Urbanization, Water Supply, and Sanitation in India

2019 ◽  
pp. 576-605
Author(s):  
Surender Kumar
Keyword(s):  
Economies Of Scale ◽  
Service Providers ◽  
Returns To Scale ◽  
Scale Efficiency ◽  
Water And Sanitation ◽  
Service Levels ◽  
Policy Interventions ◽  
Marginal Cost Pricing ◽  
State Of Water ◽  
Indian Cities

The chapter aims to review the state of water and sanitation facilities in Indian cities, and policy interventions undertaken to address inadequacies in the provision of these services. The power-law relationship reveals that greater autonomy in management helps in realizing economies of scale. The chapter also measures technical and scale efficiency in the provision of these services in Indian cities. Estimates of technical efficiency uncover that water and sanitation service providers have the potential to increase service levels by 37 and 48 per cent respectively. Note that most Indian urban water and sanitation utilities are operating at decreasing returns to scale. This implies that services may be charged following the rule of marginal cost pricing. The chapter also finds that there are consumption-metering advantages in improving efficiency of water utilities.

The evidence on the existence of economies Of scale in local government units

2017 ◽  
Vol 1 (2) ◽  
pp. 379 ◽  
Author(s):  
Primož Pevcin
Keyword(s):  
Local Government ◽  
Economies Of Scale ◽  
Returns To Scale ◽  
Scale Economies ◽  
Scale Efficiency ◽  
Data Envelopment ◽  
Administrative Costs ◽  
Government Operation ◽  
Major Reform ◽  
Limited Scale

<p>The purpose of this paper is to empirically verify if the possible existence of scale economies actually supports the argument that municipal consolidation is needed in Slovenia. The major reform of local self-government in Slovenia was implemented in 1994, when the transformation of existing 58 »communal« municipalities was envisaged. From 1995 onwards, the number of municipalities increased to the current number of 212 municipalities. Consequently, the necessity to implement structural reforms of local self-government in Slovenia has been stressed. The arguments favoring municipal amalgamations stressed that country has become too fragmented and municipal amalgamation would enable the reduction of (administrative) costs, and increase efficiency as well as quality of services provided, indicating that technical aspects of local government operation are targeted. Following, technical efficiency of Slovenian municipalities is estimated with the Data Envelopment Analysis (DEA) method, in order to determine if (and which) municipalities are experiencing increasing returns to scale (i.e., scale economies). The results indicate that there is important scale efficiency component, and predominantly very small municipalities are experiencing economies of scale, but their number is relatively low. Therefore, one of the classical arguments for municipal amalgamation, achieving economies of scale, can only be applied at a limited scale. This does not imply that more extensive amalgamation is not warranted, but it demands that other arguments justifying municipal amalgamation should be presented.  </p>

scholarly journals Study on Urban Efficiency Measurement and Spatiotemporal Evolution of Cities in Northwest China Based on the DEA–Malmquist Model

2019 ◽  
Vol 11 (2) ◽  
pp. 434 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jun Yin ◽  
Qingmei Tan
Keyword(s):  
Technical Efficiency ◽  
Economies Of Scale ◽  
High Efficiency ◽  
Returns To Scale ◽  
Northwest China ◽  
Scale Efficiency ◽  
Spatiotemporal Evolution ◽  
Capital Cities ◽  
Low Efficiency ◽  
Constant Returns To Scale

