scholarly journals Relaxing constraints as a conservation policy

2014 ◽  
Vol 19 (4) ◽  
pp. 505-528 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ben Groom ◽  
Charles Palmer
Keyword(s):  
Returns To Scale ◽  
Cost Effective ◽  
Conservation Policy ◽  
Institutional Constraints ◽  
Relative Prices ◽  
Use Of Technology ◽  
Development Goals ◽  
Using Data ◽  
Technological Constraints ◽  
Constant Returns To Scale

AbstractEco-entrepreneurs in developing countries are often subject to market or institutional constraints such as missing markets. Conservation interventions which relax constraints may be both cost effective and poverty reducing. A simulation using data from an intervention in Madagascar to relax the technological constraints of forest honey production investigates this possibility. Cost-effectively achieving dual environment-development goals is shown to depend on the severity of constraints, relative prices, along with the nature and efficiency in use of technology. Success is more likely for technologies exhibiting close to constant returns to scale or high-input complementarity. Forest honey does not meet these requirements. Ultimately, where market or institutional constraints are present, knowledge of the recipient technology is required for more informed, efficient and perhaps more politically acceptable conservation policy.

Factor Choice Distortion under Cost-Based Reimbursement

2003 ◽  
Vol 15 (1) ◽  
pp. 145-160 ◽  
Author(s):  
John Christensen ◽  
Joel S. Demski
Keyword(s):  
Economic Impact ◽  
Returns To Scale ◽  
Relative Prices ◽  
Traditional Procedure ◽  
The Cost ◽  
Constant Returns To Scale ◽  
Accounting Procedure

We study a setting in which a firm faces commercial and cost-reimbursed products, and, following Rogerson (1992), examine the factor choice distortions that are induced by the cost-based reimbursement arrangement. The firm's technology is separable, which allows us to rationalize fully an ABC procedure (given constant returns to scale) and also allows us to document whether the distortions occur in the direct or indirect subcost functions. The location and magnitude of the distortions depend on the precise costing procedure, but the preference for an ABC versus traditional procedure is far more subtle. Absent constant returns, any (linear) accounting procedure invites factor distortions because of the cost-reimbursement feedback, but the economic impact of these distortions depends on the technology, the relative prices, and the costing procedure.

scholarly journals Pengukuran Efisiensi Kinerja Sekolah Dasar lewat Model Data Envelopment Analysis

2017 ◽  
Vol 36 (2) ◽  
Author(s):  
Siti Fatimah ◽  
Umi Mahmudah
Keyword(s):  
Elementary Schools ◽  
Data Envelopment Analysis ◽  
Parametric Method ◽  
Returns To Scale ◽  
Scale Model ◽  
Data Envelopment ◽  
Public Elementary Schools ◽  
Crs Model ◽  
Using Data ◽  
Constant Returns To Scale

This study aims to measure the performance efficiency of elementary schools in Special Capital Region of Jakarta, especially Central Jakarta district in the period 2014/2015 by using data envelopment analysis (DEA) approach. DEA is a non-parametric method to measure efficiency of decision making units (DMUs). DEA compares several homogeneous DMUs based on a number of inputs to produce the expected outputs. This study uses descriptive method using DMU as many as 103 public elementary schools that are A-accredited with three inputs and four outputs. Data is analyzed using DEAP version 2.1 application by comparing CRS (Constant Returns to Scale) model and VRS (Variable Returns to Scale) model. Results show that: 1) in CRS model, there are 8 public elementary schools (7.77 percent) have efficient performances while in VRS model there are 14 public elementary schools (13.59 percent) have efficient performances; 2) VRS model is better than CRS model in measuring the efficiency performance of public elementary schools in Central Jakarta.

scholarly journals Measuring Tourism Efficiency of European Countries by Using Data Envelopment Analysis

2017 ◽  
Vol 13 (10) ◽  
pp. 31 ◽  
Author(s):  
Halenur Soysal-Kurt
Keyword(s):  
Data Envelopment Analysis ◽  
Relative Efficiency ◽  
Returns To Scale ◽  
Tourism Industry ◽  
European Countries ◽  
Data Envelopment ◽  
Micro Level ◽  
Input Variables ◽  
Using Data ◽  
Constant Returns To Scale

