Y.-M. Wang, Y.-X. Lan / Mathematical and Computer Modelling 54 (2011) 2760–2771 2761 TheDEA-basedMPI has proven to be a very useful tool formeasuring the productivity changes of DMUs in the past several decades. For instance, Färe et al. [13] applied it to analyze the productivity growth in industrialized countries. Grifell-Tatjé and Lovell [14] used it tomeasure the effect of deregulation on S...

Local governments are increasingly relying on municipally owned corporations (MOCs) to provide public services. Some describe this development as a rational response austerity challenges and emphasise the cost-efficiency of MOCs (‘the optimistic view’). Others identify complications associate with weak supervision, lack accountability, corruption risks sceptical Hitherto, no studies have analys...

This study focuses on levels of concern for hurricanes among individuals living along the Gulf Coast during the quiescent two-year period following the exceptionally destructive 2005 hurricane season. A small study of risk perception and optimistic bias was conducted immediately following Hurricanes Katrina and Rita. Two years later, a follow-up was done in which respondents were recontacted. T...