Urban efficiency can effectively measure the management and allocation level of urban factor inputs. Based on the data of 30 prefecture-level cities in Northwest China from 2006 to 2015, urban efficiency is measured by data envelopment analysis (DEA). Then the spatiotemporal evolution rule is identified by Malmquist model. The results illustrate that the overall average urban efficiency of cities in Northwest China each year from 2006 to 2015 was at the low level. Only Jiayuguan, Yulin, Yan’an, and Karamay reached the high average urban efficiency, while Dingxi, Pingliang, Guyuan, Shangluo, Tianshui, Longnan, and Baiyin were at the inefficient level. Most cities in Northwest China were still in the “growing” stage of increasing returns to scale. The scale of urban investment was relatively insufficient, and economies of scale had not yet formed. Cities with decreasing returns to scale were mainly distributed in the capital cities and the central and sub-central cities of Guanzhong-Tianshui Economic Zone with relatively abundant urban resources and capital. Cities with constant returns to scale were mainly distributed in four cities including Yan’an, Yulin, Jiayuguan, and Karamay with high efficiency. The overall comprehensive efficiency, technical efficiency, and scale efficiency of cities in Northwest China were not only low, but also showing a downward trend. The overall progress of urban technology had failed to make up for the shortfall caused by low efficiency, resulting in total factor productivity (TFP) decreasing by 0.5%. Therefore, the cities in Northwest China should continuously improve their technical efficiency and scale efficiency, and ultimately enhance the comprehensive efficiency.

Municipal Efficiency and Economies of Scale in Bosnia and Herzegovina

2018 ◽  
Vol 16 (4) ◽  
pp. 715-734 ◽  
Author(s):  
Aida Soko ◽  
Jelena Zorič
Keyword(s):  
Data Envelopment Analysis ◽  
Bosnia And Herzegovina ◽  
Economic Efficiency ◽  
Economies Of Scale ◽  
Positive Impact ◽  
Returns To Scale ◽  
Efficiency Score ◽  
Full Scale ◽  
Scale Efficiency ◽  
Data Envelopment

This study estimates municipal efficiency and economies of scale of municipalities in Bosnia and Herzegovina by employing data envelopment analysis (DEA) with variable (VRS) and constant (CRS) returns to scale. The results indicate low overall municipal efficiency, with economies of scale reached in very few municipalities. The average municipal efficiency score is 0.7115 under DEA VRS assumption, where only 16% of municipalities are found efficient. The average scale efficiency is 0.7458 with full scale efficiency reached by only 11% of municipalities in Bosnia and Herzegovina. Furthermore, the analysis shows strong positive impact of number of inhabitants on overall municipal efficiency. Politically motivated fragmentation of municipalities, aiming to bring peace and stability to the country, did not go hand in hand with improved economic efficiency.

Data envelopment analysis for estimating efficiency of intensive care units: a case study in Iran

2018 ◽  
Vol 31 (4) ◽  
pp. 276-282 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mohammad Amin Bahrami ◽  
Sima Rafiei ◽  
Mahdieh Abedi ◽  
Roohollah Askari
Keyword(s):  
Intensive Care ◽  
Data Envelopment Analysis ◽  
Intensive Care Units ◽  
Service Providers ◽  
Returns To Scale ◽  
Scale Efficiency ◽  
Data Envelopment ◽  
Comparative Performance ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Low Efficiency

Purpose As hospitals are the most costly service providers in every healthcare systems, special attention should be given to their performance in terms of resource allocation and consumption. The purpose of this paper is to evaluate technical, allocative and economic efficiency in intensive care units (ICUs) of hospitals affiliated by Yazd University of Medical Sciences (YUMS) in 2015. Design/methodology/approach This was a descriptive, analytical study conducted in ICUs of seven training hospitals affiliated by YUMS using data envelopment analysis (DEA) in 2015. The number of physicians, nurses, active beds and equipment were regarded as input variables and bed occupancy rate, the number of discharged patients, economic information such as bed price and physicians’ fees were mentioned as output variables of the study. Available data from study variables were retrospectively gathered and analyzed through the Deap 2.1 software using the variable returns to scale methodology. Findings The study findings revealed the average scores of allocative, economic, technical, managerial and scale efficiency to be relatively 0.956, 0.866, 0.883, 0.89 and 0.913. Regarding to latter three types of efficiency, five hospitals had desirable performance. Practical implications Given that additional costs due to an extra number of manpower or unnecessary capital resources impose economic pressure on hospitals also the fact that reduction of surplus production plays a major role in reducing such expenditures in hospitals, it is suggested that departments with low efficiency reduce their input surpluses to achieve the optimal level of performance. Originality/value The authors applied a DEA approach to measure allocative, economic, technical, managerial and scale efficiency of under-study hospitals. This is a helpful linear programming method which acts as a powerful and understandable approach for comparative performance assessment in healthcare settings and a guidance for healthcare managers to improve their departments’ performance.

