Directional distances and their robust versions: Computational and testing issues

Directional distance functions provide very flexible tools for investigating the performance of Decision Making Units (DMUs). Their flexibility relies on their ability to handle undesirable outputs and to account for non-discretionary inputs and/or outputs by fixing zero values in some elements of the directional vector.  and  indicate how the statistical properties of Farrell–Debreu type of radial efficiency measures can be transferred to directional distances. Moreover, robust versions of these distances are also available, for conditional and unconditional measures. B?din, Daraio, and Simar (2012) have shown how conditional radial distances are useful to investigate the effect of environmental factors on the production process. In this paper we develop the operational aspects for computing conditional and unconditional directional distances and their robust versions, in particular when some of the elements of the directional vector are fixed at zero. After that, we show how the approach of B?din et al. (2012) can be adapted in a directional distance framework, including bandwidth selection and two-stage regression of conditional efficiency scores. Finally, we suggest a procedure, based on bootstrap techniques, for testing the significance of environmental factors on directional efficiency scores. The procedure is illustrated through simulated and real data.     

An inventory model under two levels of trade credit and limited storage space derived without derivatives

This paper tries to incorporate both Huang’s model [Y.F. Huang, Optimal retailer’s ordering policies in the EOQ model under trade credit financing, J. Oper. Res. Soc. 54 (2003) 1011–1015] and Teng’s model [J.T. Teng, On the economic order quantity under conditions of permissible delay in payments, J. Oper. Res. Soc. 53 (2002) 915–918] by considering the retailer’s storage space limited to reflect the real-life situations. That is, we want to investigate the retailer’s inventory policy under two levels of trade credit and limited storage space. Furthermore, we adopt Teng’s viewpoint [J.T. Teng, On the economic order quantity under conditions of permissible delay in payments, J. Oper. Res. Soc. 53 (2002) 915–918] that the retailer’s unit selling price and the purchasing price per unit are not necessarily equal. Then, an algebraic approach is provided and three easy-to-use theorems are developed to efficiently determine the optimal cycle time. Some previously published results of other researchers can be deduced as special cases. Finally, a numerical example is given to illustrate these theorems and managerial insights are drawn.     

我国经济增长与产业结构演进关系的研究——基于面板数据模型的实证分析

本文运用面板数据模型,对我国各省1996-2005年人均GDP及三次产业产值比重的关系分别进行了模型拟合,结论认为:我国经济增长对产业结构变化的影响显著,而后者对前者的影响在统计上并不显著,我国经济增长模式是需求导向型的。其次,就各次产业与人均GDP的关系看,第一产业与人均GDP呈现负相关关系,而第二、三产业与人均GDP呈现正相关关系。     

Directional distance functions and slacks-based measures of efficiency

In this paper we introduce a SBM (slacks-based measure) of efficiency based on directional distance functions. This measure is contrasted with the SBM due to Professor Tone [Tone, K., 2001. A slacks-based measure of efficiency in data envelopment analysis. European Journal of Operational Research 130, 498–509].     

Statistical inference for DEA estimators of directional distances

In productivity and efficiency analysis, the technical efficiency of a production unit is measured through its distance to the efficient frontier of the production set. The most familiar non-parametric methods use Farrell–Debreu, Shephard, or hyperbolic radial measures. These approaches require that inputs and outputs be non-negative, which can be problematic when using financial data. Recently, Chambers et al. (1998) have introduced directional distance functions which can be viewed as additive (rather than multiplicative) measures efficiency. Directional distance functions are not restricted to non-negative input and output quantities; in addition, the traditional input and output-oriented measures are nested as special cases of directional distance functions. Consequently, directional distances provide greater flexibility. However, until now, only free disposal hull (FDH) estimators of directional distances (and their conditional and robust extensions) have known statistical properties (Simar and Vanhems, 2012). This paper develops the statistical properties of directional d estimators, which are especially useful when the production set is assumed convex. We first establish that the directional Data Envelopment Analysis (DEA) estimators share the known properties of the traditional radial DEA estimators. We then use these properties to develop consistent bootstrap procedures for statistical inference about directional distance, estimation of confidence intervals, and bias correction. The methods are illustrated in some empirical examples.     

广西经济增长与环境污染关系的库兹涅茨曲线研究

从环境库兹涅茨曲线假说出发,结合广西1997～2006年的主要污染物排放量和人均GDP数据,建立了广西环境污染与经济增长之间的多项式回归模型,并采用SAS软件进行分析,结果表明两者间呈倒"N"型分布.针对模型可能是因虚假回归而存在统计意义上的显著,对各序列依次做平稳性检验和对模型的残差项做协整性检验,保证了模型结果确凿可信.模型的建立不仅定量揭示出广西经济增长与环境污染程度之间的关系,而且剖析了经济增长与环境质量之间的变化规律,为广西环境与经济协调发展提供了决策参考和管理需求,为全面实施"生态广西"建设确立了科学依据.     

