Efficiency in the Romanian Banking System: An Application of Data Envelopment Analysis

The paper analyzes the efficiency and productivity of the Romanian banks from 2006-08. It uses a non-parametric approach, the data envelopment analysis (DEA) to analyze banks’ efficiency. Based on a sample of 15 commercial banks, our findings reveal that although the efficiency of the Romanian commercial banks improved since 2006, the cost efficiency scores are relatively low. Also, even if in 2007 the total factor productivity increased, in 2008 this score of the average productivity of banks decreased.bank performance, cost efficiency, productivity, data envelopment analysis, Malmquist Index

Investigation of Ageing Effects Using the Probabilistic Safety Assessments - Proceedings of the European Workshop on Probabilistic Safety Assessment

JRC – IE Petten organized with the support of the Kernkraftwerk Gösgen-Däniken, Switzerland, an EC Workshop on Investigation of Ageing Effects using the Probabilistic Safety Assessments. The goal of the workshop was to present and discuss the developed methods and approaches and the results obtained for application of reliability and PSA techniques on evaluation and management of NPP ageing. For the units which have approached the end of initial design lifetime and especially for those which are planning to extend the lifetime, it has to be demonstrated that the plant safety level will remain adequate until the end of operation, and to do that, is necessary to evaluate the effects of ageing phenomena on the plant performance and safety. The workshop contained a general session, dedicated to activities of different organizations in PSA field, and a technical session, focused on the results obtained in application of reliability and PSA techniques on evaluation and management of NPP ageing. Based on the presentations and participants experience, discussions about topics considered interested to be developed further were organized. The arising conclusions are presented.JRC.F.5-Nuclear Reactor Safety Assessmen

Efficiency and productivity in banks developed through Data Envelopment Analysis: a cross country-perspective

The paper analyzes the efficiency and productivity of the most important banking system from 2006-08 and tries to address the long-term challenges posed by the global financial crisis. A non-parametric frontier analysis (DEA) is applied to estimate the relative efficiency of banks segments in six industrial countries. A Malmquist decomposition is then carried out in order to separate efficiency change from technical change. Based on a large sample of banks, our findings reveal that banking efficiency has decreased since 2007. If in 2006 eight of the 13 banking sectors included in the study were situated on the efficiency frontier, in 2008 only three of them succeeded in reaching this frontier. In what concerns the productivity we observe an obvious tendency of aggravation. Therefore this index knew a decrease of 9.1% in 2007 in comparison with 2006 and it also continued to decrease in 2008.bank performance, cost efficiency, productivity, data envelopment analysis, Malmquist Index

Efficiency in the Romanian Banking System: An Application of Data Envelopment Analysis

The paper analyzes the efficiency and productivity of the Romanian banks from 2006-08. It uses a non-parametric approach, the data envelopment analysis (DEA) to analyze banks’ efficiency. Based on a sample of 15 commercial banks, our findings reveal that although the efficiency of the Romanian commercial banks improved since 2006, the cost efficiency scores are relatively low. Also, even if in 2007 the total factor productivity increased, in 2008 this score of the average productivity of banks decreased

The analysis of the monetary policy dynamics in Romania using a Structural Vector Autoregressive model

The present study aims at an econometric investigation oriented toward the estimation of the monetary policy dynamics in Romania, using a model based on the Autoregressive Structural Vector, imposing some restrictions on short term for knowing the response functions of the main macroeconomic variables at various economic shocks. Section I contains an argumentation of using the SVAR model. Sections 2 and 3 present the elaboration conditions of the SVAR model for the economy of Romania and the obtained results, and the last section comprises the conclusions.monetary policy dynamics, Romanian SVAR model, econometric investigation

Terms of Reference for APSA European Network on Use of PSA for Evaluation of Ageing Effects to the Safety of Energy Facilities. Revision 2

The Terms of Reference specifies the background, objectives, scope, main tasks and organization of European Network on Use of Probabilistic Safety Assessment (PSA) for Evaluation of Ageing Effects to the Safety of Energy Facilities (EC JRC IE APSA Network). The Network was initiated under the JRC FP6/ 7 Institutional Action "Analysis and Management of Nuclear Accidents" (AMA) and is now operated within the framework of the JRC-IE Institutional project "Plant Operation Safety" POS no. 52103. This document updates the JRC-IE report EUR 22645 EN, issued in 2007. The document is prepared in accordance with the requirements of JRC QA Work Instruction "Management of Partnerships and Networks" W400 1.JRC.DDG.F.5-Safety of present nuclear reactor

