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.)

Recent Developments in Frontier Modelling and Efficiency Measurement

International Economics: Theory and Policy is built on Steve Suranovic’s belief that students need to learn the theory and models to understand how economics works and how economists understand the world And, that these ideas are accessible to most students if they are explained thoroughlySo, if you are looking for an International Economics text that will prepare your PhD students while promoting serious comprehension for the non-economics major, Steve Suranovic’s International Economics: Theory and Policy is for you International Economics: Theory and Policy presents numerous models in some detail; not by employing advanced mathematics, but rather by walking students through a detailed description of how a model’s assumptions influence its conclusions Then, students learn how the models connect with the real world Steve’s book covers positive economics to help answer the normative questions; for example, what should a country do about trade policy, or about exchange rate policy? The results from models give students insights that help us answer these questions Thus, this text strives to explain why each model is interesting by connecting its results to some aspect of a current policy issue This text eliminates some needlessly difficult material while adding and elaborating on other principles For example, the development of the relative supply/demand structure, or the presentation of offer curves, are omitted as to not go too deeply into topics that tend to confuse many students at this level Steve developed new approaches in this text including a simple way to present the Jones’ magnification effects, a systematic method to teach the theory of the second best, and a unique description of valid reasons to worry about trade deficits These new approaches help students learn the concepts and models and derive conclusions from them If you like to take a comprehensive look at trade policies, be sure to check out the chapter on Trade Policy (7) It provides a comprehensive look at many more trade policies than are found in many of the printed textbooks on the market todayInternational Economics: Theory and Policy by Steve Suranovic is intended for use in a full semester trade course, a full semester finance course, or a one semester trade/finance course

International Economics: Theory and Policy

textabstractIn Dutch: Naar een Nieuwe Wereldeconomie: voorstellen voor een internationaal economisch beleid, Rotterdam University Press, Rotterdam, 1965, XV + 335 p.\nIn Spanish: Hacia Una Economia Mundial: sugerencias para una politica economica internacional, Series Biblioteca de Economia No.7, Orbis, Barcelona, 1985, 242 p.

Shaping the World Economy. Suggestions for an International Economic Policy. By Jan Tinbergen. New York: The Twentieth Century Fund, 1962. pp. xvii, 330. Index. 4.00, cloth.

This issue of Commonwealth Trade Hot Topics explores the linkages and the opportunities the BRI presents for Sub-Saharan African countries. This takes on added importance since China not only is Africa’s largest trading partner on a country basis but also has established a critical geopolitical presence across the continent.

China’s Belt and Road Initiative

A Theoretical Foundation for the Gravity Model of Factor Flows

The present study aims to measure the technical efficiency and establish core factors affecting rice production in Cambodia. A four‐year dataset generated from the central government document “Profile on Economics and Social” of 25 entire provinces between 2012 and 2015 and the stochastic production frontier model (SFA) was applied. The results indicated that the level of output (quantity) of Cambodian rice production varied according to the different level of capital investment in agricultural machineries, total rice actual harvested area, and technical fertilizer application within provinces. Furthermore, evidence revealed that the overall mean efficiency of rice production is 78.4%, which implies that there is still room to further improve technical efficiency given the same level of inputs and technology. More importantly, the findings revealed that irrigation, production techniques and amount of agricultural supporting staff are the most important influencing factors of rice production’s technical efficiency in Cambodia. In conclusion, the present study strongly recommends the development of irrigation systems and good water management practices to be considered and bring about more effective actions by the central government as well as related agencies for improving rice production in Cambodia in addition to capital investment and improving technical skills of supporting staff and rural farmers.

Technical Efficiency and Its Determinants of Rice Production in Cambodia

The purpose of this paper is to investigate the major determinants of China’s outward foreign direct investment (OFDI) in the economies along the “Belt & Road” Initiative (BRI afterward). China works on to advance the agenda of the BRI both at home and abroad. The BRI is set up to promote connectivity in five key areas: policy coordination, infrastructure connectivity, trade facilitation, financial cooperation and people-to-people contacts.,The existing literature is inconclusive with regards to the motives, patterns and determinants of the Chinese OFDI. The authors are, therefore, motivated to undertake this study to shed some new light on the influencing factors of the Chinese OFDI. The authors have made a unique data set that consists of China and its 64 partnering countries of the BRI over a time period of 12 years spanning from 2004 to 2015. This time period is chosen on the chief consideration of data availability. The authors have a balanced panel, and applied the gravity model in line with the theoretical arguments and econometric developments.,The paper assumes that China’s OFDI along the BRI was a function of gross domestic product (GDP), income per capita, distance and WTO. The findings showed that GDP, per capita income and distance were the key determinants of the OFDI. China’s entry into the WTO did not strongly affect the OFDI. China maintained a tradition of historical relationships along the BRI economies. After all, China is relocating its investment resources in line with the consideration of its partnering countries’ economic size, cross-border distance and per capita income.,This study is the first of its kinds to analyze the determinants of OFDI by means of gravity model. The authors have covered all the countries along the BRI. Hence, this paper aims to make a substantial contribution to the literature, both from a scientific and a policy perspective.

Determinants of China’s outward foreign direct investment in the Belt & Road economies: A gravity model approach

What are the major determinants of China’s meat exports flows? In addressing this question, we propose a commodity-specific gravity model. This study has employed a unique dataset of 20 years (1997...

Determinants of Exports in China’s Meat Industry: A Gravity Model Analysis

The purpose of this study is to find out the determinants and issues influencing Bangladeshi textile and clothing (T&C) exports. A unique data set has been generated and used to estimate th...

Determinants of Exports: A Gravity Model Analysis of the Bangladeshi Textile and Clothing Industries:

This study aims to identify the major factors influencing the Cambodian rice exports through an application of the dynamic gravity framework estimated by the Generalized Least Square (GLS),...

Sokvibol Kea

Papers

Technical Efficiency and Its Determinants of Rice Production in Cambodia

Determinants of China’s outward foreign direct investment in the Belt & Road economies: A gravity model approach

Determinants of Exports in China’s Meat Industry: A Gravity Model Analysis

Determinants of Exports: A Gravity Model Analysis of the Bangladeshi Textile and Clothing Industries:

Factors Influencing Cambodian Rice Exports: An Application of the Dynamic Panel Gravity Model