中国人均碳排放影响因素的长期均衡与因果动态关系研究——基于结构突变ARDL-VECM模型的实证分析

为了探讨中国低碳经济的发展路径,运用BP内生结构突变点检验、考虑结构突变的ARDL模型和基于VECM模型的Granger因果关系检验方法,利用我国1985至2014年的相关数据,探讨经济增长、城镇化、技术创新、贸易开放与我国人均碳排放的长期均衡和短期动态关系,以及变量之间的因果关系。研究结果表明,中国人均碳排放与解释变量之间存在长期协整关系。长期来看,经济增长与人均碳排放之间呈倒U型关系,城市化水平的提高可以有效减少人均碳排放,技术创新与人均碳排放显著负相关,而贸易开放会引起环境恶化。短期来看,贸易开放与人均碳排放显著正相关,而其他变量对人均碳排放的影响均不显著。此外,基于VECM模型的Granger因果关系检验证实所有解释变量均为人均碳排放的Granger原因,且经济增长、贸易开放与人均碳排放之间存在双向因果关系。     

Optimizing an objective function under a bivariate probability model

The motivation of this paper is to obtain an analytical closed form of a quadratic objective function arising from a stochastic decision process with bivariate exponential probability distribution functions that may be dependent. This method is applicable when results need to be offered in an analytical closed form without double integrals. However, the study only applies to cases where the correlation coefficient between the two variables is positive or null. A stochastic, stationary objective function, involving a single decision variable in a quadratic form is studied. We use a primitive of a bivariate exponential distribution as first expressed by Downton [Downton, F., 1970. Bivariate exponential distributions in reliability theory. Journal of Royal Statistical Society B 32, 408–417] and revisited in Iliopoulos [Iliopoulos, George., 2003. Estimation of parametric functions in Downton’s bivariate exponential distribution. Journal of statistical planning and inference 117, 169–184]. With this primitive, optimization of objective functions in Operations Research, supply chain management or any other setting involving two random variables, or calculations which involve evaluating conditional expectations of two joint random variables are direct. We believe the results can be extended to other cases where exponential bivariates are encountered in economic objective function evaluations. Computation algorithms are offered which substantially reduce computation time when solving numerical examples.     

高等教育经费投入对经济增长的驱动力影响实证研究——基于西北五省数据的LMDI分解

以高等教育为主体的人力资本投入对地区经济增长具有推动力已成为经济发展在理论和实践上的普遍认识.首次将LMDI分解法引入高等教育经费投入与GDP增长之间的动态关系实证研究,通过构建GDP总量分解模型,深入分析二者之间内在的因果驱动关系.分析结果表明,对我国而言,代表高等教育经济投入总量的活动效应对GDP变动贡献最大,是主要驱动力;代表教育经费在区域问分布的结构效应对GDP变动影响很小;代表单位教育经费驱动效率的效率效应对GDP增长起到了重要促进作用.     

煤矿安全生产法律法规实效性的(安全作用)虚拟变量模型分析

为了弄清我国煤矿安全生产因素对安全生产的影响程度,建立了百万吨煤死亡率与影响煤矿安全生产五个主要指标(采煤机械化程度、煤矿工程技术人员配备率、全国人均GDP、原煤生产全员工效和吨煤基本建设投入)之间的多元回归模型,结果显示采煤机械化程度、吨煤基本建设投入和全国人均GDP对百万吨煤死亡率有着较大影响,其中全国人均GDP对百万吨煤死亡率起着负的作用.为了比较分析20世纪90年代以来有关煤矿安全生产的一些重要法律的法律法规实效性的安全作用的方向和大小,建立了多元虚拟变量回归模型,研究表明,有关煤矿安全生产的"三法律一条例"实效性的安全作用平均使得百万吨煤死亡率降低0.895人;"三法律一条例"的实效性表明,法律条款中的经济处罚和制裁条款与经济发展水平越符合,法治力度越强,其执行效果越好.     

