Economic geography and misallocation in Pakistan’s manufacturing hub

In this article, we explore whether localization of industries can reduce economic distortions and dispersion in total factor productivity (TFP) among firms in Punjab, Pakistan’s largest province economically. We consider two types of misallocation: (i) dispersion in the distribution of output-based TFP (TFPQ), in particular the survival of low productivity firms in the left tail; and (ii) dispersion in revenue-based TFP (TFPR), indicative of allocative inefficiency. The results are mixed: On the one hand, we find that the distribution of TFPQ is less dispersed in more agglomerated areas, measured by the localization quotient, local productive concentration, and average firm size. At the same time, we find that average TFPQ is also positively related to localization, especially the presence of small firms in the same sector, even though own-firm TFP is lowest for small firms. On the other hand, we do not find evidence that agglomeration improves allocative efficiency measured as deviations in TFPR from the sector average, concluding rather that greater localization of small firms is associated with firms being more output and capital constrained.     

基于SFA 方法的建筑业技术效率评价及影响因素研究

合理评价建筑业技术效率及其影响因素对于促进建筑业持续健康发展至关重要。运用参数型随机前沿分析SFA 方法,以2001~2010 年中国建筑业的数据为基础,对中国建筑业技术效率省际差异及主要影响因素进行实证分析,发现我国建筑业技术效率的发展呈现出下降、上升、再下降的波浪式发展趋势,但总体呈现上升趋势;固定资产投资率、建筑业产业发达程度及动力装备率对建筑业技术效率具有显著的促进作用,但后两者效应不显著,而国有企业占比对建筑业技术效率具有负的效应,并对其产生原因进行了探讨。     

Social capital and profits of small firms in the French construction industry

The profitability of small businesses in the French construction industry depends partly on their social capital. However, social capital yields advantages as well as constraints. How and under what conditions do social networks improve a company's profit margins? From a socio‐technical perspective and strategic analysis, we defend the idea that return on social capital is conditioned by the nature of the tasks performed and by the interdependencies among firms. Comparing about 160 businesses from four various crafts, we show that loose networks profit relatively specialized businesses working independently on construction sites, while cohesive networks benefit those businesses that are most affected by socio‐technical uncertainties.     

Efficiency‐enhancing horizontal mergers in spatial competition

This paper shows that a horizontal merger between two stores (or firms) that are relatively close can enhance efficiency in a model of spatial competition (or spatial product differentiation), if the spacing between them (or between their products) is relatively small compared to the spacing between other stores (or firms) in the market. The basic model assumes that consumers with completely inelastic demand are spread along an infinite line that has infinitely many stores (or firms), but cases with different assumptions are also considered.     

中国建筑事务所--在成长中走向市场

中国的建筑事务所正在迎来一个大发展的时期,同时也面临着来自内部和外部的压力与挑战。本文从设计公司在经营模式、服务能力、管理水平和技术质量等方面存在的差距进行了分析并提出对策;同时,还以天津华汇设计公司为例,介绍了一些具有代表性并值得提倡的观念和做法。文章最后指出设计咨询业的两条道路:一是国有大中型勘察设计单位和大型综合性建筑设计事务所逐步发展成为大规模的综合性的工程咨询公司,走设计、采购、施工总承包的道路;二是向具备某一专业技术特长的小型专业型咨询事务所发展,以高效、迅速、灵活的方式占领一定的细分市场。     

Spatial concentration of manufacturing firms in China

Applying the methodology developed by Duranton and Overman, we analyse localization and dispersion of firms in China. Using a unique and detailed dataset on manufacturing firms in China, we are able to follow the changes in location patterns of firms between 2002 and 2008. Our analysis shows that firms in China are more localized than in the UK or Japan. Localization is comparable to that in the US, and takes place at relatively small scales that are consistent with the size of Chinese cities. Localization increases rapidly, even in the relative short period between 2002 and 2008, especially new entrants localize. Private firms, firms from Hong‐Kong, Macao and Taiwan, and foreign firms are more localized than state‐owned firms. Our findings are consistent with the notion that China is increasingly liberalizing its economy, enabling (profit seeking) manufacturing firms to benefit from agglomeration economies.     

Trade costs,wage difference,and endogenous growth

In this paper, we develop an endogenous growth and international trade model with two countries in which equilibrium wages in the two countries are different between two countries. First, when trade costs are high, the share of manufacturing firms in the large country increases with a decline in trade costs because of market size. However, the share of firms then decreases with a decline in trade costs when trade costs are low because of wage differences. Finally, all firms agglomerate in the small country, since production costs in the small country are low. In this process, the innovation sector shifts its location from the large‐market and high‐wage country to the small‐market and low‐wage country.     

