ESTIMATING NON-CONCAVE METAFRONTIERS USING DATA ENVELOPE ANALYSIS

In this article we propose non-concave metafrontiers for estimating the inefficiency among production functions which do not necessarily belong to the same technology. In this case, estimating a joint production by literature approaches might be inappropriate. We call this inefficiency technological inefficiency and suggest Data Envelopment Analysis to construct a metafrontier production function which consists only of parts of different (group) frontier production functions. Thus, in contrast to the common literature our metafrontier does not need any assumptions additional to the group production functions. We illustrate our approach by means of a large sample of differently diversified crop farms. Results show that the literature approach overestimates the technological inefficiency in our sample for 75% of the observations and on average up to 7%-points in a diversification class of farms.Efficiency analysis, Metafrontier production function, Data Envelopment Analysis, Production Economics,

Evaluierung von Agrarumweltprogrammen auf Grundlage der Umwelteffizienz landwirtschaftlicher Betriebe

This paper sets out to develop an economic framework for ex post evaluations of agri-environmental schemes. We begin by developing a non-parametric model for estimating farm-level environmental efficiency scores. We then use this efficiency framework to devise a set of economic criteria for evaluating agri-environmental schemes. One key criterion is whether an environmental scheme has given rise to an increase in environmental efficiency scores across participating farms, relative to a counterfactual group of non participants. We finally demonstrate the potential usefulness of the framework by applying it to a fictitious multiple-objective conservation programme. The dataset is made up of 100 fictitious farms, half of which participate in the environmental programme. Each farm is characterised by a set of financial and environmental performance indicators. The results of this mock evaluation show that the proposed evaluation framework generates useful insights into the performance of the scheme and permits identification of potential improvements.environmental efficiency, evaluation, agri-environmental policy, performance measurement, Agricultural and Food Policy, Environmental Economics and Policy, Productivity Analysis,

Beurteilung der technischen Effizienz der Agrarsektoren der EU-Beitrittsländer anhand parametrischer und nichtparametrischer Analyseverfahren

This paper employs Data Envelopment Analysis and Stochastic Frontier Analysis to examine the technical efficiency of the agricultural sectors of the Central and Eastern European accession Countries (CEECs) during the period 1998-2001. The results indicate that the agricultural sectors of many accession countries are both technically inefficient and scale-inefficient. The analysis of changes in total factor productivity suggests slow rates of adoption of technical progress, declining technical efficiency of agricultural enterprises and, as a result, less efficient use of existing technologies and resources during the considered time period

Evaluierung von Agrarumweltprogrammen auf Grundlage der Umwelteffizienz landwirtschaftlicher Betriebe

This paper sets out to develop an economic framework for ex post evaluations of agri-environmental schemes. We begin by developing a non-parametric model for estimating farm-level environmental efficiency scores. We then use this efficiency framework to devise a set of economic criteria for evaluating agri-environmental schemes. One key criterion is whether an environmental scheme has given rise to an increase in environmental efficiency scores across participating farms, relative to a counterfactual group of non participants. We finally demonstrate the potential usefulness of the framework by applying it to a fictitious multiple-objective conservation programme. The dataset is made up of 100 fictitious farms, half of which participate in the environmental programme. Each farm is characterised by a set of financial and environmental performance indicators. The results of this mock evaluation show that the proposed evaluation framework generates useful insights into the performance of the scheme and permits identification of potential improvements

Beurteilung der technischen Effizienz der Agrarsektoren der EU-Beitrittsländer anhand parametrischer und nichtparametrischer Analyseverfahren

This paper employs Data Envelopment Analysis and Stochastic Frontier Analysis to examine the technical efficiency of the agricultural sectors of the Central and Eastern European accession Countries (CEECs) during the period 1998-2001. The results indicate that the agricultural sectors of many accession countries are both technically inefficient and scale-inefficient. The analysis of changes in total factor productivity suggests slow rates of adoption of technical progress, declining technical efficiency of agricultural enterprises and, as a result, less efficient use of existing technologies and resources during the considered time period.mittel- und osteuropäische Länder, Agrarsektoren, technische Effizienz, Skaleneffizienz, Data Envelopment Analysis, Stochastische Frontier Analyse, Produktivitätswachstum, Productivity Analysis,

Eine empirische Untersuchung zum Wachstum von Milchviehbetrieben mittels der Ereignisanalyse