Making decisions in the absence of clear facts

Bennis and O’Toole [Bennis, W.G., O’Toole, J., 2005. How business schools lost their way. Harvard Business Review 83, 96–104] have recently argued that decision makers need guidance in ‘making decisions in the absence of clear facts’. As such, decision makers must be able to resourcefully use whatever limited information is available and advantageously portray its implications. Based on recently published theory which directly addresses this requirement, this paper demonstrates, through a practical example, how decision makers can make systemic decisions in situations characterized by extremely limited information and, furthermore, what form such decisions can take. Evidence is provided, therefore, that operational research can effectively address what appears to be a gap in management training.     

数理统计方法在河南地市经济发展水平和分区研究中的应用

本文运用数理统计的方法对河南省地市经济发展水平进行评价和区域划分研究。首先建立评价指标体系 ,然后用主成分分析法对原始数据进行数学处理 ,得出表示经济水平的综合指标 ,再用聚类分析方法进行经济发展水平层次和区域的划分。最后分析了河南省经济发展水平地域差异的原因 ,并提出了河南省发展区域经济、平衡区域差异的基本策略。     

Asymptotic equivalence of differential equations and asymptotically almost periodic solutions

In this paper we use Rab’s lemma [M. Ráb, Über lineare perturbationen eines systems von linearen differentialgleichungen, Czechoslovak Math. J. 83 (1958) 222–229; M. Ráb, Note sur les formules asymptotiques pour les solutions d’un systéme d’équations différentielles linéaires, Czechoslovak Math. J. 91 (1966) 127–129] to obtain new sufficient conditions for the asymptotic equivalence of linear and quasilinear systems of ordinary differential equations. Yakubovich’s result [V.V. Nemytskii, V.V. Stepanov, Qualitative Theory of Differential Equations, Princeton University Press, Princeton, New Jersey, 1966; V.A. Yakubovich, On the asymptotic behavior of systems of differential equations, Mat. Sb. 28 (1951) 217–240] on the asymptotic equivalence of a linear and a quasilinear system is developed. On the basis of the equivalence, the existence of asymptotically almost periodic solutions of the systems is investigated. The definitions of biasymptotic equivalence for the equations and biasymptotically almost periodic solutions are introduced. Theorems on the sufficient conditions for the systems to be biasymptotically equivalent and for the existence of biasymptotically almost periodic solutions are obtained. Appropriate examples are constructed.     

Handling CVaR objectives and constraints in two-stage stochastic models

Based on the polyhedral representation of Künzi-Bay and Mayer [Künzi-Bay, A., Mayer, J., 2006. Computational aspects of minimizing conditional value-at-risk. Computational Management Science 3, 3–27] , we propose decomposition frameworks for handling CVaR objectives and constraints in two-stage stochastic models.     

A generalization of sensitivity of the inventory model with partial backorders

In this paper, we use the elementary techniques of differential calculus to investigate the sensitivity analysis of Montgomery et al.’s [Montgomery, D.C., Bazaraa, M.S., Keswani, A.K., 1973. Inventory models with a mixture of backorders and lost sales. Naval Research Logistics Quarterly 20, 225–263] inventory model with a mixture of backorders and lost sales and generalize Chu and Chung’s [Chu, P., Chung, K.J., 2004. The sensitivity of the inventory model with partial backorders. European Journal of Operational Research 152, 289–295] sensitivity analysis. We provide three numerical examples to demonstrate our findings, and remark the interpretation of the global minimum of the average annual cost at which the complete backordering occurs.     

Stability of exponential equations in Schwartz distributions

We reformulate the superstability of exponential equation and cosine functional equation [J.A. Baker, The stability of cosine equation, Proc. Amer. Math. Soc. 80 (1980) 411–416] in some spaces of generalized functions such as the Schwartz distributions, Sato hyperfunctions, and Gelfand generalized functions, which completes the previous results of partial generalizations of the stability problems [J. Chung, A distributional version of functional equations and their stabilities, Nonlinear Anal. 62 (2005) 1037–1051; J. Chung, S.Y. Chung, D. Kim, The stability of Cauchy equations in the space of Schwartz distributions, J. Math. Anal. Appl. 295 (2004) 107–114].     

Stochastic representation for solutions of Isaacs’ type integral–partial differential equations

In this paper we study the integral–partial differential equations of Isaacs’ type by zero-sum two-player stochastic differential games (SDGs) with jump-diffusion. The results of Fleming and Souganidis (1989) [9] and those of Biswas (2009) [3] are extended, we investigate a controlled stochastic system with a Brownian motion and a Poisson random measure, and with nonlinear cost functionals defined by controlled backward stochastic differential equations (BSDEs). Furthermore, unlike the two papers cited above the admissible control processes of the two players are allowed to rely on all events from the past. This quite natural generalization permits the players to consider those earlier information, and it makes more convenient to get the dynamic programming principle (DPP). However, the cost functionals are not deterministic anymore and hence also the upper and the lower value functions become a priori random fields. We use a new method to prove that, indeed, the upper and the lower value functions are deterministic. On the other hand, thanks to BSDE methods (Peng, 1997) [18] we can directly prove a DPP for the upper and the lower value functions, and also that both these functions are the unique viscosity solutions of the upper and the lower integral–partial differential equations of Hamilton–Jacobi–Bellman–Isaacs’ type, respectively. Moreover, the existence of the value of the game is got in this more general setting under Isaacs’ condition.     

