外文翻译再议生产效率的测度.docx

中文3950字，2250单词，1?3万英文字符 外文翻译之二 The Measurement of Productive Efficiency: A Recon sideratio n Author(s)： RAYMOND J. Kopp Nationality： USA Source： The Quarterly Journal of Economics, Vol. 96, No. 3 (Aug., 1981), pp. 477-503 Abstract The purpose of this paper is to generalize the Farrell indexes of productive efficiency to nonhomothetic production technologies, and at the same time maintain the cost interpretation of the Farrell measures. Since the generalized indexes rely heavily on recent developments in the estimation of frontier cost and production functions, several frontier models are reviewed. In addition to generalized indexes of technical, allocative, and overall productive efficiency, a variety of single-factor efficiency measures are discussed. The applicability of the proposed efficiency measures is illustrated with a numerical example of electric power generation. Introduction The pioneering work of Michael Farrell [1957] focused attention on the concept of productive efficiency and the consequences of its recognition for the modeling of production processes. This paper reviews the elements of the original Farrell approach to efficiencymeasurement and contemporary efforts utilizing frontier functions.lt provides the foundation for a synthesis of Farrell efficiency measures and frontier efficiency standards. The resultant approach to efficiency measurement ameliorates many of the weaknesses associated with both the Farrell and frontier methods while capitalizing on their combined strengths. To be clear at the outset, productive efficiency isdefined as the ability of a production organization to produce a well-specified output at minimum cost. To be more precise, the output and factor inputs must be clearly specified by vectors of measurable attributes that unambiguously define their characteristics. Further, for the sake of exposition, it is assumed that the production organization has adopted a specific technology; i.e., the exante production decisions hav