Measuring regional differences of construction productive efficiency in China

2019 ◽  
Vol 27 (4) ◽  
pp. 952-974
Author(s):  
Ming Luo ◽  
HQ Fan ◽  
Guiwen Liu
Keyword(s):  
Regional Differences ◽  
Production Efficiency ◽  
Efficient Frontier ◽  
Productive Efficiency ◽  
Advanced Technology ◽  
Eastern Region ◽  
Efficiency Improvement ◽  
Market Demand ◽  
Skilled Workers ◽  
Content Type

Purpose As one of the pillar sectors, China’s construction industry (CE) is not efficient in productivity with large regional gaps over the past decades. It is crucial for stakeholders to have insightful information on regional input of resources and output of productive efficiency for making policies and investment decisions. The purpose of this paper is to develop an efficiency measurement for the CE and explore the regional differences of construction productive efficiency across the three regions of China. Design/methodology/approach Data envelopment analysis (DEA) is an objective benchmarking methodology used for measuring the performance of construction productivity. Distance friction minimization (DFM) approach, based on DEA model, is applied to identify the causes of inefficiency, sources of growth and the optimal paths to efficient frontier for regional CE. Further studies are conducted to provide insightful information for efficiency improvement, according to DFM modeling results and empirical analysis. Findings The results indicate that eastern region leads construction development due to strong performance of coastal provinces. Faced with decreasing supply of skilled workers in developed region, investing more on construction plants and equipment for labor savings is more efficient to the long-term productivity growth of CE in the east. For developing midland region, heavy reliance on cheap manpower should be gradually relieved by allocating more budgets to vocational training and education program to boost quality labor supply, as well as making steady investment on construction equipment and advanced technology. In underdeveloped western region, raising construction labor wages is recommended to attract more workers to meet the market demand and achieve an optimal production efficiency in the CE. Originality/value The findings provide insights into the causes of inefficiency, the sources of growth and the best strategies for efficiency improvement in regional CE, recommendations are made for policy making and strategic planning to enhance the overall performance of China’s construction productive efficiency.

scholarly journals Improving clients’ satisfaction in construction projects: the case of Saudi Arabia

2020 ◽  
Vol 10 (5) ◽  
pp. 709-723
Author(s):  
Fawaz Alshihre ◽  
Ezekiel Chinyio ◽  
Chinny Nzekwe-Excel ◽  
Emmanuel I. Daniel
Keyword(s):  
Saudi Arabia ◽  
Time Management ◽  
Financial Management ◽  
Team Leadership ◽  
Project Managers ◽  
Advanced Technology ◽  
Research Approach ◽  
Skilled Workers ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Adequate Knowledge

PurposeClients’ satisfaction is often associated with performance in the construction industry. Organisations that achieve very high ratings of clients’ satisfaction improve their positions in the marketplace. Many clients are often dissatisfied with their project outcomes. Hence, a research study was carried out to examine the ways project managers and/or contractors perceive the subject of clients’ satisfaction.Design/methodology/approachThe study applied qualitative research methods and followed the interpretivist paradigm and inductive research approach. A total of 30 interviews were conducted with construction project managers and evaluated by a thematic analysis.FindingsThe study identified five prominent factors which the project managers perceived to impact on clients’ satisfaction, which are as follows: effective financial management; use of skilled workers; use of advanced technology; customer relation and time management. Other contributors to clients’ satisfaction include effective team leadership, project monitoring, communication and adequate knowledge and skills.Research limitations/implicationsData collection was limited to Saudi Arabia, but the general methodology used and some of the findings may be applicable beyond this country.Practical implicationsThe findings provide a more informed basis of attaining greater clients’ satisfaction by contractors, especially within and possibly beyond Saudi Arabia. Also, contractors can directly enquire from clients about their satisfaction following project completion.Originality/valueA project manager's perspective and Saudi Arabian orientation of clients’ satisfaction are presented. Also, insight into the multifaceted nature of the factors influencing clients’ satisfaction is provided.

