The Estimation Methods for Agricultural Surplus Labor Based on Stochastic Frontier Production Function

The existing calculation methods for the number of agricultural surplus labor have a common flaw,that is,they can not reflect the impact of technical efficiency changes in agricultural production on the surplus labor. Based on the basic principle of stochastic frontier production function,this paper calculates the agricultural production technical efficiency of various provinces,and selects the province with the highest technical efficiency to assume that its agricultural labor is fully utilized,and there is no agricultural surplus labor. With the ratio of agricultural labor number to agricultural output value in this province as a reference,this paper calculates the number of agricultural surplus labor in other provinces. This calculation method makes up for the shortcomings of the existing calculation methods; it reflects the relationship between the number of agricultural surplus labor and production technical efficiency.

Efficient Frontier via Production Functions and Mechanization

This study attempts to reconcile data envelopment analysis (DEA) with the production function approach in economics. We examine not only the inputs of capital and labor, but also the ranges of these inputs in production process steps, and endogenously derive a Leontief production function. The Leontief production functions shift northeasterly owing to mechanization, which is the replacement of labor inputs by capital inputs in some steps. Consequently, we describe the efficient frontier as the convex hull of the Leontief production functions. Furthermore, we consider the possibility of efficient production below the efficient frontier.

Environmental Efficiency Analysis of China’s Vegetable Production

To analyze and estimate the environmental efficiency of China’s vegetable production. Methods The stochastic translog frontier model was used to estimate the technical efficiency of vegetable production. Based on the estimated frontier and technical inefficiency levels, we used the method developed by Reinhard, et al.[1] to estimate the environmental efficiency. Pesticide and chemical fertilizer inputs were treated as environmentally detrimental inputs. Results From estimated results, the mean environmental efficiency for pesticide input was 69.7%, indicating a great potential for reducing pesticide use in China’s vegetable production. In addition, substitution and output elasticities for vegetable farms were estimated to provide farmers with helpful information on how to reallocate input resources and improve efficiency. Conclusion There exists a great potential for reducing pesticide use in China’s vegetable production.

Farm Production Growth in the Upper and Middle Parts of the Yellow River Basin,China,During 1980-1999

The impact of inputs on farm production growth was evaluated by analyzing the economic data of the upper and middle parts of the Yellow River basin, China for the period of 1980-1999. Descriptive statistics were employed to characterize the temporal trends and spatial patterns in farm production and five pertinent inputs of cultivated cropland, irrigation ratio, agricultural labor, machinery power and chemical fertilizer. Stochastic frontier production function was applied to quantify the dependence of the farm production on these inputs. The growth of farm production was decomposed to reflect the contributions by input growths and change in total factor productivity.. The change in total factor productivity was further decomposed into the changes in technology and in technical efficiency. The gross value of farm production in the region of study increased by 1.6 fold during 1980-1999. Among the five selected farm inputs, machinery power and chemical fertilizer increased by 1.8 and 2.8 fold, respectively. The increases in cultivated cropland, irrigated cropland, and agricultural labor were all less than 0.16 fold. The growth in the farm production was primarily contributed by the increase in the total factor productivity during 1980-1985, and by input growths after 1985. More than 80% of the contributions by input growths were attributed to the increased application of fertilizer and machinery. In the change of total factor productivity, the technology change dominated over the technical efficiency change in the study period except in the period of 1985-1990, implying that institution and investment played important roles in farm production growth. There was a decreasing trend in the technical efficiency in the region of study, indicating a potential to increase farm production by improving the technical efficiency in farm activities. Given the limited natural resources in the basin, the results of this study suggested that, for a sustainable growth of farm production in the area, efforts should be directed to technology progress and improvement in technical efficiency in the use of available resources.

