The inefficiency of Vietnamese prawn-rice rotational crops: a slacks-based data envelopment analysis

2020 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Thi Anh Ngoc Pham ◽  
Ho Huu Loc ◽  
Dung Duc Tran ◽  
Nguyen Hong Quan
Keyword(s):  
Returns To Scale ◽  
Mekong Delta ◽  
Farming System ◽  
Truncated Regression ◽  
Technical Inefficiency ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Ecological Zones ◽  
Water Surface Area ◽  
Input And Output ◽  
Production Areas

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to investigate the input- and output-specific technical inefficiency of Vietnamese prawn-rice rotational crops (PRRC) and to identify the impacts of the socio-economic characteristics of farmers and farms on these technical inefficiencies.Design/methodology/approachThis study first used a Russell-type (input-output) directional distance function to estimate the input- and output-specific technical inefficiency. Second, it applied a bootstrap truncated regression to analyze the factors influencing these technical inefficiencies. Data were gathered through a survey among 94 farmers, from Ben Tre and Kien Giang provinces, the two popular PRRC areas in the Mekong Delta.FindingsResults show that Vietnamese PRRC farmers could reduce the water surface area by 3%, the use of seedlings by 15%, labor by 16%, fertilizers by 26%, and the use of others by 24%, while simultaneously increasing the revenue of farming system by 57% relative to the variable returns to scale (VRS) frontier. Farmers with more years of experience are generally better in managing the use of seedlings and in improvement of revenue. Farmers in Kien Giang province are more efficient in achieving revenue of the PRRC farming system than farmers in Ben Tre province.Research limitations/implicationsOutcomes of this study are useful to identify strategies in minimizing the use of inputs while simultaneously maximizing PRRC production.Originality/valueThis paper relates to the comparison of two mostly different ecological zones, being the dominant production areas of PRRC, in which, Kien Giang represents the western part, while Ben Tre is in the eastern part of the Vietnam’s Mekong Delta. The findings not only expand the current understanding but also suggest various meaningful research questions regarding the development of Vietnamese PRRC under the impacts of climate change. The study also contributes to the literature on examining the input- and output-specific technical inefficiencies and influencing factors.

scholarly journals Measuring and explaining multi-directional inefficiency in the Malaysian dairy industry

2017 ◽  
Vol 119 (12) ◽  
pp. 2788-2803 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nurul Aisyah Binti Mohd Suhaimi ◽  
Yann de Mey ◽  
Alfons Oude Lansink
Keyword(s):  
Production Systems ◽  
Dairy Industry ◽  
Farming System ◽  
Dairy Farming ◽  
Truncated Regression ◽  
Dairy Farmers ◽  
Technical Inefficiency ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Factors Affecting ◽  
Farm Finance

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to measure the technical inefficiency of dairy farms and subsequently investigate the factors affecting technical inefficiency in the Malaysian dairy industry. Design/methodology/approach This study uses multi-directional efficiency analysis to measure the technical inefficiency scores on a sample of 200 farm observations and single-bootstrap truncated regression model to define factors affecting technical inefficiency. Findings Managerial and program inefficiency scores are presented for intensive and semi-intensive production systems. The results reveal marked differences in the inefficiency scores across inputs and between production systems. Practical implications Intensive systems generally have lowest managerial and program inefficiency scores in the Malaysian dairy farming sector. Policy makers could use this information to advise dairy farmers to convert their farming system to the intensive system. Social implications The results suggest that the Malaysian Government should redefine its policy for providing farm finance and should target young farmers when designing training and extension programs in order to improve the performance of the dairy sector. Originality/value The existing literature on Southeast Asian dairy farming has neither focused on investigating input-specific efficiency nor on comparing managerial and program efficiency. This paper aims to fill this gap.