The industrial recovery will be uneven and China-led

2020 ◽  
Keyword(s):  
Supply Chains ◽  
Regional Differences ◽  
Global Supply Chains ◽  
Dislocated Workers ◽  
Market Demand ◽  
Geographic Variations ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Manufacturing Employment ◽  
Manufacturing Performance ◽  
The Impact

Significance While manufacturing is recovering after its sharp contraction during the first wave of shutdowns, the recovery is uneven by sector and region, reflecting the impact of COVID-19 on the structure of market demand, manufacturing capacity and global supply chains. Impacts The major industrial economies bar China have become more dependent on manufactured imports during 2020; this will ease gradually. Production is recovering but manufacturing employment is not, and this will continue; policies to support dislocated workers will be key. Geographic variations in the incidence of COVID-19 will accentuate the sectoral and regional differences in manufacturing performance.

scholarly journals Key competencies for big data analytics professions: a multimethod study

2020 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Ajax Persaud
Keyword(s):  
Big Data ◽  
Text Mining ◽  
Data Analytics ◽  
Big Data Analytics ◽  
Educational Institutions ◽  
Market Demand ◽  
Skilled Workers ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Multimethod Approach ◽  
Skills Shortages

PurposeThis study aims to identify the precise competencies that employers are seeking for big data analytics professions and whether higher education big data programs enable students to acquire the competencies.Design/methodology/approachThis study utilizes a multimethod approach involving three data sources: online job postings, executive interviews and big data programs at universities and colleges. Text mining analysis guided by a holistic competency theoretical framework was used to derive insights into the required competencies.FindingsWe found that employers are seeking workers with strong functional and cognitive competencies in data analytics, computing and business combined with a range of social competencies and specific personality traits. The exact combination of competencies required varies with job levels and tasks. Executives clearly indicate that workers rarely possess the competencies and they have to provide additional training.Research limitations/implicationsA limitation is our inability to capture workers' perspectives to determine the extent to which they think they have the necessary competencies.Practical implicationsThe findings can be used by higher educational institutions to design programs to better meet market demand. Job seekers can use it to focus on the types of competencies they need to advance their careers. Policymakers can use it to focus policies and investments to alleviate skills shortages. Industry and universities can use it to strengthen their collaborations.Social implicationsMuch closer collaborations among public institutions, educational institutions, industry, and community organizations are needed to ensure training programs evolve with the evolving need for skills driven by dynamic technological changes.Originality/valueThis is the first study on this topic to adopt a multimethod approach incorporating the perspectives of the key stakeholders in the supply and demand of skilled workers. It is the first to employ text mining analysis guided by a holistic competency framework to derive unique insights.

Competitiveness and production efficiency across OECD countries

2019 ◽  
Vol 29 (2) ◽  
pp. 160-180 ◽  
Author(s):  
Manuel Salas-Velasco
Keyword(s):  
Production Efficiency ◽  
Production Capacity ◽  
Oecd Countries ◽  
Productive Efficiency ◽  
Point Of View ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Second Stage ◽  
Stage Analysis ◽  
The Impact

PurposeThe purpose of this paper was to measure the efficiency of resource utilization across OECD countries aiming to verify that higher levels of competitiveness enhance the production capacity – the maximum possible output of an economy in a given period with the available resources.Design/methodology/approachThe author used a two-stage procedure to first estimate the cross-sectional efficiency scores of 18 OECD economies by data envelopment analysis, and then to assess the impact of contextual variables on efficiency running regressions in the second-stage analysis. In particular, in the second stage, the author examined the effects of competitiveness on the production efficiency of the countries, while controlling for other independent variables.FindingsThe results confirmed that the higher the level of competitiveness, innovation and sophistication factors predominantly, the higher the level of productive efficiency of the countries analyzed.Originality/valueThe paper is novel because it opens the black box of the aggregate process of production of the conversion of resources into a national product. From the social point of view, it is relevant to know if a country could produce more output with the same resources, such as labor and capital and, therefore, could increase per capita income and social welfare.

The expectations gap for engineering field in Malaysia in the 21st century

2017 ◽  
Vol 25 (2) ◽  
pp. 131-138 ◽  
Author(s):  
Alena Y.T. Tan ◽  
Esyin Chew ◽  
Vineetha Kalavally
Keyword(s):  
First Century ◽  
The Other ◽  
Market Demand ◽  
Skilled Workers ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Face To Face ◽  
Analytical Skills ◽  
Expectations Gap ◽  
Key Issues ◽  
Twenty First Century

