Henry Tulkens - Profile on Academia.edu (original) (raw)
Papers by Henry Tulkens
Analyse coûts-bénéfices de l'extension future du réseau hydraulique belge
RePEc: Research Papers in Economics, 1982
Les déterminants des dépenses communales en Belgique: commentaires sur un article de Moesen et Vanneste
We present results from a study on the economic performances of a public mass transit firm. Measu... more We present results from a study on the economic performances of a public mass transit firm. Measures of productive efficiency as well as of adequacy between supply and demand (effectiveness) are computed monthly. We observe a clear positive trend for technical performances but less favorable results in terms of effectiveness.
Social Science Research Network, 2009
This article deals with cooperation issues in international pollution problems in a two dimension... more This article deals with cooperation issues in international pollution problems in a two dimensional dynamic framework implied by the accumulation of the pollutant and of the capital goods. Assuming that countries do reevaluate at each period the advantages to cooperate or not given the current stocks of pollutant and capital, and under the assumption that damage cost functions are linear, we define at each period of time a transfer scheme between countries, which makes cooperation better for each of them than non-cooperation. This transfer scheme is also strategically stable in the sense that it discourages partial coalitions.
Social Science Research Network, 2013
That climate policies are costly is evident and therefore often creates major fears. But the alte... more That climate policies are costly is evident and therefore often creates major fears. But the alternative (no action) also has a cost. Mitigation costs and damages incurred depend on what the climate policies are; moreover, they are substitutes. This brings climate policies naturally in the realm of benefit-cost analysis. In this paper we illustrate the "direct" cost components of various policies, and then confront them with the benefits generated, that is, the damage cost avoided. However, the sheer benefit-cost criterion is not a sufficient incentive to induce cooperation among countries, a necessary condition for an effective global climate policy. Thus, we also explore how to use this criterion in the context of international climate cooperation.
Social Science Research Network, Feb 1, 2006
In essence, any international environmental agreement (IEA) implies cooperation of a form or anot... more In essence, any international environmental agreement (IEA) implies cooperation of a form or another. The paper seeks for logical foundations of this. It first deals with how the need for cooperation derives from the public good aspect of the externalities involved, as well as with where the source of cooperation lies in cooperative game theory. In either case, the quest for efficiency is claimed to be at the root of cooperation. Next, cooperation is considered from the point of view of stability. After recalling the two competing concepts of stability in use in the IEA literature, new insights on the nature of the gamma core in general are given as well as of the Chander-Tulkens solution within the gamma core. Free riding is also evaluated in relation with the alternative forms of stability under scrutiny. Finally, it is asked whether with the often mentioned virtue of "self enforcement" any conceptual gain is achieved, different from what is meant by efficiency and stability. A skeptical answer is offered, as a reply to Barrett's (2003) attempt at giving the notion a specific content.
Journal of Public Economics, Apr 1, 1990
This paper shows that when a 'non-cooperative fiscal equilibrium' of the Mintz-Tulkens 1986 model... more This paper shows that when a 'non-cooperative fiscal equilibrium' of the Mintz-Tulkens 1986 model of tax competition is inefficient, Pareto improving changes are positive for the taxes of both regions, under concavity of the regions' welfare functions, It also identifies a class of such equilibria that are always efficient.
Measuring labor-efficiency in post offices
LIDAM Reprints CORE, 1984
ABSTRACT Three methods of measuring technical efficiency are defined, and their results compared ... more ABSTRACT Three methods of measuring technical efficiency are defined, and their results compared in an application to Belgian postal data. The first one is that of adjusting a Cobb-Douglas production frontier; the second is that of computing the convex hull of the data, à la Farrell; the third one is developed on the basis of the sole assumptions of input and output disposability. We conclude with an estimated average labor-efficiency of about 90%.