Technical efficiency and its determinants in China's hog production

China＇s hog production is undergoing a great transformation due to the soaring demand and changing raising system. Regarding the essential role of pork in Chinese diet, a systematic analysis on the productivity and efficiency of hog production can provide significant implications for policy makers. This paper investigates the productivity and efficiency of hog production and the determinants of technical efficiency in China using a household level panel data（2004–2010）. A stochastic frontier translog production function with scaling property in inefficiency term is adopted for hog production analysis, and the determinants of technical efficiency are incorporated in a one-step estimation using maximum likelihood estimation. Our results show that the average technical efficiency of hog production in China is 0.5914. More importantly, we find that specialized farmers have higher technical efficiency than others, and technical efficiency in the eastern region is higher than that in Central and West China.

Analysis on Technical Efficiency and Influencing Factors of Rapeseed Production

Based on micro survey data of 344 rapeseed farmers in 19 rapeseed counties of Hubei Province,with the aid of stochastic frontier production function model and efficiency loss model,this paper analyzed basic production situations,demographic characteristics of rapeseed farmers,technical efficiency loss,and main influencing factors. In Hubei Province,there are mainly following problems in rapeseed production: serious aging of rapeseed farmers; relatively scarce labors; the middle-aged and old farmers have higher technical efficiency level; with increase in farmer age,their technical efficiency firstly declines and then rises. In view of these situations,it came up with recommendations including raising educational level of rapeseed farmers to realize large scale economy and effectively reduce technical efficiency loss,and local government,specialized associations and agricultural machinery extension departments should provide proper technical guidance according to demands of farmers to reduce technical efficiency loss.

Trade-offs between wood production and forest grouse habitats in two regions with distinctive landscapes

Background:Forest management affects the viability of forest grouse populations,causing alterations to habitat quality.At the regional level,common targets for wood harvesting and safeguarding of specific habitats are negotiated between various stakeholders.Analysing potential trade-offs between forest grouse habitats and wood production in the region could support resource-smart decision making.Methods:In this paper,we compiled trade-off curves represented as production possibility frontiers demonstrating the relationship between forest grouse habitat area and wood removal,using a Finnish forestry dynamics model and the Finnish Multi-Source National Forest Inventory.For the modelling of forest grouse habitats,a landscape-level occurrence model based on nationwide wildlife triangle census data was used.Five alternative forest scenarios in terms of wood removal were compiled for two study areas in Finland representing two different landscape structures.Results and conclusions:Results showed that impacts on forest grouse habitats were case-specific.In the southern study area,increasing the roundwood harvesting rate affected grouse habitats more strongly as forests were already fragmented for other land uses and became more spruce-dominated over time.If the maximum sustainable removal rate was implemented,predicted grouse habitat area was 55%less than in a no-removal scenario.In the eastern study area,a more heavily forested region,the decrease was far lower at 22%.Scenario results were also compared to levels of recorded(business as usual)wood removal and that envisaged by valid regional forestry programmes,and their sustainability in terms of grouse habitat area was discussed.The production possibility frontiers calculated in this study support the evaluation of the loss of suitable habitat caused by different wood harvesting rates,or vice versa,the economic cost of increasing habitat areas.

Productivity Growth, Technological Progress, and Efficiency Change in Vietnamese Manufacturing Industries: A Stochastic Frontier Approach

This study applies a stochastic frontier production approach to decompose the sources of total productivity (TFP) growth into technical progress and changes in technical efficiency of 8057 firms in Vietnamese manufacturing industries during 2003-2007. Using both total manufacturing industry and sub-manufacturing industrial regressions, the analysis focuses on the trend of technological progress (TP) and technical efficiency change (TEC), and the role of productivity change in economic growth. According to the estimated results, the annual technical progress for the manufacturing industry and sub-manufacturing industries are calculated directly from the estimated parameters of the translog stochastic frontier production function by taking a partial derivative of output with respect to time t. The average technical changes in manufacturing industry and sub-manufacturing industries are positive, with an average technical change about 5.2%, 5.8%, 5.4%, 11.8%, 4.6%, 4.1%, 7.3%, 4.8%, 4.8% and 4.8% for total sample, food products & beverages, textile & wearing apparel, footwear, paper & products, industrial chemicals, rubber & plastic products, non- metallic mineral, basic & fabricated metal and other sub-industries, respectively. Total TFP in the manufacturing sector has grown at the annual rate of 0.052, although the rate of growth decreased continuously during the sample period. For the sub-industry estimates during the sample period, TFP grew fastest in the footwear sub-industry, with annual average growth rate of 11.8%, followed by the rubber & plastic products with a rate of 7.3%, and the food products & beverages with a rate of 5.8% per annum.