This study aims to measure relative efficiency of 29 European countries with the data of the year 2013 using input-oriented and constant returns to scale Data Envelopment Analysis and to offer improvement suggestions for the countries found inefficient based on their measured relative efficiency scores. Three input and three output variables are used to assess relative performances of the countries. In this study, tourism expenses, number of employees and number of beds are used as input variables; tourism receipts, tourist arrivals and number of nights spent are used as output variables. As the result of the analysis, 16 countries are found relatively efficient and 13 countries are found relatively inefficient. This study is one of the few publications within the scope of European countries based on data envelopment analysis. Unlike most researches evaluating the efficiency of tourism establishments at the micro level, this paper is thought to contribute to the related literature as it evaluates relative efficiency of the countries at the macro level for tourism industry. Considering the variables used in the analysis, it is expected to give ideas to relatively inefficient European countries on efficiency improvement.

scholarly journals Estimation of The Efficiency of Different Academic Departments Using Data Envelopment Analysis: A Study in an Iranian Medical University

2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
R Askari ◽  
S Rafiei ◽  
M Ranjbar ◽  
M Pakdaman ◽  
F Sepase
Keyword(s):  
Data Envelopment Analysis ◽  
Returns To Scale ◽  
Academic Departments ◽  
Educational Systems ◽  
Data Envelopment ◽  
Reference Groups ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Analysis Technique ◽  
Using Data ◽  
Constant Returns To Scale

Introduction: In every country, educational systems are regarded as the axes of development. Therefore, evaluating different academic departments as the main parts of educational systems is one of the most important responsibilities for university managers and authorities This study aimed at evaluating educational performance of all departments at the School of Health, a University of Medical Sciences using Data Envelopment Analysis technique in a time period of 2012-2015. Methods: This descriptive, cross-sectional study evaluated the performance of the School of Health departments from 2012 to 2015 using Data Envelopment Analysis technique and Deap version 2.1. Results: The study findings revealed that 57% of the academic departments were efficient and had constant returns to scale (CRS) while others (43%) had decreasing returns to scale (DRS). The Departments of Health Care Management, Nutrition, and Environmental Health were mentioned as reference groups for those inefficient ones. Conclusion: Improving the quality of universities' performance depends greatly on competent and well-organized academic departments. Thus inefficient departments should benchmark reference groups to increase their output and promote the performance.

Efficiency evaluation of agricultural cooperatives in Mpumalanga

2019 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
pp. 51-62
Author(s):  
Sharon Thembi Xaba ◽  
Nyankomo Marwa ◽  
Babita Mathur-Helm
Keyword(s):  
Returns To Scale ◽  
Empirical Literature ◽  
Agricultural Cooperatives ◽  
Policy Makers ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Mpumalanga Province ◽  
Optimal Resource ◽  
Input Variables ◽  
Using Data ◽  
Constant Returns To Scale

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to analyse performance (on efficiency) of agricultural cooperatives in Mpumalanga province, South Africa, using Data Envelopment Analysis (DEA). The empirical investigation is motivated by the dearth of empirical literature on agricultural cooperatives’ performance measurement and its correlates. Design/methodology/approach The study employed DEA and applied the input minimisation constraint. The authors used the data from 19 agricultural cooperatives which had complied with reporting on their annual financial statements (AFS) in the financial year 2014/2015. The input variables were total assets and total expenses, and the output variables were revenue and profit. Findings The average technical efficiency was found to be 72 per cent efficient indicating the presence of 28 per cent resource wastages. Of the 19 decision-making units, only 5 (26 per cent) were 100 per cent efficient. It should be noted that the 26 per cent that were technically efficient were also operating at constant returns to scale (optimal resource allocation). Research limitations/implications Data limitation was with regard to 19 cooperatives, which means that if more agricultural cooperatives could be analysed, the results will be different. Practical implications There are more than 60 agricultural cooperatives in the province, and yet only 19 could report on their AFS. This is an indication that there is a gap in governance, and policy makers and government need to revisit support, over and above funding, and issues of governance have to be strengthened. Social implications Agricultural cooperatives are created as vehicles that can stimulate the economy and contribute towards job creation. If the cooperatives do not perform or are not sustainable, the socio-economic conditions of the communities in which they operate will never realise the economic gains. Originality/value The study was necessitated by the continued focus on government based on the cooperatives, as there is a dearth of empirical literature separating managers’ reports and empirically proven studies/results.

