The Good, the Bad and the Efficient : Productivity, efficiency and technical change in the Airline Industry, 2004:2008

This study models the joint production of desirable and undesirable output production (that is, CO2 emissions) of airlines. The Malmquist-Luenberger productivity index is employed to measure productivity growth when undesirable output production is regulated and unregulated. The results show that pollution abatement activities of airlines lowers productivity growth which suggests the traditional approach of measuring productivity growth, which ignores CO2 emissions, overstate "true" productivity growth.

The good, the bad, and the efficient: Productivity, efficiency, and technical change in the airline industry, 2004–11

This study models the joint production of desirable and undesirable output production (that is, CO2 emissions) of airlines. The Malmquist–Luenberger productivity index is employed to measure productivity growth when undesirable output production is incorporated into the production model. The results show that pollution abatement activities of airlines lowers productivity growth, which suggests that the traditional approach of measuring productivity growth, which ignores CO2 emissions, overstates ‘true’ productivity growth. The reliability of the results is also tested and verified using confidence intervals based on bootstrapping.

Efficiency and productivity of Singapore’s manufacturing sector 2001-2010: An analysis using Simar and Wilson’s (2007) bootstrapped truncated approach

This paper seeks to explain the lagging productivity in Singapore’s manufacturing noted in the statements of the Economic Strategies Committee Report 2010. Two methods are employed: the Malmquist productivity to measure total factor productivity change and Simar and Wilson’s (J Econ, 136:31–64, 2007) bootstrapped truncated regression approach. In the first stage, the nonparametric data envelopment analysis is used to measure technical efficiency. To quantify the economic drivers underlying inefficiencies, the second stage employs a bootstrapped truncated regression whereby bias-corrected efficiency estimates are regressed against explanatory variables. The findings reveal that growth in total factor productivity was attributed to efficiency change with no technical progress. Most industries were technically inefficient throughout the period except for ‘Pharmaceutical Products’. Sources of efficiency were attributed to quality of worker and flexible work arrangements while incessant use of foreign workers lowered efficiency.

Explaining Economic Growth: Factor Accumulation, Total Factor Productivity Growth, and Production Efficiency Improvement

This paper examines cross-country patterns of economic growth by estimating a stochastic frontier production function for 80 developed and developing countries and decomposing output change into factor accumulation, total factor productivity growth, and production efficiency improvement. In addition, this paper incorporates the quality of inputs in analyzing output growth, where the productivity of capital depends on its average age, while the productivity of labor depends on its average level of education. Our growth decomposition involves five geographic regions - Africa, East Asian, Latin America, South Asia, and the West. Factor growth, especially capital accumulation, generally proves much more important than either the improved quality of factors or total factor productivity growth in explaining output growth. The quality of capital positively and significantly affects output growth in all groups. The quality of labor, however, only possesses a positive and significant effect on output growth in Africa, East Asia, and the West. Labor quality owns a negative and significant effect in Latin America and South Asia.

Productivity performance of Singapore’s retail sector : a two-stage non-parametric approach

This paper seeks to identify and quantify sources of the lagging productivity in Singapore’s retail sector as reported in the Economic Strategies Committee 2010 report. A two-stage analysis is adopted. In the first stage, the Malmquist productivity index is employed which provides measures of productivity change, technological change and efficiency change. In the second stage, technical efficiency estimates are regressed against explanatory variables based on a truncated regression model. Sources of technical efficiency were attributed to quality of workers while product assortment and competition negatively impacted on efficiency.

Student and supervisor productivity change during nutrition and dietetic practice placements : A cohort study

Aim This study aimed to demonstrate how supervisors and students use their time during the three domains of nutrition and dietetic clinical placement and to what extent patient care and non-patient activities change during placement compared to pre- and post- placement. Methods A cohort survey design was used with students from two Queensland universities, and their supervisors in 2010. Participants recorded their time use in either a paper-based or an electronic survey. Supervisors’ and students’ time-use was calculated as independent daily means according to time use categories reported over the length of the placement. Mean daily number of occasions of service, length of occasions of service, project and other time use in minutes was reported as productivity output indicators and the data imputed. A linear mixed modelling approach was used to describe the relationship between the stage of placement and time use in minutes. Results Combined students’ (n= 21) and supervisors’ (n=29) time use as occasions of service or length of occasions of service in patient care activities were significantly different pre, during and post placement. On project-based placements in food service management and community public health nutrition, supervisors’ project activity time significantly decreased during placements with students undertaking more time in project activities. Conclusions This study showed students do not reduce occasions of service in patient care and they enhance project activities in food service and community public health nutrition while on placement. A larger study is required to confirm these results.