Springer eBooks, 2006
When environmental externalities are international-i .. e. transfrontier-they most often are mult... more When environmental externalities are international-i .. e. transfrontier-they most often are multilateral and embody public good characteristics. Improving upon inefficient laissez-faire equilibria requires voluntary cooperation for which the game-theoretic core concept provides optimal outcomes that have interesting properties against free riding. To define the core, however, the characteristic function of the game associated with the economy (which specifies the payoff achievable by each possible coalition of players here, the countries) must also specify in each case the behavior of the players which are not members of the coalition. This has been for a long time a major unsolved problem in the theory of the core of economies with many producers of a public good. Among the several assumptions that can be made in this respect, a plausible one is defined in this paper, for which it is then shown that the core is nonempty. The proof is constructive in the sense that it exhibits a solution (i.e., an explicit coordinated abatement policy) that has the desired property of nondomination by any proper coalition of countries, given the assumed behavior of the other countries.
Theoretical foundations of negotiations and cost sharing in transfrontier pollution problems
European Economic Review, Apr 1, 1992
The negotiations model is described by a dynamic process bearing on a multilateral externality, t... more The negotiations model is described by a dynamic process bearing on a multilateral externality, that converges to an individually rational Pareto optimum. The process embodies a cost sharing rule for pollutant abatement in the countries involved, derived from a sharing rule of the surplus, that is also shown to have “strategic stability” in the game theoretic sense of an imputation in the core of some cooperative game associated with the negotiation process. The connections are explored between this cost-sharing rule and the “free rider problem” in public goods theory.
Springer eBooks, 2006
A well-known property of so-called ''MDP processes'' 1 is monotonicity in terms of the utilities ... more A well-known property of so-called ''MDP processes'' 1 is monotonicity in terms of the utilities of the agents, due to the sharing among the latter of a ''surplus'' of numeraire generated at each point of their trajectories. In this paper, we focus our attention on the somewhat neglected question of how this sharing takes place, and we propose to use game-theoretic concepts and methods for answering it. A byproduct of this enquiry is the formulation of a ''nontâtonnement'' process that seems to be of independent interest.
Social Science Research Network, 2005
This exercise was done in order to shed scientific and empirical light on the debate concerning t... more This exercise was done in order to shed scientific and empirical light on the debate concerning tax competition that took place in Belgium during the institutional negotiations of October 2000. The issue of increased fiscal autonomy of the Regions was a central one. A detailed account of these negotiations and their results is given in Van der Stichele and Verdonck (2001). 2 The reader interested in empirical studies bearing specifically on the mobility of tax bases should read the articles of Feld and Kirschgässner (2000), Goodspeed (1999) as well as Heyndels and Vuchelen (1989). 3 For a recent review of the theoretical literature on tax competition see Wilson (1999).
Journal of Productivity Analysis, Jun 1, 1993
The methodology of free disposal hull (FDH) measure of productive efficiency is defined and put i... more The methodology of free disposal hull (FDH) measure of productive efficiency is defined and put in perspective vis-&-vis other nonparametric techniques, in terms of the postulates on which they respectively rest. Computational issues are also considered, in relation to the linear programming techniques used in DEA. The first application bears on a comparison between a private and a public bank, in terms of the relative efficiency of their branches. Important characteristics of the data are revealed by FDH that are not by DEA, due to a better data fit. Next, efficiency estimates of judicial activities are used to evaluate what part of the existing backlog could be reduced by efficiency increases. Finally, with monthly data of an urban transit firm over 12 years, the FDH methodology is extended to a sequential treatment of time series, that supplements efficiency estimation with a measure of technical progress.
Dynamic processes for public goods. An institution-oriented survey
RePEc: Research Papers in Economics, 1978
A nontechnical, but nevertheless not informal, account is given of dynamic models recently develo... more A nontechnical, but nevertheless not informal, account is given of dynamic models recently developed in the theory of public goods. After a purely descriptive presentation of three basic models (Section 2) and their many subsequent extensions (Section 3), various reflections are made in Section 4 on issues raised by an institutional perspective: first, the usual planning interpretation of such processes is presented and commented upon; next, contrasting normative and positive approaches to public goods, it is argued that one category of processes can be given an interpretation much in line with the literature on positive public economics. Third, the planning vs. voluntary exchange institutions are contrasted from the point of view of cooperation among the agents in an economy with public goods.
