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Subsidies And Inefficiency: Stochastic Frontier Approach

Author

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  • RYOICHI SAKANO
  • KOFI OBENG
  • G. AZAM

Abstract

U.S. urban transit systems receive operating and capital subsidies from various levels of government. Each firm minimizes its cost net of subsidies subject to its production function. The first order conditions from this minimization give a set of equations that are estimated using a stochastic frontier approach. From the results are calculated technical and allocative inefficiencies. The allocative inefficiencies are further decomposed among two sources, subsidies and factors internal to the firm. The analysis reveals large allocative inefficiencies between labor, fuel, and capital. Furthermore, it finds that subsidies lead to excess use of labor relative to capital and excess use of fuel relative to capital and labor. Also, most allocative inefficiencies in firms are due to internal factors and not subsidies, and the sizes of the inefficiencies vary substantially among transit firms.

Suggested Citation

  • Ryoichi Sakano & Kofi Obeng & G. Azam, 1997. "Subsidies And Inefficiency: Stochastic Frontier Approach," Contemporary Economic Policy, Western Economic Association International, vol. 15(3), pages 113-127, July.
    • Handle: RePEc:bla:coecpo:v:15:y:1997:i:3:p:113-127
    DOI: 10.1111/j.1465-7287.1997.tb00483.x
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    Cited by:

    1. Obeng, K. & Sakano, R. & Naanwaab, C., 2016. "Understanding overall output efficiency in public transit systems: The roles of input regulations, perceived budget and input subsidies," Transportation Research Part E: Logistics and Transportation Review, Elsevier, vol. 89(C), pages 133-150.
    2. Friedrich Schneider & Mangirdas Morkunas & Erika Quendler, 2023. "An estimation of the informal economy in the agricultural sector in the EU‐15 from 1996 to 2019," Agribusiness, John Wiley & Sons, Ltd., vol. 39(2), pages 406-447, March.
    3. Cinzia Daraio & Marco Diana & Flavia Di Costa & Claudio Leporelli & Giorgio Matteucci & Alberto Nastasi, 2014. "Efficiency and effectiveness in the urban public transport sector: a critical review with directions for future research," DIAG Technical Reports 2014-14, Department of Computer, Control and Management Engineering, Universita' degli Studi di Roma "La Sapienza".
    4. Friedrich Schneider & Mangirdas Morkunas & Erika Quendler, 2021. "Measuring the Immeasurable: The Evolution of the Size of Informal Economy in the Agricultural Sector in the EU-15 up to 2019," CESifo Working Paper Series 8937, CESifo.
    5. Obeng, K., 2010. "The Deadweight Costs of Public Transit Subsidies," 51st Annual Transportation Research Forum, Arlington, Virginia, March 11-13, 2010 207240, Transportation Research Forum.
    6. Yu, Ming-Miin & Fan, Chih-Ku, 2008. "The effects of privatization on return to the dollar: A case study on technical efficiency, and price distortions of Taiwan's intercity bus services," Transportation Research Part A: Policy and Practice, Elsevier, vol. 42(6), pages 935-950, July.
    7. Juana Rivera-Lirio & María Muñoz-Torres, 2010. "The Effectiveness of the Public Support Policies for the European Industry Financing as a Contribution to Sustainable Development," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 94(4), pages 489-515, July.
    8. Maria Nieswand & Matthias Walter, 2010. "Cost Efficiency and Subsidization in German Local Public Bus Transit," Discussion Papers of DIW Berlin 1071, DIW Berlin, German Institute for Economic Research.
    9. Wonchul Kim & Sung Hyo Hong, 2021. "The Effect of COVID-19 on the Efficiency of Intercity Bus Operation: The Case of Chungnam," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(11), pages 1-11, May.
    10. Obeng, K. & Sakano, R., 2020. "Effects of government regulations and input subsidies on cost efficiency: A decomposition approach," Transport Policy, Elsevier, vol. 91(C), pages 95-107.
    11. Karlaftis, Matt G. & McCarthy, Patrick, 1998. "Operating subsidies and performance in public transit: an empirical study," Transportation Research Part A: Policy and Practice, Elsevier, vol. 32(5), pages 359-375, September.
    12. Stephen Schmidt, 2001. "Incentive Effects of Expanding Federal Mass Transit Formula Grants," Journal of Policy Analysis and Management, John Wiley & Sons, Ltd., vol. 20(2), pages 239-261.
    13. K. Obeng & R. Sakano, 2000. "The Effects of Operating and Capital Subsidies on Total Factor Productivity: A Decomposition Approach," Southern Economic Journal, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 67(2), pages 381-397, October.
    14. Gwilliam, Ken, 2008. "A review of issues in transit economics," Research in Transportation Economics, Elsevier, vol. 23(1), pages 4-22, January.
    15. Giovanni Fraquelli & Massimiliano Piacenza & Graziano Abrate, 2004. "Regulating Public Transit Networks: How do Urban‐Intercity Diversification and Speed‐up Measures Affect Firms’ Cost Performance?," Annals of Public and Cooperative Economics, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 75(2), pages 193-225, June.
    16. Sakano, Ryoichi & Obeng, Kofi, 2011. "Examining the Inefficiency of Transit Systems Using Latent Class Stochastic Frontier Models," Journal of the Transportation Research Forum, Transportation Research Forum, vol. 50(2).

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