Energy performance evaluation of OECD countries using Bayesian stochastic frontier analysis and Bayesian network classifiers

More recently a large amount of interest has been devoted to the use of Bayesian methods for deriving parameter estimates of the stochastic frontier analysis. Bayesian stochastic frontier analysis (BSFA) seems to be a useful method to assess the efficiency in energy sector. However, BSFA results do not expose the multiple relationships between input and output variables and energy efficiency. This study proposes a framework to make inferences about BSFA efficiencies, recognizing the underlying relationships between variables and efficiency, using Bayesian network (BN) approach. BN classifiers are proposed as a method to analyze the results obtained from BSFA.     

Semiparametric Estimation of Stochastic Production Frontier Models

This article extends the linear stochastic frontier model proposed by Aigner, Lovell, and Schmidt to a semiparametric frontier model in which the functional form of the production frontier is unspecified and the distributions of the composite error terms are of known form. Pseudolikelihood estimators of the parameters characterizing the two error terms of the model are constructed based on kernel estimation of the conditional mean function. The Monte Carlo results show that the proposed estimators perform well in finite samples. An empirical application is presented. Extensions to a partially linear frontier function and to more flexible one-sided error distributions than the half-normal are discussed     

The “wrong skewness” problem in stochastic frontier models: A new approach

Stochastic frontier models are widely used to measure, e.g., technical efficiencies of firms. The classical stochastic frontier model often suffers from the empirical artefact that the residuals of the production function may have a positive skewness, whereas a negative one is expected under the model, which leads to estimated full efficiencies of all firms. We propose a new approach to the problem by generalizing the distribution used for the inefficiency variable. This generalized stochastic frontier model allows the sample data to have the wrong skewness while estimating well-defined and nondegenerate efficiency measures. We discuss the statistical properties of the model, and we discuss a test for the symmetry of the error term (no inefficiency). We provide a simulation study to show that our model delivers estimators of efficiency with smaller bias than those of the classical model even if the population skewness has the correct sign. Finally, we apply the model to data of the U.S. textile industry for 1958–2005 and show that for a number of years our model suggests technical efficiencies well below the frontier while the classical one estimates no inefficiency in those years.     

Semiparametric Smooth Coefficient Stochastic Frontier Model With Panel Data

ABSTRACT

We investigate the semiparametric smooth coefficient stochastic frontier model for panel data in which the distribution of the composite error term is assumed to be of known form but depends on some environmental variables. We propose multi-step estimators for the smooth coefficient functions as well as the parameters of the distribution of the composite error term and obtain their asymptotic properties. The Monte Carlo study demonstrates that the proposed estimators perform well in finite samples. We also consider an application and perform model specification test, construct confidence intervals, and estimate efficiency scores that depend on some environmental variables. The application uses a panel data on 451 large U.S. firms to explore the effects of computerization on productivity. Results show that two popular parametric models used in the stochastic frontier literature are likely to be misspecified. Compared with the parametric estimates, our semiparametric model shows a positive and larger overall effect of computer capital on the productivity. The efficiency levels, however, were not much different among the models. Supplementary materials for this article are available online.     

Centered-Residuals-Based Moment Estimator and Test for Stochastic Frontier Models

The composed error of a stochastic frontier (SF) model consists of two random variables, and the identification of the model relies heavily on the distribution assumptions for each of these variables. While the literature has put much effort into applying various SF models to a wide range of empirical problems, little has been done to test the distribution assumptions of these two variables. In this article, by exploiting the specification structures of the SF model, we propose a centered-residuals-based method of moments which can be easily and flexibly applied to testing the distribution assumptions on both of the random variables and to estimating the model parameters. A Monte Carlo simulation is conducted to assess the performance of the proposed method. We also provide two empirical examples to demonstrate the use of the proposed estimator and test using real data.     

