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Background： Tertiary hospitals serve as the medical service center within the region and play an important role in the medical and health service system. They are also the key targets of public hospital reform in the new era in China. Through the reform of health system, the public hospital efficiency has changed remarkably. Therefore, this study aimed to provide some advice for efficiency assessment of public hospitals in China by comparing and analyzing the consistency of results obtained by three commonly used methods for examining hospital efficiency, that is, ratio analysis （RA）, stochastic frontier analysis （SFA）, and data envelopment analysis （DEA）. Methods： The theoretical basis, operational processes, and the application status of RA, SFA, and DEA were learned through literature analysis. Then, the empirical analysis was conducted based on measured data from 51 tertiary public hospitals in Beijing from 2009 to 2011. Results： The average values of hospital efficiency calculated by SFA with index screening and principal component analysis （PCA） results and those calculated by DEA with index screening results were relatively stable. The efficiency of specialized hospitals was higher than that of general hospitals and that of traditional Chinese medicine hospitals. The results obtained by SFA with index screening results and the results obtained by S FA with PCA results showed a relatively high correlation （r-value in 2009, 2010, and 2011 were 0.869, 0.753, and 0.842, respectively, P 〈 0.01）. The correlation between results obtained by DEA with index screening results and PCA results and results obtained by other methods showed statistical significance, but the correlation between results obtained by DEA with index screening results and PCA results was lower than that between results obtained by SFA with index screening results and PCA results. Conclusions： RA is not suitable for multi-index evaluation of hospital efficiency. In the given conditions, SFA is a stable efficiency analysis method. In the evaluation of hospital efficiency, DEA combined with PCA should be adopted with caution due to its poor stability.

Despite an expansion of production, pangasius farmers have experienced economic challenges in Vietnam. The aim of this study was to identify optimum economic alternatives for pangasius farmers. A single-stage stochastic frontier analysis was used to estimate the economic efficiency of pangasius farms and investigate the farm size–economic efficiency relationship using cross-sectional data collected on Vietnamese pangasius farms. The study found a nonlinear relationship between farm size and economic efficiency, with economic efficiency increasing until the farm area reached a threshold of 26.9 ha, then falling due to transaction and agency costs under asymmetric information. The farming experience of the decision-makers negatively affected efficiency. Similar to previous studies, we found feed and fingerling costs were essential input factors for farms. Based on these results, we recommend three strategies for improving the economic efficiency of farms are: providing timely market information to farmers; determining the optimal farming scale depending upon the specific farmer’s available resources; and using a good quality of fingerlings and feed.

Assessing inbound tourism efficiency helps to understand the potential levels and constraints of inbound tourism flows. In this study, 35 European countries and China were selected as samples and influencing factors oftourism efficiency were constructed within the gravity model (GM) and stochastic frontier analysis (SFA). Taking into account individual heterogeneity, a true fixed-effects stochastic frontier gravity model (TFE-SFA-GM) was developed and empirically analysed using data from 2006 to 2019. The results show that (1) the inbound tourism efficiency of European countries in China is jointly affected by many core factors, such as economic scale, geographic distance, and population size on both sides; (2) the inefficiency factors that affect the inbound tourism efficiency of European countries in China are diversified;(3) the inbound tourism efficiency of European countries in China generally shows an upward trend during the sample period, but there are significant differences in the gap between the frontier level of inbound tourism flow in China and the actual inbound tourism flow. These findings imply that to better attract European tourists, China must continue to maintain and strengthen economic and trade relations with European countries, create a favourable security environment for tourism, highlight the integration of international tourism resources with Chinese culture, and continue to promote them in Europe.

This research was aimed to study and analyze the costs, revenues, and profits of meat chicken breeding projects. The study also estimating the random frontier profit function, the profit inefficiency function and profit efficiency which based on cross-sectional data that included 59 projects for raising meat poultry in Waist governorate in 2020.The results of the analysis showed through the descriptive analysis of the cost structure that, the costs of chicks and fodder account for more than 70% of the costs, as well as achieving economic profits for projects. Through the random border profit function, the significance of both the total revenue and the costs of chicks, fodder, medicines, vaccines, and services (water, electricity and fuel) was shown. As for the inefficiency function parameters, they were significant for each proved the age of the breeder, his years of experience, the presence of the veterinarian and the agricultural engineer. As for the efficiency of profits, it was 76%. The researcher recommended the necessity of supporting breeding projects by providing incentives to feed factories and their processors or supporting feeds and private hatcheries to reduce costs and provide training for less experienced breeders and urge them to involve veterinarians and agricultural engineers in supervising broiler projects.

