Experience with a simulator for training ammonia plant operators

A computer-based simulator was used for training operators prior to the start-up of a new fertilizer complex which includes a 1,350-MTPD ammonia plant, two 1,100-MTPD urea plants, and a steam and power generation plant with two 18-MW gas turbines. The simulator offered many benefits, which can be used for continued education of operators and engineering studies.     

What determines international tourist arrivals in India?

Using data for 18 major tourist originating countries to India from 2001 to 2015, this study examines the major determinants of international tourist arrivals in India. The results indicate that past experiences of the tourists, per capita income in the tourist originating country, relative costs of living between India and the country of origin, and the level of infrastructure development in India are key determinants of international tourist arrivals in India. Furthermore, both transportation and communication infrastructure are important in attracting tourists to India. In particular, evidence suggests that availability of road and air network and telephone connections has favourable impacts on international tourist arrivals in India. These results are robust to the inclusion of additional variables. These results have important policy implications.     

中国证券业效率的动态分析

本文利用DEA和基于DEA的Malmquist生产率指数,运用32家主要证券公司的相关数据,对中国证券业2004至2006年间的技术效率进行了分析和评价。结果显示,中国证券业的整体效率水平尽管还比较低,但已经显示出了不断提高的趋势;证券公司效率的两极分化趋势已初露端倪;越来越多的证券公司开始出现规模报酬递减;技术变化对生产率变化的影响超过了效率变化,成为生产率变化的主要原因。     

兵团农户借贷行为特征与制约因素研究

随着中国农村金融体制改革的进一步推进和深化,农村金融供给制度越来越倾向于农户这一微观需求主体福利水平的提高,不同的金融供给制度安排必然会产生不同的借贷行为。本文以新疆生产建设兵团农户借贷状况调查为基础,分析兵团特殊金融供给制度下农户借贷行为特征,剖析农户借贷行为的制约因素,揭示兵团农业经济发展与农村金融体制之间矛盾,并提出相应的政策建议。     

The Benefit Function Approach to Modeling Price-Dependent Demand Systems: An Application of Duality Theory

In this article, we advocate more extensive use of the benefit function in specifying price-dependent or inverse demand models. We demonstrate how duality theory may be used to establish the interrelationships between the Marshallian (or Hicksian) inverse demands and Luenberger's adjusted price functions, allowing estimable inverse demands to be derived directly from a benefit function. We estimate two systems of inverse demands for Japanese quarterly fish consumption. Results indicate that the procedures and methods employed here appear promising, and may prove beneficial for quantity and welfare analysis when modeling systems of inverse demand functions.