Bayesian analysis of semiparametric Bernstein polynomial regression models for data with sample selection

In regression analysis, a sample selection scheme often applies to the response variable, which results in missing not at random observations on the variable. In this case, a regression analysis using only the selected cases would lead to biased results. This paper proposes a Bayesian methodology to correct this bias based on a semiparametric Bernstein polynomial regression model that incorporates the sample selection scheme into a stochastic monotone trend constraint, variable selection, and robustness against departures from the normality assumption. We present the basic theoretical properties of the proposed model that include its stochastic representation, sample selection bias quantification, and hierarchical model specification to deal with the stochastic monotone trend constraint in the nonparametric component, simple bias corrected estimation, and variable selection for the linear components. We then develop computationally feasible Markov chain Monte Carlo methods for semiparametric Bernstein polynomial functions with stochastically constrained parameter estimation and variable selection procedures. We demonstrate the finite-sample performance of the proposed model compared to existing methods using simulation studies and illustrate its use based on two real data applications.     

空间误差自相关随机前沿模型及其估计

将空间计量经济学的思想引入随机前沿分析，构建了基于横截面数据的空间误差自相关随机前沿模型，推导出模型的似然函数以求得参数估计，并给出了各生产单元技术效率的估计。     

企业技术效率的影响分析

 本文以上海市166家大中型企业五年的面板数据为研究对象,设定两种不同的生产函数和两种误差分布,利用随机前沿方法分别进行了技术效率的估计。我们发现不同测算方法的结果差异不大,且对企业的评价具有一致性。结果表明上海市工业企业的技术效率整体水平不高。通过研究影响企业技术效率的外生性因素,发现企业的所有制结构、规模、R&D经费支出与R&D人员投入、资本密集程度和企业的垄断程度等因素都对上海市工业企业的技术效率水平具有显著影响。基于研究结果,我们给出了提高企业技术效率的一些建议。     

基于拟似然方法的股票收益与波动率关系及其应用研究

股票市场中收益与波动率的关系研究在金融证券领域起着很重要的作用,而随机波动率模型能够很好地拟合这种关系。本文将拟似然方法和渐近拟似然方法运用在随机波动率模型的参数估计方面,渐近拟似然方法可以避免因为人为的结构错误指定而造成的偏差,比较稳健。本文采用拟似然和渐近拟似然方法对随机波动率模型的参数估计进行了模拟探索,并和两种已有估计方法进行了对比,结果表明拟似然和渐近拟似然方法在模型的参数估计方面有着很好的估计结果。实证研究中,选取2000-2015年标普500指数作为研究对象,结果显示所选数据具有金融时间序列的常见特征。本文为金融证券领域中股票收益与波动率关系及其应用研究提供了一定的启示。     

真实固定效应空间随机前沿模型的贝叶斯估计

忽略个体效应和空间效应会严重干扰效率测算,其中忽略个体效应使得技术无效率项发生偏移,忽略空间相关性导致估计量有偏且不一致。本文基于真实固定效应随机前沿模型（引入了个体效应）,引入因变量和双边误差项的空间滞后项,构建了适用性更佳的真实固定效应空间随机前沿模型。对模型进行组内变化以消除额外参数,使用贝叶斯方法（需推导未知参数的后验分布并执行MCMC抽样）估计参数和技术效率。该方法真正克服了额外参数问题,比同类方法直观、简便。数值模拟结果表明,本文方法对参数、个体截距项及技术无效率项的估计精度均较高,且增加样本容量,估计精度变优。     

A new stochastic mixed ridge estimator in linear regression model

This paper is concerned with the parameter estimation in linear regression model with additional stochastic linear restrictions. To overcome the multicollinearity problem, a new stochastic mixed ridge estimator is proposed and its efficiency is discussed. Necessary and sufficient conditions for the superiority of the stochastic mixed ridge estimator over the ridge estimator and the mixed estimator in the mean squared error matrix sense are derived for the two cases in which the parametric restrictions are correct and are not correct. Finally, a numerical example is also given to show the theoretical results.     

