Economies of scale in the Australian tourism industry

The measurement of economies of scale in the tourism industry has not been done to this point, as tourism is not a specific industry according to international statistical standards. Among many industries related to tourism, four sectors (accommodation, transport, retail trade and recreational services) across six states and two territories from 1997 to 2007 are studied as they contribute nearly 70% of tourism output in Australia. By comparing regression results from the Cobb–Douglas (C–D) production function and the translog production function, we find that there is evidence of increasing returns in transport, retail trade and recreational services at the industry level. However, accommodation is characterized by constant returns to scale at the industry level. As accommodation is responsible for the biggest share of tourism output, this suggests that overall the tourism sector is not characterized by increasing returns. We also find that the degrees of returns to scale from the C–D and translog production functions are different and that the imposition of input share also influences the empirical results. Both of these factors stress the importance of model specification to the measurement of economies of scale.     

Economies of scale in Norwegian electricity distribution: a quantile regression approach

In this article, we investigate scale economies in Norwegian electricity distribution companies using a quantile regression approach. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first attempt to apply this estimation technique when analysing scale economies. We estimate the cost elasticities of the two output components: network length and number of customers, to calculate returns to scale. Our results show large potential of scale economies, particularly for the smallest companies. We also find that returns to scale is increasing over time. These findings have important implications for policymakers when they are deciding the structure of the industry in the future.     

Economies of scale and gender discrimination in transition: the case of the Republic of Tajikistan

This article tests for economies of scale and for evidence of discrimination based on gender lines in intra-household consumption allocations using data from the Living Standards Survey in the Republic of Tajikistan (TLSS). Overall results support the existence of household economies of scale in Tajikistan; however, empirical evidence supporting boy–girl discrimination is limited despite anecdotal evidence otherwise.     

Economies of scale and scope in the European banking sector

In this article, using the data of 2008, we try to describe the impact of scale and product differentiation in 282 European banks. While evidence of the economies of scale is less clear, the results obtained using a translogarithmic function system show that significant economies of scope do exist even for new banking products like derivatives.

关于医院规模经济的实证分析

规模发展已经成为当今医院在市场竞争中的一种主要手段。运用超越对数成本函数,选取了某区域15家三级甲等医院2002—2006年的数据,估算出了医院的规模经济系数。计量结果显示,增加劳动力投入和资本投入均不能带来规模经济,该样本中的医院均处于规模不经济状态。此外还就医院的规模不经济问题进行原因分析和提出若干建议。     

Economies of density, scale and scope in the water supply and sewerage sector: a study of four developing and transition economies

Using panel data, we estimate measures of density, scale and scope economies in four countries that differ substantially in their levels of economic development and in their piped water and sewerage coverage: Brazil, Moldova, Romania and Vietnam. We find evidence of economies of scale in Moldova, Romania and Vietnam. In Brazil, we cannot reject the null hypothesis of constant returns to scale. The results of this study show that the cost structure of water and sewerage utilities varies significantly within and between countries and over time.      

高校规模经济下财务风险控制初探

随着高等教育由精英化到普及化,这种规模经济带来的扩张态势,使高校财务风险日益显现。怎样识别、规避、防范以至排除风险是高校财务工作的重心。文章结合高校工作的实际情况,在分析高校财务风险现实表现上,有针对性的提出控制措施,旨在通过这种控制措施来保障高校财务工作的顺利进行,以期达到良性循环的效果。     

International Economies of Scale and the Gains from Trade

In this paper, we present a two-country trade model with external economies of scale that emerge on an international level but are partially localized in each country. First, we show that the larger country exports the good produced in an industry with external economies of scale in the trading equilibrium. Second, we investigate the welfare effects of trade for the following two cases: (I) the case where external economies are completely localized in autarky; (II) the case where external economies are internationally effective in autarky. In case (II), it is shown that trade can be welfare-decreasing for both countries.     

Economies of scope and scale in the Norwegian electricity industry

An important issue for multi-product firms to consider is economies of scope, i.e., whether there is any benefit from producing two or more products, or whether specializing in producing only one product would be less costly. We examined the economies of scope for Norwegian electricity companies because policy makers have decided to force companies that both generates and distributes electricity to split their operations into two companies, one engaged in generation only and the other in distribution only. We set out to test the validity of the policy makers decision on unbundling generation and distribution. Using data from Norwegian electricity companies for the period 2004–2014, we found evidence of economies of scope, meaning that policy makers’ insistence on separating generation and distribution companies will have increased costs. We also found evidence of economies of scale, meaning that there are cost savings in expanding outputs. Our findings provide important information to consider in future policy decisions in the Norwegian electricity industry, probably with implications for other countries.     

近代中国传统农业转型问题的探索——基于农业机械化的视角

近代中国学术界从多方面探讨了中国传统农业的转型问题,其中农业机械化是一个重要的视角.文章运用发展经济学的相关理论,围绕实现农业机械化的重要性、农业机械化的约束条件、农业机械化的路径选择与实施步骤等问题,对当时有关农业机械化的思想进行了系统的阐述,并针对中国当前的农业机械化提出了政策建议.     

