Evolution of bank efficiency in Brazil: A DEA approach

This paper investigates cost, technical and allocative efficiencies for Brazilian banks in the recent period (2000–2007). We use Data Envelopment Analysis (DEA) to compute efficiency scores. Brazilian banks were found to have low levels of economic (cost) efficiency compared to banks in Europe and in the US. For the period with high macroeconomic volatility (2000–2002) the economic inefficiency in Brazilian banks can be attributed mainly to technical inefficiency rather than allocative inefficiency. State-owned banks are significantly more cost efficient than foreign, private domestic and private with foreign participation. There is no evidence of differences in economic efficiency due to type of activity and bank size. These results may provide some useful guidance for financial regulators and bank managers.     

A goal programming approach to group decision making based on multiplicative preference relations and fuzzy preference relations

This paper analyses the mechanisms through which binding finance constraints can induce debt-constrained firms to improve technical efficiency to guarantee positive profits. This hypothesis is tested on a sample of firms belonging to the Italian manufacturing. Technical efficiency scores are computed by estimating parametric production frontiers using the one stage approach as in Battese and Coelli [Battese, G., Coelli, T., 1995. A model for technical efficiency effects in a stochastic frontier production function for panel data. Empirical Economics 20, 325–332]. The results support the hypothesis that a restriction in the availability of financial resources can affect positively efficiency.     

Impacts of two-stage deterioration on an integrated inventory model under trade credit and variable capacity utilization

The joint economic lot sizing problem (JELP) model provides a global view to facilitate the development of a production-inventory policy for an integrated system. However, when a deteriorating item is involved, previous studies have neglected the following two important issues: (1) the deterioration quantity increases the demand for the supplier's capacity, which consequently requires the supplier to recalculate the corresponding average cost and reevaluate the capacity utilization, and (2) given the supplier's production rate, in-transit deterioration imposes restrictions on the delivery distance or in-transit time. Therefore, the existing integrated policies may lead to infeasible solutions for the distribution channel when a deterioration item is included. In view of these two issues, a generalized JELP model under delay in payments is formulated to investigate the integrated production-inventory policy for an item with two-stage deterioration (in-transit and retail deterioration) while incorporating both transportation time and capacity utilization. By developing the average cost functions of the supply chain members and employing several new definitions (e.g., variable capacity utilization), this paper provides a mechanism for measuring the influence of two-stage deterioration on the supplier's capacity utilization for the JELP. Three algorithms are proposed to obtain optimal decisions based on the theoretical results. This paper demonstrates that the supplier's variable capacity utilization is relevant to transportation time and two-stage deterioration, which can be applied to evaluate the feasibility of the integrated production-inventory policy for the deteriorating item. Furthermore, there is a maximum allowable value for the retailer's order cycle.     

Bank productivity and performance groups: A decomposition approach based upon the Luenberger productivity indicator

The purpose of this paper is twofold. First, in the framework of the strategic groups’ literature, it analyZes changes in productivity and efficiency of Spanish private and savings banks over an eight-year period (1998-2006). Second, by adapting the decomposition of the Malmquist productivity indices suggested by Färe et al. (1994), it proposes similar components decomposing the Luenberger productivity indicator. Initially, productivity is decomposed into technological and efficiency changes. Thereafter, this efficiency change is decomposed into pure efficiency, scale and congestion changes. Empirical results demonstrate that productivity improvements are partially due to technological innovation. Furthermore, it is shown how the competition between private and savings banks develops in terms of the analyzed productivity and efficiency components. While private banks enjoy better efficiency change, savings banks contribute more to technological progress. Consequently, the Luenberger components are used as cluster analysis inputs. Thus, economic interpretations of the resulting performance groups are made via key differences in productivity components. Finally, following the strategic groups’ literature, supplementary insights are gained by linking these performance groups with banking ratios.     

A facilities in series capacity constrained dynamic lot-size model

A facilities in series dynamic lot-size model is studied. The model differs from earlier studies involving concave cost functions in the introduction of capacity constraints for production at the last facility. The structure of the optimal solution is characterized. Two algorithms, one involving decomposition the other a one-stage algorithm are presented and compared with respect to their computational efficiency. Only the non backlogging case is considered.     