Guideline for Selection of Systems, Structures and Components to be considered in Ageing PSA

The guideline intends to provide a practical approach and to recommend the methods to be used in selection/prioritization of components, systems and structures (SSC) sensitive to ageing and important from risk point of view in operating nuclear power plants. The approach intends to ensure that the selection process will be carried out and documented in a uniform and consistent manner. The methods suitable for selection are briefly presented, and their advantages and disadvantages are specified. A list of generic ageing mechanisms, the factors favorable for their occurrence and some sensitive materials are provided in appendices. In the appendices are presented also the specific approaches and criteria used for SSC prioritization and selection in case studies performed in the frame of Ageing PSA task 3 activities. The guideline was developed in the frame of EC JRC Ageing PSA Network (APSA) activities.JRC.DDG.F.5-Safety of present nuclear reactor

Qualitative Approach for Selection of Systems Structures and Components to Be Considered in Ageing PSA

This report presents a qualitative approach for selection of Systems, Structures and Components (SSC) sensitive to ageing. The purpose of selection is to model and evaluate SSC ageing effects on the overall NPP safety by applying Probabilistic Safety Assessment tool. The report was prepared by Institute for Nuclear Research, Pitesti, Romania in cooperation with Institute for Energy, EC Joint Research Center, Petten, Netherlands in the frame of EC JRC Ageing PSA Network Task 3 activities. The goal of the work is to demonstrate the feasibility of qualitative assessment in selection of components sensitive for ageing and to develop a viable guideline for selection of components susceptible to ageing. An overview of the available approaches for selection of ageing components was performed, and the methods are briefly presented. Their advantages and disadvantages, as their limitation are also specified. Applicability of the approach for qualitative selection of SSCs susceptible to ageing was demonstrated by a case study which use as an example SSCs of NRI TRIGA research reactor. A list of ageing mechanisms, as their favourable factors for occurrence is provided in appendices of the report.JRC.F.4-Safety of future nuclear reactor

Feasibility Study for Applicability of Ageing PSA Model Results in Risk-informed Decision Process

The aim of this case study was to demonstrate the benefits of using ageing probabilistic safety analysis (PSA) results in risk-informed decision process. First stage of the activities was aimed on the development of dataset which reflects age-dependent reliability behaviour for selected components using plant-specific, VVER specific and generic data. The second part describes the integration process of time-dependent reliability dataset in PSA model, quantification and comparison between aging (APSA) and base case PSA decision making results. Practical insights and conclusions are also presented. The report was prepared by the Nuclear & Radiation Safety Center (NRSC), Yerevan, Armenia, in cooperation with the Institute for Energy and Transport, EC Joint Research Centre, Petten, Netherlands, in the framework of the EC JRC Ageing PSA Network Task 8 activities.JRC.F.5-Nuclear Reactor Safety Assessmen

INVESTIGATING THE RELATION BETWEEN COMMON CAUSE COUPLING FACTORS AND AGEING

Usually, probabilistic safety analyses are using the assumption of the constant component failure rate, and the assumption that the probability associated to common cause failure (CCF) will be constant in time. Still, as ageing phenomena could have some influence on components or systems performances, is probable that it could influence the probability of occurrence of CCFs also. This paper is devoted to investigation of the most important CCFs initiating factors from point of view of relation to ageing phenomena. The connections between CCF potential and ageing phenomena, as the influence of the individual prevention factors against CCF were evaluated. A questionnaire has been developed on this topic and all the inputs provided were summarized, compared and commented. The analysis has not been limited only to the list of negative factors that would increase the CCF potential, it has included also positive factors representing the prevention and correction measures applied with the aim to avoid occurrence and recurrence of CCF events, whether related to ageing or not. Two main topics were discussed: a) the strength of relation between the individual CCF coupling factors (contributing to total CCF potential) and ageing phenomena; b) the effect of CCF prevention measures on the coupling factors versus ageing relation (estimated for those CCF coupling factors that were evaluated as coincident with ageing phenomena, with at least medium level of coincidence).JRC.F.5-Nuclear Reactor Safety Assessmen