,中央政策对居民财产性收入的关注愈加强烈。数据显示,近十年,河南省城乡居民财产性收入增长迅速,但在总收入中的比重仍然偏低,且收入渠道较为集中,城乡二元特征显著,不同收入群体、不同区域之间的财产性收入差距也长期存在。为进一步增加居民财产性收入,既要努力扩大居民财产规模,又要优化投资理财环境,还要提升居民理财水平,同时努力缩小居民财产性收入差距。     

安徽省推进城乡一体化发展的战略思考

近年来,安徽省高度重视统筹城乡经济社会发展,积极探索城乡一体化发展的有效途径,取得了阶段性成效,但城乡收入、城乡消费和生活水平、城乡基础设施、城乡社会事业差距依然较大。影响安徽省城乡一体化发展的制约因素主要体现在体制、观念、经济、人口诸多方面,为此,结合安徽省的实际,提出了安徽城乡一体化发展的总体思路、三阶段发展目标和具体举措。     

借鉴法国农村城市化进程经验推动中国城乡一体化

法国的城市化起步早,发展速度比较平缓;中国的城镇化起步晚,但是发展速度非常快.法国城市化自1830年起,从10%提升到50%,用了101年;中国城镇化自1949年开始,从11%提升到50%,只用了60年.未来5~10年将是中国城乡一体化发展实现跨越的“大突破”时期.法国一直是市场主导下的政府辅助型城市化;而中国城镇化在1979年之前是行政主导型,1979年之后,行政和市场两方面共同推动城镇化发展,市场成为主力.中国应放开中小城市户籍,破除城乡二元结构,以城带乡,城乡互动,使农民由农村向城市集中,推动城乡一体化.     

从重庆城乡居民收支差异看城乡统筹发展问题

经济增长,居民收入增加,消费水平、消费结构也发生改变。为研究这些变化与城乡统筹发展的关系,采用重庆市1995—2011年重庆居民收入、消费与经济增长的相关数据进行回归分析,从城乡居民收入差异,看促进城乡统筹发展还需解决的问题。     

普通院校城乡规划专业发展探究

分析普通院校城乡规划专业的学生实际及课程教学,提出应适应科学发展观,重视社会需要和实践教学,在教学组织、课程纵向安排等方面优化配置,强化已有优势。     

Technical efficiency, market share and profitability of manufacturing firms in Cote d'Ivoire: the technology trap

This paper investigates the sources of inefficiency of firmsin Côte d'Ivoire and examines to what extent these effectstranslate into poor performance. A large majority of firms istechnically inefficient, producing far below the maximum attainableoutput level. Major cost savings can also be realised throughenlarging the scale of activities of firms. Efficiency gainsand scale advantages translate into a better competitive positionand via their impact on market share into higher profitability.However, severe growth barriers and imperfect markets keep firmsfrom realising these gains and prevent firms from catching upin technology with respect to their larger, older and oftenforeign-owned competitors.     

Alternative stochastic specifications of the frontier production function in the analysis of agricultural credit programs and technical efficiency

The effect of subsidized credit on the technical efficiency of traditional farmers in Southeastern Brazil is analyzed under two alternative stochastic specifications for the production frontier. It is found that the choice of stochastic specification significantly influences inferences regarding the effect of subsidized credit on measured technical efficiency.     

Estimating a mixture of stochastic frontier regression models via the em algorithm: A multiproduct cost function application

Researchers have become increasingly interested in estimating mixtures of stochastic frontiers. Mester (1993), Caudill (1993), and Polachek and Yoon (1987), for example, estimate stochastic frontier models for different regimes, assuming sample separation information is given. Building on earlier work by Lee and Porter (1984), Douglas, Conway, and Ferrier (1995) estimate a stochastic frontier switching regression model in the presence of noisy sample separation information. The purpose of this paper is to extend earlier work by estimating a mixture of stochastic frontiers assuming no sample separation information. This case is more likely to occur in practice than even noisy sample separation information. In order to estimate a mixture of stochastic frontiers with no sample separation information, an EM algorithm to obtain maximum likelihood estimates is developed. The algorithm is used to estimate a mixture of stochastic (cost) frontiers using data on U.S. savings and loans for the years 1986, 1987, and 1988. Statistical evidence is found supporting the existence of a mixture of stochastic frontiers. First version received: 3/13/01/Final version received: 6/17/02 RID="*" ID="*"  I am grateful to Ram Acharya, Janice Caudill, and especially James R. Barth for several helpful comments on an earlier version of the paper. During the revision process I benefitted greatly from the suggestions of the Associate Editor and three anonymous referees.     

Endogeneity in panel stochastic frontier models: an application to the Japanese cotton spinning industry

We present a panel stochastic frontier model that handles the endogeneity problem. This model can treat the endogeneity of both frontier and inefficiency variables. We apply our method to examine the technical efficiency of Japanese cotton spinning industry. Our results indicate that market concentration is endogenous, and when its endogeneity is properly handled, it has a larger negative impact on the technical efficiency of cotton spinning plants. We find that the exogenous model substantially overestimates efficiency in concentrated markets.     