scholarly journals Efficiency of Wood-Processing Enterprises—Evaluation Based on DEA and MPI: A Comparison between Slovakia and Bulgaria for the Period 2014–2018

Forests ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 12 (8) ◽  
pp. 1026
Author(s):  
Stanislava Krišťáková ◽  
Nikolay Neykov ◽  
Petar Antov ◽  
Mariana Sedliačiková ◽  
Roman Reh ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Economic Efficiency ◽  
Slovak Republic ◽  
Returns To Scale ◽  
Cost Effective ◽  
Malmquist Productivity Index ◽  
Productivity Index ◽  
Low Carbon ◽  
Wood Processing ◽  
The Republic ◽  
Constant Returns To Scale

The ongoing transition to a low-carbon, sustainable forest-based economy, and the adoption of circular bioeconomy principles in the wood-processing industry is associated with the optimization of natural resources, application of environmentally sustainable production technologies, adoption of technological and organizational innovations, and increased economic efficiency and competitiveness. The implementation of all these measures can help to reach the biggest challenge of our time in the fight against climate change in a cost-effective and competitive way. The aim of this study was to estimate the technical efficiency of wood-processing companies in the Slovak Republic and the Republic of Bulgaria by applying data envelopment analysis (DEA) and the Malmquist productivity index (MPI), and to reveal some factors for efficiency improvements. The economic efficiency evaluation based on official data was performed using selected indices of four wood-processing companies in each country in the period 2014–2018. The study implemented an output-oriented DEA model with constant returns to scale as a nonparametric linear approach for measuring the efficiency of production decision-making units (DMUs). The results obtained revealed that the studied Slovak companies were more efficient with better management in terms of machinery planning and overhead utilization. Markedly, the Bulgarian companies achieved better materials management and current planning quality. Increased economic efficiency of wood-processing enterprises in both countries can be realized through investments in innovative technological improvements, and enhanced research and development activities.

scholarly journals Modeling Fused Filament Fabrication using Artificial Neural Networks

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Paul Oehlmann ◽  
Paul Osswald ◽  
Juan Camilo Blanco ◽  
Martin Friedrich ◽  
Dominik Rietzel ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Real Time ◽  
Large Scale ◽  
Cost Effective ◽  
Print Quality ◽  
Ann Model ◽  
Production Environment ◽  
Fused Filament Fabrication ◽  
Artificial Neural ◽  
Using Data ◽  
Artificial Neural Network Ann

AbstractWith industries pushing towards digitalized production, adaption to expectations and increasing requirements for modern applications, has brought additive manufacturing (AM) to the forefront of Industry 4.0. In fact, AM is a main accelerator for digital production with its possibilities in structural design, such as topology optimization, production flexibility, customization, product development, to name a few. Fused Filament Fabrication (FFF) is a widespread and practical tool for rapid prototyping that also demonstrates the importance of AM technologies through its accessibility to the general public by creating cost effective desktop solutions. An increasing integration of systems in an intelligent production environment also enables the generation of large-scale data to be used for process monitoring and process control. Deep learning as a form of artificial intelligence (AI) and more specifically, a method of machine learning (ML) is ideal for handling big data. This study uses a trained artificial neural network (ANN) model as a digital shadow to predict the force within the nozzle of an FFF printer using filament speed and nozzle temperatures as input data. After the ANN model was tested using data from a theoretical model it was implemented to predict the behavior using real-time printer data. For this purpose, an FFF printer was equipped with sensors that collect real time printer data during the printing process. The ANN model reflected the kinematics of melting and flow predicted by models currently available for various speeds of printing. The model allows for a deeper understanding of the influencing process parameters which ultimately results in the determination of the optimum combination of process speed and print quality.

scholarly journals Do traders learn to select efficient market institutions?

