Local municipality productive efficiency and its determinants in South Africa

This paper assesses the technical efficiency of 231 local municipalities in South Africa for 2007 and investigates the potential determinants of efficiency gaps using the non-parametric data envelopment analysis technique. Efficiency scores are explained in a second-stage regression model using a Tobit regression model. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first attempt, using such a technique, to assess technical efficiency at the local government level in the African context. The results show that, on average, B1 and B3 municipalities could have theoretically achieved the same level of basic services with about 16% and 80% fewer resources respectively. Furthermore, fiscal autonomy and the number and skill levels of the top management of a municipality's administration were found to influence the productive efficiency of municipalities in South Africa. Perhaps most importantly, the results depict a bleak picture of the democratic behaviour at the local level in South Africa. It appears that higher income and highly educated households do not feel the incentive to be active participants in public decision-making processes. The paper findings raise concerns over the future of local municipalities in the country, especially about their capability to efficiently deliver expected outcomes on a sustainable basis.     

HRM implementation by line managers: explaining the discrepancy in HR-line perceptions of HR devolution

Previous studies already established the idea of a partnership in which HR professionals and line managers share an organisation’s HRM responsibility. Yet, this relationship is often plagued by conflicts and other obstacles. As such, a perceptual discrepancy is likely to exist between both parties on the degree of HR devolution, which may eventually lead to bad performance. Using survey data, we empirically analyse which factors may explain a perceptual discrepancy between HR professionals and line managers on the latter group’s role in HRM. Results show that the HR-line discrepancy on the degree of HR devolution is rooted in differences in perception on several other factors, including organisational support, (personnel) red tape, the line’s individual capacity and age. Overall, though, it is a matter of understanding both HR’s expectations and the line’s experiences in all aspects of their partnership.     

Exploring cruise ship passenger spending patterns in two Uruguayan ports of call

The cruise industry has become a significant component of the Uruguayan tourism economy in the last few years. The present study aims to provide a better understanding of the cruise industry by considering the expenditure of cruise ship passengers disembarking at the ports of call of Montevideo and Punta del Este as a key variable in the economic analysis of the costs and benefits. We estimate two cross-sectional regression models for cruise passenger expenditures, and show that the size of the group the visitors travel with and visitor mobility within the country are the most important variables to explain individual expenditure behaviour. We also include some management recommendations that policy-makers could implement in order to improve the economic profits from cruise ship tourism.     

Estimation of willingness-to-pay for premium economy class by type of service

This study aims to estimate the willingness-to-pay (WTP) to upgrade from economy to premium economy class by six types of services and to identify the socioeconomic and travel characteristics of international travelers affecting the WTP using the Tobit model assumed to be censored at zero. The results confirm that the travelers' WTP for the premium economy class in the long-haul travel is higher than those in the medium and the short-haul travels. However, the ratio of additional WTP to the economy class fare in the long-haul route is slightly lower than that in the medium-haul route. The results also present that international travelers have the highest WTP for increased seat width in the premium economy class service attribute, followed by increased seat pitch and upgraded in-flight meal service. Finally, the results indicate that the WTP to upgrade to premium economy class are proportional to the age or the income level of travelers. Furthermore, international travel frequency and the experience of premium economy class have a positive impact as well. This research can be a useful resource for analyzing international travelers’ WTP concerning the type of service and this information will be useful to policy makers in their efforts to determine their fare policies and the target audience for marketing premium economy class.     

中国上市银行经营效率的影响因素——基于Tobit回归模型的二阶段分析

本文利用数据包络分析(DEA)模型对截至2007年4月底上市的11家全国性商业银行2004～2006年的效率水平进行总体分析与评价,在此基础上对银行经营效率的可能影响因素进行理论假设,并利用二阶段Tobit回归模型对理论假设进行检验.研究结果显示,样本期间内我国上市银行经营效率普遍呈上升趋势,在影响银行经营效率的四个主要因素中,银行资产质量越高,即银行不良贷款比率越低,银行经营效率就越高;银行人均营业费用越高,即银行投入"拥挤程度"越低,银行经营效率就越高;此外,银行清偿能力和"上市"都对银行效率产生显著影响.     

我国营业税征管效率测度分析

高效的税收征管是良好税制的重要方面,测度分析税收征管效率是税制优化设计的基础性工作。基于非参数和参数方法,对近年我国营业税征管效率进行测算,发现虽然不同方法测算结果不同,但其整体趋势是一致的,营业税平均征管效率呈逐步上升态势,且当前营业税征管效率整体仍较低,有很大的提升空间。进一步的实证分析表明,营业税占地税机关征税总收入比重的提高、税收分权度的提升、就业率的增长等有助于营业税征管效率的改善,转移支付比重的提高无益于营业税征管效率的改善,营业税征管存在"粘蝇纸"效应现象。     

Rise and fall of stars: Investigating the evolution of star status in professional team sports

This article describes an empirical study of the rise and fall of star athletes, using data from the National Basketball Association (NBA) from 1987 to 2008. We measure star status by the number and share of all-star votes, and we apply both Tobit regression and hazard models to investigate the determining factors for star status. We find that the attainment of star status begins with the athlete's exceptional individual performance. We also find that having won a championship in the past can have a long-lasting effect on a player's popularity. The popularity of an athlete depends on his team in two ways: the attainment of star status is associated with strong team performance, and star teammates can reinforce each other's popularity. Interestingly, whereas stars can move from a losing team to a winning team to extend their star life, a team change can be very risky for new stars. Our results also suggest that teams with a large fan base, winning records, and star players should leverage these assets in attracting and retaining star players.     

Determinants of public reactions to Concorde test flights at the John F. Kennedy International Airport

Detailed noise measurements from early Concorde test flights together with community characteristics data from the US Census Bureau were used to explain monthly complaint patterns arising from neighborhoods surrounding the John F. Kennedy International Airport. Consistent with an earlier study, the number of complaints per aircraft movement positively varied with average loudness of the flights. Complaints were more common during the summer months. Additional neighborhood characteristics also determined the frequency of Concorde-specific complaints; e.g. communities with longer median homeowner tenure were more likely to be prolific complainers, all else being equal.     

The Market Structure and Price Competition in China's Wheat Import Market:

This paper reveals that wheat exporters to China compete in an imperfectly competitive market. U.S. wheat exports face strong price competition from Argentina, Australia, Canada, and the European Community, but has a highly elastic demand in China. By adopting an aggressive promotion policy, the U.S. could reduce the market shares of Argentina and Canada. China would shift to wheat from Argentina, Australia, and Canada if U.S. wheat exports were interrupted because of high prices or non-price trade frictions. An expansion in China's wheat imports would accrue to wheat from Argentina and the U.S.