The Impact of Liberalization on the Production of Electricity in Japan: Stochastic Frontier Analysis

This study aims to measure the impact of liberalization on the efficiency of electricity production in Japan using Stochastic Frontier Analysis (SFA). In addition, this study also aims to examine whether or not economies of scale exist in the electricity generation sector and the transmission sector, and whether or not economies of scope exist between electricity generation and transmission. Since 1995, liberalization of the electricity market in Japan has been phased in and regulations on entry have been relaxed three times. One motivation for these regularity changes has been to improve the efficiency of electricity production by introducing competition. Using a panel data set on the nine main power companies in Japan over the period 1970-2010, estimates of fixed-effects and stochastic frontier models of the cost function are obtained and compared. Estimates of the cost function show that liberalization has improved cost efficiency when both frontier models and non-frontier models are estimated. Estimates of the fixed-effects model are used to calculate economies of scale and economies scope because the data support the fixed-effects model. Economies of scope are found to exist for all nine power companies, while overall economies of scope declined in the 1970s and have improved little by little since the 1980s.

Technical efficiency of hybrid maize growers: A stochastic frontier model approach

This study investigated the effect of credit constraints and credit unconstraints on the technical efficiency of hybrid maize growers in the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Province(KPK) of Pakistan. The primary data were collected by a direct elicitation method from 510 maize growers of KPK Province. Stochastic frontier model techniques were used for technical efficiency analyses. The results revealed that the mean technical efficiency difference between the two groups was 10.2%. The results of technical inefficiency effect modeling demonstrated that education of the household head, family size, number of married family members, off-farm income, farming experience, tractor drill, water irrigation through a lined course, certified seed, extension services, household saving variables, and a credit size variable had positive effects on technical efficiency for both credit constrained farmers(CCFs) and credit unconstrained farmers(UCCFs). In addition, age of household head and fragmented land values had negative effects on technical efficiency for both groups. However, the interest rate had positive and negative impacts on the technical efficiency of CCFs and UCCFs, respectively. Our results have significant implications for policies related to land use, interest rate, and banking sector expansion in the rural areas of Pakistan.

A comparative analysis of multi-output frontier models

Recently, there have been more debates on the methods of measuring efficiency. The main objective of this paper is to make a sensitivity analysis for different frontier models and compare the results obtained from the different methods of estimating multi-output frontier for a specific application. The methods include stochastic distance function frontier, stochastic ray frontier, and data envelopment analysis. The stochastic frontier regressions with and without the inefficiency effects model are also com-pared and tested. The results indicate that there are significant correlations between the results obtained from the alternative estimation methods.

Primary Educational Productivity ： A Study Based on Stochastic Frontier Educational Production Function Model

This paper builds a stochastic frontier educational production function model, estimating the primary educational productivity with annual data of 31 provinces from 2007 to 2011. The conclusions are as follows： （1） in educational production function, output elasticity of public educational expenditure exceeds private educational expenditure＇s. The degrees of contribution of public and private educational expenditure reflect that China should increase public educational expenditure. （2） regional educational technical efficiency is affected by both structure of educational expenditure and levels of regional economic growth. Primary educational technical efficiency of east, middle and west regions all tended to fall down during 2007 to 2011.

A Demand Forecasting Method Based on Stochastic Frontier Analysis and Model Average: An Application in Air Travel Demand Forecasting

Demand forecasting is often difficult due to the unobservability of the applicable historical demand series. In this study, the authors propose a demand forecasting method based on stochastic frontier analysis(SFA) models and a model average technique. First, considering model uncertainty,a set of alternative SFA models with various combinations of explanatory variables and distribution assumptions are constructed to estimate demands. Second, an average estimate from the estimated demand values is obtained using a model average technique. Finally, future demand forecasts are achieved, with the average estimates used as historical observations. An empirical application of air travel demand forecasting is implemented. The results of a forecasting performance comparison show that in addition to its ability to estimate demand, the proposed method outperforms other common methods in terms of forecasting passenger traffic.