江苏城乡居民消费变化特征分析

改革开放以来,江苏省城乡居民收入水平稳步上升,消费水平不断提高。2000—2010年的十多年间,城乡居民消费发生了重要变化,基本生活保障的消费比重逐年下降,现代生活消费比重逐年上升。为此,提升江苏城乡居民消费水平应切实提高城乡居民收入水平;增加城乡居民消费多样性;调整产业结构,拓展消费新领域;改善城乡消费环境。     

Technical efficiency and returns to scale in Austrian commercial banking: 1987–1991

In a pooled time-series cross-section study covering the period 1987–1991, the technical efficiency of Austrian all-purpose banks is analysed. The sample covers banks of all size classes, among them the largest 18 banks as well as some of the very small banks. The empirical results show that local banks and nationwide operating banks are technically most efficient while regional banks are least efficient. Moreover, it can be shown that the technical efficiency of nationwide operating banks improved substantially in the period analysed relative to that of local and regional banks.I wish to thank an anonymous referee for his helpful comments. Financial support from the Vienna Chamber of Commerce is gratefully acknowledged.     

统筹城乡发展,农村要进行第二次改革

我国农村已经进入建国以来第三个黄金发展期,农村农业形势很好,但是从社会主义现代化建设的全局来看,三农问题的深层次问题并没有得到解决,仍然是建设中国特色社会主义现代化事业的头号问题。从经济社会结构层面来认识,三农问题说到底是结构问题、体制问题,必须从改革“城乡分治、一国两策”的城乡体制层面才能得到解决。城乡体制的差距是根本的,是目前最大的差距,许多城乡差距之间的问题也由此产生。要解决三农问题,统筹城乡经济社会发展,必须进行农村第二次改革,把农民从计划经济体制的桎梏中进一步解放出来。     

云南城乡收入差距及制度原因分析

云南省社会经济发展自改革开放后非常迅速,但是由于云南边疆多民族地区的现实情况,两级发展矛盾突出,城市和农村之间的差距也在日益拉大。城乡二元结构十分突出,城乡之间二元分割严重,城乡差别持续扩大,已经造成云南城乡关系的紧张和失衡。就此,通过对云南城乡收入差距的分析,从制度层面剖析云南城乡收入失衡的原因。     

探析我国城乡居民收入差距现状、成因及解决路径

随着改革开放的不断推进,我国的城乡收入差距问题已经成为一个不可忽视的问题。探析城乡之间收入差距现状及成因,以及解决城乡居民差距的途径,旨在确保社会经济健康发展,从而实现全面建设小康社会的奋斗目标。     

基于再分配改革与政府转型的城乡统筹发展思考

城乡社会再分配制度是当前亟须解决的重大现实问题。由于政府是城乡关系的缔造者和新制度安排的供给者,因此它在职能界定、行为规范、约束机制等方面的全面转型是保障社会再分配制度改革顺利进行的必不可少的变迁要素。在所有涉及我国城乡统筹发展的制度中,社会再分配制度改革与政府职能转型的关联度最大。无论是处在制度僵滞状态还是开始制度创新直至最终走向制度均衡,背后始终隐含着政府职能如何转型的问题,而将它视作同一性质的问题抑或一个问题的两个方面,既是深入研究统筹战略的重要方法,也是统筹战略付诸实施的路径依赖。     

Labor scarcity and the turning point in the Chinese rural sectors: empirical evidences from a frontier production function study

The purpose of this study is to examine whether overemployment has existed in the Chinese agricultural sector since 2000. The moment when overemployment ceases to exist is called the ‘turning point.’ After the turning point, an economy would be classified as entering the developed stage. Since the later half of the 2000s, many studies have analyzed the turning point of the Chinese economy. However, these studies have not reached a consensus as to the existence of overemployment. Varieties of data sources for the empirical studies have affected the discrepancies of these results. This study uses the flow data (e.g., the days of work and the daily wage) rather than stock. From our estimation results, we confirm that the Chinese agricultural sector has been increasing its production efficiency. In addition, our study indicates that overemployment is decreasing in almost all provinces and some regions have achieved a turning point.     

Technical and scale efficiencies of meat goat farms in the USA

This study determines i) scale and technical efficiencies, ii) marginal productive contributions for inputs and outputs and iii) efficiency drivers of meat goat farms in the USA. We estimate an input distance function (IDF) using a stochastic production frontier (SPF) technique. The average technical efficiency (TE) for the USA meat goat whole farm was 0.74. The operator education level, percentage of annual net farm income from the goat operation, regional differences and holding of an off farm job are the efficiency drivers of USA meat goat farms. We find increasing returns to scale (RTS) for USA meat goat farms. Our results suggest that USA meat goat farms can be scale efficient if their optimal size of operation is greater than approximately 64 goats or greater than 40 breeding does. Empirical Monte Carlo (MC) simulation techniques show the consistency of finite-sample properties for the input distance function.     

Regulation and efficiency in transition: the case of Romanian banks

Using disaggregated panel data for the period 1996–2002, this paper estimates the cost efficiency of Romanian banks and relates it to regulation implemented by the National Bank of Romania. We estimate efficiency using a model that combines the frameworks of both stochastic frontier analysis and shadow cost functions. Our results indicate that, for all types of banks, the cost of technical inefficiency decreases in the years following tightening of regulation. A significant part of this decrease can be attributed to the policy change. Overall, the short-run increase in cost due to additional regulation exceeds the benefits from reduced technical inefficiency. However, our model does not account for other benefits, besides changes in X-inefficiency, such as stability of the banking system, which may be significant.