Cassava is one of the most important cash crops in Cambodia. Agricultural mechanization promotes productivity, but overinvestment may disrupt the balance between inputs and outputs. Depending on the production scale, sometimes hiring equipment is considered better than purchasing it. While we can hypothesize that mechanization and investments might be crucial factors of productivity, technical efficiency analysis for estimating their effects has not yet been conducted. Therefore, this study investigates the impact of mechanization and investments on cassava yield and producers’ technical efficiency in Cambodia using the Cobb-Douglas stochastic frontier production model. For the study, 205 respondents were randomly selected and interviewed in the Battambang and Pailin provinces in northwestern Cambodia in 2017. Our results show that tractor or truck-hire cost was positively significant, and the cassava uprooting machine-hire cost was negatively significant. The average technical efficiency score of 0.62 indicates that cassava producers can increase their level of technical efficiency. Although cassava production in Cambodia is mechanized and investors are investing, it would be more beneficial to producers if they were provided with financial assistance when uprooting the cassava at the harvest time. Appropriate control of input costs can effectively improve cassava yield, following the implementation of the National Policy on Cassava 2020–2025 by the Royal Government of Cambodia.

This study aimed to estimate the stochastic frontier production function and the inefficiency function and technical efficiency of potato production by using cross-section data collected from 173 potato farms that were randomly selected in Baghdad province/ Yusifiyah for production season 2016. The results showed that 90.6% of inefficiency in production was due to technical inefficiency. Also, there was a significant relationship between the variables of inefficiency function and the inefficiency of farms. The values of the parameters of the stochastic frontier production function were positive and significant for both human work hours and the amount of seeds. However, the parameter of DAP fertilizer was negative and significant. The estimation of the technical inefficiency function showed that its parameters were significant for both the local seed provider and the agricultural season (fall), while the parameters experience in growing potatoes and the number of irrigations were significant and their impact was negative on the inefficiency. The results also showed that the technical efficiency of the study sample (50%) on average. The researchers recommended the necessity of providing imported seed tubers for the increased productivity in dunum to achieve technical efficiency.

Quantifying the shadow price (SP) of CO2 emissions is the key to achieving China’s “double carbon” targets. Considering technology heterogeneity, this study applies stochastic frontier analysis combined with meta-frontier technology to estimate the environmental technical efficiency (ETE) and SP of CO2 emissions for China’s fossil fuel power plants from 2005 to 2015. This approach overcomes the lack of statistical inference and consistency of traditional methods and improves the reliability of results. The main results are as follows: (a) the average ETE of China’s power plants is 0.9444, indicating that inefficient production accounts for 5.66%. The difference in efficiency between the central and local groups is significant. (b) The national average SP of CO2 is 266.8 US dollars per ton, which is much higher than the carbon price in the emission trading system. This result implies the need to design a carbon trading price mechanism. (c) The distribution of SP shows obvious corporation and geographical characteristics that are closely related to the level of regional economic development. Finally, the findings provide policy implications for the improvement of the efficiency and abatement of costs of power plants and the determination of carbon prices.

The research aims to measure the economic efficiency and technological change and the total productivity of resources using the parameter and non-parameter methods, for agricultural companies registered in the Iraqi stock exchange, the number of 6 companies for the period from 2005 to 2017 based on the hypothesis that the agricultural companies do not achieve economic efficiency and does not control the management of its operations, and It may be technically efficient but the size of its operations is not optimal. From non-parametric methods, the data envelope analysis method was used. Using the DEAP program, the Middle East Company achieved the highest average technical and cost efficiency of 0.62 and 0.58, respectively. The Iraqi seed production company achieved the highest average efficiency of 0.66. Using Al- Malmquist Index, the National Company for Agricultural Production achieved the highest rate of change in the total productivity of resources and the highest change in the technical efficiency respectively 1.97 and 2.28, while the Modern company for agricultural production obtained the highest technological change averaging 1.14. A stochastic frontier analysis (SFA) technique was used; logarithmic TL function was estimated using FRONT software. The maximum likelihood method (ML) shows that the capital was increased by 1% , the value of production of companies will increase by 0.22% because it helps to take advantage of the advanced technology that these companies are supposed to work to localize and support the agricultural sector. The cross-elasticity between labor and capital was 0.67 which indicates the nature of the substitution relationship between the two items, because using the technology reduces the workers. The value of sigma-squared was 0.21. يهدف البحث الى قياس الكفاءة الاقتصادية و التغير التكنولوجي و الإنتاجية الكلية للموارد باستخدام الطرق المعلمية وغير المعلمية للشركات الزراعية المسجلة بسوق العراق للأوراق المالية و البالغ عددها 6 شركات للمدة 2005 – 2017 منطلقا من فرضية أن الشركات الزراعية المساهمة لا تحقق كفاءة اقتصادية و لا تتحكم بإدارة عملياتها و عليه قد تكون كفؤة تقنيا لكن حجم عملياتها ليس بالمستوى الأمثل. من الطرق اللامعلمية تم استخدام أسلوب تحليل مغلف البيانات و بالاستعانة بالبرنامج DEAP تبين أن شركة الشرق الاوسط حققت أعلى متوسط للكفاءة التقنية و كفاءة الكلفة بلغ 0.62، 0.58 على الترتيب أما الشركة العراقية لإنتاج البذور فحققت أعلى متوسط كفاءة تخصيصية بلغ 0.66. و باستخدام مؤشر المالمكويست تبين أن الشركة الأهلية للإنتاج الزراعي حققت أعلى معدل تغير في الإنتاجية الكلية للموارد و أعلى تغير في الكفاءة التقنية بلغ على الترتيب 1.97، 2.28، بينما الشركة الحديثة للإنتاج الزراعي حصلت على أعلى تغير تكنولوجي بلغ متوسطه 1.14. من الأساليب المعلمية تم استخدام أسلوب التحليل الحدودي العشوائي و تم تقدير دالة الإنتاج اللوغارتيمية TL المتسامية باستخدام برنامج FRONT. و طريقة الإمكان الأعظم ML تبين أن زيادة راس المال بنسبة 1 % فإن قيمة إنتاج الشركات ستزداد بنسبة 0.22 % لأنه يساعد في الاستفادة من مزايا التكنولوجيا المتطورة التي يفترض أن تعمل هذه الشركات على توطينها و تدعم بها القطاع الزراعي. كما أن المرونة التقاطعية بين العمل و راس المال بلغت 0.67 وهي تشير إلى طبيعة العلاقة الاحلالية بين الموردين لأن استخدام التكنولوجيا يخفض من عدد العمال. أما قيمة sigma-squared فبلغت 0.21 بمعنى هناك متغيرات توضيحية أخرى تؤثر في الكفاءة من خلال تأثيرها في المتغير العشوائي لا سيما متغيرات الإدارة. من ذات الأسلوب تم حساب الكفاءة التقنية إذ كان أعلى معدل لها من نصيب الشركة العراقية لإنتاج و تسويق المنتجات.