A study on the persistence of Farrell’s efficiency measure under a dynamic framework

This article introduces a sequence of four systematic methods to examine the extent to which the economic efficiency of Taiwan’s commercial banks persists and to uncover the potential dynamic link between bank performance and various financial indicators. Quasi-fixed inputs are explicitly incorporated in the DEA model to account for possible adjustment costs, regulation, or indivisibilities. Among the four methods, the dynamic panel data model and the Markov model appear to be exploited for the first time in the area of the DEA approach. Evidence is found that bank efficiency exhibits moderate persistence over the sample period, implying that the given sample banks fail to adjust their production techniques in a timely manner. Regulatory authorities and bank managers are suggested to be aware of the level of undesirable non-performing loans due to their close relationship with bank performance.     

Distribution of cost and profit efficiency: Evidence from Indian banking

This paper uses the nonparametric DEA methodology to estimate cost and profit efficiency of Indian banks during the post-reform period. The results show considerable variation in average levels of profit efficiency across various ownership categories of banks. In general, state owned banks are found to be more efficient than their private counter parts. Further, efficiency tends to be low among the small banks (assets up to Rs. 50 billion), indicating that at the existing scale of operations, these banks are operating far below the efficient frontier. We also examine the distribution of efficiency using nonparametric kernel density estimates. The analysis reveals a rightward-shift of the efficiency distribution over the years. A major part of this shift comes from the state owned banks. Based on the conditional distribution, the study finds strong evidence of ownership explaining the efficiency differential of banks. Additionally, bank size and product-mix are also found to be important, although to a lesser extent.     

关于结构分解技术中两种分解方法的比较研究

投入产出技术中的结构分解技术被广泛的应用于经济系统的各个领域,但随着不同的经济分析的需要,发现传统的结构分解方法——算术分解法在分析效率、强度等指数型指标时存在一定的分解困难。因此,本文提出了广义指数分解方法的基本概念和一般解,通过模型建立、以及我国生产能源消耗量的实证分析,对两种分解方法进行比较。研究表明,两种分解方法适用不同的指标形式,广义指数分解法在分析指数型指标时,更具优势。     

基于模糊FNN-ELECTRE法的国有商业银行竞争力评价

随着金融业全方位开放,国有商业银行已成为国家经济命脉的核心,其竞争力强弱关系着国家经济的繁荣与衰退。本文基于模糊FNN-ELECTRE方法建立国有商业银行竞争力评价模型,以因素神经网络理论(FNN)与ELECTRE融合方法为基础,以现有商业银行竞争力评价指标为着眼,把国有商业银行竞争力的评价体系从现实竞争力和潜在竞争力两个因素抽取为一级指标,以规模、质量、业务结构、效率、成长性五个因素设为二级指标。从实证的角度对银行A、银行B、银行C、银行D、银行E五大国有银行进行分析验证,对其属性值进行和谐性与非和谐性检验得出,银行B竞争能力最强,银行E竞争能力最弱,五大国有银行均有改进空间。     

Quantile regression for robust bank efficiency score estimation

We discuss quantile regression techniques as a robust and easy to implement alternative for estimating Farell technical efficiency scores. The quantile regression approach estimates the production process for benchmark banks located at top conditional quantiles. Monte Carlo simulations reveal that even when generating data according to the assumptions of the stochastic frontier model (SFA), efficiency estimates obtained from quantile regressions resemble SFA-efficiency estimates. We apply the SFA and the quantile regression approach to German bank data for three banking groups, commercial banks, savings banks and cooperative banks to estimate efficiency scores based on a simple value added function and a multiple-input–multiple-output cost function. The results reveal that the efficient (benchmark) banks have production and cost elasticities which differ considerably from elasticities obtained from conditional mean functions and stochastic frontier functions.     

Determinants of bank efficiency: The case of Brazil

This paper analyzes the efficiency of the Brazilian banking sector over the post-privatization period of 2000–2007. We employ a Bayesian stochastic frontier approach, which provides exact efficiency estimates and confidence intervals and thus, allows an accurate comparison across institutions and bank groups. The results suggest that large banks are the most cost and profit efficient, supporting the concentration process observed in recent years. Foreign banks have achieved a good performance through either the establishment of new affiliates and the acquisition of local banks. The remaining public banks have had improvements in cost efficiency, but are relatively profit inefficient. Finally, we observe a positive impact of capitalization on efficiency.     

