Assessing and Explaining the Relative Efficiency of Local Government: Evidence for Portuguese Municipalities

In this paper we measure the relative efficiency of Portuguese local municipalities in a non-parametric framework approach using Data Envelopment Analysis. As an output measure we compute a composite local government output indicator of municipal performance. This allows assessing the extent of municipal spending that seems to be “wasted” relative to the “best-practice” frontier. Our results suggest that most municipalities could achieve, on average, the same level of output using fewer resources, improving performance without necessarily increasing municipal spending. Inefficiency scores are afterwards explained by means of a Tobit analysis with a set of relevant explanatory variables playing the role of non-discretionary inputs..local government; expenditure efficiency; technical efficiency; DEA; Tobit models.

Assessing Hospital Efficiency: Non-parametric Evidence for Portugal

We compute DEA efficiency scores and Malmquist indexes for a panel data set comprising 68 Portuguese public hospitals belonging to the National Health System (NHS) in the period 2000-2005, when several units started being run in an entrepreneurial framework. With data on hospital services’ and resource quantities we construct an output distance function, we assess by how much can output quantities be proportionally expanded without changing input quantities Our results show that, on average, the NHS hospital sector revealed positive but small productivity growth between 2000 and 2004. The mean TFP indices vary between 0.917 and 1.109, implying some differences in the Malmquist indices across specifications. Furthermore, there are significant fluctuations among NHS hospitals in terms of individual efficiency scores from one year to the other.Public hospitals; Data Envelopment Analysis; Malmquist indices; Portugal.

Aprender a ser crítico com a matemática

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Bacterial communities in soils with ability to retain radionuclides

Mestrado em MicrobiologiaA procura de soluções para a gestão dos resíduos radioactivos tem sido alvo de vários estudos em vários países, ao longo de mais de 30 anos. O modelo actual preferencial para a armazenagem definitiva de resíduos radioactivos de alta actividade involve a utilização de galerias em formações geológicas de profundidade, o que obriga a estudos prévios do comportamento do solo e da flora e fauna existentes nos locais, de modo a poder prever efeitos futuros na segurança das barreiras de protecção do repositório. Apesar de os repositórios para resíduos radioactivos de baixa e média actividade não necessitarem de obedecer aos mesmos critérios que no caso dos repositórios geológicos, nomeadamente, o terem de ter em conta as altas actividades e a elevada capacidade calorífica associada àquele tipo de resíduos, também eles têm de ser cuidadosamente e profundamente estudados em todas as suas vertentes (geologia, hidrogeologia, actividade sísmica, ocupação humana, comunidades biológicas, etc.), tal como foi demonstrado no passado em relação ao repositório espanhol para resíduos de baixa e média activa, EL Cabril. O solo é um ambiente rico em termos de diversidade biológica e as bactérias estão entre os grupos mais representativos tendo, como tal, uma elevada influência na definição das propriedades do próprio solo. Com este trabalho, pretendeu-se caracterizar as comunidades bacterianas que habitam solos cujas características os classificam como tendo a capacidade de retenção de radionuclidos, em particular do césio (137Cs). Amostras de quatro profundidades diferentes foram colhidas em três locais distintos e analisadas pela técnica do Número Mais Provável (NMP) de modo a estimar o número de bactéria aeróbias totais, anaeróbias totais e sulfato redutoras. As amostras foram ainda analisadas através da técnica molecular independente de cultivo Denaturing Gradient Gel Electrophoresis (DGGE), de modo a avaliar a diversidade estrutural das comunidades bacterianas através de perfis de electroforeses que permitem uma comparação espacial ou temporal dessas comunidades. Os resultados indicam, para todas as amostras estudadas, uma tendência para redução na abundância de bactérias aeróbias e anaeróbias com o aumento da profundidade. Verificou-se ainda que o número de bactérias anaeróbias foi sempre superior ao número de bactérias aeróbias. Em nenhuma das amostras estudadas foi possível quantificar bactérias sulfato redutoras. A análise dos perfis de DGGE só foi possível para um dos locais amostrados e indica que as amostras tendem a agrupar por profundidades, indicando ainda que existem comunidades específicas para cada camada de profundidade.The management of radioactive waste has been the target of several studies and solution attempts. The current model for definitive disposal of high activity wastes, studied in several countries over more than 30 years, involves final disposal in deep geological formations, which makes it necessary to study the behavior of the soil and the flora and fauna that inhabit it to be able to predict the future effects on the safety of the repository’s protection barriers. Despite the fact that repositories for disposal of low and intermediate level wastes do not have to observe the same extreme conditions as for the geological repositories, namely the high activities and heat values, they also need to be deeply and carefully studied in all factors involved (geology, hydrogeology, seismic activity, human occupation, biological communities, etc) as shown in the past, for the example of the Spanish repository for low and intermediate level wastes, El Cabril, in Spain. Soil is a rich environment in terms of biological diversity and bacteria are among the most representative groups. As such, they are a major influence on defining some properties of the soil itself. This works addresses the characterization of bacterial communities in soils that possess the capacity to retain radionuclides, in particular Cesium (137Cs). Samples from three distinct locations and four different soil depths were collected and analyzed by Most Probable Number (MNP) technique to estimate the number of aerobic, anaerobic and sulphate-reducing bacteria. A culture independent approach (Denaturing Gradient Gel Electrophoresis - DGGE) was also used to characterize the structural diversity of bacterial communities through electrophoretic profiles that allow spatial and/or temporal comparison sediments from different sites and depth layers. The results reveal a tendency for reduction in the abundance of aerobic and anaerobic bacteria with increasing depth for all studied samples. Anaerobic bacteria were more abundant than aerobic groups. However, it was not possible to quantify sulphate-reducing bacteria in any of the studied samples. The DGGE profiles analysis was only possible for one of the sampled locals and indicates that samples tend group by depth. It also indicates that communities are specific to each layer of depth.FCTPTDC/CTE-GEX/82678/200