中国蛋鸡饲养绿色全要素生产率实证研究

为提高蛋鸡生产效率的同时减少污染排放,在考虑负向产出以及规模异质性和地区异质性的前提下,对蛋鸡养殖绿色全要素生产率(LHBG)进行测度。构建3层次SBM-MML指数,并将其分解为规模结构效率、技术效率以及管理效率。结果表明,2004-2018年平均LHBG为0.9967;大中小规模LHBG分别为0.9949、1.0013、0.9938;东中西部地区LHBG分别为0.9930、0.9980、1.0040。我国蛋鸡饲养绿色全要素生产率总体下降0.33%;规模上中规模最高、大规模其次、小规模最低;区域上西部最高,中部其次,东部最低;其分解效率表现为规模结构效率和技术效率提高,管理效率下降。

中国建筑业安全生产水平测度与评价

为推动建筑业安全稳健发展,基于2017—2021年30个省/直辖市/自治区数据,运用超效率基于松弛变量测度(Slacks-Based Measure,SBM)模型测算各省建筑业安全生产水平,并借鉴分层数据包络分析(Data Envelopment Analysis,DEA)的思想,构建多个生产前沿面以考察其空间分异,进而通过全局曼奎斯特卢恩伯格(Global Malmquist Luenberger,GML)指数分析其动态特征。结果显示:(1)我国建筑业安全生产水平整体偏低,地区发展不平衡特征明显。(2)从省域看,内蒙古、福建、河南、海南和青海保持稳定领先态势,山西、湖北、广东和甘肃则长期落后;从区域看,东部和西部地区区域内建筑业安全生产水平差距较大,东北和中部地区建筑业安全生产水平发展较为同步,但均较低。(3)我国建筑业整体安全生产水平持续向好发展,技术进步对此做出了较大贡献。此外,研究可对建筑业安全生产管理提出相应建议。

耕地经营规模对农户水稻生产生态效率的影响——以常德市为例

提高水稻生产生态效率是协同实现保障粮食产量稳增长与减少粮食生产环境损耗双目标的关键路径,耕地作为农业生产活动最基本的生产资料之一,探索耕地经营规模对农户水稻生产生态效率的影响对促进农业适度规模化经营和耕地可持续利用具有重要意义。本文基于粮食生产微观主体——农户的视角,从理论上揭示耕地经营规模对农户水稻生产生态效率的影响,并利用常德市416份农户问卷调查数据,运用随机前沿分析法构建效率测算模型和影响模型进行实证检验。研究表明:农户耕地规模化水平和水稻生产生态效率均有待提升,样本农户中较小规模农户数量最多,占总样本的94.95%,较小规模农户仍是农业生产的主力;农户水稻生产生态效率均值为0.830,还存在0.170的提升空间。耕地经营规模对农户水稻生产生态效率有显著影响,二者并非简单线性关系而是呈“倒U型”关系,且拐点所在区间为1.2~1.4 hm2;农户水稻生产生态效率还受到户主受教育程度、抚养比、农业收入占比的显著正向影响和户主年龄的显著负向影响。因此,应在尊重较小规模农户将长期存在这一现实的基础上,进一步推进耕地适度规模经营并培育新型农户,以促进水稻生产生态效率提高。

