Productivity Dynamics in Türkiye’s Waste Management and Resource Recovery Sector: An Analysis Using Törnqvist Productivity Index (2009-2023)

The present study concerns the impact of knowledge capital on total factor productivity (TFP) changes in 27 European Union (EU) countries. The TFP analysis covered the years 2009-2013. The study conducted was based on a Malmquist productivity index. The knowledge capital was approximated through investments in research and development in the years 2000 and 2008. Furthermore, the study included external benefits resulting from the R&D activities in other countries. In addition to the knowledge capital, the variables approximating human capital were accepted as determinants of TFP, i.e., the percentage of farm managers with full agricultural training and the percentage of farms managed by holders aged 55. The impact of knowledge and human capital on TFP was determined using a linear regression model. The results of the study indicate that the R&D expenditures incurred in the year 2000 are the stimulants of productivity growth, which confirms the assumption that there is a time lag between R&D and its benefits. Moreover, a positive effect on TFP growth was observed for the variable approximating human capital, i.e., the participation of farmers over the age of 55.

The present study concerns the impact of knowledge capital on total factor productivity (TFP) changes in 27 European Union (EU) countries. The TFP analysis covered the years 2009-2013. The study conducted was based on a Malmquist productivity index. The knowledge capital was approximated through investments in research and development in the years 2000 and 2008. Furthermore, the study included

We use multiple measures of agricultural total factor productivity (TFP) change to examine the relationship between agricultural productivity and poverty in developing countries. We employ a stochastic frontier analysis to estimate agricultural TFP changes for 113 countries using output distance function in a multi input multi output framework. We then make alternative groupings of countries to allow for the possibility of different production frontiers for countries with different income level, and we examine the effect of these various measurements of agricultural TFP on poverty reduction. Results from the TFP analysis show that TFP change estimates by income groups differ from those estimated using all countries in a pooled model. This indicates that agricultural technology and production frontiers may differ across countries based on income levels. Preliminary results show that TFP change from the pooled model has significant impact on poverty reduction. However, TFP estimates from different income groups didn’t indicate significant impact on poverty. The relationship between TFP change and poverty is therefore sensitive to the method used to estimate agricultural productivity.

The Malmquist productivity index was utilised to estimate the total factor productivity and productivity change of the four largest banks in South Africa for the period 1994 to 2010. Total factor productivity change can be decomposed into efficiency change and technological change, which allow for determining the sources of total factor productivity change. Various changes in the South African banking scene impacted on the average productivity of the banks. The four banks experienced, on average, regress in total factor productivity as well as regress in technological change, the latter indicating a lack of innovation. The four banks operated, on average, in the proximity of fully technical efficiency. For various reasons, South Africa still has a large unbanked community.

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to empirically study the impact of product patent regime on the productivity of different categories such as ownership, R&D, size and product-wise of Indian pharmaceutical firms using non-parametric data envelopment analysis.Design/methodology/approachThe present study has applied Ray and Desli’s Malmquist productivity index and its decomposition to measure total factor productivity (TFP) change, pure technical efficiency change, scale efficiency change and technical change under variable returns to scale (VRS) technology assumption for 141 Indian pharmaceutical firms during 2000-2001 to 2014-2015.FindingsThe study found the negligible impact of product patent regime on productivity. The technological change has played a positive role in the growth of productivity, whereas technical efficiency change depicts the judicious utilization of resources for improving performance. From the results, it is found that R&D intensive firms depict better stability in the TFP than the non-R&D firms. However, Granger causality between R&D and productivity found no relationship. Productivity is more directly affected by investment in fixed assets rather than in R&D, which focusses on incremental value additions in a largely branded/plain generic product market. In case of ownership, private foreign firms found to have registered progress in TFP while others have recorded marginal regress, which probably could be attributed to the superior marketing and management skills of the foreign firms, besides possessing proprietary technology. Both small and large firms have shown positive growth in the new regime as compared to the pre-patent regime. These small firms are able to compete with large firms because of their up-gradation of the technological base by improving access to better foreign technology. TFP growth for all the firms can be attributed to improvement in technology, and innovation in terms of high capital-output ratio. Further, the paper tried to identify the determinants of productivity from panel random effect regression, and it is found that export intensity, age and the new patent regime have negative and significant relationship with productivity, whereas other variables such as R&D, ownership, size and capital imports are insignificant. In the end, the results of sensitivity analysis have confirmed the validity of the selected variables.Practical implicationsThe results suggest that Indian pharmaceutical firms need substantive improvement in TFP by improving managerial and scale efficiency. Indian pharmaceutical industry (IPI) needs to improve productivity across the network and drive cost excellence initiatives across the spend base through operational excellence and digital initiatives. The results of this paper can be applied in framing policies for future growth and improvement in the productivity of IPI.Originality/valueThe paper aims to make several new contributions to the existing literature. Most of the research papers only analysed TFP of the industry as a whole and detailed firm-wise analysis is needed to capture the true impact at a unit level. This study has analysed the impact of different categories such as ownership, R&D, size and product-wise, and determinants of productivity. The study has used a broader time period and larger panel data to predict the better picture.