Economies of scale and the optimality of rotational dynamics in forestry

Forest harvesting is traditionally analyzed in terms of the Faustmann rotation model. This paper considers the identification of optimal forest harvest regimes using jump controls. This approach enables the structural assumptions of clear-cut technology and identical cycles in perpetuity which are imposed in a Faustmann model to be relaxed. Jump control models permit investigation of the biological and economic conditions which favour continuous growth management regimes as opposed to clear-cut harvest regimes. A numerical solution approach to the jump control model is presented. The link between the harvest cost function and the optimal biomass path is analyzed. Economies of scale are shown to generate rotational harvest as optimal policies.      

Micro-foundation for a constant elasticity of substitution production function through mechanization

We consider an increase in the range of capital use as a form of mechanization. A constant elasticity of substitution (CES) production function is dynamically derived from Leontief production functions through the endogenous complementary relationship between capital accumulation and mechanization. This implies that a CES production function can be resolved into technological change that does not involve changes in total factor productivity. Furthermore, using the normalizing procedure of the CES production function developed by de La Grandville [de La Grandville, O., 1989. In quest of the Slutsky diamond. American Economic Review 79, 468–481], we investigate how mechanization is related to the elasticity of substitution in our endogenous growth model.     

Economies of scale and trade policy: The median voter model revisited

Why do some political economy models perform so poorly in predicting actual trade policy? Do scale economies provide the missing puzzle to our understanding of the anti-trade bias? By integrating economies of scale in production, this paper theoretically reinstates the median voter model as in Mayer [Mayer, W. (1984). Endogenous tariff formation. The American Economic Review, 74, 970–985] as a suitable political economy model in predicting trade policy. The modified model generates the scope for the anti-trade bias and predicts that sometimes economic, rather than political, considerations may lead to restrictive trade.     

Property Regimes as Information Regimes: Efficiency and Economies of Joint Production

The paper argues that it is useful to view property regimes asinformation regimes. A conceptual model and numerical example are usedto show that, under some reasonable assumptions, a common propertyregime is preferable to a private property regime when property regimesare viewed as information regimes. The paper considers a case ofidiosyncratic risk in a dynamic grazing context where the marginality ofthe resource is such that insurance markets are thin or non-existent.Agents are thought to be risk averse and exogenous enforcement of a risksharing scheme is not feasible. The policy implication is that theestablishment and maintenance of a common property regime is shown to bea (possibly) reasonable institutional response in the face of difficultand particular circumstances when property regimes are viewed asinformation regimes.     

我国农业机械化若干问题分析与思考

我国农业生产作业目前虽已开始进入机械化为主的时代,但既有农业机械化水平依然较低。我国农业机械化的进一步发展,需要在确立农业机械化多重价值目标的基础上,优化发展方向,加大对农业机械化落后环节、领域、部门和地区的发展力度,建成农林牧渔业各部门、农业生产各重要环节机械化水平均衡推进的协同体系。通过多渠道资金供给、技术及装备的保障供应和农业机械化推广体系的建立等措施,实现农业机械化更好更快发展。     

我国广播影视业上市公司规模经济效应研究

广播影视企业是否存在规模经济效应直接反映了公司资源利用效率以及整体经营状况,基于16家广播影视业上市公司财务数据,建立超越对数生产函数模型,通过计算规模弹性系数判断广播影视企业是否存在规模经济效应。研究表明:现阶段我国广播影视业上市公司的经营均不存在规模经济效应,资产规模与规模收益弹性之间有极强的正相关性。     

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.     

区域性农业机械化与农牧民参与行为分析

农牧业的根本出路在于机械化。为了探讨我国农业机械化制度设计与农村具体实践之间的互动关系,用定性与定量相结合的方法,以内蒙古伊金霍洛旗农牧业机械化实践的演化为基本线索,研究了农业机械化实践演进的轨迹与农牧民参与行为。发现国家对社会控制的限度决定了农民能自行发展农业机械化的空间。在税费改革后国家的农机补贴在一定意义上构成国家重塑农民对国家农牧业机械化政策认同的工具,促进了农牧业生产力法人提高。今后要进一步加强国家的政策与法律动员,进一步推动农地的流转,促进土地的规模化经营,以实现大机械的使用。同时,要强化农业机械化的技术支持和保障系统,积极推进农机创新与推广体系的建设。     

我国商业银行规模经济评价方法研究

现有的关于银行规模经济评价的理论,要么基于参数法,要么专注于非参数法,很少有将二者兼顾考虑的评价方法.本文在充分考虑参数法和非参数法利弊的基础上,针对我国商业银行的特点提出了分类规模经济评价的思想.同时在利用DEA方法获得生产可能性集前沿面的基础上,建立了通过拟合生产函数获得各种规模经济评价指标的方法.