scholarly journals Tracking user satisfaction of rural water services in northern Ghana

2018 ◽  
Vol 8 (2) ◽  
pp. 307-318 ◽  
Author(s):  
T. C. Kumasi ◽  
Benjamin Dawurah Agbemor
Keyword(s):  
User Satisfaction ◽  
Financial Management ◽  
Service Providers ◽  
Northern Ghana ◽  
Water And Sanitation ◽  
Service Levels ◽  
Water Users ◽  
Lack Of Information ◽  
And Performance ◽  
District Assemblies

Abstract The article discusses the level of user satisfaction with actual handpump service levels and performance of service providers. In this paper, we outline some contradiction between actual service levels, performance of service providers and perception of water users. The findings suggest that users appeared satisfied with quantity and reliability of water facilities. In contrast, they were not satisfied with the time it takes them to access water, especially when the quantity of water diminishes. The sad irony is that tariffs are perceived affordable yet users are unwilling to pay for water. Their responses paint a picture of a payment system that is geared at reactive maintenance over preventative maintenance regime. It is worth noting here that this phenomenon raises questions on the sustainability of water systems when sound financial management is key to sustaining services. Service providers were perceived to perform better than they actually did. Perhaps this was due to lack of information and ignorance on the roles of service providers. In this regard it is imperative that the Community Water and Sanitation Agency (CWSA), implementing partners, the district assemblies and Water and Sanitation Management Teams (WSMTs) take steps to address the technical, social, financial and institutional factors during the planning, implementation and post-construction support which invariably affect sustainability.

Measuring the performance of water service providers in urban India: implications for managing water utilities

Water Policy ◽  
2012 ◽  
Vol 14 (3) ◽  
pp. 391-408 ◽  
Author(s):  
Shreekant Gupta ◽  
Surender Kumar ◽  
Gopal K. Sarangi
Keyword(s):  
Service Providers ◽  
Returns To Scale ◽  
Supply System ◽  
Water Utilities ◽  
Data Envelopment ◽  
Urban Water ◽  
Urban Water Supply ◽  
Domestic Water ◽  
Functional Autonomy ◽  
Indian Cities

This study assesses the efficiency of the urban water supply system in 27 selected Indian cities. It applies data envelopment analysis (DEA) as an analytical tool to measure technical efficiency. Cities are categorized into different groups according to the management structure of their water utilities. The results show that within groups, the utilities that are managed by ‘municipal corporations (MCs) and parastatals', with a certain amount of functional autonomy, perform better in comparison to the group ‘MCs and government’ and thus, strengthen the hypothesis that functional autonomy in management leads to better performance of the water utilities. Moreover, the results also have implications for urban domestic water pricing. We find that most water utilities are operating under decreasing returns to scale (DRS), implying that water should be priced at a marginal cost of supply.

scholarly journals Efficiency and Productivity Evaluation of the Moroccan Judicial System

2021 ◽  
Vol 17 (27) ◽  
pp. 282
Author(s):  
Yassine Achenchabe ◽  
Mohammed Akaaboune
Keyword(s):  
Technical Change ◽  
Economies Of Scale ◽  
Returns To Scale ◽  
Malmquist Index ◽  
Scale Efficiency ◽  
Productivity Change ◽  
Judicial Reform ◽  
Data Envelopment ◽  
Efficiency And Productivity ◽  
Positive Effect