The research reported in this manuscript empirically compares the private warehouse investment strategies of small and large manufacturing firms. Mail surveys were administered to independent samples of small and large United States manufacturing firms. This research is based on a series of identically worded questions administered to both samples. Data was factor analyzed and cluster analyzed to identify three private warehouse investment strategies for small and large firms and two strategies for large firms. Analyses of three independent variables further evaluated differences in private warehouse investment strategies. Finally, the warehouse mix of small and of large firms was compared. This study identified specific private warehouse investment strategies, and warehouse mixes, in small and large United States manufacturing firms. Small firms were found to be less likely to use formal capital budgeting techniques and were less likely to consider strategic issues than large firms. Small firms were also found to be more likely to use private warehousing than large firms. This research increases the awareness of differences in logistics practice between small and large manufacturing firms and suggests that generalizations regarding logistics strategy should be approached with caution.

The present study aims at improving our understanding of the individual contribution of the components of total factor productivity (TFP) change to U.S. agricultural productivity. A novel sequential primal‐dual estimation routine to calculate TFP change is proposed, using a multi‐output input distance function in the first stage, followed by a cost minimization routine in the second stage. TFP change is estimated as the direct sum of the estimates of technical change, technical efficiency change, allocative efficiency change, input price effects, changes in output markup, and changes in returns to scale in each state. The validity of the proposed methodology is supported by the remarkable overlap and high correlation of our annual estimates of TFP change with the USDA's measures of change in TFP by state. Although technical change tends to be the largest contributor to productivity change, it bears a low and statistically insignificant correlation with TFP change on an annual basis, whereas annual changes in the markup effect and returns to scale are highly and significantly correlated with TFP changes. This is the first study to find a slowdown of technical progress in the U.S. farm sector in the 1990s and 2000s, and technical regress during the farm crisis of the 1980s. While technical efficiency shows a positive overall trend, allocative efficiency shows a negative overall trend, and their combined effect (i.e., the overall cost efficiency) slows down TFP growth. The policy recommendations from previous studies on the drivers of TFP should be revised in light of these findings.

October 01 2020 Comments on Total Factor Productivity Changes in Japanese Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises in 1982–2016: Suggestive Indications of an IT Revolution? Author and Article Information Online Issn: 1536-0083 Print Issn: 1535-3516 © 2020 by the Asian Economic Panel and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology2020Asian Economic Panel and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology Asian Economic Papers (2020) 19 (3): 38–39. https://doi.org/10.1162/asep_a_00782 Cite Icon Cite Permissions Share Icon Share Twitter LinkedIn Views Icon Views Article contents Figures & tables Video Audio Supplementary Data Peer Review Search Site Citation Comments on Total Factor Productivity Changes in Japanese Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises in 1982–2016: Suggestive Indications of an IT Revolution?. Asian Economic Papers 2020; 19 (3): 38–39. doi: https://doi.org/10.1162/asep_a_00782 Download citation file: Ris (Zotero) Reference Manager EasyBib Bookends Mendeley Papers EndNote RefWorks BibTex toolbar search Search Dropdown Menu nav search search input Search input auto suggest search filter All ContentAll JournalsAsian Economic Papers Search Advanced Search Somkiat Tangkitvanich, Thailand Development Research Institute: The paper measures total factor productivity (TFP) of Japanese manufacturing and service firms, most of which were small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), before and after the year 2000. The year was chosen as it was the timing around the implementation of the Basic Law for the Formation of an Advanced Information and Communication Network Society (2000), the launch of the e-Japan initiative (2001) and the rapid rise in information and communications technology (ICT) adoption among Japanese households and SMEs. By dividing the time around the year, the paper aims to measure the impacts of “ICT revolution” on productivity of Japanese firms. The paper finds that TFP rose across the studied sectors, although there was only slight improvement in some, such as finance and insurance, and leasing. It also found that ICT product manufacturing firms achieved much more productivity growth than those in the ICT... You do not currently have access to this content.