Determinants of cargo and eco-efficiencies of global container shipping companies

2020 ◽  
Vol 31 (4) ◽  
pp. 753-775
Author(s):  
Kuo-Cheng Kuo ◽  
Wen-Min Lu ◽  
Qian Long Kweh ◽  
Minh-Hieu Le
Keyword(s):  
Returns To Scale ◽  
Ordinary Least Squares ◽  
Environmental Issue ◽  
Container Shipping ◽  
Shipping Industry ◽  
Truncated Regression ◽  
Strategic Decisions ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Second Stage ◽  
Variable Returns To Scale

PurposeThis study aims to evaluate cargo and eco-efficiency of global container shipping companies (CSCs) and explore the determinants of the CSCs' efficiencies. While the former is derived from the CSCs' operational perspective, the latter highlights environmental issue related to carbon emission reduction.Design/methodology/approachIn the first stage, a two-stage double bootstrap approach of data envelopment analysis (DEA) is applied to derive bias-corrected cargo and eco-efficiency of the top ten global CSCs under the variable returns to scale assumption. In the second stage, ordinary least squares and truncated regression are applied to examine determinants of the CSCs' efficiencies.FindingsThe DEA results reveal that the cargo efficiency of the CSCs is higher than their eco-efficiency by about 2.6% under variable returns to scale in DEA. However, the bias-corrected results show that the difference is 2.9%. The overall average efficiencies suggest that the CSCs can improve their cargo (eco) efficiency by 6.9% (10.8%). In the second stage, the regression results show that the numbers of ship, return on assets and asset turnover ratio are significantly related to both cargo and eco-efficiencies, whereas the total fleet capacity positively affects cargo efficiency.Research limitations/implicationsThe results of this study can help the inefficient CSCs make strategic decisions to improve their performance. For example, their business experience and capacity may be contributing to their efficiencies. However, this study only focuses on the container market among the three main markets, namely, dry bulk, wet bulk and container.Originality/valueThis study highlights an environmental issue in the shipping industry. While CSCs are operating their cargo efficiently in general, they should also put green initiatives into their business operations for the long-term sustainability.

scholarly journals Optimal solutions of multiplier DEA models

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Victor V. Podinovski ◽  
Tatiana Bouzdine-Chameeva
Keyword(s):  
Returns To Scale ◽  
Scale Production ◽  
Optimal Solutions ◽  
Optimal Input ◽  
Input And Output ◽  
Decision Making Unit ◽  
Dea Models ◽  
Constraint Structure ◽  
Conventional Models ◽  
Almost All

AbstractConventional models of data envelopment analysis (DEA) are based on the constant and variable returns-to-scale production technologies. Any optimal input and output weights of the multiplier DEA models based on these technologies are interpreted as being the most favorable for the decision making unit (DMU) under the assessment when the latter is benchmarked against the set of all observed DMUs. In this paper we consider a very large class of DEA models based on arbitrary polyhedral technologies, which includes almost all known convex DEA models. We highlight the fact that the conventional interpretation of the optimal input and output weights in such models is generally incorrect, which raises a question about the meaning of multiplier models. We address this question and prove that the optimal solutions of such models show the DMU under the assessment in the best light in comparison to the entire technology, but not necessarily in comparison to the set of observed DMUs. This result allows a clear and meaningful interpretation of the optimal solutions of multiplier models, including known models with a complex constraint structure whose interpretation has been problematic and left unaddressed in the existing literature.

Verifying the sustainability factors of mega transportation infrastructure: Sydney Metro’s commissioning through the “significance matrix” methodology

2021 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Koorosh Gharehbaghi ◽  
Kerry McManus ◽  
Maged Georgy ◽  
Ken Farnes ◽  
Francesca Pagliara ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Best Practice ◽  
Transportation Infrastructure ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Ecological Zones ◽  
Key Stakeholders ◽  
Comprehensive Determination ◽  
Transportation Infrastructures ◽  
Sustainability Challenges

Purpose Through the significance matrix, this paper aims to investigate and explore the main sustainability factors of mega transportation infrastructure projects. Sydney’s Metro mega transportation infrastructure is used as a case study. Sydney’s Metro was selected because of its sustainability challenges faced because of the areas’ diverse ecological zones. Sydney’s Metro is thus examined as the basis of best practice for the determination of the sustainability factors of transportation infrastructures. Design/methodology/approach Using the significance matrix as a methodology, this research evaluates the environmental impact assessment and environmental assessment processes, to alleviate the problems of the mega transportation infrastructure. Findings This research found that a more comprehensive determination is needed to further analyse the sustainability factors of mega transportation infrastructures, use of a significance matrix would further assess the environmental complexities of mega transportation infrastructures and the sustainability factors of mega transportation infrastructures should include a nonlinear and asymmetrical scheme highlighting its components and carefully outlining its integration and consolidation. Originality/value Although there is concurrent research into sustainability factors of mega transportation, this paper undertakes a new methodology for such infrastructure. While the significance matrix is not a new concept, it has never been used specifically for mega transportation infrastructure. Subsequently, using the significance matrix as a methodology, this research undertakes such environmental analysis and assessment and thus produces a qualitative risk analysis matrix. The findings from this research will ultimately assist the key stakeholders of mega transportation infrastructures to better plan, monitor and support similar projects.