The “effect procargo” on technical and scale efficiency at airports: The case of Spanish airports (2009–2011)

This paper studies the “effect procargo” (or effect of the proportion of cargo traffic relative to total traffic) on technical and scale efficiency at airports. To this end, using Data Envelopment Analysis (DEA) methodology, a comparative technical efficiency analysis is developed for 35 Spanish airports over the 2009 to 2011 period. In a second stage, using Tobit regression, we analysed the effects of airport size, low-cost carrier (LCC) presence, and cargo traffic on efficiency. The results suggest that cargo traffic has a positive impact on the technical and scale efficiency of Spanish airport operations. Airports with a higher share of cargo traffic are expected to have higher overall technical efficiency, pure technical efficiency, and scale efficiency, in comparison to airports with a lower share.     

Sources of efficiency gains in port reform: a DEA decomposition of a Malmquist TFP index for Mexico

Mexico’s port system was centrally managed by public firms until 1993 reforms liberalized and decentralized it to regional port authorities to improve its efficiency. This paper measures the changes in, and sources of, efficiency since the reforms. We rely on a Malmquist index to calculate and decompose changes in productivity, in terms of infrastructure, for Mexico’s 11 main ports between 1996 and 1999. The results suggest that total factor productivity in Mexican ports rose by an average of 4.1% a year in 1996–1999. They also suggest the fourth year, because some ports saw their scale efficiency deteriorate as a result of the effects of the East Asia crisis. We finally show that with one exception, all the ports maintained or improved their pure technical efficiency during the sample period. We conclude by arguing that these types of results could be used by any port regulator to improve the effectiveness and fairness of its regulatory decisions.     

Efficiency measurement of the construction industry in Taiwan: a stochastic frontier cost function approach

Construction firms require a large cash flow, thereby creating a significant financial leverage. Therefore, identifying a highly effective cost efficiency model is essential for construction firms, especially under the pressure of competition in today’s global market. This research used stochastic frontier analysis (SFA) to model and measure the cost efficiency of construction firms in Taiwan, and to investigate the relationships between input resources and cost efficiency. The main findings include: (1) subcontracting reduces labour capacity; (2) larger firms can be more cost efficient; (3) appropriate financial leverage increases cost efficiency and capital; and (4) reducing equipment costs increases cost efficiency. These findings can help construction firms to strategically adjust the management of their firm and improve cost efficiency.     

浅谈东西方建筑事务所之差异

本文作者在2003～2004年间以亲身经历结合问卷调查的形式对不同国家、不同大小的28家建筑设计公司进行了关于创作机制的调查研究,并汇总成表。通过调查我们发现东西方设计公司由于文化背景的差异,在工作方式上有着一定的不同;另外,由于东西方文化的交融,在某些方面又趋于一致,而更体现出大小公司之间的差异。     

Efficiency of urban water supply in Sub-Saharan Africa: Do organization and regulation matter?

Using the model developed by Battese and Coelli (1995), we compare the technical efficiency of urban water utilities in Sub-Saharan Africa countries. We examine how private-sector participation, economic regulation, and their combination affects technical efficiency. We find that regulating water utility operations via performance contracts leads to higher technical efficiency compared to control by an independent regulatory agency. Private-sector participation in management has a positive effect on technical efficiency. However, there is no evidence of a statistically significant difference between the technical efficiency of publicly and privately owned utilities, respectively, when they are regulated by either an independent agency or a performance contract.     

小型热电联供系统试验研究

采用内燃机改装技术,将汽油内燃机改装成燃气内燃机,构建了小型燃气内燃机热电联供试验系统。对试验系统的发电效率、热回收效率等进行了测试分析。随着负载增加,发电效率增大,热回收率减小,而热电联产总效率变化不大,最高可达82%。     

50kWp屋顶分布式光伏并网发电系统的研究

结合天津地区某小区屋顶分布式光伏发电系统,对其运行状态进行实时测试和分析。从发电效率、累计发电量、逆变器效率等指标评价实际工程的运行效果。针对分布式发电的特点,比较售楼处4个发电单元的运行情况,验证了发电单元朝向正南、倾角为当地纬度安装才有最佳的运行效果。并网逆变器能在阵列输出功率较小时达到较高的效率,且能量损失小。     

Spatial pattern of Japanese manufacturing industry in four ASEAN countries

Foreign investment by means of equity participation of foreign firms in local firms contributes to local industrial development through transfer of technology and through leveraging capital requirements. During the last two decades the nature of foreign equity participation in firms and the location of FDI in four ASEAN countries (Indonesia, Thailand, Malaysia, and the Philippines, referred to hereafter as the ASEAN-4 countries) has undergone a significant transition. From 1980-1994, the Japanese manufacturing industry was the major foreign industrial investor in the ASEAN-4 countries. The spatial pattern of equity investment and employment generation has been very different among regions in the ASEAN-4 countries. Using the Theil index we estimate disparity in employment generation and equity investment within and between regions of Indonesia, Thailand, Malaysia, and the Philippines in the context of each country's socio-economic geography and economic development characteristics.Received: 21 May 2002, Accepted: 14 May 2003, JEL Classification: F21, N950, R12The authors would like to thank two anonymous referees for their valuable comments on an earlier draft of this research note.     