Productivity and costs of Beller-Buncher and forest processor in stands of eucalypts in first cut

The rationalization of forest harvesting and minimization costs is a constant search by the managers involved in this process, making them decide practices which are economically viable to optimize that operation. This study aimed to evaluate technically and economically the performance of feller-buncher and the forest processor in stands of eucalypts in first cut. The technique analysis included time and movements, productivity, efficiency operational and mechanical availability. The economic analysis included the parameters operational cost, harvesting cost and energy consumption. Aiming the optimization the cost of forest harvesting, the system composed by feller-buncher and processor forest presented itself as a technically and economically viable alternative to harvesting eucalypt in first cut or stands that do not have bifurcated trees.

Efficiency effects of agricultural economics research in the United States

Allocations of research funds across programs are often made for efficiency reasons. Social science research is shown to have small, lagged but significant effects on U.S. agricultural efficiency when public agricultural R&D and extension are simultaneously taken into account. Farm management and marketing research variables are used to explain variations in estimates of allocative and technical efficiency using a Bayesian approach that incorporates stylized facts concerning lagged research impacts in a way that is less restrictive than popular polynomial distributed lags. Results are reported in terms of means and standard deviations of estimated probability distributions of parameters and long-run total multipliers. Extension is estimated to have a greater impact on both allocative and technical efficiency than either R&D or social science research.

Exploring the challenges to industrialized residential building in China

Industrialised building (IB) is considered by many to have an important role to play in China's residential construction industry due to its potential for improved quality, productivity, efficiency, safety and sustainability. It is surprising, therefore, that although a large number of construction programmes have been completed in the country in recent years, very few have been built in this manner. Quite why this situation exists is unknown. The well-known problems with IB, such as the constraints placed on designer freedom, may be the cause. It is equally possible that, as is typical with developing countries such as China, cost or government issues dominate. On the other hand, in comparison with other countries, the construction industry in China has been widely criticised for its lack of modernity. Either way, there is an urgent need to assess and understand the hindrances to the adoption of IB in residential construction in order to identify what corrective measures, if any, need to be taken. Towards this end, we first identify a set of critical factors (CFs) for assessing the hindrances to IB adoption in China. This involves the analysis of research data collected by a questionnaire survey of experienced housing developers and professionals working in China's construction industry sector. Fuzzy set theory is used in the selection of the CFs. These CFs comprise, in rank order: higher initial cost; lack of skilled labour in IB; manufacturing capability and involvement issues and product quality problems; lack of supply chain; lack of codes and standards; and lack of government incentives, directives and promotion. The establishment of the CFs provides a basis for local construction sectors to better equip themselves for future implementation of IB. The findings also indicate a current need for formulating improved policies and strategies to encourage the further development of IB in China at present.

Porsastuotannon tuottavuuskehitys sikatilinpäätöstiloilla vuosina 2003–2008

Tutkimuksessa mitataan porsastuotannon tuottavuuden kehitystä ProAgrian sikatilinpäätöstiloilla vuosina 2003–2008. Tuottavuutta mitataan Fisher-tuottavuusindeksillä, joka dekomponoidaan tekniseen, allokatiiviseen ja skaalatehokkuuteen sekä teknologiseen kehitykseen ja hintavaikutukseen. Koko aineistosta aggregoidulla tuottavuusindeksillä mitattuna tuottavuus kasvoi viidessä vuodessa yhteensä 14,3 % vuotuisen kasvun ollessa 2,7 %. Tuottajien keskimääräinen tuottavuusindeksi antaa lähes saman tuloksen: sen mukaan tuottavuus kasvaa yhteensä 14,7 %, mikä tekee 2,8 % vuodessa. Skaalatehokkuuden paraneminen havaitaan merkittävimmäksi tuottavuuskasvun lähteeksi. Skaalatehokkuus paranee aggregoidusti mitattuna 1,6 % vuodessa ja tiloilla keskimäärin 2,1 % vuodessa. Teknisen tehokkuuden koheneminen on toinen tuottavuuskasvua edistävä tekijä tutkimusjaksolla. Molemmilla mittaustavoilla nousu on keskimäärin 1,4 % vuodessa. Allokatiivinen tehokkuus laskee hieman: aggregoidusti mitattuna 0,1 % ja keskimäärin 0,4 % vuodessa. Teknologinen kehitys tutkimusjaksolla on lievästi negatiivista, keskimäärin -0,1 % vuodessa. Vuosittaiset vaihtelut ovat kuitenkin voimakkaita. Hintojen muutokset eivät juuri ole vaikuttaneet tuottavuuden tasoon, sillä hintavaikutuksen vuotuiset muutokset jäävät jokaisena vuonna alle puoleen prosenttiin ja keskimääräinen vuotuinen muutos on -0,1 %. Keskeinen tuottavuuskasvua edistänyt tekijä näyttää olleen tilakoon kasvu, joka on parantanut rakenteellista tehokkuutta. Teknologisen kehityksen jääminen negatiiviseksi kuitenkin tarkoittaa, että paras havaittu tuottavuuden taso ei ole noussut lainkaan.