Purpose This paper aims to explore the expectations of relevant stakeholders in the engineering field to better understand the demands of the twenty-first century. As the number of unemployed continues to grow in Malaysia, it is evident that as industries continue to develop, demands and new requirements for skilled workers change over time. Design/methodology/approach Through face-to-face interviews, the study explored the expectations of accreditation bodies, industry operators and academics in the engineering field. Findings Three major findings were documented: mismatch of expectations in engineering field across the stakeholders; the expected “must-have-skills” from the perspectives of the stakeholders; and the need to reassess how information transmission is cascaded to all stakeholders and remains relevant to market demand. Research limitations/implications It is recognized that the findings from this study may only be relevant to the engineering field and not to the other different disciplines, but the qualitative findings provide some key issues in understanding the gap between relevant stakeholders that may motivate future studies to further extend into the other disciplines. Practical implications With this mismatch drawn out clearly, all relevant stakeholders would be able to revisit and revaluate their existing strategy in addressing, cascading crucial information and equipping graduates with analytical skills to gain immediate employment in the market. Originality/value A clearer understanding on the expectations and the “must-have-skills” required in the engineering field in the twenty-first century.

scholarly journals Local government debt and regional economic growth in China

2019 ◽  
Vol 2 (2) ◽  
pp. 330-353
Author(s):  
Shiyi Chen ◽  
Wang Li
Keyword(s):  
Economic Growth ◽  
Growth Rate ◽  
Theoretical Model ◽  
Local Government ◽  
Regional Differences ◽  
Government Debt ◽  
Eastern Region ◽  
Content Type ◽  
The Government ◽  
The Impact

Purpose With China’s economic growth slowing down and the growth rate of fiscal revenue decreasing, the pressure on local government debts is further increasing. Under this background, it is of great significance to clarify the relation between local government debts and China’s economic growth in order to give full play to the positive role of local debts in stabling growth. The paper aims to discuss this issue. Design/methodology/approach Therefore, this paper explores the impact of Chinese local government debt on economic growth from theoretical and empirical aspects, respectively, and compares the regional differences between different debts and economic growth dynamics. Findings In the theoretical model part, this paper constructs a three-sector dynamic game model, under the two circumstances of whether local government is subject to debt constraints, and examines the relation between local government debt and economic growth and other variables through numerical simulation. Research shows that when the government is not constrained by debt, there is an inverted “U” relation between government debt and economic growth. When the government is constrained by debt, the economic growth rate gradually decreases as the government debt increases. Originality/value In the theoretical analysis part, this paper tries to estimate the amount of local debts under different calibers and examines the impact of different types of local government debts on China’s economic growth and their regional differences. The results show that excessive accumulation of government hidden debts in the eastern region is not conducive to economic growth, while explicit debts in the central and western regions significantly contribute to local economic growth. The results of empirical analysis are basically consistent with the predictions of the theoretical model.

Resource misallocation and production inefficiency

2018 ◽  
Vol 45 (6) ◽  
pp. 1272-1287 ◽  
Author(s):  
Manuel Salas-Velasco
Keyword(s):  
Production Efficiency ◽  
Oecd Countries ◽  
Training System ◽  
Productive Efficiency ◽  
Point Of View ◽  
Macroeconomic Performance ◽  
Technical Inefficiency ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Aggregated Data ◽  
Explanatory Variables

Purpose Recent studies have linked differences in aggregate productivity to misallocation of resources across firms. In contrast, the purpose of this paper is to study the macroeconomic performance of OECD economies from a production efficiency point of view and estimated the determinants of (in)efficiency with particular emphasis on misallocation of labor. Design/methodology/approach Following the pioneering work of Battese and Coelli, the authors proposed a parametric methodology to construct a world frontier that serves as a benchmark to compare the relative position of each country. The non-negative technical inefficiency effects are assumed to be a function of explanatory variables. By doing this, determinants of technical inefficiency are explicitly introduced in the model. Findings The results revealed that OECD countries to operate efficiently should expand their aggregate output by 22.6 percent without consuming more resources. A novel finding is that higher skill mismatch is associated with higher production inefficiency. Conversely, more flexible labor markets, and better management and human resource practices, lowered the inefficiency in production. The paper also analyzed the underlying factors driving skill misallocation in the job market. In this regard, a well-functioning education and training system and greater flexibility in the determination of wages are associated with lower levels of mismatch between the skills of individuals and those required by the jobs. Practical implications The measurement of the productive efficiency of an economy (or country) is crucial to governments. It is important to know how far a given economy can be expected to increase its output by simply increasing its efficiency, without absorbing further resources. In other words, it is relevant to know if a country could produce more with the same resources and, therefore, could increase per capita income and welfare. In this type of analysis what also matters is to identify what factors or variables explain that greater or lesser ability of a country to convert its resources into aggregate production. Originality/value Much research on efficiency measurement has focused on the firm or industry level, mainly to study the efficiency of financial institutions. Efficiency studies using aggregated data across countries are rare in the literature of efficiency. This paper aimed to contribute to filling that shortage evaluating the macroeconomic performance of a sample of OECD countries from the production efficiency point of view.