Viscosity approximation methods for a family of finite nonexpansive mappings in Banach spaces

Viscosity approximation methods for a family of finite nonexpansive mappings are established in Banach spaces. The main theorems extend the main results of Moudafi [Viscosity approximation methods for fixed-points problems, J. Math. Anal. Appl. 241 (2000) 46–55] and Xu [Viscosity approximation methods for nonexpansive mappings, J. Math. Anal. Appl. 298 (2004) 279–291] to the case of finite mappings. Our results also improve and unify the corresponding results of Bauschke [The approximation of fixed points of compositions of nonexpansive mappings in Hilbert space, J. Math. Anal. Appl. 202 (1996) 150–159], Browder [Convergence of approximations to fixed points of nonexpansive mappings in Banach spaces, Archiv. Ration. Mech. Anal. 24 (1967) 82–90], Cho et al. [Some control conditions on iterative methods, Commun. Appl. Nonlinear Anal. 12 (2) (2005) 27–34], Ha and Jung [Strong convergence theorems for accretive operators in Banach spaces, J. Math. Anal. Appl. 147 (1990) 330–339], Halpern [Fixed points of nonexpansive maps, Bull. Amer. Math. Soc. 73 (1967) 957–961], Jung [Iterative approaches to common fixed points of nonexpansive mappings in Banach spaces, J. Math. Anal. Appl. 302 (2005) 509–520], Jung et al. [Iterative schemes with some control conditions for a family of finite nonexpansive mappings in Banach space, Fixed Point Theory Appl. 2005 (2) (2005) 125–135], Jung and Kim [Convergence of approximate sequences for compositions of nonexpansive mappings in Banach spaces, Bull. Korean Math. Soc. 34 (1) (1997) 93–102], Lions [Approximation de points fixes de contractions, C.R. Acad. Sci. Ser. A-B, Paris 284 (1977) 1357–1359], O’Hara et al. [Iterative approaches to finding nearest common fixed points of nonexpansive mappings in Hilbert spaces, Nonlinear Anal. 54 (2003) 1417–1426], Reich [Strong convergence theorems for resolvents of accretive operators in Banach spaces, J. Math. Anal. Appl. 75 (1980) 287–292], Shioji and Takahashi [Strong convergence of approximated sequences for nonexpansive mappings in Banach spaces, Proc. Amer. Math. Soc. 125 (12) (1997) 3641–3645], Takahashi and Ueda [On Reich's strong convergence theorems for resolvents of accretive operators, J. Math. Anal. Appl. 104 (1984) 546–553], Wittmann [Approximation of fixed points of nonexpansive mappings, Arch. Math. 59 (1992) 486–491], Xu [Iterative algorithms for nonlinear operators, J. London Math. Soc. 66 (2) (2002) 240–256], and Zhou et al. [Strong convergence theorems on an iterative method for a family nonexpansive mappings in reflexive Banach spaces, Appl. Math. Comput., in press] among others.     

On the problem of linearizability of a 3-web

In this paper we study the linearizability problem for 3-webs on a two-dimensional manifold. With an explicit computation we examine a 3-web whose linearizability was claimed in [J. Grifone, Z. Muzsnay, J. Saab, On the linearizability of 3-webs, Nonlinear Anal. 47 (2001) 2643–2654] and was contested later in [V.V. Goldberg, V.V. Lychagin, On the Blaschke conjecture for 3-webs, J. Geom. Anal. 16 (1) (2006) 69–115] and [V.V. Goldberg, V.V. Lychagin, On linearization of planar three-webs and Blaschke’s conjecture, C. R. Acad. Sci. Paris, Ser. I. 341 (3) (2005)]. On the basis of the theories of [J. Grifone, Z. Muzsnay, J. Saab, On the linearizability of 3-webs, Nonlinear Anal. 47 (2001) 2643–2654], we give an effective method for computing the linearizability criterion, and we prove that this particular web is linearizable by finding explicitly the affine deformation tensor and the corresponding flat linear connection.