Productivité de manuels scolaires adaptés pour élèves ayant deux années de retard en lecture

La complexité de la tâche qu’est la lecture du français en interaction avec les caractéristiques de la personne qui a un retard de deux ans en lecture, la population cible de cette recherche, place cette dernière en situation d’échec. Tous les processus impliqués dans l’acte de lire en interaction avec ces caractéristiques induisent des échecs et des retards d’apprentissage de la lecture. L’enseignant, qui souhaite utiliser un manuel scolaire tout en intégrant un élève de 3e année ne sachant toujours pas lire, a deux choix : lui offrir un manuel de 1re année, un manuel de 3e année ou adapter lui-même son matériel. Si l’enseignant lui remet un manuel de 1re année, l’élève vit des réussites, mais les thèmes sont infantilisants. Si l’enseignant remet un manuel de 3e année à ce même élève, les thèmes ne sont pas infantilisants, mais le niveau en lecture place ce dernier systématiquement en situation d’échec. Si l’enseignant adapte lui-même le matériel, l’entreprise est grande en charge de travail pour ce dernier. En réponse à ce dilemme, le Groupe DÉFI Accessibilité (GDA) a conçu des manuels scolaires adaptés. Ils sont, à première vue, identiques à la version originale Signet (3e année), mêmes thèmes, mêmes titres, mêmes numéros de pages, mêmes illustrations et mêmes réponses aux deux premières questions de chaque page, mais les textes sont simplifiés afin de permettre la lecture à l’élève de 3e année qui a deux ans de retard dans cette matière. En accord avec une stratégie de design inclusif, la simplification des manuels par le GDA a été réalisée en fonction des caractéristiques d’un groupe de référence reconnu pour avoir de grandes difficultés d’apprentissage de la lecture, soit des élèves qui ont des incapacités intellectuelles (Langevin, Rocque, Ngongang et Chaghoumi, 2012). L’objet de cette thèse est le calcul de la productivité et de l’efficience de ces manuels scolaires adaptés auprès d’élèves qui ont deux années de retard en lecture, la population cible. La méthodologie utilisée pour cette recherche est l’analyse de la valeur pédagogique, une méthode systématique de développement et d’évaluation de produits, procédés ou services, adaptée de l’ingénierie. Cette recherche a pour objet la troisième et dernière phase de l’analyse de la valeur pédagogique, soit l’évaluation des manuels scolaires adaptés. En analyse de la valeur pédagogique, comme pour cette recherche, la mise à l’essai a deux objectifs : comparer le prototype créé au cahier des charges fonctionnel regroupant toutes les fonctions que devrait remplir le produit pour répondre aux besoins de ses utilisateurs potentiels et calculer la productivité/efficience. Puisqu’il s’agit d’une première mise à l’essai, un troisième objectif est ajouté, soit la proposition de pistes d’amélioration au prototype de manuels scolaires adaptés. La mise à l’essai s’est échelonnée sur six mois. L’échantillon regroupe quatre enseignantes de 3e année, deux en classes spéciales et deux en classes régulières. Ces dernières enseignent à 32 élèves utilisateurs des manuels scolaires adaptés : six sont dyslexiques, quatre ont une connaissance insuffisante de la langue française, un a un trouble envahissant du développement avec incapacités intellectuelles et 21 ont des incapacités intellectuelles légères. Les résultats sont présentés sous la forme de trois articles. Les quatre enseignantes ont confirmé la réponse des manuels scolaires adaptés au cahier des charges fonctionnel. De plus, la phase de conception a été jugée efficiente et la phase d’utilisation productive. Il n’y a pas de modification à faire aux manuels scolaires adaptés. Par contre, le guide d’utilisateur doit être modifié, puisque l’outil n’a pas été utilisé tel qu’il était prévu par l’équipe de conception.