scholarly journals Green Agricultural Development Based on Information Communication Technology and the Panel Space Measurement Model

2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (3) ◽  
pp. 1147
Author(s):  
Xueyao Zhang ◽  
Hong Chen
Keyword(s):  
Communication Technology ◽  
Regional Differences ◽  
Agricultural Development ◽  
Least Squares Method ◽  
Information Communication Technology ◽  
Measurement Model ◽  
Eastern Region ◽  
Information Communication ◽  
The Government ◽  
Space Measurement

This study was conducted to promote the construction of China’s ecological civilization; to reduce harm to the environment; to quantify the performance of agricultural green development (GD); and to truly achieve green, sustainable, and healthy agricultural development. From the perspectives of resources and the environment, first, information communication technology and the panel space measurement (PSM) model were adopted to analyze relevant indicator data from 2000 to 2019 in China’s 30 provinces. Second, China’s agriculture was measured to explore the overall characteristics, temporal changes, and regional differences of agricultural development. A panel data measurement model was constructed using the generalized least squares method, and the main factors affecting performance development were analyzed, which were verified by giving examples. Third, the governance countermeasures and improvement directors were proposed for agricultural GD in China. It is found that the driving force of performance of agricultural GD in China mainly depends on technological progress and that technological efficiency determines the speed of agricultural development. The regional differences in performance of agricultural GD are obvious in China. The growth in the performance of agricultural GD in the eastern region is much higher than that of the central, western, and northeast regions. In addition, the results show that the performance of agricultural GD is extremely positively correlated with the agricultural economic level, fiscal support for agriculture policy, and the industrialization process and that it is extremely negatively correlated with the level of opening-up, adjustment of agricultural structure, and the environmental regulatory capability of the government. As a result, this study can provide some ideas for the realization of agriculture GD in China.

Determining the structure of pharmaceutical industry in Iran

2019 ◽  
Vol 13 (1) ◽  
pp. 101-115
Author(s):  
Sara Emamgholipour ◽  
Lotfali Agheli
Keyword(s):  
Pharmaceutical Industry ◽  
Economies Of Scale ◽  
Monopolistic Competition ◽  
Pharmaceutical Market ◽  
Data Availability ◽  
Market Demand ◽  
Firm Level ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Measure Concentration ◽  
Pharmaceutical Industries

Purpose As the pharmaceutical industry is one of the key sectors of the health-care system, the identification of its structure is of particular importance. This paper aims to determine the structure of the pharmaceutical industry in Iran to provide appropriate solutions for pricing and regulation by policymakers. Iran is a growing pharmaceutical market with over $4bn in sales, so the supply side needs to be examined to meet the domestic consumption. Design/methodology/approach This research is a descriptive and retrospective analytical study which examines the Iranian pharmaceutical industry through library studies and using pharmaceutical data of the country’s Food and Drug Administration during 1992-2016. Due to data availability in firm level, the concentration ratio of N leading firms and the Herfindahl–Hirschman index are used to measure the concentration of the pharmaceutical market in 2014 and 2016. Findings The results show that pharmaceutical manufacturing, importing companies and distributing companies play roles in monopolistic competition market, loose oligopoly market and oligopoly market, respectively. For all companies, the magnitudes of Herfindahl–Hirschman indices indicate non-competitive settings. As a result, these companies set their own prices, and market demand affects their sales. In addition, demand for medicines is shaped in the form of supply-induced demand. Research limitations/implications This research was accomplished with no computational limitation. However, it was confined to only one country, one industry and the mentioned period of study. Practical implications The pharmaceutical manufacturers have no influence on medicine prices, and government pricing regulations lessen the market power of such market agents. However, the easy entry to and exit from market stimulate producers to participate in manufacturing activities. The pharmaceutical importers may expand their imports in response to entry new actors; however, the new entrants weaken the coordination on pricing decisions. Social implications As pharmaceutical distributers act in an oligopoly market, they can collude, reduce competition and lower the welfare of pharmaceutical consumers. In such conditions, high investment requirements and economies of scale may discourage the entry of new firms. Originality/value Although there are various studies on market structure in non-pharmaceutical industries, this study is a new effort to measure concentration in the Iranian pharmaceutical market and to determine its structure.

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