PurposeThe authors aim to develop and test a theory of dual responsibility to explain the relationship between corporate social responsibility (CSR) and firm performance. The authors empirically examine whether firms that meet their economic and social responsibilities simultaneously perform better than firms that fail to do so. In doing so, the authors theoretically extend and empirically test Barney's (2018) call to incorporate the stakeholder perspective with resource-based view (RBV). The authors also examine the moderating effects of firm status on this relationship.Design/methodology/approachThe authors use a longitudinal panel sample of 137 S&P 500 firms and data for the years between 2004 and 2013 collected from multiple data sources. The authors use stochastic frontiers analysis to measure firm capabilities in the areas of R&D, operations and marketing. These capability measures are then used along with CSR measures and a measure of firm status to test the hypotheses of this study. The authors also conducted several robustness checks and various supplementary analyses using different econometrics techniques and different operationalizations of the key variables of interests.FindingsThe results show that firm CSR is positively related to firm performance and that the effect of CSR on performance is stronger for firms with higher levels of R&D capability and operational capability. The authors also find support for the three-way interaction between CSR, economic responsibility and firm status, suggesting that firms high in both social and economic responsibilities and status will enjoy the highest levels of performance.Research limitations/implicationsThe findings of this study are based on large, publicly listed firms in North America. Therefore, their generalizability to other contexts and other types of firms require additional research. The reliance on KLD measures is also a limitation, especially because they have not reported CSR ratings after 2013.Practical implicationsFor practicing managers, the main implication of this study is that an optimal balance between market and nonmarket strategies is key for superior performance.Social implicationsThe continued debate regarding the firm's purpose can be understood by focusing equally on the two main responsibilities of firms: nonsocial responsibility and social responsibility toward all stakeholders.Originality/valueThe study answers the call to incorporate stakeholder theory into the RBV of the firm by highlighting the critical role of firm capabilities in the relationship between CSR and performance. The study also highlights the role that firm status plays in the relationship between market and nonmarket strategies and firm performance.

Carbon emission efficiency directly determines the level of green economic development. Based on the panel data of China’s Yangtze River Economic Belt (YEB) from 2008 to 2017, this paper uses the stochastic frontier analysis (SFA) model to analyze the overall carbon emission efficiency level, influencing factors, and changing trends, with a view to discussing the relationship between economic development and carbon emission efficiency. The results suggest, first, the overall carbon emission efficiency of the YEB is on an upward trend, but there is still much room for improvement. Second, the impact of industrialization and urbanization on carbon emission efficiency follows a U-shaped. As industrialization and urbanization progress, the impact on carbon emission efficiency shows a downward and then upward trend. Third, due to the rebound effect, technological progress has a slight negative impact on carbon emission efficiency. Energy consumption structure, government intervention, and foreign trade are all negative incentive factors. Therefore, efforts to improve carbon emission efficiency in the YEB should focus on transforming the economic growth model, adjusting the industrial structure, improving the energy consumption structure, and innovating green technology. The research results can provide a reference for the government policymakers to develop a green economy.