随机前沿生产函数非效率项不同衡量方式的一致性问题——基于蒙特卡罗模拟的分析

 摘　　要:本文应用蒙特卡罗模拟方法，在定义单次模拟程序时，假设数据产生机制是一个超越对数随机前沿生产函数的10模型，由此创造出模拟样本，并用一个超越对数的00模型（scaling-property模型）计算出有关参数、特别是非效率项的估计值。又进一步判定了所得到的估计值和原来10模型中的“真实”非效率项的一致性。研究发现，真实非效率项与从scaling-property模型中计算出来的非效率估计值之间的各种相关系数均为负值。因此，效率秩估计值和“真实”效率秩是不一致的     

Comparison of asymmetric stochastic volatility models under different correlation structures

This paper conducts simulation-based comparison of several stochastic volatility models with leverage effects. Two new variants of asymmetric stochastic volatility models, which are subject to a logarithmic transformation on the squared asset returns, are proposed. The leverage effect is introduced into the model through correlation either between the innovations of the observation equation and the latent process, or between the logarithm of squared asset returns and the latent process. Suitable Markov Chain Monte Carlo algorithms are developed for parameter estimation and model comparison. Simulation results show that our proposed formulation of the leverage effect and the accompanying inference methods give rise to reasonable parameter estimates. Applications to two data sets uncover a negative correlation (which can be interpreted as a leverage effect) between the observed returns and volatilities, and a negative correlation between the logarithm of squared returns and volatilities.     

Tests for Parameter Instability in Regressions with 1(1) Processes

This article derives the large-sample distributions of Lagrange multiplier (LM) tests for parameter instability against several alternatives of interest in the context of cointegrated regression models. The fully modified estimator of Phillips and Hansen is extended to cover general models with stochastic and deterministic trends. The test statistics considered include the SupF test of Quandt, as well as the LM tests of Nyblom and of Nabeya and Tanaka. It is found that the asymptotic distributions depend on the nature of the regressor processes—that is, if the regressors are stochastic or deterministic trends. The distributions are noticeably different from the distributions when the data are weakly dependent. It is also found that the lack of cointegration is a special case of the alternative hypothesis considered (an unstable intercept), so the tests proposed here may also be viewed as a test of the null of cointegration against the alternative of no cointegration. The tests are applied to three data sets—an aggregate consumption function, a present value model of stock prices and dividends, and the term structure of interest rates.     

A class of goodness-of-fit test for the additive hazards model with case-cohort data

The case-cohort design is commonly used in epidemiological studies due to its cost-effectiveness. The additive hazards model is widely used in survival analysis when the hazards difference is constant. In this article, we propose a class of goodness-of-fit test statistics for the assumption of the additive hazards model with case-cohort data through a class of asymptotically mean-zero multiparameter stochastic processes. We also establish the asymptotic theory of the proposed test statistics and a resampling scheme is adopted to approximate its asymptotic distribution. The performance of the proposed test statistics is evaluated through simulation studies and a real dataset is analyzed to illustrate the proposed method.     

动态面板空间随机前沿模型的参数估计及应用

生产效率一般会受到空间相关性和时间滞后效应的影响,不易准确测算。本文考虑时空双重滞后特征,提出一种动态面板数据空间随机前沿模型,针对模型的内生性问题,借鉴已有的估计方法,本文提出一种广义矩估计方法（Generalized Method of Moments,GMM）,并证明了参数估计的一致性。在应用分析中,利用本文所提出的理论模型实证分析了我国战略性新兴产业发展的效率,该理论模型能够客观、科学地测算技术效率,实证结论验证了理论模型的应用效果。     

Simulation-based model comparison methodology with application to road accident models