The construction labour market skills crisis: the perspective of small–medium‐sized firms

Reports abound of the detrimental effect of the construction skills crisis on the performance and future development of the UK construction industry. The industry's continued growth in output, coupled with its unpopularity as a career choice, has led to extreme pressure on its labour market capacity. There remains, however, a paucity of empirical research into the nature of its highly complex labour market. In particular, very little attention has been paid to the impacts being felt by the smaller firms who account for the vast majority of the industry's economic output and employment. This paper reports on research that has explored the perspectives of smaller employers with respect to the skills crisis. Using an inductive methodology, this research canvassed the opinions of representatives of small‐ and medium‐sized (SME) firms in order to establish the impact of skills shortages on the operational efficiency of the industry. The paper reveals the complex interplay of factors which have combined to shape the industry's skills crisis in recent years and uncovers the practical implications for firms attempting to operate in increasingly tight labour market conditions.     

山地小城镇多尺度雨洪管理研究——以彭州市为例

山地小城镇的地形地貌复杂多变,雨洪灾害特征呈现出特有属性,其发生机理涉及多尺度、多地域的要素影响。基于城市韧性与海绵城市等理论研究,构建山地小城镇雨洪管理模式,采用定量化、可视化的模拟分析方法,从宏观(市域)、中观(镇域)、微观(场地)3个空间尺度,层层递进地探究科学有效的雨洪调控方法。依次选取四川省彭州市、彭州市湔江龙门山镇河段、龙门山镇场镇作为研究对象,分别运用ArcGIS构建宏观尺度海绵生态安全格局、采用SWAT重构中观尺度汇水网络结构、借助SWMM实践微观尺度海绵设施调控。研究结果验证了各尺度空间基于软件模型模拟调控雨洪的可行性,并提出多尺度防洪防涝生态策略,对山地小城镇的雨洪管理体系构建提供了重要的参考和启示。     

What you see is not what you get: single-family house renovation and energy retrofit seen through the lens of sociomateriality

Representing 30% of the energy consumption in Sweden, the built environment is a clear contender for climate mitigation initiatives. The substantial stock of single-family houses presents ample opportunities to engage in energy-saving refurbishments. However, despite political pressure, only a minority of these refurbishments includes low-energy retrofit. To explain this slow take-off, studies have mostly focused on the necessity to better link new technical solutions with user needs and behaviours. We propose to extend this analysis to a broader set of actors including the craftsmen contracted to carry out the refurbishments and the houses themselves with their specific features and characteristics. To do so, we build our contribution on the concept of sociomateriality. This perspective argues that technological artefacts are socially constructed, but recognizes that materiality also has a role to play. Drawing on the experiences of 24 small craftsman firms, 8 houses as well as their owners, our method comprises interviews, workshops and participant observation complemented by an in-depth case study. The results show many differentiated representations of the renovation process under scrutiny. All these representations need to be understood and to a certain degree aligned in order to achieve successful retrofits.     

Impact of external costs of unplanned supply interruptions on water company efficiency: Evidence from Chile

Conventional performance assessments of water companies ignore the external costs due to water supply outages. To overcome this gap, we evaluate the impact of external costs of unplanned supply interruptions on the efficiency of water companies. Two efficiency metrics, internal technical efficiency (ITE), and total technical efficiency (TTE), were estimated based on data envelopment analysis (DEA). The results evidence that the external costs of unplanned water supply interruptions impact, on average, 7.9% of the efficiency of water companies. We also explored the impact of a set of environmental variables on water company efficiency.     

Fixed term contracts and employers' human capital: The role of educational spillovers

This paper analyses the role of the employers' education on the spread of temporary contracts. Taking advantage of a unique firm‐level dataset, we test whether the share of fixed term workforce in a firm is affected by the employer's level of education. Furthermore, we test whether knowledge spillovers arising from the agglomeration of university graduate employers affect the incidence of temporary employment in the firms located in the area. In both cases we find a negative effect. Interestingly, only small firms are influenced by the spillovers. The possible problems of endogeneity of the agglomeration variable are coped with an IV approach.