This paper focuses on measuring the efficiency and productivity change in 110 Moroccan courts between 2013 and 2018, which is the period of implementation of the judicial reform. The study also measures the technical and scale efficiency using the Data Envelopment Analysis method under output orientation. The Malmquist index was used to measure the productivity change decomposed into efficiency and technical change. The results show a low level of courts efficiency of 53.2%, with increasing returns to scale for most courts except administrative ones. The total factor productivity of courts shows an improvement of 6.3%, mainly due to technical change, except for the commercial courts whose productivity deteriorated during the study period. These results show the positive effect of the reform. Courts still have a margin for improving their efficiency by increasing inputs in order to benefit from economies of scale or by improving judges' productivity.

Evaluating Pedestrian Crash-Prone Locations to Formulate Policy Interventions for Improved Safety and Walkability at Sidewalks and Crosswalks

2021 ◽  
pp. 036119812110041
Author(s):  
Mallikarjun Patil ◽  
Bandhan Bandhu Majumdar ◽  
Prasanta K. Sahu
Keyword(s):  
Condition Index ◽  
Signal Timing ◽  
Physical Separation ◽  
Weighted Sum Method ◽  
Policy Interventions ◽  
Research Findings ◽  
Exclusive Right ◽  
Hierarchy Process ◽  
Intersection Control ◽  
Indian Cities

This study presents a methodology for evaluating a set of crash-prone sidewalk and crosswalk locations in an urban area with respect to their existing walkability condition and recommending improvement needs. Initially, a set of 15 sidewalk specific and 10 crosswalk specific attributes relevant to India were identified from the literature. Subsequently, the analytical hierarchy process was used to estimate relative weights associated with the attributes from the perspective of relevant experts. A weighted sum method was then used to formulate a Sidewalk Condition Index (SCI) and Crosswalk Condition Index (CCI) for evaluating the condition of the existing pedestrian sidewalks and crosswalk infrastructures. Ten locations across Hyderabad with the highest pedestrian fatalities during the last three calendar years were selected as study locations. The location specific SCI and CCI estimates were used to prioritize the locations with regard to their existing condition and infrastructural requirements. Results indicated that sidewalk attributes such as sidewalk lighting, cleanliness, physical separation of traffic, and traffic speed, and crosswalk attributes such as conflicts with crossing traffic, crosswalk illumination, and intersection control, influenced safety and walkability significantly. Measures such as the provision of exclusive right-of-way for pedestrians, maintaining the sidewalk quality, enforcing no jaywalking, re-design of signal timing with pedestrian phase, and provision of zebra crossings and refuge islands, would improve walkability at pedestrian crash-prone locations across Hyderabad. This proposed methodology and the research findings could act as a critical tool to improve the overall safety and walkability of sidewalks and crosswalks in Indian cities.

scholarly journals Does Farm Size and Specialization Matter for Productive Efficiency? Results from Kansas

2011 ◽  
Vol 43 (4) ◽  
pp. 515-528 ◽  
Author(s):  
Amin W. Mugera ◽  
Michael R. Langemeier
Keyword(s):  
Data Envelopment Analysis ◽  
Technical Efficiency ◽  
Production Technology ◽  
Returns To Scale ◽  
Productive Efficiency ◽  
Farm Size ◽  
Scale Efficiency ◽  
Data Envelopment ◽  
Sample Period ◽  
Analysis Techniques

In this article, we used bootstrap data envelopment analysis techniques to examine technical and scale efficiency scores for a balanced panel of 564 farms in Kansas for the period 1993–2007. The production technology is estimated under three different assumptions of returns to scale and the results are compared. Technical and scale efficiency is disaggregated by farm size and specialization. Our results suggest that farms are both scale and technically inefficient. On average, technical efficiency has deteriorated over the sample period. Technical efficiency varies directly by farm size and the differences are significant. Differences across farm specializations are not significant.

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