养殖户参与农业产业组织对肉羊养殖技术效率的影响

为探究养殖户参与农业产业组织对肉羊养殖技术效率的影响,研究立足微观农户角度,以2013—2022年11个省份489份肉羊养殖户数据为研究对象,运用倾向得分匹配法与随机前沿分析法,分析养殖户参与农业产业组织对肉羊养殖技术效率的影响。结果表明,养殖户参与农业产业组织对肉羊养殖技术效率产生正向促进作用,且该结果在经过近邻匹配、半径匹配与核匹配3种内生性检验之后仍然成立。研究表明,鼓励养殖户积极参与农业产业组织,对于提升肉羊养殖效率及推动整个养殖业高质量发展具有深远意义。

R&D资本化背景下我国TFP增长率再测算

研究与试验发展(R&D)资本对经济增长和科技创新作用日益凸显,但对于R&D资本的核算亟待完善。本文基于SNA2008和CSNA2016框架,将R&D支出作为资本形成,对我国各省份物质资本存量和R&D资本存量进行规范化测算,使用随机前沿分析法重新估算1991—2019年间的全要素生产率(TFP)增长率。研究发现:第一,我国R&D资本存量规模呈总体递增和地区聚集趋势;第二,1991—2019年间,我国广义TFP增长率年平均增幅为2.10%,对经济增长存在正向作用;第三,将TFP增长率分解为技术进步、前沿技术效率和规模效应,发现技术进步对TFP增长率的贡献最大,是推动我国TFP增长的主导力量,但却呈现逐年递减的趋势;第四,随着我国对R&D投入的不断增加与重视,R&D对我国广义TFP增长率的贡献呈现递增的趋势,R&D的贡献逐渐成为推动我国科技进步的主要力量。

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.

农业要素配置结构、配置效率与数字农业发展

以要素配置理论与诱致性技术创新理论为基础,从农业资本深化与农业劳动力结构变迁两个维度,深度剖析农业要素配置结构变化影响数字农业发展的理论逻辑,并依托中国284个地级市2012—2022年的面板数据,实证检验农业要素配置结构变化影响数字农业发展的直接与间接机制。研究结果表明:农业资本深化与劳动力结构变迁均能够直接促进数字农业发展,也能够通过提高要素配置效率间接促进数字农业发展;农业资本深化和劳动力结构变迁等促进数字农业发展的效果存在明显的异质性,相较于东部地区和大规模城市,中西部地区和小规模城市的要素配置结构变化对数字农业发展的促进作用更明显。因此,政府应多举措推进农业资本深化进程,促进农业技术进步与配置结构优化;多方位完善数字人才支撑体系建设,为数字农业发展注入新动能;推动不同区域、不同规模城市之间的合作与协调发展,为农业资本深化和劳动力结构变迁创造良好的外部环境。

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。

基于全球实证证据的气温对全要素能源效率的影响

本文采用随机前沿分析方法测算全球国家级全要素能源效率,通过构建面板固定效应模型评估气温这一关键环境因素对全要素能源效率在国家层面的影响,并根据估计结果预测了未来全球变暖对各国能源效率的影响.研究发现,国家间的气温和全要素能源效率存在倒U型关系,且该关系受收入水平的影响,贫穷国家的能源效率受到气温的影响大于富裕国家.每年日平均温度高于30℃的天数增加1d,各国全要素能源效率平均降低0.161,而每年日平均温度低于0℃的天数增加1d,各国全要素能源效率平均降低0.176.预测结果显示,21世纪末全球变暖将导致世界平均能源效率下降,且赤道附近的国家将受到更为严重的影响.在SSP2-4.5和SSP5-8.5两个升温情景下,气候变化引致的气温上升将导致世界平均能源效率相较于1995~2005年的水平下降0.76%和2.76%.