Multiple goals and ownership structure: Effects on the performance of Spanish savings banks

Spanish savings banks (SBs) are financial institutions with a wide mission that includes different stakeholders’ goals. Profit maximization is only one among several goals, and the widespread use of cost or profit efficiency as the only comparative performance measure may prove to be insufficient in this context. To overcome this problem, we build an aggregate performance index for organizations with multiple goals. Furthermore, we show how the ownership structure of SBs influences their economic behavior in two basic ways: (1) the performance level and (2) their goal priorities. In particular, we distinguish two types of ownership structures in our application, namely, organizations controlled by Public Administrations and those controlled by insiders (i.e. managers and workers). Our results indicate that each type has different priorities and differ in their performance indexes. More specifically, the empirical analysis shows that insider-controlled SBs favor goals related to profit maximization and the universal access to financial services and, furthermore, they perform better. In contrast, contributing to regional development becomes the most favored goal when Public Administrations have a majority in the bank.     

基于复杂项目群优化选择的水电经济效益计算

针对目前已运行水电站经济效益计算存在的问题,本文提出了基于大系统分解协调模型选择水电站在不同运行时间的最优等效替代运行位置.考虑目前电力系统中正在逐步推行的两部制电价（容量电价与电量电价）,研究中分别计算了已运行水电站最优等效替代位置的边际容量成本和边际电量成本,并将其分别作为已运行水电站优化运行中各时段（刻）经济效益计算的容量价格与电量价格.以运行水电站经济效益最大作为优化准则,采用动态规划方法对其进行实时调度,从而实现其经济运行调度.文章给出的实例计算表明,本文提出的方法与模型是可行的.     

Nonlinear structural finite element analysis using the preconditioned Lanczos method on serial and parallel computers

The application of the Lanczos algorithm in Newton-like methods for solving non-linear systems of equations arising in nonlinear structural finite element analysis is presented. It is shown that with appropriate preconditioners iterative methods can be developed which are robust and efficient even for ill conditioned problems. Though the real advantage of iterative solvers seems to exist on distributed memory machines, even on serial machines the performance can be improved compared with direct solvers while saving memory capacity. With a specific modification of the Lanczos algorithm in combination with arc-length procedures a further speed-up of the nonlinear analysis can be achieved. For parallel implementations domain decomposition methods are used. A parallel preconditioning strategy based on an incomplete factorisation method is presented. An example is taken and the quality and efficiency of two different domain decomposition methods are discussed for a large shell structure. This work was supported by the BMBF (Bundesministerium für Bildung und Forschung) of Germany.     

Optimal internal pricing and capacity planning for service facility with finite buffer

An economic model is developed for exploring optimal internal pricing and capacity planning for service facility with finite buffer capacity. Because of the limited buffer capacity, jobs finding the system full upon their arrival would be rejected. Such rejections create a gap between the value collectively perceived by users and the actual achievement of the organizational value. This gap, called a loss externality, has never been studied before and plays an important role for designing optimal pricing scheme. In general, the underlying economic structure may involve multiple equilibria and it is unclear whether or not the system can be controlled through internal pricing. In this regard, a sufficient condition is given under which the system administrator can find two separate prices for accepted and rejected users at any demand level to be desired so that the desired demand level becomes the unique equilibrium of the system. For a short-run problem, it is shown that the optimal pricing scheme can be expressed as the sum of the congestion and the loss externalities. For a long-run problem, the optimal pricing scheme is expressed in a unified manner so that a structural relationship between the short-run problem and the long-run problem at optimality can be readily observed. A necessary and sufficient condition is also given for the marginal capacity pricing to be optimal, i.e., the optimal long-run pricing consists of the marginal cost for processing capacity and the marginal cost for buffer capacity without involving any externality at all.     

Effects of heterogeneity on bank efficiency scores

Bank efficiency estimates often serve as a proxy of managerial skill since they quantify sub-optimal production choices. But such deviations can also be due to omitted systematic differences among banks. In this study, we examine the effects of heterogeneity on bank efficiency scores. We compare different specifications of a stochastic cost and alternative profit frontier model with a baseline specification. After conducting a specification test, we discuss heterogeneity effects on efficiency levels, ranks and the tails of the efficiency distribution. We find that heterogeneity controls influence both banks’ optimal costs and profits and their ability to be efficient. Differences in efficiency scores are important for more than only methodological reasons. First, different ways of accounting for heterogeneity result in estimates of foregone profits and additional costs that are significantly different from what we infer from our general specification. Second, banks are significantly re-ranked when their efficiency is estimated with a specification other than the preferred, general specification. Third, the general specification gives the most reliable estimates of the probability of distress, although differences to the other specifications are low.     