Social Science Research Network, 2003
In this paper we evaluate the financial performance of virtually all of the branch offices of a l... more In this paper we evaluate the financial performance of virtually all of the branch offices of a large European savings bank for a recent six-month accounting period. We employ a complementary pair of nonparametric techniques to evaluate their financial performance, in terms of their ability to conserve on the expenses they incur in the process of building their customer bases and providing customer services valued by the bank. We find substantial variation in the ability of branch offices to perform this task, and substantial agreement on the identity of the branches at the bottom of the performance distribution. We then employ parametric techniques to determine that the list of indicators on which their financial performance is currently evaluated can be substantially reduced without statistically significant loss of information to bank management. Both findings suggest ways in which the bank can increase the profitability of its branch network.
Springer eBooks, 2006
The authors are especially indebted to their MIT colleague Denny Ellerman who kindly informed the... more The authors are especially indebted to their MIT colleague Denny Ellerman who kindly informed them of the state of his work and provided key numerical information. They also thank their colleague Jean Gabszewicz for a careful reading of an earlier version. The research on which it is reported here is part of the program "Changements climatiques, Négociations internationales et Stratégies de la Belgique" (CLIMNEG), supported by the Belgian State's Services du Premier Ministre, Services fédéraux des Affaires scientifiques, techniques et culturelles (SSTC), Brussels. Chander's work in Belgium was financed by the CLIMNEG program.
International Journal of Production Economics, Apr 1, 1995
In the classical literature on efficiency measurement, the notion of efficiency is intimately lin... more In the classical literature on efficiency measurement, the notion of efficiency is intimately linked with the one of production frontier: specifically, a productive activity is called efficient if the vector of input-output quantities that describes it belongs to the (efficient) frontier of some appropriately defined production set; and the activity is called inefficient if this vector belongs to the interior of the set. Moreover, when time-related data are involved, a sharp distinction is usually made between shifts of the frontier and gains in efficiency. Running against this tradition, we deal in this paper with efficiency, progress and regress without using the frontier concept. For describing the relation between inputs and outputs in production, we substitute another notion called "benchmark production correspondence", with respect to which we suggest that progress and regress be measured without having to distinguish between progress and efficiency gains, or between regress and efficiency losses. An illustration with a monthly time series covering almost 15 years of the activities of an urban transit company is presented and contrasted with DEA and FDH non-parametric frontier approaches.
Climate Policy, 2010
In this paper we analyze the negotiation strategy of the European Union regarding the formation o... more In this paper we analyze the negotiation strategy of the European Union regarding the formation of an international climate agreement for the post-2012 era. We use game theoretical stability concepts to explore incentives for key players in the climate policy game to join future climate agreements. We compare a minus 20 percent unilateral commitment strategy by the EU with a unilateral minus 30 percent emission reduction strategy for all Annex-B countries. Using a numerical integrated assessment climate-economy simulation model, we find that carbon leakage effects are negligible. The EU strategy to reduce emissions by 30% (compared to 1990 levels) by 2020 if other Annex-B countries follow does not induce participation of the USA with a similar 30% reduction commitment. However, the model shows that an appropriate initial allocation of emission allowances may stabilize a larger and more ambitious climate coalition than the Kyoto Protocol in its first commitment period.