Does capacity utilisation influence financial performance? A study of Indian public bus transport companies

2021 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Shivam Kushwaha ◽  
Shankar Prawesh ◽  
Anand Venkatesh
Keyword(s):  
Financial Performance ◽  
Public Transport ◽  
Ordinary Least Squares ◽  
Positive Influence ◽  
Data Envelopment ◽  
Truncated Regression ◽  
Capacity Utilisation ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Unit Increase ◽  
Unused Capacity

PurposeThe objective of the paper is to get a better understanding of capacity utilisation (CU) in Indian public bus companies. More specifically, this paper would be measuring CU and identifying the drivers of the same. Finally, the influence of CU on the financial performance of Indian bus companies is examined.Design/methodology/approachThe study adopted data envelopment analysis (DEA) to measure the CU in Indian public bus companies. Truncated regression was used to identify the drivers of CU. Subsequently, the ordinary least squares (OLS) regression was used to analyse the influence of CU on Indian bus companies' financial performance. The period of study was from 2013 to 17.FindingsThe significant drivers of CU were fleet age, passenger lead and fleet utilisation. Additionally, it was found that CU had a significant positive influence on the financial performance of Indian public bus companies and a unit increase in unused capacity has led to an increase of 7% in the operating ratio of the bus companies.Practical implicationsGetting insights into CU, apart from technical efficiency, is of immense use to both public transport researchers and practitioners. Managers of public bus companies should be mindful of CU as it has a significant bearing on their financial performance.Originality/valueThis is the first study in public transport, which establishes the linkage between CU and financial performance. Besides, a modified measure of cost-efficiency has also been conceptualised in this study.

Determining the factors affecting the technical efficiency scores of public hospitals using different regression methods

2021 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Bayram Şahin ◽  
Gülnur İlgün ◽  
Seda Sönmez
Keyword(s):  
Public Hospitals ◽  
Regression Analyses ◽  
Tobit Regression ◽  
Control Variables ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Factors Affecting ◽  
Provincial Level ◽  
Regression Methods ◽  
Input And Output ◽  
Dea Method

PurposeThis study aims to identify the efficiency scores of hospitals affiliated to the Ministry of Health in Turkey between the years of 2010–2015 at provincial level and to reveal the factors that affect the efficiency scores.Design/methodology/approachThe two-stage data envelopment analysis (DEA) method was used to achieve the study purpose. In the first stage, DEA method based on input-oriented Charnes–Cooper–Rhodes (CCR) model was performed to calculate the efficiency scores of public hospitals at the provincial level between 2010 and 2015, and in the second stage, Tobit regression and linear regression analyses were used to identify whether the efficiency scores of provinces are affected by the input, output and control variables.FindingsUpon the analysis, the average efficiency scores of 81 provinces by years were found to vary between 0.79 and 0.89. According to both regression analyses, all of the input and output variables were found to have significant effects on the efficiency scores of provinces while only the population of province among the control variables was identified as the factor with an effect on the efficiency scores of provinces (p < 0.05).Practical implicationsThe results of this study are thought to guide health policymakers and managers in terms of both determining efficient and inefficient hospitals at the provincial level and revealing which variables should be taken into account in order to increase efficiency.Originality/valueThe study differs from previous studies on the efficiency of hospitals. First, although previous studies were generally descriptive studies to determine the efficiency level of hospitals, this study is an analytical study that tries also to show the factors affecting the efficiency of hospitals. In addition, while examining the effect of input and output variables on efficiency scores, control variables were also included in the study.