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Carlos Alós-Ferrer ◽  
Johannes Buckenmaier ◽  
Georg Kirchsteiger
Keyword(s):  
Returns To Scale ◽  
Production Costs ◽  
Switching Behavior ◽  
Double Auction ◽  
Trading Behavior ◽  
Market Institutions ◽  
Market Institution ◽  
Simple Rules ◽  
Rules Of Thumb ◽  
Constant Returns To Scale

AbstractWhen alternative market institutions are available, traders have to decide both where and how much to trade. We conducted an experiment where traders decided first whether to trade in an (efficient) double-auction institution or in a posted-offers one (favoring sellers), and second how much to trade. When sellers face decreasing returns to scale (increasing production costs), fast coordination on the double-auction occurs, with the posted-offers institution becoming inactive. In contrast, under constant returns to scale, both institutions remain active and coordination is slower. The reason is that sellers trade off higher efficiency in a market with dwindling profits for biased-up profits in a market with vanishing customers. Hence, efficiency alone might not be sufficient to guarantee coordination on a single market institution if the surplus distribution is asymmetric. Trading behavior approaches equilibrium predictions (market clearing) within each institution, but switching behavior across institutions is explained by simple rules of thumb, with buyers chasing low prices and sellers considering both prices and trader ratios.

scholarly journals First-Line Atezolizumab Plus Bevacizumab versus Sorafenib in Hepatocellular Carcinoma: A Cost-Effectiveness Analysis

Cancers ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (5) ◽  
pp. 931
Author(s):  
Chi-Leung Chiang ◽  
Sik-Kwan Chan ◽  
Shing-Fung Lee ◽  
Horace Cheuk-Wai Choi
Keyword(s):  
Hepatocellular Carcinoma ◽  
Cost Effectiveness ◽  
Lifetime Cost ◽  
Cost Effective ◽  
First Line ◽  
First Line Therapy ◽  
Payer Perspective ◽  
Life Years ◽  
Using Data

Background: The IMbrave 150 trial revealed that atezolizumab plus bevacizumab (atezo–bev) improves survival in patients with unresectable hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) (1 year survival rate: 67.2% vs. 54.6%). We assessed the cost-effectiveness of atezo–bev vs. sorafenib as first-line therapy in patients with unresectable HCC from the US payer perspective. Methods: Using data from the IMbrave 150, we developed a Markov model to compare the lifetime cost and efficacy of atezo–bev as first-line systemic therapy in HCC with those of sorafenib. The main outcomes were life-years, quality-adjusted life-years (QALYs), lifetime costs, and incremental cost-effectiveness ratio (ICER). Results: Atezo–bev demonstrated a gain of 0.44 QALYs, with an additional cost of USD 79,074. The ICER of atezo–bev was USD 179,729 per QALY when compared with sorafenib. The model was most sensitive to the overall survival hazard ratio and body weight. If we assumed that all patients at the end of the IMbrave 150 trial were cured of HCC, atezo–bev was cost-effective (ICER USD 53,854 per QALY). However, if all patients followed the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results data, the ICER of atezo–bev was USD 385,857 per QALY. Reducing the price of atezo–bev by 20% and 29% would satisfy the USD 150,000/QALY and 100,000/QALY willingness-to-pay threshold. Moreover, capping the duration of therapy to ≤12 months or reducing the dosage of bev to ≤10 mg/kg would render atezo–bev cost-effective. Conclusions: The long-term effectiveness of atezo–bev is a critical but uncertain determinant of its cost-effectiveness. Price reduction would favorably influence cost-effectiveness, even if long-term clinical outcomes were modest. Further studies to optimize the duration and dosage of therapy are warranted.

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