数字经济对中国进口乳制品贸易效率的影响研究——基于经济政策不确定性视角

数字经济降低了贸易信息不对称性,降低了贸易风险与不确定性,成为提高贸易效率的新引擎。基于经济政策不确定性背景,构建了随机前沿引力模型,检验了中国乳制品进口效率与东道主国家数字经济发展水平的相关性。结果表明,目前中国乳制品进口的发展潜力巨大,同时贸易双方人均GDP和文化距离、乳制品出口国人口和数字经济发展水平以及经济自由度有利于促进乳制品进口效率。而中国的人口、双方首都间的地理距离、乳制品出口国经济政策不确定性和价格水平指数波动不利于乳制品进口效率的提升。为确保国内乳制品供应安全,中国应加强数字经济建设,推动数字技术与乳制品产业相融合,促进中国乳业高质量发展,同时还要积极开展自贸区谈判,以消除贸易壁垒和经济政策不确定性,提高乳制品贸易效率。

基于SBM-undesirable和Meta-frontier模型的APEC能源效率研究

准确测算能源效率与提升潜力可以为制定有效的节能减排策略提供科学依据。为进一步完善跨国研究中由于技术异质性导致的能源效率测算偏差,采用SBM-Undesirable模型和Meta-frontier生产函数,测算了APEC17个成员1990—2012年期间的能源效率。同时,采用"共同技术比率"定量考察了各成员能源利用的技术差距,并从"生产技术"和"管理"两个维度将能源利用无效率分解为"技术差距无效率"和"管理无效率"来探寻能源效率提升途径。研究发现:发达国家和地区在共同前沿和群组前沿下的能源效率没有差异,发展中国家和地区在两种前沿下的能源效率有显著差异;发展中国家与潜在的最优技术水平的差距有扩大的趋势;发达国家和地区应从管理方面提高能源效率,发展中国家和地区则要从技术和管理双方面来提高能源效率。

算力新质生产力对全要素生产率增长作用机制研究

算力作为数字经济时代的新质生产力,对赋能数字经济新增长、推动数字经济高质量发展至关重要。基于算力的公共性、外部性、网络性与迭代升级特征,研究算力新质生产力的网络外溢效应与全要素生产率之间的关系及作用机理;利用面板随机前沿分析方法测算全要素生产率,发现算力新质生产力对全要素生产率具有显著的促进效应,这种效应来源于算力新质生产力对智算技术效率与规模效率的促进作用。省际个体的算力新质生产力对与该省份在地理、经济、人口方面相关联的其他省份的全要素生产率具有显著的正网络外溢效应。研究表明:(1)算力新质生产力网络外溢效应通过提升创新数量、创新质量对全要素生产率提升产生正向的积极作用;(2)算力新质生产力网络外溢效应通过缓解算力投资错配、数字技能劳动力错配对全要素生产率提升产生正向的积极作用;(3)算力基础设施数量网络与算力基础设施质量网络通过创新促进全要素生产率增长时具有异质性。相关研究成果有利于创新拓展数字经济背景下算力新质生产力对全要素生产率增长作用机制的理论研究,为政府制定数字经济政策提供有益参考。基于此,提出推动算力技术创新、促进算效提升、汇聚算力资源、优化算力要素供给、加大智慧教育投入力度、培育算力基础设施创新人才等建议。

Technical efficiency of cocoa farms at varying elevation levels in Davao City, Philippines: implications to sustainable upland farming systems