Shareholder activism impact on efficiency in Brazil

2019 ◽  
Vol 19 (1) ◽  
pp. 141-157 ◽  
Author(s):  
Paula Guimaraes ◽  
Ricardo P.C. Leal ◽  
Peter Wanke ◽  
Matthew Morey
Keyword(s):  
Shareholder Activism ◽  
Efficiency Score ◽  
Data Envelopment ◽  
Truncated Regression ◽  
Two Stage ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Financial Characteristics ◽  
Long Term Impact ◽  
A Company

Purpose This paper aims to investigate the long-term impact of shareholder activism on Brazilian listed companies. Design/methodology/approach This study uses a sample of 194 companies in 2010, 2012 and 2014 and a two-stage data envelopment analysis to generate an efficiency score based on corporate governance, ownership structure and financial characteristics of companies. In the second stage, the study applies a bootstrap truncated regression to identify whether there is a relationship between the efficiency scores and a company-level activism index. Findings The results show a negative correlation between the efficiency scores and the activism index, suggesting that activist shareholders tend to target less efficient companies. A time analysis over the period 2010-2014 does not offer evidence of impacts of activism on changes of the efficiency scores. Practical implications Activist shareholders target less efficient companies. Shareholder activism increased after regulation that facilitated shareholder voting and required greater company transparency was introduced. Originality/value The two-stage nature of the procedure used in the analysis ascertains that this result is not spurious, assuring data separability between productive resources and contextual variables. This study contributes to the scarce literature on activism in emerging markets.

Fuzzy overall equipment effectiveness and line performance measurement using artificial neural network

2019 ◽  
Vol 25 (2) ◽  
pp. 340-354 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mahsa Fekri Sari ◽  
Soroush Avakh Darestani
Keyword(s):  
Fuzzy Inference ◽  
Intelligent System ◽  
Data Gathering ◽  
Linguistic Terms ◽  
Automatic Data ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Smart Systems ◽  
Input And Output ◽  
Artificial Neural ◽  
Uncertain Input

Purpose The overall equipment effectiveness (OEE) is a powerful metric in production as well as one of the methods in evaluating function for measuring productivity in the production process. In the existing method, measuring OEE is based on three main elements consisting availability, performance and quality. The purpose of this paper is to evaluate the recognized metrics of production: OEE and overall line effectiveness (OLE) by using smart systems techniques. Design/methodology/approach In this paper, to improve the calculative methods and productivity with three methods: measuring OEE using Mamdani fuzzy inference systems (FIS), measuring OEE using Sugeno FIS, and measuring OLE using FIS and artificial neural networks (ANNs) are proposed. Findings The proposed methodologies aim to decrease some weaknesses of OEE and OLE methods by exploiting intelligent system techniques, such as FIS and ANNs. In particular, this research will solve the following issues that occur in manual and automatic data gathering. This technique is an effective way of measuring OEE and OLE with regard to different weights of losses as well as difference in the weight of the machines. In addition, it allows the operator’s knowledge to take a part in the measurement using uncertain input and output with implementation of linguistic terms. The presented method is the details and capabilities of those methods in various tested scenarios, and the results have been fully analyzed. Originality/value In relation to other methodologies, it allows the operator’s knowledge to take part in the measurement using uncertain input and output with implementation of linguistic terms. The presented method is the details and capabilities of those methods in various tested scenarios, and the results have been fully analyzed.

“Tree against hunger”: potential of enset-based culinary tourism for sustainable development in rural Ethiopia

2021 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Tamagn Urgo Woyesa ◽  
Satinder Kumar
Keyword(s):  
Rural Development ◽  
Farming System ◽  
Cultural Development ◽  
Local Economy ◽  
Rural Tourism ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Culinary Tourism ◽  
Depth Interview ◽  
Conceptual Study