Modelo de internacionalización del sector de reciclaje en Colombia

El presente documento se realiza un análisis de tres empresas del sector del reciclaje: Smurfit Kappa Cartón de Colombia S.A., Ecoeficiencia S.A.S y Fibras Nacionales S.A.S, para conocer la aplicación de las teorías de internacionalización y observar cómo se desarrollan en la realidad Colombiana. El sector de reciclaje actualmente es poco explorado y explotado en Colombia, principalmente por el bajo interés del sector público y privado en alcanzar las innumerables ventajas económicas y sociales que éste ofrece, toda vez que, es considerado un sector no formal dentro de la economía colombiana. Más adelante se describe la situación actual de las tres empresas basado en una revisión bibliográfica de las teorías de internacionalización y posteriormente se aplican los conceptos a cada una de las empresas. Finalmente, se propone la ruta de internacionalización del sector del reciclaje en Colombia y un modelo logístico general para que las empresas de este sector lo apliquen y así mejoren sus procesos. Se plantea como estrategia el desarrollo de un Cluster para lograr la efectividad de la ruta de internacionalización del sector del reciclaje. Es necesaria la conformación de una red de empresas, agentes e instituciones públicas y privadas dentro del entorno del reciclaje y el manejo de residuos, para la consolidación del sector. El objetivo es que este documento sirva como medio de consulta para empresarios y empresas interesadas en mejorar el nivel de vida de los recicladores, contribuir con el medio ambiente y mejorar la competitividad y productividad del reciclaje en Colombia, logrando convertirse en un sector de talla mundial. Es importante mencionar que en la medida es que el sector se formalice, los recicladores se verán beneficiados y harán parte importante de una cadena de valor que permitirá mejorar las condiciones actuales del sector y podrán participar activamente en la economía, generando un impacto positivo y global.

Perfil Logístico de Colombia - Plan de Mejoramiento para Agroindustria la María

Colombia es un país cuyo perfil logístico, en comparación a los demás países alrededor del mundo, se encuentra rezagado y con muchas oportunidades de mejora como en la inversión en infraestructura, educación, mitigación de la corrupción y planes para el desarrollo de distintos sectores de la economía como el agroindustrial. El sector agroindustrial colombiano se ha caracterizado por tener muy poca participación en las exportaciones totales del país, y esto es debido a que el sector no se ha tecnificado lo suficiente, como para poder elaborar productos con valor agregado. Es por esta razón que se decide realizar el caso de estudio con una empresa pequeña agroindustrial de Cundinamarca, la cual tiene como enfoque la producción de verduras y hortalizas deshidratadas. Este trabajo de investigación da como resultado, a través del estudio y análisis del sector agrícola nacional en general, del departamento de Cundinamarca y de la operación interna de Agroindustria La María, distintos planes de mejoras los cuales se proponen implementar en la empresa para optimizar el proceso productivo e impulsar el desarrollo hacia un mejoramiento continuo.

Economia da informação, custos de transação e produtividade: um ensaio sobre os retornos das tecnologias de informação

O senso comum de que o investimento em tecnologia deve aumentar a produtividade do trabalho foi questionado por muitos estudos nos últimos anos, que não encontraram correlação positiva entre tais aplicações e as receitas das empresas. Mas foi também apoiado por outros autores que obtiveram provas empíricas de que os retornos desses investimentos deveriam ser medidos por outros indicadores, à parte de dados econômicos setoriais agregados. Procuramos analisar essa dicotomia à luz da Economia da Informação, levantando a hipótese de que as inovações bem planejadas em processos de negócio e na estrutura organizacional, apoiadas pela tecnologia de informação, agregam valor e aumentam a produtividade e eficiência da empresa. Para isso, buscamos centralizar a análise nos custos de transação dos processos de negócio, identificando-os como o núcleo central de qualquer indicador de produtividade com que se possa medir com alguma precisão o impacto de novos insumos ou recursos aplicados aos processos em questão.