Pourquoi le fédéralisme
RePEc: Research Papers in Economics, 2003
Le federalisme est pose tout d’abord comme une parmi plusieurs formes alternatives d’organisation... more Le federalisme est pose tout d’abord comme une parmi plusieurs formes alternatives d’organisation d’un Etat. Avantages et inconvenients economiques de cette forme institutionnelle sont consideres et discutes. Enfin, l’institution federale est examinee du point de vue des processus de decision qui y prevalent. Une distinction fondamentale est proposee quant a la nature et aux formes alternatives de la cooperation, dans le cadre federal, entre les entites federees. Cette distinction entre modes de cooperation eclaire aussi les relations entre federation et confederation.
RePEc: Research Papers in Economics, 1986
La notion de performance productive est ici définie par référence au fait que l'entreprise opère ... more La notion de performance productive est ici définie par référence au fait que l'entreprise opère plus ou moins près de la frontière de son ensemble de production. Il s'agit de l'efficacité technique au sens de Koopmans. Trois méthodes de mesure de celle-ci sont proposées, et ensuite appliquées aux opérations de près de 800 bureaux de poste en Belgique en 1980 (observations portant sur un mois) et en 1983 (observations sur douze mois). Si le niveau moyen de l'efficacité technique observée s'avère relativement élevé, son évolution mensuelle au cours de l'année 1983 révèle une forte rigidité d'adaptation de la main-d'oeuvre aux pointes saisonnières du trafic postal The productive performance of a public service.-The notion of productive performance is defined by référence to the fact that the enterprise opérâtes at or away from the boundary of its production set. This is also called technical efficiency, in the sensé of Koopmans. Three methods are proposed for measuring it, and are applied to the activities of about 800 postal stations in Belgium in 1980 (observations pertaining to one month) and 1983 (observations over twelve months). The observed average technical efficiency appears to be relatively high; but its monthly évolution throughout 1983 reveals a strong rigidity in adapting manpower to seasonal peak-loads. Cette communication, préparée pour les III e Journées de Microéconomie Appliquée (Nantes, 29-30 mai 1986), présente une mise à jour et une extension de travaux initialement publiés en langue anglaise (Deprins, Simar and Tulkens [1984] et, sous une forme plus courte et moins technique, Tulkens [1985]), qu'elle reprend en partie. Les nouveaux développements contenus ici résultent également d'une collaboration, cette fois avec Isabelle van Caubergh, Catherine Demain et Pierre Petit, auxquels l'auteur exprime ses remerciements. Il les adresse aussi aux fonctionnaires de la Régie des Postes de Belgique, en particulier MM. Beco et De Tournai, dont la collaboration, après les encouragements initiaux de M. Bonmijns, fut déterminante. Le traitement informatique des données a été réalisé en partie grâce à l'appui matériel du Fonds de la Recherche Fondamentale Collective (Convention n° 2.4512.84), et pour le reste dans le cadre du Programme d'Actions Concertées n° 80-85/12 réalisé au CORE avec l'appui du Gouvernement Belge.
Analyse coûts-bénéfices de l'extension future du réseau hydraulique belge
RePEc: Research Papers in Economics, 1982
Les déterminants des dépenses communales en Belgique: commentaires sur un article de Moesen et Vanneste
We present results from a study on the economic performances of a public mass transit firm. Measu... more We present results from a study on the economic performances of a public mass transit firm. Measures of productive efficiency as well as of adequacy between supply and demand (effectiveness) are computed monthly. We observe a clear positive trend for technical performances but less favorable results in terms of effectiveness.
Social Science Research Network, 2009
This article deals with cooperation issues in international pollution problems in a two dimension... more This article deals with cooperation issues in international pollution problems in a two dimensional dynamic framework implied by the accumulation of the pollutant and of the capital goods. Assuming that countries do reevaluate at each period the advantages to cooperate or not given the current stocks of pollutant and capital, and under the assumption that damage cost functions are linear, we define at each period of time a transfer scheme between countries, which makes cooperation better for each of them than non-cooperation. This transfer scheme is also strategically stable in the sense that it discourages partial coalitions.