Elevation is one of many components that influence agriculture, and this in turn affects the level of both inputs and outputs of farmers. This article focuses on the productivity and technical efficiency of 100 cocoa farms using cross-sectional data from areas ranging from 190 to 1021 m above sea level which were classified as low, medium, and high elevation in Davao City, considered as the chocolate capital of the Philippines. Using stochastic frontier analysis, the results showed that the cost of inputs per ha and the number of cocoa trees per ha significantly increase yield. Farms at high elevations were less technically efficient, as this entails lower temperatures and increased rainfall, and cocoa farming in those areas and conditions can be more challenging, especially with changes in farming practices, terrain, and distance to markets. Other significant variables were age of cocoa farms, married farmers, and age of the farmers. Older farms may be more developed, farmers who are married benefit from their spouses being able to readily contribute as farm labor, and lastly, older farmers' inefficiency may likely stem from nonadaptation of newer farming practices. With an average technical efficiency of 0.61, 0.63, and 0.26 in low, medium, and high elevation areas, respectively, farmers therefore have an incentive to improve farm practices and consider topographical variations found in high elevation areas. Recommendations for the improvement of technical efficiency of cocoa farms are better connectivity to markets, enhancing farm practices, and continuation and improvement of government programs on cocoa with an added emphasis on research. For farmers in high elevation areas, mitigating solutions such as sustainable agriculture practices and ecolabelling are key to improving efficiency and minimizing the potential negative impact on upland farming systems. Moreover, such adaptation measures may also contribute to sustainability of cocoa farming in high elevation areas.

农机服务采纳对农户粮食生产效率的影响——基于耕地禀赋的调节效应

农业生产效率的提升是保障粮食安全的重要途径,在农机服务迅速发展的背景下,探究农机服务与粮食生产效率之间的关系,从而推动农机服务与粮食生产的共同发展。基于河南省591份农户调研数据,运用三阶段DEA模型和Tobit模型,探究农机社会化服务采纳程度对农户粮食生产效率的影响,并进一步分析耕地资源禀赋在其中的调节效应。结果表明:农机社会化服务采纳程度能有效促进农户粮食生产效率的提高;耕地细碎化程度、耕地质量在农机服务购买对农户粮食生产效率影响中分别发挥着负向和正向的调节作用。农机服务对粮食生产效率的影响受限于耕地禀赋,因此,政府应加大农机购置补贴、加快耕地流转进程、增加耕地地力,从而促进粮食生产效率的提高。

黄河流域农业用水效率时空特征分析

为揭示黄河流域农业用水效率的时空变化特征并为农业水资源高效管理提供依据,采用随机前沿生产函数,测算2000—2021年黄河流域79个地级市的农业用水效率,并借助Stata 15.0和ArcGIS 10.7软件,深入剖析农业用水效率时空演变特征以及区域分异状况。结果表明:研究期内黄河流域农业用水效率整体水平较低,但呈稳步提升趋势,各地级市之间的差异基本维持在一个相对稳定的状态;农业用水效率空间分异特征显著,中低效率地级市主要位于黄河上中游地区,高效率地级市基本集中在山东、河南两省,高效率核密度分布区与国家粮食主产区分布基本吻合,其中河套灌区、豫西及关中地区部分地级市研究期内农业用水效率得到显著提升;黄河流域上中下游之间、省(区)之间农业用水效率差异明显,农业用水效率下游>中游>上游、山东>河南>陕西>内蒙古>山西>甘肃>青海>宁夏,但效率提升幅度大小排序相反。

中国对东盟高新技术产品出口特征及潜力研究

基于中国对东盟高新技术产品出口特征的分析,采用随机前沿引力模型对中国向东盟出口高新技术产品的潜力进行了研究。中国对越南、新加坡、马来西亚、泰国、印度尼西亚和菲律宾这6个国家具有较大的贸易潜力,对文莱、柬埔寨和缅甸这3个国家的贸易潜力较小。对贸易潜力较大的发达国家,通过高层次人才培养、扩大经费投入、研发更为先进的高新技术产品等方式提高我国高技术产品在这些市场的竞争能力。对贸易潜力较大的发展中国家,可通过直接投资、生产符合社会发展水平的产品等方式进一步开拓市场。建议对贸易潜力较小的国家,可通过增加投资与合作,开发适销对路的产品而逐步开拓市场。