基于SFA模型的城市土地利用效率评价与开发潜力提升研究

[目的]揭示城市土地利用效率评价与开发潜力情况,为推进长三角地区城市土地高效集约利用提供科学依据。[方法]以长三角地区为考察对象,构建SFA模型评估城市土地利用效率,并测算了土地开发潜力。[结果](1)城市土地利用效率逐年上升,区域间效率差距扩大,从2005年的0.357升至2020年的0.478。空间分布上,“核心—外围”布局特征明显,沪宁杭等核心城市效率值较高,低值区分布于苏中的南通、扬州与浙北的舟山、台州等外围城市,呈现“大集聚—小分散”的分异特点,效率布局的非均衡趋势明显。(2)长三角地区土地集约潜力规模逐年上升,从2005年的1183.2 km^(2)增至2020年的2590.8 km^(2),而土地集约潜力占比从2005年的66.18%降至2020年的59.00%。城市土地集约利用规模分级与占比分级表现出相异的变化规律,从不同视角共同揭示土地开发潜力的时空演变特征。(3)城市土地产出增加潜力规模在时间纵向轴上不断扩大,而土地产出增加潜力占比不断下降,从2005年的239.91%降至2020年的171.75%,其中上海、杭州等城市资本投入比重高、劳动力配置相对合理,土地利用集约程度高,产出增加占比降幅仅有30%。[结论]研究期间长三角地区城市土地利用效率逐年升高,土地集约潜力规模和比例也不断上升,这为明确城市经济内涵式发展提供了现实路径,也为城市土地高效利用、潜力挖掘提供了新方法。

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。

Productivity and technical efficiency of Robusta coffee farms at varying elevation categories in Sultan Kudarat, Philippines: implications on sustainability

Elevation can affect agricultural outputs,affecting farms’productivity and efficiency.This article identified the significant production inputs influencing productivity and factors influencing technical efficiency(TE)and determined the average TE scores of Robusta coffee farms at varying elevations in Sultan Kudarat,Philippines.Cross-sectional data from the Mahintana Foundation,Inc.using random stratified sampling and power analysis from September 9,2021,to January 13,2022,were used to analyze 604 farms from areas ranging from 0.33 to 1284.18 above mean sea level(amsl),classified as low,medium,and high elevation.Open-Data-Kit-based(ODK)mobile data collection systems were utilized to precisely determine the farms’coordinates and elevation.Using stochastic frontier analysis,results showed that increasing the total fertilizer amount and total trees by 1%significantly increased yield by 0.20%and 0.79%,respectively.Meanwhile,increasing the total land area by 1%,including areas unutilized for coffee farming,decreases total yield by 0.11%.Regarding TE,results showed that TE decreases by approximately 0.58%at high elevations.Meanwhile,increasing net income from coffee farming alone by 1%significantly increases TE by 0.00008%.With an average TE of 0.60,0.77,and 0.63 in low,medium,and high elevations,farms may be incentivized to improve farming practices to increase their TE further.TE improvement recommendations include promoting coffee-agroforestry systems and ecolabelling at medium elevations,such as shade-grown coffee,to promote sustainable production in Robusta coffee farms by assigning a premium to consumers demanding environmental conservation.

Efficiency and sustainability of the tourism industry in Latin America

The tourism industry is economically very important.According to the World Travel Tourism Council,in 2019,the tourism industry accounted for a quarter of all new jobs created worldwide,10.3%of all jobs,and 9.6×1012 USD of the global gross domestic product.This study aimed to calculate the tourism efficiency index for different Latin American countries from 2010 to 2021 using data envelopment analysis,which analyzes the relationships between input variables(including the number of employees in the tourism industry and the number of hotel-type establishments)and output variables(including tourism expenditures in other countries and public social expenditures in recreation and culture per capita).Additionally,this study aimed to identify the countries with greater tourism development and the factors that may affect the development of the tourism industry through the stochastic frontier production function.The results of the tourism efficiency index for Central America(including Costa Rica,Dominica,El Salvador,Honduras,Mexico,and Panama)and South America(including Argentina,Brazil,Chile,Colombia,Ecuador,Paraguay,Peru,and Uruguay)exhibited different trends.However,after the global health crisis,the tourism industry recovered,showing new opportunities to promote sustainability.The results of the stochastic frontier production function demonstrated that countries with higher levels of inbound and outbound tourism,contribution of tourism to the economy,natural resources,and literacy rate exhibited more efficient tourism industry,whereas countries with higher pollution levels exhibited less efficient tourism industry.The findings of this study could allow us to formulate suitable public policies to promote tourism,maintain natural resources,and diversify these sectors with more inclusive programmes that can facilitate growth and benefit vulnerable communities.