Using a nonparametric technique to measure the cost efficiency of postal delivery branches

A multiple-input and multiple-output model for measuring the cost efficiency of postal delivery branches is proposed. We analyze the complete postal network of the Serbian post delivery offices, which includes 1,194 post office branches. To compare the branches that operate under the same or similar conditions, the branches are grouped into 18 clusters by implementing the appropriate clustering algorithm. This enables a three-level analysis: branches–clusters–network. The cost efficiency of the branches is measured using data envelopment analysis. The efficiency of a particular cluster is calculated as an average cost efficiency score of the branches that belong to this cluster, and finally, the efficiency of the postal delivery network is assessed. The distribution of cost efficiency scores per clusters takes values from 15 to 92 %. At the level of the total network, the cost efficiency is 40 %, which indicates that there are possibilities for improvement. To obtain more specific guidelines, that is, the decomposition of cost efficiency into pure technical efficiency, the scale efficiency and allocative efficiency were assessed for each cluster and for the total delivery network. This research is beneficial to policy makers defining the scope of universal service obligation and to company managers who want to optimize the postal network. For example, the results of this study indicate that, at a minimum, 794 delivery branches could improve their efficiency by resource reallocation.     

Measuring efficiency at U.S. banks: Accounting for heterogeneity is important

Estimates of bank cost efficiency can be biased if bank heterogeneity is ignored. I compare X-inefficiency derived from a model constraining the cost frontier to be the same for all banks in the U.S. and a model allowing for different frontiers and error terms across Federal Reserve Districts. I find that the data reject the single cost function model; X-inefficiency measures based on the single cost function model are, on average, higher than those based on the separate cost functions model; the distributions of the one-sided error terms are wider for the single cost function model than for the separate cost functions model; and the ranking of Districts by the level of X-inefficiency differs in the two models. The results suggest it is important when studying X-inefficiency to account for differences across the markets in which banks are operating and that since X-inefficiency is, by construction, a residual, it will be particulary sensitive to omissions in the basic model.     

Benders decomposition for a class of variational inequalities

This paper examines Benders decomposition for a useful class of variational inequality (VI) problems that can model, e.g., economic equilibrium, games or traffic equilibrium. The dual of the given VI is defined. Benders decomposition of the original VI is derived by applying a Dantzig–Wolfe decomposition procedure to the dual of the given VI, and converting the dual forms of the Dantzig–Wolfe master and subproblems to their primal forms. The master problem VI includes a new cut at each iteration, with information from the latest subproblem VI, which is solved by fixing the “difficult” variables at values determined by the previous master problem. A scalar parameter called the convergence gap is calculated at each iteration; a negative value is equivalent to the algorithm making progress in that the last master problem solution is made infeasible by the new cut. Under mild conditions, the convergence gap approaches zero in the limit of many iterations. With a more restrictive condition that still admits many useful models, a zero value of the convergence gap implies that the master problem has found a solution of the VI. A small model of competitive equilibrium of three commodities in two regions serves as an illustration.     

Estimation of potential gains from bank mergers: A novel two-stage cost efficiency DEA model

This paper develops a novel two-stage cost efficiency model to estimate and decompose the potential gains from Mergers and Acquisitions (M&As). In this model, a hypothetical DMU is defined as a combination of two or more candidate DMUs. The hypothetical DMU would surpass the traditional Production Possibility Set (PPS). In order to solve the problem, a Merger Production Possibility Set (PPS_M) is constructed. The model minimizes the total cost of the hypothetical DMU while maintaining its outputs at the current level, and estimates the overall merger efficiency by comparing its minimal total cost with its actual cost. Moreover, the overall merger efficiency could be decomposed into technical efficiency, harmony efficiency, and scale efficiency. We show that the model can be extended to a two-stage structure and these efficiencies can be decomposed to both sub-systems. To show the usefulness of the proposed approach, we applied it to a real dataset of top 20 most competitive Chinese City Commercial Banks (CCBs). We concluded that (1) there exist considerably potential gains for the proposed merged banks. (2) It is also shown that the main impact on potential merger gains are from technical and harmony efficiency. (3) As an interesting result we found that the scale effect works against the merger, indicating that it is not favorable for a full-scale merger.