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Cost and productivity

Author

Listed:
  • E. Grifell-Tatjé

    (Departament d'Economia de l'Empresa, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, 08193 Bellaterra, Barcelona, Spain)

  • C.A.K. Lovell

    (Department of Economics, Terry College of Business, University of Georgia, Athens, GA, USA)

Abstract

This study develops an analytical model capable of decomposing both intertemporal and multilateral cost variation. It begins by attributing cost variation to a price effect and a quantity effect. Then the quantity effect is decomposed into a productivity effect and an activity effect. The productivity effect in turn decomposes into a cost efficiency effect and, in the intertemporal context, a technical change effect. This paper also shows how the intertemporal and multilateral cost decompositions can be implemented, using linear programming techniques. These techniques offer certain advantages over conventional econometric techniques whenever a substantial portion of cost variation is due to variation in cost efficiency. The two cost decompositions are illustrated with a pair of benchmarking exercises based on a panel of 93 US electric power generating companies, in which variation in cost efficiency does play a key role. Copyright © 2000 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

Suggested Citation

  • E. Grifell-Tatjé & C.A.K. Lovell, 2000. "Cost and productivity," Managerial and Decision Economics, John Wiley & Sons, Ltd., vol. 21(1), pages 19-30.
    • Handle: RePEc:wly:mgtdec:v:21:y:2000:i:1:p:19-30
    DOI: 10.1002/1099-1468(200001/02)21:1<19::AID-MDE962>3.0.CO;2-7
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    Cited by:

    1. Robert Chambers, 2008. "Stochastic productivity measurement," Journal of Productivity Analysis, Springer, vol. 30(2), pages 107-120, October.
    2. Arnaud Abad & Michell Arias & Paola Ravelojaona, 2023. "Environmental Productivity Assessment: an Illustration with the Ecuadorian Oil Industry," Post-Print hal-03574542, HAL.
    3. Bruno De Borger & Kristiaan Kerstens & Diego Prior & Ignace Van de Woestyne, 2013. "Static efficiency decompositions and capacity utilization: integrating economic and technical capacity notions," Applied Economics, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 45(24), pages 3529-3529, August.
    4. Frederic Ang & Pieter Jan Kerstens, 2023. "Robust nonparametric analysis of dynamic profits, prices and productivity: An application to French meat-processing firms," European Review of Agricultural Economics, Oxford University Press and the European Agricultural and Applied Economics Publications Foundation, vol. 50(2), pages 771-809.
    5. Fox, Kevin J. & Grafton, R. Quentin & Kirkley, James & Squires, Dale, 2003. "Property rights in a fishery: regulatory change and firm performance," Journal of Environmental Economics and Management, Elsevier, vol. 46(1), pages 156-177, July.
    6. Ray, Subhash C. & Chen, Lei & Mukherjee, Kankana, 2008. "Input price variation across locations and a generalized measure of cost efficiency," International Journal of Production Economics, Elsevier, vol. 116(2), pages 208-218, December.
    7. Molinos-Senante, María & Maziotis, Alexandros & Sala-Garrido, Ramón, 2020. "Changes in the total costs of the English and Welsh water and sewerage industry: The decomposed effect of price and quantity inputs on efficiency," Utilities Policy, Elsevier, vol. 66(C).
    8. Portela, Maria Conceição A. Silva & Thanassoulis, Emmanuel, 2014. "Economic efficiency when prices are not fixed: disentangling quantity and price efficiency," Omega, Elsevier, vol. 47(C), pages 36-44.
    9. Balk, Bert M. & Zofío, José L., 2020. "Symmetric decompositions of cost variation," European Journal of Operational Research, Elsevier, vol. 285(3), pages 1189-1198.
    10. Abdullah Al-Hadi, Azrina & Peoples, James, 2016. "Input Price Effect on Productivity Gains in the United States Railroad Industry," Jurnal Ekonomi Malaysia, Faculty of Economics and Business, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, vol. 50(2), pages 3-14.
    11. Arnaud Abad & Paola Ravelojaona, 2021. "Pollution‐adjusted productivity analysis: The use of Malmquist and Luenberger productivity measures," Managerial and Decision Economics, John Wiley & Sons, Ltd., vol. 42(3), pages 635-648, April.
    12. Aparicio, Juan & Zofío, José L., 2023. "Decomposing profit change: Konüs, Bennet and Luenberger indicators," Socio-Economic Planning Sciences, Elsevier, vol. 87(PB).
    13. Arocena, Pablo & Gómez-Plana, Antonio G. & Peña, Sofía, 2024. "A model for the competitive benchmarking of energy costs," Energy Economics, Elsevier, vol. 131(C).
    14. Andersen, Kristoffer Steen & Dockweiler, Steffen & Klinge Jacobsen, Henrik, 2019. "Squaring the energy efficiency circle: evaluating industry energy efficiency policy in a hybrid model setting," MPRA Paper 96546, University Library of Munich, Germany.
    15. Subhash Ray, 2012. "Productivity Change over Time and the Dynamics of Cost Competitiveness: A Nonparametric Analysis of U.S. Manufacturing Data," Working papers 2012-39, University of Connecticut, Department of Economics.

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