Cost Efficiency in the Swiss Gas Distribution Sector

This paper studies the cost structure of gas distribution utilities in Switzerland. Three stochastic frontier models are applied to a panel of 26 companies operating from 1996 to 2000. Efficiency is assumed to be constant over time. The analysis highlights the importance of output characteristics such as customer density and network size. The results suggest that the utilities could slightly reduce their operating costs by improving efficiency. There is no evidence of significant unexploited scale economies. However, our analysis indicates that the estimates of scale economies could be sensitive to the assumptions regarding the variation of output with output characteristics.cost efficiency; scale economies, gas distribution, stochastic frontier analysis

Cost Efficiency in Regional Bus Companies: An Application of Alternative Stochastic Frontier Models

This paper evaluates cost and scale efficiencies of Switzerland’s regulated bus companies operating in regional networks. The adopted methodology can be used in benchmarking analyses applied to incentive regulation systems. Moreover, the estimations can be used to evaluate the bidding offers for the tendering processes predicted by the ongoing reform policies. Since these companies operate in different regions with various characteristics that are only partially observed, it is crucial for the regulator to distinguish between inefficiency and exogenous heterogeneity that influences the costs. A number of stochastic cost frontier models are applied to a panel of 94 companies over a 12-year period from 1986 to 1997. The main focus lies on the ability of these models to distinguish inefficiency from the unobserved firmspecific heterogeneity in a network industry. The estimation results are compared and the effect of unobserved heterogeneity on inefficiency estimates is analyzed.

Scale and cost efficiency in the Swiss electricity distribution industry: evidence from a frontier cost approach

The deregulation of the electricity industry is currently on the political agenda in many countries. In most countries, the deregulation of the sector is combined with a (re-) regulation of the electricity networks in most of the countries. In this paper, we analyze the costs structure of 59 Swiss electricity distribution network operators with respect to cost and scale efficiency of the industry. A stochastic frontier model is applied to estimate the average costs of efficient network operators as a benchmark for the industry. Moreover, the heterogeneity of service areas is taken into account. The Swiss authorities might use our results to regulate the prices for the access to the distribution networks.stochastic frontier analysis; electricity distribution; efficiency measurement; regulation; benchmarking; returns to scale; returns to density

V(D)J recombination frequency is affected by the sequence interposed between a pair of recombination signals: sequence comparison reveals a putative recombinational enhancer element

The immunoglobulin heavy chain intron enhancer (Eμ) not only stimulates transcription but also V(D)J recombination of chromosomally integrated recombination substrates. We aimed at reproducing this effect in recombination competent cells by transient transfection of extrachromosomal substrates. These we prepared by interposing between the recombination signal sequences (RSS) of the plasmid pBlueRec various fragments, including Eμ, possibly affecting V(D)J recombination. Our work shows that sequences inserted between RSS 23 and RSS 12, with distances from their proximal ends of 26 and 284 bp respectively, can markedly affect the frequency of V(D)J recombination. We report that the entire Eμ, the Eμ core as well as its flanking 5′ and 3′ matrix associated regions (5′ and 3′ MARs) upregulate V(D)J recombination while the downstream section of the 3′ MAR of Eμ does not. Also, prokaryotic sequences markedly suppress V(D)J recombination. This confirms previous results obtained with chromosomally integrated substrates, except for the finding that the full length 3′ MAR of Eμ stimulates V(D)J recombination in an episomal but not in a chromosomal context. The fact that other MARs do not share this activity suggests that the effect is not mediated through attachment of the recombination substrate to a nuclear matrix-associated recombination complex but through cis-activation. The presence of a 26 bp A-T-rich sequence motif in the 5′ and 3′ MARs of Eµ and in all of the other upregulating fragments investigated, leads us to propose that the motif represents a novel recombinational enhancer element distinct from those constituting the Eµ cor

Kritische Selbstreflexion, vernünftige Meinungsbildung und argumentative Kompetenzen

Es ist unbestritten, dass kritische Selbstreflexion und vernünftige Meinungsbildung zu den allgemeinen Bildungszielen gehören. Argumentative Fähigkeiten sind dafür unerlässlich, weil sie immer eine wesentliche Rolle spielen, wenn es darum geht, ein Sachgebiet anhand einer Theorie zu verstehen. Der Beitrag zeigt dies unter Rückgriff auf die erkenntnistheoretische Idee des Überlegungsgleichgewichts, illustriert die Funktion argumentativer Fähigkeiten am Beispiel des anthropogenen Klimawandels und schlägt einige institutionelle und curriculare Konsequenzen vor

Euclidean solutions in Einstein-Yang-Mills-dilaton theory

We present arguments for the existence of a new type of solutions of the Euclidean Einstein-Yang-Mills-dilaton theory in $d=4$ dimensions. Possesing nonvanishing nonabelian charges, these nonselfdual configurations have no counterparts on the Lorentzian section. They provide, however, new saddle points in the Euclidean path integral.Comment: 11 pages, 6 figures, discussion extended, figure clarifie