The economic value added (EVA), orginally developed by Stern Stewart & Company, is a relatively new financial tool that is being adopted successfully by many firms. However, evidence of EVA as a predictor of shareholders’ wealth is mixed. This paper empirically verifies the effect of productivity growth, a real missing link between EVA and a firm’s financial health, on shareholders’ wealth maximization. The study uses the firm-level data from the Indian food processing industry for the period 1993-94 to 2005-06 to measure and decompose the Malmquist productivity index into its different components, such as technological change, pure efficiency change and change in scale efficiency, by using the technique of data envelopment analysis (DEA). It further examines the linkage between different components of productivity change and market value added, an indicator of shareholders’ wealth maximization, by using fixed effect regression models. The results reveal that the negative growth in total factor productivity change is mainly due to technological regress on the one hand and increasing inefficiencies of the firms on the other hand. The scale efficiency change is found to be the only source of total factor productivity (TFP) change in the Indian food processing industry. As expected, there exists a positive relationship between the components of TFP change and the market value added (MVA). However, the technological change is found to be the only driving force of market value in the Indian food processing industry, indicating that the stock market does recognize the innovative activity undertaken by firms.

Aim: This study aims to explore the economic theories and current situation regarding vocational education for women in low-skilled jobs in waste management, focusing on the challenges women face in this male-dominated sector. It seeks to address the gender inequalities and barriers that prevent women from advancing in their careers, particularly the impact of stereotypes, biases, and immaturity of qualification standards. Methods: The primary research method employed was a literature review, conducted through an analysis of the content of six academic databases, which were searched using relevant keywords. This process resulted in the identification of 48 articles, 30 of which were available in full. These articles were then thoroughly analyzed and categorized into three main themes: 1) applied theories and concepts, 2) stereotypes, career paths, and vocational education, and 3) literature relating to the selected region (Uzbekistan and Tajikistan). Results: The findings highlight significant challenges and gender inequalities faced by women in waste management and adjacent sectors. It was found that the lack of gender-inclusive qualification standards and systemic biases lock women under a “glass ceiling,” limiting their career advancement. The review also revealed a gap in research on the specific skills and knowledge women need to succeed in these fields, especially in regions like Uzbekistan and Tajikistan, where waste management systems are still developing. Conclusions: The results highlight the importance of developing training programs that address gender-specific needs and tackle the gender gaps in qualification standards. They also emphasize the necessity of implementing systemic changes to improve working conditions and expand leadership opportunities for women in the waste management sector. The study concludes that further research is required to gain a deeper understanding of the gender inclusivity of national qualification standards, particularly in industries such as waste management.

Purpose - This paper develops a tractable model of general equilibrium featuring a (1) mixture of large and small firms in a sector, (2) managerial activities of large firms, and (3) leadership of large firms over small firms in product and labor markets. This paper aims to incorporate strategic firm behavior into a general equilibrium.
 Design/Methodology/Approach - This paper launches a game-theoretic approach for a mixture of large and small firms within an industry. Within the framework, small firms form a coalition to stand against large firms. Thus, it models that large firms and the coalition of small firms interact strategically. Unlike small firms, large firms hire managers to supervise production workers and improve production efficiency.
 Findings - With manager skills, the leadership of large firms is enhanced. That is, the market share of large firms expands, while that of small firms shrinks. With the shrinkage, firm selection occurs within the coalition of small firms. Thus, small firms of low-ability entrepreneurs exit the sector, and the resources are reallocated toward higher skills and higher-ability entrepreneurs. Large firms affect the pattern of labor demand by creating higher-paying jobs for skills.
 Research Implications - As large firms have stronger market leadership, aggregate income increases and wage inequality widens. This paper can contribute to the literature of oligopolistic competition and general equilibrium.

