Measuring and explaining farm inefficiency in a panel data set of mixed farms

This paper aims to estimate a translog stochastic frontier production function in the analysis of a panel of 150 mixed Catalan farms in the period 1989-1993, in order to attempt to measure and explain variation in technical inefficiency scores with a one-stage approach. The model uses gross value added as the output aggregate measure. Total employment, fixed capital, current assets, specific costs and overhead costs are introduced into the model as inputs. Stochastic frontier estimates are compared with those obtained using a linear programming method using a two-stage approach. The specification of the translog stochastic frontier model appears as an appropriate representation of the data, technical change was rejected and the technical inefficiency effects were statistically significant. The mean technical efficiency in the period analyzed was estimated to be 64.0%. Farm inefficiency levels were found significantly at 5% level and positively correlated with the number of economic size units.Technical efficiency, stochastic frontier approach, agricultural economics, frontier productions, farm efficiency

L'energia nuclear: pot resoldre el problema de l'escalfament global?

Sovint es diu que l'energia nuclear pot ser la solució pel problema de l'escalfament global: l'article presenta dades i raonaments per concloure que, si tota l'electricitat mundial fos d'origen nuclear, l'escalfament global es reduiria tan sols en un 12%. També s'analitzen els subproductes militars de la indústria de l'energia nuclear "civil" i la problemàtica dels residus radioactius de l'energia nuclear de fissió. També s'analitza l'alt grau de dificultats que presenta l'energia nuclear de fusió de la que no hi ha encara seguretat que pugui ser utilitzada en l'àmbit "civil", tot i que ha ho és l'àmbit militar.A menudo se dice que la energía nuclear puede ser la solución al problema del calentamiento global: el artículo presenta datos y razonamientos para concluir que, si toda la electricidad mundial fuese de origen nuclear, el calentamiento global se reduciría tan solo en un 12%. También se analizan los subproductos militares de la industria de la energía nuclear "civil" y la problemática de los residuos radioactivos de la energía nuclear de fisión. También se analiza el alto grado de dificultades que presenta la energía nuclear de fusión de la que no hay todavía seguridad de que pueda ser utilizada en el ámbito "civil", aunque ya lo sea en el ámbito militar.It is often said that nuclear energy could be the solution to the problem of global warming. This article presents data and arguments to show that if all of the electricity worldwide was provided by nuclear energy, global warming would only decrease by 12%. In addition, the military byproducts of the "civil" nuclear energy industry are analysed. The problem of radioactive waste from nuclear fission energy is examined, as are the serious difficulties presented by nuclear fusion energy. There are still no guarantees that nuclear fusion can be safely used in the "civil" sector, even thought it is already used in the military sector.Peer Reviewe

Anotación sobre Vicente Galarza y Pérez-Castañeda

Sin resume

Ensayo sobre el pensamiento de Avempace y su repercusión en Averroes.

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Muḥammad ʻAbduh, la revolución de ʻUrâbî; dudas y certezas

Re-examination of the relationship between Muḥammad ʻAbduh and Colonel Aḥmad ʻUrâbî (Orabi), leader of the Egyptian revolution of September 9th, 1881. The article focuses on the common and diverging views of both personalities concerning the issue of political reform.Reexamen de la relación entre Muḥammad ʻAbduh y el coronel Aḥmad ʻUrâbî (Orabi), que encabezó la revolución de 9 septiembre 1881. El estudio se centra en los puntos de vista comunes y opuestos de ambas personalidades sobre la reforma política