This paper investigates determinants of growth of milk production in German dairy farms. Event history analysis is applied to estimate the likelihood of a farm’s moving from a nongrowing episode into a growing episode and to assess the impact of various covariates on that likelihood. The analysis is based upon a balanced panel of annual farm accounts from 616 specialised dairy farms from Germany, covering the financial years 1995/96 to 2008/09. Im vorliegenden Beitrag wird innerbetriebliches Wachstums von deutschen Milchviehbetrieben mittels der Ereignisanalyse untersucht. Dabei wird die Wahrscheinlichkeit des Austritts aus einer Nicht-Wachstumsepisode bzw. des Eintritts in eine Wachstumsepisode eines Bebetriebes geschätzt. Darüber hinaus werden Einflussfaktoren auf die ermittelte Übergangswahrscheinlichkeit identifiziert. Die Datengrundlage bildet ein balanciertes Panel mit 616 spezialisierten Milchviehbetrieben, von denen die betriebswirtschaftlichen Jahresabschlüsse (von 1995/96 bis 2008/09) und weitere Informationen über die Produktionstechnik sowie den Betriebsleiter vorliegen

Empirische Untersuchungen zum optimalen Spezialisierungsgrad ökologisch wirtschaftender Marktfruchtbetriebe

This paper employs the concept of technology efficiency to analyse the optimal degree of specialisation of organic arable farms. Based on bookkeeping data from 461 organic farms, three technology specific frontiers (each representing a different degree of specialisation)and an all-encompassing metafrontier are estimated using a combination of Data Envelopment Analysis and Window Analysis. The results indicate that a significant proportion of sample farms have not chosen their optimal degree of specialisation. We quantify the potential productivity gain from switching to the optimal specialisation class. This is highest for moderately specialised farms switching to higher degrees of specialisation. We demonstrate that there are significant differences in the structure of inputs and outputs between farms that have chosen the optimal degree of specialisation and those that have not. We further identify the factors determining whether a farm should switch to a more specialised or a more diversified organisation of enterprises

ESTIMATING NON-CONCAVE METAFRONTIERS USING DATA ENVELOPE ANALYSIS

In this article we propose non-concave metafrontiers for estimating the inefficiency among production functions which do not necessarily belong to the same technology. In this case, estimating a joint production by literature approaches might be inappropriate. We call this inefficiency technological inefficiency and suggest Data Envelopment Analysis to construct a metafrontier production function which consists only of parts of different (group) frontier production functions. Thus, in contrast to the common literature our metafrontier does not need any assumptions additional to the group production functions. We illustrate our approach by means of a large sample of differently diversified crop farms. Results show that the literature approach overestimates the technological inefficiency in our sample for 75% of the observations and on average up to 7%-points in a diversification class of farms

Eine empirische Untersuchung zum Wachstum von Milchviehbetrieben mittels der Ereignisanalyse

This paper investigates determinants of growth of milk production in German dairy farms. Event history analysis is applied to estimate the likelihood of a farm’s moving from a nongrowing episode into a growing episode and to assess the impact of various covariates on that likelihood. The analysis is based upon a balanced panel of annual farm accounts from 616 specialised dairy farms from Germany, covering the financial years 1995/96 to 2008/09. Im vorliegenden Beitrag wird innerbetriebliches Wachstums von deutschen Milchviehbetrieben mittels der Ereignisanalyse untersucht. Dabei wird die Wahrscheinlichkeit des Austritts aus einer Nicht-Wachstumsepisode bzw. des Eintritts in eine Wachstumsepisode eines Bebetriebes geschätzt. Darüber hinaus werden Einflussfaktoren auf die ermittelte Übergangswahrscheinlichkeit identifiziert. Die Datengrundlage bildet ein balanciertes Panel mit 616 spezialisierten Milchviehbetrieben, von denen die betriebswirtschaftlichen Jahresabschlüsse (von 1995/96 bis 2008/09) und weitere Informationen über die Produktionstechnik sowie den Betriebsleiter vorliegen.Event history analysis, dairy farms, internal growth, determinants of growth, Ereignisanalyse, Milchviehbetriebe, innerbetriebliches Wachstum, Einflussfaktoren auf Wachstum, Agribusiness,

Empirische Untersuchungen zum optimalen Spezialisierungsgrad ökologisch wirtschaftender Marktfruchtbetriebe

This paper employs the concept of technology efficiency to analyse the optimal degree of specialisation of organic arable farms. Based on bookkeeping data from 461 organic farms, three technology specific frontiers (each representing a different degree of specialisation)and an all-encompassing metafrontier are estimated using a combination of Data Envelopment Analysis and Window Analysis. The results indicate that a significant proportion of sample farms have not chosen their optimal degree of specialisation. We quantify the potential productivity gain from switching to the optimal specialisation class. This is highest for moderately specialised farms switching to higher degrees of specialisation. We demonstrate that there are significant differences in the structure of inputs and outputs between farms that have chosen the optimal degree of specialisation and those that have not. We further identify the factors determining whether a farm should switch to a more specialised or a more diversified organisation of enterprises.organic arable farming, business strategies, optimal degree of specialisation, technology efficiency, Data Envelopment Analysis, Window Analysis, Farm Management, Production Economics, Environmental Economics and Policy,