A aprendizagem da matemática num projeto com robots

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Assessing Hospital Efficiency: Non-parametric Evidence for Portugal

We compute DEA efficiency scores and Malmquist indexes for a panel data set comprising 68 Portuguese public hospitals belonging to the National Health System (NHS) in the period 2000-2005, when several units started being run in an entrepreneurial framework. With data on hospital services' and resource quantities we construct an output distance function, we assess by how much can output quantities be proportionally expanded without changing input quantities Our results show that, on average, the NHS hospital sector revealed positive but small productivity growth between 2000 and 2004. The mean TFP indices vary between 0.917 and 1.109, implying some differences in the Malmquist indices across specifications. Furthermore, there are significant fluctuations among NHS hospitals in terms of individual efficiency scores from one year to the other

Efficiency of Local Government Spending: Evidence for the Lisbon Region

In this paper we measure and analyse expenditure efficiency of Portuguese local governments using a non-parametric technique for production frontier estimation known as Free Disposal Hull. We first construct an index of municipal performance and then compute input and output efficiency scores for 51 Portuguese municipalities located in the region of Lisbon and Vale do Tejo (RLVT) in order to estimate the extent of municipal spending that seems to be "wasted" relative to the "best-practice" frontier. The results of our empirical analysis suggest that RLVT municipalities could achieve, on average, roughly the same level of local output with about 39 percent fewer resources, i.e. local performance could be improved without necessarily increasing municipal spending

How does the market view interests in jointly controlled entities?

Este estudo tem como objectivo de analisar a forma como os investidores avaliam os investimentos financeiros das entidades, nomeadamente em entidades conjuntamente controladas. Para isso, irá ser analisado se os activos e passivos deste tipo de entidades são semelhantes aos activos e passivos das empresas detentoras deste tipo de investimentos ou se são considerados que os riscos e benefícios associados activos e passivos estão apenas subjacentes às entidades conjuntamente controladas. De forma a analisar esta questão irá ser utilizado um modelo de valorização utilizado pelo Landsman et al. (2008). Neste modelo são incluídos indicadores como os activos, passivos e resultado liquido das empresas detentoras de investimentos em entidades conjuntamente controladas, assim como, os activos e passivos das entidades conjuntamente controladas. Os resultados são baseados em comparações de coeficientes dos activos e passivos. Os resultados apontam que os investidores avaliam os activos e passivos das entidades conjuntamente controladas de forma semelhante aos activos e passivos da empresa detentora deste tipo de investimentos, o que vem sustentar adopção do modelo proporcional ao invés da equivalência patrimonial. Consequentemente, este estudo fornece uma forte contribuição para o debate internacional que existe neste momento relativo a esta matéria, nomeadamente ao projecto de convergência do International Accounting Standards Board (IASB), que procura remover a opção existente na International Accounting Standard 31 (2003), Interests in Joint Ventures (IAS 31), entre o método proporcional e equivalência patrimonial para entidades conjuntamente controladas.This study addresses whether the market views the venturers share of jointly controlled entities assets and liabilities as assets and liabilities of the venturer or whether the risks and rewards associated with the venturers’ share of jointly controlled entities assets and liabilities reside with the jointly controlled entities. We estimate a cross-sectional valuation model based on that used in Landsman et al. (2008). The key valuation model is one that includes measures of the venturer’s assets, liabilities and net income and also measures of the venturer’s share of jointly controlled entities’ assets and liabilities. Findings are based on comparisons of asset and liability coefficients. They suggest that investors view the venturer’s share of jointly controlled entities assets and liabilities similarly to the assets and liabilities of the venturer and thus support the adoption of proportionate consolidation as a feasible alternative to the equity method. Therefore, it provides a useful contribution to the international debate on this issue, including to the International Accounting Standards Board (IASB) joint convergence project to find a consensual solution and remove the option of accounting for interests in jointly controlled entities from International Accounting Standard 31 (2003), Interests in Joint Ventures (IAS 31)

Measuring local government spending efficiency: evidence for the Lisbon region

Measuring local government spending efficiency: evidence for the Lisbon region, Regional Studies 40, 39–53. The expenditure efficiency of Portuguese local governments in 2001 was assessed using Data Envelopment Analysis for production frontier estimation. A composite municipal output indicator was constructed and input and output efficiency scores were computed for 51 Portuguese municipalities in the region of Lisbon and Vale do Tejo. This allows a determination of the extent of municipal spending that seems to be ‘wasted’ relative to the theoretical ‘best-practice’ frontier. The results suggest that Vale do Tejo municipalities could achieve, on average, the same level of output allegedly using around one-third fewer resources, improving performance without necessarily increasing municipal spending.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Assessing and explaining the relative efficiency of local government

We assess the relative efficiency of local municipalities using Data Envelopment Analysis and parametric analysis. As an output measure we compute a composite local government indicator of municipal performance, using data for Portuguese municipalities. This allows assessing the extent of possible municipal improvement relative to the “best-practice” frontier. Our results suggest that most municipalities could improve performance without necessarily increasing municipal spending. In a second stage efficiency scores are explained by means of a Tobit analysis with a set of relevant explanatory socio-economic factors playing the role of non-discretionary inputs, such as education and per capita purchasing power.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio