Productive Efficiency of the Swine Industry in Hawaii: Stochastic Frontier vs. Data Envelopment Analysis

Improving productive efficiency is an increasingly important determinant of the future of the swine industry in Hawaii. This paper examines the productive efficiency of a sample of swine producers in Hawaii by estimating a stochastic frontier production function and the constant returns to scale (CRS) and variable returns to scale (VRS) output-oriented DEA models. The technical efficiency estimates obtained from the two frontier techniques are compared. The scale properties are also examined under the two approaches. The industry's potential for increasing production through improved efficiency is also discussed.     

An Average Derivative Estimation of Stochastic Frontiers

This paper utilizes the average derivative estimation of Stoker (1986) and the pesudo-likelihood estimation of Fan, Li, and Weersink (1996) to estimate a semiparametric stochastic frontier regression, y = g(x) + , where the function g(.)is unknown and is a composite error in a standard setting. The proposed semiparametric method of estimation is applied to data on farmers' credit unions in Taiwan. Empirical results show that the banking services of the farmers' credit unions is subject to economies of scale, but high degree of cost inefficiency in operation.     

基于自组织理论的我国资本市场效率的重新审视

效率是资本市场的核心问题,不同的学者从不同的方面对这一问题进行了研究。本文另辟新径,从自组织角度对资本市场运行过程中产生的熵增、序参量和涨落机制进行了研究;并有针对性地提出一系列改革措施,以期实现资本市场效率的帕累托改进,促进经济和社会的和谐可持续发展。     

《萨班斯法案》孰是孰非:基于成本与效率(收益)的分析视角

《萨班斯法案》的出台堪称注册会计师行业的一件大事，从理论上看，该法案各项条款的出台确实具有积极的意义，但仍然存在缺陷，它更多地强调监管的作用，而监管的效率往往不如制衡的效率；它更多地强调经济处罚和刑事处罚的作用，而这两种处罚却必须以民事赔偿为前提，并最终使作假行为的作假成本大大高于作假收益。     

The Measurement of Consumption Efficiency Considering the Discrete Choice of Consumers

In this study we propose a mathematical definition of the consumption efficiency of multi-attribute products in the price–quality space. A new model, the discrete Range Adjusted Measure (RAM) model, is suggested as an empirical tool to measure the level of consumption efficiency. We further discuss the effect of consumption efficiency on the innovation incentive. Empirical work is made for the mobile phone market. We expect that the consumption efficiency concept will contribute to the extension of the traditional framework of production efficiency analysis on the one hand and to the understanding of the nature of innovation in a technology-intensive market on the other hand.JEL Classification: C67, D11, D12, D21     

江西大型企业资本运作模式的现状及其改进对策研究

资本运作是一种有效配置资源、实现企业资本增殖的活动,其核心是产权制度创新。本文对江西大型企业资本运作模式的现状进行了分析,进而提出了一系列的合理的改进对策,以期提高起运作绩效。     

How Fast Do Banks Adjust? A Dynamic Model of Labor-Use with an Application to Swedish Banks

This paper deals with a dynamic adjustment process in which adjustment of a key variable input (labor) towards its desired level is modeled in a panel data context. The partial adjustment type model is extended to make the adjustment parameter both firm- and time-specific by specifying it as a function of firm- and time-specific variables. Desired level of labor use is represented by a labor requirement function, which is a function of outputs and other firm-specific variables. The catch-up factor is defined as the ratio of actual to desired level of employment. Productivity growth is then defined in terms of a shift in the desired level of labor use and the change in the catch-up factor. Swedish banking data is used as an application of the above model.     

On the Use of Value Efficiency Analysis and Some Further Developments

The purpose of this paper is to discuss the use of Value Efficiency Analysis (VEA) in efficiency evaluation when preference information is taken into account. Value efficiency analysis is an approach, which applies the ideas developed for Multiple Objective Linear Programming (MOLP) to Data Envelopment Analysis (DEA). Preference information is given through the desirable structure of input- and output-values. The same values can be used for all units under evaluation or the values can be specific for each unit. A decision-maker can specify the input- and output-values subjectively without any support or (s)he can use a multiple criteria support system to assist him/her to find those values on the efficient frontier. The underlying assumption is that the most preferred values maximize the decision-maker's implicitly known value function in a production possibility set or a subset. The purpose of value efficiency analysis is to estimate a need to increase outputs and/or decrease inputs for reaching the indifference contour of the value function at the optimum. In this paper, we briefly review the main ideas in value efficiency analysis and discuss practical aspects related to the use of value efficiency analysis. We also consider some extensions.     

Are generalized call-spreads efficient?

In order to explain coexistence of a deductible for low values of the loss and an upper limit for high values of the loss in insurance contracts, we consider the exchange of risk between two rank dependent expected utility maximizers. It is shown that if the insurer (insured) takes more into account the lowest outcomes – hence maximal losses – than the insured (insurer), then the optimal contract has an upper limit (includes a deductible for high values of the loss). If furthermore, the insured (insurer) neglects the highest outcomes while the insurer (insured) does not, the optimal contract includes a deductible (full insurance) for low values of the loss.     

DEA evaluations of long- and short-run efficiencies of digital vs. physical product “dot com” companies

This paper applies Data Envelopment Analysis to determine relative efficiencies between internet dot com companies that produce only physical products and those that produce only digital products. To allow for the fact that the latter are relatively inexperienced, a distinction is made between long- and short-run efficiencies and inefficiencies, with a finding of no statistically significant difference in the short run but digital product companies are significantly more efficient in the long run. A new way of distinguishing between long- and short-run performances is utilized that avoids the need for identifying the time periods associated with long-run vs. short-run efficiencies and inefficiencies. In place of “time,” this paper utilizes differences in the “properties” that economic theory associates with long- and short-run performances.