Geert Thijssen

Bio: Geert Thijssen is an academic researcher from Wageningen University and Research Centre. The author has contributed to research in topics: Total factor productivity & Data envelopment analysis. The author has an hindex of 8, co-authored 10 publications receiving 1544 citations.

Econometric Estimation of Technical and Environmental Efficiency: An Application to Dutch Dairy Farms

Abstract: In this article we estimate the technical and environmental efficiency of a panel of Dutch dairy farms. Nitrogen surplus, arising from the application of excessive amounts of manure and chemical fertilizer, is treated as an environmentally detrimental input. A stochastic translog production frontier is specified to estimate the output-oriented technical efficiency. Environmental efficiency is estimated as the input-oriented technical efficiency of a single input, the nitrogen surplus of each farm. The mean output-oriented technical efficiency is rather high, 0.894, but the mean input-oriented environmental efficiency is only 0.441. Intensive dairy farms are both technically and environmentally more efficient than extensive farms.

Decomposition of Productivity Growth Using Distance Functions: The Case of Dairy Farms in Three European Countries

Abstract: Within an output distance function framework, the Total Factor Productivity growth index is decomposed into four components (technical change, technical and allocative efficiency, and scale component). We estimate stochastic translog output distance functions using panel data from dairy farms over the period 1991-94 for three European countries (Germany, the Netherlands, and Poland). Results indicate that the change in the productivity growth index in Germany (+6%) and Poland (-5%) are mainly dictated by the technical change component. In contrast, the productivity growth index in the Netherlands (+3%) is influenced by allocative efficiency components.

Analysis of Environmental Efficiency Variation

Abstract: In this article, we develop and implement a methodology for analyzing the sources of variation in environmental efficiency across producers. We formulate a two-stage model. In the first stage, we use stochastic frontier analysis to estimate both technical and environmental efficiency. In the second stage, we again use stochastic frontier analysis to regress estimated environmental efficiency scores against a variety of technology, physical environment, and management variables. In this stage we estimate the impact of each explanatory variable on environmental efficiency, and we derive conditional estimates of environmental efficiency from the one-sided error component. We illustrate our methodology with an empirical application to a panel of Dutch dairy farms. We find evidence of relatively low levels of environmental efficiency, and we find that environmental efficiency can be improved through a number of policy options, including the provision of farmers with more insight into the nutrient balance of their farms.

Environmental efficiency with multiple environmentally detrimental variables; estimated with SFA and DEA

Abstract: The objective of this paper is to estimate comprehensive environmental efficiency measures for Dutch dairy farms. The environmental efficiency scores are based on the nitrogen surplus, phosphate surplus and the total (direct and indirect) energy use of an unbalanced panel of dairy farms. We define environmental efficiency as the ratio of minimum feasible to observed use of multiple environmentally detrimental inputs, conditional on observed levels of output and the conventional inputs. We compare two methods for the calculation of efficiency; namely Stochastic Frontier Analysis (SFA) and Data Envelopment Analysis (DEA). This paper reveals the strengths and weaknesses for estimating environmental efficiency of the methods applied. Both SFA and DEA can estimate environmental efficiency scores. The mean technical efficiency scores (output-oriented, SFA 89%, DEA 78%) and the mean comprehensive environmental efficiency scores (SFA 80%, DEA 52%) differ between the two methods. SFA allows hypothesis testing, and the monotonicity hypothesis is rejected for the specification including phosphate surplus. DEA can calculate environmental efficiency scores for all specifications, because regularity is imposed in this method.

The Econometric Approach to Efficiency Analysis

Abstract: The Econometrics of Panel DataSpringer Handbook of Science and Technology IndicatorsPanel Data EconometricsThe Econometrics of Panel DataA Practitioner's Guide to Stochastic Frontier Analysis Using StataBenchmarking for Performance EvaluationEssays on Microeconomics and Industrial OrganisationHealth System EfficiencyInternational Journal of Production EconomicsEconometric Analysis of Model Selection and Model TestingInternational Applications of Productivity and Efficiency AnalysisAdvanced Robust and Nonparametric Methods in Efficiency AnalysisEconometrics and the Philosophy of EconomicsThe Measurement of Productive EfficiencyMeasuring Efficiency in Health CareFinancial, Macro and Micro Econometrics Using REconometric Analysis of Cross Section and Panel DataApplied EconometricsProductivity and Efficiency AnalysisEconometric Model SelectionProductivity and Efficiency AnalysisStochastic Frontier AnalysisThe Oxford Handbook of Health EconomicsThe Measurement of Productive Efficiency and Productivity GrowthNew Directions in Productivity Measurement and Efficiency AnalysisA Primer on Efficiency Measurement for Utilities and Transport RegulatorsPanel Data EconometricsProduction and Efficiency Analysis with RApplications of Modern Production TheoryThe Measurement of Productive EfficiencyNonparametric Econometric Methods and ApplicationAn Introduction to Efficiency and Productivity AnalysisHealth, the Medical Profession, and RegulationThe Analysis of Household SurveysData Envelopment AnalysisProgramming Collective IntelligenceEfficiency AnalysisProductivity and Efficiency AnalysisMeasurement of Productivity and EfficiencyProduction Frontiers

Recent Developments in Frontier Modelling and Efficiency Measurement

Abstract: In this paper recent developments in the estimation of frontier functions and the measurement of efficiency are surveyed, and the potential applicability of these methods in agricultural economics is discussed. Frontier production, cost and profit functions are discussed, along with the construction of technical, allocative, scale and overall efficiency measures relative to these estimated frontiers. The two primary methods of frontier estimation, econometric and linear programming, are compared. A survey of recent applications of frontier methods in agriculture is also provided. (This abstract was borrowed from another version of this item.)

Technical efficiency in farming: a meta-regression analysis

Abstract: A meta-regression analysis including 167 farm level technical efficiency (TE) studies of developing and developed countries was undertaken. The econometric results suggest that stochastic frontier models generate lower mean TE (MTE) estimates than non-parametric deterministic models, while parametric deterministic frontier models yield lower estimates than the stochastic approach. The primal approach is the most common technological representation. In addition, frontier models based on cross-sectional data produce lower estimates than those based on panel data whereas the relationship between functional form and MTE is inconclusive. On average, studies for animal production show a higher MTE than crop farming. The results also suggest that the studies for countries in Western Europe and Oceania present, on average, the highest levels of MTE among all regions after accounting for various methodological features. In contrast, studies for Eastern European countries exhibit the lowest estimate followed by those from Asian, African, Latin American, and North American countries. Additional analysis reveals that MTEs are positively and significantly related to the average income of the countries in the data set but this pattern is broken by the upper middle income group which displays the lowest MTE.