A simple portfolio model is used to investigate the effects of personal taxes on real investment incentives in a small open economy with large and small firms. When shares in large firms can be traded internationally and their rate of return is exogenously determined on international equity markets, a tax on the return on riskless bonds will induce a portfolio shift from bonds to shares in large firms. This shift reduces the impact of the bond tax on the required rate of return on shares in domestically owned small firms, provided that returns on shares in small and large firms are positively correlated. The total impact of the bond tax may even change from a negative to a counter-intuitive positive one if the “beta” between the returns on small and large firms is above unity. A personal tax on equity returns does in general have an ambiguous impact on the pre-tax rate of return requirement of domestically owned firms. An exogenous rate of return on large company shares is shown to enhance the possibility for the equity tax to reduce the required pre-tax rate of return in small domestic firms. A sufficient condition for a negative relationship is again that the “beta” between the returns in small and large firms is above unity.

PurposeThe purpose of this study is to examine the association between inward foreign direct investment (FDI) and bank level productivity changes.Design/methodology/approachThe paper uses an international sample of 566 publicly quoted commercial banks operating in 75 countries, covering the period 2000‐2004. The empirical analysis is conducted in two stages. First, a non‐parametric Malmquist analysis is employed to decompose total factor productivity (TFP) change of banks into pure efficiency, scale efficiency and technological change. Then, panel regressions are performed to identify the productivity impact of FDI while controlling for relevant bank‐specific and country‐specific characteristics.FindingsThe results indicate that inward FDI has a negative short‐term level effect but a positive long‐term rate effect on TFP change, which is consistent with the evidence from the Malmquist analysis suggesting that banks experience episodes of technical regress and progress.Originality/valueThe paper explores for the first time the link between FDI and bank level total factor productivity, hypothesising that aggregate FDI inflows yield productivity changes in the banking sector as part of the overall environmental effect on the economy, and providing supportive cross‐country evidence.

During China's rural reforms, policies were frequently adjusted. Most policies favoured the continuation and deepening of reform; but some were contradictory or even led to regression in the reform process. How have the rural reforms affected China's agricultural production over the past three decades; and what lessons can be learned to aid the future course of reform? To answer these questions, this study estimates productivity change in China's agriculture and evaluates the effects of policy on agricultural output during the reform period. Aggregated provincial-level data for the 1979–2008 period are used in a translog production frontier model to estimate indices of total factor productivity (TFP) change and its three components—technical change, technical efficiency change, and a scale effect—with a focus on explaining the variation in technical efficiency. The estimation results show that the impressive improvement of TFP change is dominated by the technical change component. However, technical efficiency change and scale effects have worked against the improvement in TFP change in most periods. To improve technical efficiency, social welfare policies designed to eliminate the rural–urban divide, and reform polices focusing on factor market reforms, such as reform of the household registration system (hukou) and reform of land rights, seem to hold some potential.

In monopoly services that provide drinking water, it is of paramount importance to evaluate the total factor productivity (TFP) change of water companies. Most of the previous studies have computed the Malmquist productivity index (MPI) by applying non-parametric methods. By contrast, following a pioneering approach, in this study, we estimated the MPI using a parametric method that allows us to decompose TFP change into a larger number of drivers, including exogenous and quality of service variables. An empirical application for the Chilean water industry over 2007-2015 was conducted. We found that productivity change estimates were variable across years, differentiating a first period (2007/11) in which productivity declined and a second period (2011/15) in which TFP notably improved. In both periods, scale efficiency change and input mixed effect were the main drivers of productivity change, illustrating the importance of operation scale in water companies' performance. The decomposition of the TFP change in a large number of drivers is essential to propose incentives and measures to promote productivity across time.