On the cost-benefit of the regionalisation of the National Health Service

In this paper we analyse in formal terms the desirability of the regionalisation of a National Health Service. The policy consists of a devolution process, i.e. the increase in the health services provision to be decided by a region and financed by an increase in its revenues. The change is a marginal one, as it regards the part of supply of the health services exceeding a minimum standard, which for purposes of equity is maintained uniform in the national territory. As the central government is responsible for this component of the provision of health care (a federal “mandate”), the level of the said component is chosen by this authority and financed by federal taxation. Moreover, the government also applies an equalisation scheme based on the difference between a standard level of tax revenues and the revenues which the region is deemed able to raise for this purpose. Within the theoretical context of welfare improving reforms with distortionary taxation, we derive two conditions which focus on the regional, as well as the social, convenience of regionalisation. Received: May 5, 1999 / Accepted: January 21, 2000     

The opportunity cost of duality

A dual representation of a technology, e.g., a cost function, may not contain all of the technological information, but it will contain all of the information about input vectors that would be chosen by a cost-minimizing firm. At least this much is clear for deterministic technologies. The main question addressed in this paper is whether the same can be said about stochastic technologies and their dual representations. Despite some pessimism expressed in the stochastic frontier literature on this question, we argue that there is no extra cost imposed in the stochastic case. Thus, the conclusion of this paper is: Just dual it!     

GAME THEORETIC MODELS OF MIXED OLIGOPOLY

Abstract. In this paper we review various models that have been proposed for the study of mixed oligopoly, that is markets in which private and public firm compete on equal basis using only market instruments.     

玻壳合格率及质量成本对策

本文从数理统计入手，给出了玻壳生产中更换产品前后合格率的关系公式，并和实际统计值进行了比较，有较好的符合，为科学量化分析提供了工具。并据此分析，不同尺寸的玻壳产品，当池炉系统的质量水平下降时，它们的合格率的差别也在扩大，并量可能会使得原先利润相对高的产品变得利润相对低。通过合理地计划产品品种的生产，可以获得更多的利润，降低单位成本。同时也阐明原有的新产品质量目标设定方法的不合理性，给出了质量目标设定的科学依据。     

基于交易成本经济学的企业业务外包分析

企业业务外包是近年来在国外兴起的一种经营行为,它的目的是降低成本,提高企业的竞争力。目前中国很多企业也纷纷在尝试这一做法。然而不是任何企业,任何业务都适合外包。本文将从交易成本经济学的角度来对企业业务外包这一行为进行分析,提出适宜进行业务外包的情况,并说明进行业务外包时应该注意的问题。     

资产专用性与交易成本节约——论企业是信用的载体

企业的功能不仅在于节约要素(中间品)交易成本,是要素的"间接定价装置",还在于节约最终产品交易成本.信息不对称的产品市场上,企业在交易中"制造"了一个重复博弈机制,这使其更关心长远利益.它用自身专用性资产--从价值和数量两个维度--来作为其产品是合格品的担保.专用性资产单位价值越大,数量越多,企业越有谋求长远利益、放弃短期机会主义行为的激励.市场上理性的买方考虑到这一点,总是认为效益越好、规模越大的企业越有可能提供合格品.企业是信用的载体,它一定程度上避免了产品市场由于信息不对称所引致的逆向选择,从而节约最终产品交易成本.我们的分析补充和完善了企业的交易成本理论.     

The damage costs of climate change toward more comprehensive calculations

It is argued that estimating the damage costs of a certain benchmark climate change is not sufficient. What is needed are cost functions and confidence intervals. Although these are contained in the integrated models and their technical manuals, this paper brings them into the open in order to stimulate discussion. After briefly reviewing the benchmark climate change damage costs, region-specific cost functions are presented which distinguish tangible from intangible losses and the losses due to a changing climate from those due to a changed climate. Furthermore, cost functions are assumed to be quadratic, as an approximation of the unknown but presumably convex functions. Results from the damage module of the integrated climate economy modelFUND are presented. Next, uncertainties are incorporated and expected damages are calculated. It is shown that because of convex loss functions and right-skewed uncertainties, the risk premium is substantial, calling for more action than analysis based on best-guess estimates. The final section explores some needs for further scientific research.     

Searching for the sunk cost fallacy

We seek to isolate in the laboratory factors that encourage and discourage the sunk cost fallacy. Subjects play a computer game in which they decide whether to keep digging for treasure on an island or to sink a cost (which will turn out to be either high or low) to move to another island. The research hypothesis is that subjects will stay longer on islands that were more costly to find. Eleven treatment variables are considered, e.g. alternative visual displays, whether the treasure value of an island is shown on arrival or discovered by trial and error, and alternative parameters for sunk costs. The data reveal a surprisingly small sunk cost effect that is generally insensitive to the proposed psychological drivers. Electronic Supplementary Material Supplementary material is available in the online version of this article at . Jel Classification C91, D11     

Green Marketing and Sustainable Development of Garment Industry —— A Game between Cost and Profit

This paper introduces how green marketing influences the sustainable development of garment industry. It analyzes the cost and profit to implement green marketing, both in a short term and in the long run. In a short term, the cost may increase. However, in the long run, the income will be higher than the cost. There＇re five reasons： reduced cost, expanding export by breaking down green barriers, establishing the enterprise＇s green image, being more competitive and avoiding green tax. Therefore, implementing green marketing is pivotal to the sustainable development of garment industry.     

公司治理的均衡分析

治理公司的目的在于实现治理收益的最大化。笔者结合对内、外治理机制的分析,提供一个关于公司治理收益最大化的均衡模型,并指出实现这一收益最大化的可能途径。通过对国际上有代表性的公司治理模式及其运营效率的比较,以及对日本和德国公司治理最新动向的考察,我们认为,公司外部治理及其机制非常重要。