This paper analyzes productivity with a directional distance function model by investigating convexity and non-convexity in the Chinese banking sector. Two primary findings are summarized. First, there is a distinct change in productivity between large versus small banks and public versus nationwide joint-stock banks; the economies of scale and public orientation of the Chinese economy affect t...

We analyze hospital efficiency and productivity growth using an innovative approach which employs the directional distance function and the Luenberger productivity indicator. The primary advantage of our approach is that both input contractions and output expansions are considered. Our model generates a productivity indicator that is decomposed into the usual constituents of productivity growth...

This paper analyses French ski resorts productivity with the Luenberger productivity indicator (LPI) based on the directional distance function. It permits the calculation of a productivity indicator that is decomposed into technical efficiency change and technological change. The conclusions are that productivity decreased for the majority of French ski resorts, which is almost always explaine...

An alternative formulation of the phase field method is utilized from an integral equation perspective. The technique allows one to derive macroscopic conditions at the interface from the microscopic potentials. Differential geometry and asymptotic analysis yield interface conditions, in arbitrary spatial dimension, for interactions that may include anisotropy as well as non-local potentials. T...

In this paper, we introduce a novel definition of the anisotropic centroidal Voronoi tessellation (ACVT) corresponding to a given Riemann metric tensor. A directional distance function is used in the definition to simplify the computation. We provide algorithms to approximate the ACVT using the Lloyd iteration and the construction of anisotropic Delaunay triangulation under the given Riemannian...

-This paper describes a technique for on-line signature verification using Hidden Markov Models (HMMs). Signatures are captured and digitized in real-time using a graphic tablet. For each signature a HMM is constructed using a set of sample signatures described by the normalized directional angle function of the distance along the signature trajectory. The Baum-Welch algorithm is used for both ...

Porter hypothesis states that environmental regulation may lead to winwin opportunities, that is, improve the productivity and reduce the undesirable output simultaneously. Based on directional distance function, this paper proposes a novel dynamic activity analysis model to forecast the possibilities of win-win development in Chinese industry between 2011 and 2050. The consistent bootstrap est...

This study proposes the use of marginal abatement cost curves to calculate environmental damages of agricultural systems in China's Loess Plateau. Total system costs and revenues, management characteristics and pollution attributes are imputed into a directional output distance function, which is then used to determine shadow prices and abatement cost curves for soil and nitrogen loss. Marginal...