This article assumes the goal of proposing a simulation-based theoretical model comparison methodology with application to two time series road accident models. The model comparison exercise helps to quantify the main differences and similarities between the two models and comprises of three main stages: (1) simulation of time series through a true model with predefined properties; (2) estimation of the alternative model using the simulated data; (3) sensitivity analysis to quantify the effect of changes in the true model parameters on alternative model parameter estimates through analysis of variance, ANOVA. The proposed methodology is applied to two time series road accident models: UCM (unobserved components model) and DRAG (Demand for Road Use, Accidents and their Severity). Assuming that the real data-generating process is the UCM, new datasets approximating the road accident data are generated, and DRAG models are estimated using the simulated data. Since these two methodologies are usually assumed to be equivalent, in a sense that both models accurately capture the true effects of the regressors, we are specifically addressing the modeling of the stochastic trend, through the alternative model. Stochastic trend is the time-varying component and is one of the crucial factors in time series road accident data. Theoretically, it can be easily modeled through UCM, given its modeling properties. However, properly capturing the effect of a non-stationary component such as stochastic trend in a stationary explanatory model such as DRAG is challenging. After obtaining the parameter estimates of the alternative model (DRAG), the estimates of both true and alternative models are compared and the differences are quantified through experimental design and ANOVA techniques. It is observed that the effects of the explanatory variables used in the UCM simulation are only partially captured by the respective DRAG coefficients. This a priori, could be due to multicollinearity but the results of both simulation of UCM data and estimating of DRAG models reveal that there is no significant static correlation among regressors. Moreover, in fact, using ANOVA, it is determined that this regression coefficient estimation bias is caused by the presence of the stochastic trend present in the simulated data. Thus, the results of the methodological development suggest that the stochastic component present in the data should be treated accordingly through a preliminary, exploratory data analysis.     

中国市场价格扭曲测度：1952-2005

理论上,可以通过考察实际生产状态与潜在最优生产状态之间的差距,反映资源利用效率与市场扭曲程度。通常可以区分三类市场扭曲：生产无效率与要素市场局部价格扭曲、产品市场价格扭曲、要素市场全局价格扭曲。本文将各种市场扭曲的影响整合在统一框架内测度,以有效分析其相对强弱程度。使用随机前沿分析技术刻画生产可能性边界（PPF）,利用中国31个省区1952-2005年面板数据建立计量模型,进行中国市场扭曲程度测度,并展开时期比较与地区比较。     

空间ZISF的估计及蒙特卡罗模拟

在随机前沿模型中引入空间效应和技术无效率项的非连续性并构建了空间零无效率随机前沿模型,使用极大似然估计和JLMS方法得出参数和技术效率的估计。蒙特卡罗模拟表明:(1)逆似然比检验能以较高的准确率识别真实模型;(2)本方法在参数估计和技术效率的估计两方面均表现较好;(3)若真实模型为空间零无效率随机前沿模型但误用了空间随机前沿模型,参数估计和技术效率的估计两方面均表现较差。空间零无效率随机前沿模型有其存在的必要性。     

Distribution of cost inefficiency in stochastic frontier approach: evidence from Spanish banking

The aim of the paper is to demonstrate the appropriateness of an a priori analysis to determine the distributional assumption of the inefficiency term in a stochastic frontier model. To this end, theoretical distributions of estimated inefficiency were obtained when the inefficiency term is assumed to be distributed as a half normal and an exponential in a cost frontier model. Comparisons of such theoretical distributions with the respective cost inefficiency estimators using the goodness of fit test allow selecting the most appropriate distributional assumption. The application on three data sets of Spanish banking system in 2009 demonstrated the relevance of the research question. First, the results of estimated cost inefficiency with a half normal assumption are larger than with an exponential distribution significantly. Besides, half normal assumption was rejected and exponential was not rejected as the most appropriate distribution of inefficiency term in Spanish banking data set. However, the adjustment of saving banks data had been better with the former distribution than the latter. In the case of banks, any distribution results appropriate. To sum up, this work demonstrate that the distributional assumption on inefficiency term in Stochastic Frontier Approach must be established in a justified way, as it can significantly bias the results of estimated inefficiency and therefore, influences improving policies and strategies in the Spanish banking sector.