“粮改饲”背景下我国肉羊养殖成本效率变动及优化路径研究

“粮改饲”政策的实施对我国肉羊养殖产业影响巨大。文章基于国内肉羊养殖成本收益的宏观统计数据,并结合2017—2022年10个典型省份实地调研数据,通过超越对数成本函数随机前沿分析方法,对比分析“粮改饲”实施前的2017年和全面落实后2022年各规模肉羊养殖成本效率变动情况以及影响因素,以探寻“粮改饲”背景下提升我国肉羊养殖成本效率的有效路径。结果发现:“粮改饲”政策推行后,我国肉羊养殖成本效率提升明显;养殖成本效率和养殖规模具有正相关关系,且小规模养殖的成本效率上升最明显;增加技术指导投入可稳步提高肉羊养殖成本效率;不同规模肉羊养殖成本效率的区域差异明显。研究表明,在“粮改饲”政策红利持续释放背景下,应建立肉羊养殖技术指导中心、打造差异化肉羊全产业链、实施“粮改饲”规模化养殖项目,为提高肉羊养殖的成本效率提供有益参考。

规模化养殖背景下肉鸡养殖成本效率及影响因素研究

规模化养殖背景下,提升肉鸡养殖成本效率对加速推进肉鸡养殖业高质量发展具有重要意义。为厘清规模化养殖背景下肉鸡养殖成本效率及其影响因素,文章基于国内肉鸡养殖成本收益宏观统计数据,借助超越对数成本函数随机前沿分析法,实证检验2012—2022年不同规模肉鸡养殖成本效率变动情况及影响因素。结果发现:规模化养殖背景下,我国不同规模肉鸡养殖总成本均明显增加,其中饲料成本增长幅度最大;肉鸡养殖成本效率整体呈下降态势,且不同地区间存在明显差异。因此,应优化肉鸡养殖饲料配比,制定差异化肉鸡养殖方案,因地制宜推动肉鸡规模化养殖,加速肉鸡养殖领域人才培育。

低碳化能源对农业生产转型及其环境效应影响

采用随机前沿分析法,根据2013—2022年我国31个省(区、市)农业生产投入、产出数据,就绿色低碳化能源合作对农业生产转型及其环境效应影响进行了研究。结果表明:(1)估计系数显著为正的有播种面积、农业劳动力、农业机械总动力。(2)从总体上看,中国的农业环境效益呈现出中、西、东3个区域递减的趋势。中部地区的农业生产环境效率平均为0.743 2,比全国平均水平高出13.21%;西部、东部地区分别为0.679 2、0.440 1。(3)我国农业生产环境效率在空间、时间上有明显非均衡性存在。空间上三大地区环境效率表现为中部、西部、东部递减趋势;时间上全国、三大地区环境效率表现为递减趋势。(4)在全国范围内,在东、西2个地区,农业生产环境的效率都在其自身的均衡水平上,中部地区各省农业生产环境效率最终在同一水平上保持稳定。

中国国家重点实验室的研发效率与影响因素

基础研究是当今科技竞争的前沿,国家重点实验室是组织高水平基础研究的重要基地,测算国家重点实验室的研发效率并分析其影响因素,对于优化国家重点实验室布局、提高研发效率具有重要的指导意义。采用DEA-Tobit和PP-SFA两种互补性方法研究发现:中国国家重点实验室的研发效率还存在较大提升空间;依托高校的实验室研发效率显著高于依托科研院所的实验室;1990~2007年全国实验室研发效率波动幅度较大,2008~2018年较为平稳且稳中有降;人员流动性强、实验室竞争程度高显著提高研发效率,但学术开放程度、资金管理水平低则抑制研发效率。为了提高国家重点实验室研发效率,要进一步增强科研人员流动性、完善优胜劣汰机制,改革学术开放机制、构建以研究人员为核心的研发资源配置机制。

安徽省建筑业效率时空特征与提升策略研究

为提高安徽省及各地级市建筑业效率,实现安徽省建筑业转型升级,在安徽省15个地级市建筑业2017—2021年面板数据的基础上,采用时变衰减随机前沿模型,分析安徽省建筑业5年间生产状况。发现安徽省技术效率随时间加速恶化,规模效率递减,各地级市建筑业生产效率在研究期内区别明显。提出采取稳健政策,缩减产业规模,调整投入要素比例改善建筑业效率的措施。