this paper investigates the performances of artificial neural networks approximation, the translog and the fourier flexible functional forms for the cost function, when different production technologies are used. using simulated data bases, the author provides a comparison in terms of capability to reproduce input demands and in terms of the corresponding input elasticities of substitution esti...

abstract present study used translog cost function for determining break point of paddy farms. requested data set include inputs’ prices and quantities, and production amounts had been acquired from 500 rice farmers of guilan province at 2009. model used in this study is seemingly unrelated regressions (sur). the results showed that labor and pesticides had the highest and lowest share of produ...

This paper investigates the performances of artificial neural networks approximation, the Translog and the Fourier flexible functional forms for the cost function, when different production technologies are used. Using simulated data bases, the author provides a comparison in terms of capability to reproduce input demands and in terms of the corresponding input elasticities of substitution esti...

this study examines technical efficiency in iran's banking system using unbalanced panel data for 17 state and private banks during the 1997-2009 period. therefore, technical efficiency of banks was measured through estimating a translog cost function in the form of a panel sfa error compound model. then, the effect of underlying factors including both individual and structural (ownership/...

This paper extends the existing research on real estate investment trust (REIT) operating efficiencies. We estimate stochastic-frontier, panel-data models specifying a translog cost function. The specified model updates the cost frontier with new information as it becomes available over time. The model can identify frontier cost improvements, returns to scale, and cost inefficiencies over time....

Rural-urban differences in the supply of nursing home services are hypothesized to be jointly affected by competitive and regulatory forces, government pohcies, and the cost structure. Study findings indicate that rural services are slightly less accessible and lower in quality. A translog cost share function reveals no difference in the operating cost structure of rural and urban homes. Cost s...

Recent financial liberalization in Taiwan has caused local banks to face major structural changes. This paper examines the cost structure of 36 local banks in Taiwan using the translog cost function and attempts to identify suitable operating strategies for cost reduction and performance improvements. Results indicate scale economies for small and large-sized banks and scope economies for all b...