PurposeThis is a conceptual study to analyze the potential of enset-based culinary tourism for sustainable rural development and to obtain a place as a niche tourism market in South-Western Ethiopia. It assumed enset agro-biodiversity as the effect of ages of environment, genetic resources and cultural interaction as a distinctive regional image.Design/methodology/approachThis an exploratory paper based on an in-depth interview, field observation and content analysis of documents. By means of in-depth interviews, the researchers managed to gather extended information from community elders and experts in culture and tourism offices selected based on a snowball technique. Besides, it has gone through systematic reviews of about 180 empirical and conceptual articles, books and conference papers with a critical reading of the content, identification of categories, examination and interpretation of ideas, to supplement the in-depth-interview. The thematic analysis applied to identify various ideas, concepts, categories and relationships to produce themes presented under discussion and results.FindingsThe study found enset-based culinary tourism not only improve the local economy and regional image, but also it would enhance conservation of traditional farming system, biodiversity, food heritages, genetic varieties and livestock. It also identified 18 enset food varieties compatible with the principle of balanced diets. Finally, the study advised rural development planners to consider enset-based culinary tourism so that it would revive lost food traditions and consumption patterns, enhance the regional heritage and destination branding.Research limitations/implicationsThe research is a conceptual study that lacked empirical investigation concerning the livelihood impact, gender implication and actual tourist data. Therefore, future research needs to focus on the aforementioned limitations.Practical implicationsThis study addressed SW Ethiopia, which is the primary center of Ensete ventricosum, and argued that enset-based culinary tourism would help to build regional image and obtain a place as a niche rural tourism destination. It would also contribute to the conservation of food heritages, environmentally sustainable farming system, soil conservation, crop diversities and livestock population in addition to producing tourist experience. Moreover, it would encourage the revival of traditional consumption, reinvent lost food traditions and identities.Social implicationsIt was hoped that rural tourism would eventually improve the livelihood and enhance the capability of resilience. It is also expected to maintain the traditional social-economic structure based on the enset farm while fostering cultural development.Originality/valueTo the knowledge of the researchers there is no previous work on enset based-culinary tourism in Ethiopia and probably there is no published culinary tourism paper elsewhere.

Productivity growth, catching-up and technology innovation in microfinance institutions in India: evidence using a bootstrap Malmquist Index approach

2021 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Asif Khan ◽  
Rachita Gulati
Keyword(s):  
Productivity Growth ◽  
Productivity Index ◽  
Productivity Change ◽  
Microfinance Institutions ◽  
Truncated Regression ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Tfp Growth ◽  
Catching Up ◽  
Double Bootstrap ◽  
Size Groups

PurposeThis paper aims to examine the total factor productivity (TFP) change and its components: efficiency change and technical change in microfinance institutions (MFIs) in India operating from 2005 to 2018. The study also scrutinizes the variations in productivity levels across the distinct organizational form and size groups of MFIs. In addition to this, the authors identify the contextual factors that determine TFP growth, catching-up and technology innovation in MFIs.Design/methodology/approachThe study employs a smooth homogeneous bootstrap estimation procedure of Simar and Wilson (1999) for obtaining reliable estimates of Malmquist indices –productivity and its components – in a data envelopment analysis (DEA) framework for individual MFIs. In order to identify the determinants of productivity change and its components, the study follows Simar and Wilson's (2007) guidelines and applies a bootstrap truncated regression model. The double bootstrap procedure performs well, both in terms of allowing correct estimation of bias and deriving statistically consistent productivity estimates in the first and root mean square errors in the second stage of the analysis.FindingsThe empirical results reveal that the MFIs have shown average productivity growth of 6.70% during the entire study period. The observed productivity gains are primarily contributed by a larger efficiency increase at the rate of 4.80%, while technical progress occurs at 2.3%. Nonbanking financial companies (NBFC)-MFIs outperformed non-NBFC-MFIs. Small MFIs show the highest TFP growth in terms of size groups, followed by the large MFIs and medium MFIs. The bootstrap truncated regression results suggest that the credit portfolio, size and age of MFIs matter in achieving higher productivity levels.Practical implicationsThe practical implication drawn from the study is that the Indian MFI industry might adopt the latest technology and innovations in the products, risk assessment and credit delivery to improve their productivity levels. The industry must focus on enhancing the managerial skill of its employees to achieve a high productivity level.Originality/valueThis study is perhaps the initial attempt to explain the productivity behavior of MFIs in India by deploying a statistically robust double bootstrap procedure in the DEA-based Malmquist Productivity Index (MPI) framework. The authors estimate the bias-adjusted productivity index and its decompositions, which represent more reliable and statistically consistent estimates. For contextual factors responsible for driving productivity change, the study deploys a bootstrap truncated regression approach.

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