Social Science Research Network, 2013
That climate policies are costly is evident and therefore often creates major fears. But the alte... more That climate policies are costly is evident and therefore often creates major fears. But the alternative (no action) also has a cost. Mitigation costs and damages incurred depend on what the climate policies are; moreover, they are substitutes. This brings climate policies naturally in the realm of benefit-cost analysis. In this paper we illustrate the "direct" cost components of various policies, and then confront them with the benefits generated, that is, the damage cost avoided. However, the sheer benefit-cost criterion is not a sufficient incentive to induce cooperation among countries, a necessary condition for an effective global climate policy. Thus, we also explore how to use this criterion in the context of international climate cooperation.
Social Science Research Network, Feb 1, 2006
In essence, any international environmental agreement (IEA) implies cooperation of a form or anot... more In essence, any international environmental agreement (IEA) implies cooperation of a form or another. The paper seeks for logical foundations of this. It first deals with how the need for cooperation derives from the public good aspect of the externalities involved, as well as with where the source of cooperation lies in cooperative game theory. In either case, the quest for efficiency is claimed to be at the root of cooperation. Next, cooperation is considered from the point of view of stability. After recalling the two competing concepts of stability in use in the IEA literature, new insights on the nature of the gamma core in general are given as well as of the Chander-Tulkens solution within the gamma core. Free riding is also evaluated in relation with the alternative forms of stability under scrutiny. Finally, it is asked whether with the often mentioned virtue of "self enforcement" any conceptual gain is achieved, different from what is meant by efficiency and stability. A skeptical answer is offered, as a reply to Barrett's (2003) attempt at giving the notion a specific content.
Journal of Public Economics, Apr 1, 1990
This paper shows that when a 'non-cooperative fiscal equilibrium' of the Mintz-Tulkens 1986 model... more This paper shows that when a 'non-cooperative fiscal equilibrium' of the Mintz-Tulkens 1986 model of tax competition is inefficient, Pareto improving changes are positive for the taxes of both regions, under concavity of the regions' welfare functions, It also identifies a class of such equilibria that are always efficient.
Measuring labor-efficiency in post offices
LIDAM Reprints CORE, 1984
ABSTRACT Three methods of measuring technical efficiency are defined, and their results compared ... more ABSTRACT Three methods of measuring technical efficiency are defined, and their results compared in an application to Belgian postal data. The first one is that of adjusting a Cobb-Douglas production frontier; the second is that of computing the convex hull of the data, à la Farrell; the third one is developed on the basis of the sole assumptions of input and output disposability. We conclude with an estimated average labor-efficiency of about 90%.
Springer eBooks, 2006
When environmental externalities are international-i .. e. transfrontier-they most often are mult... more When environmental externalities are international-i .. e. transfrontier-they most often are multilateral and embody public good characteristics. Improving upon inefficient laissez-faire equilibria requires voluntary cooperation for which the game-theoretic core concept provides optimal outcomes that have interesting properties against free riding. To define the core, however, the characteristic function of the game associated with the economy (which specifies the payoff achievable by each possible coalition of players here, the countries) must also specify in each case the behavior of the players which are not members of the coalition. This has been for a long time a major unsolved problem in the theory of the core of economies with many producers of a public good. Among the several assumptions that can be made in this respect, a plausible one is defined in this paper, for which it is then shown that the core is nonempty. The proof is constructive in the sense that it exhibits a solution (i.e., an explicit coordinated abatement policy) that has the desired property of nondomination by any proper coalition of countries, given the assumed behavior of the other countries.
Theoretical foundations of negotiations and cost sharing in transfrontier pollution problems
European Economic Review, Apr 1, 1992
The negotiations model is described by a dynamic process bearing on a multilateral externality, t... more The negotiations model is described by a dynamic process bearing on a multilateral externality, that converges to an individually rational Pareto optimum. The process embodies a cost sharing rule for pollutant abatement in the countries involved, derived from a sharing rule of the surplus, that is also shown to have “strategic stability” in the game theoretic sense of an imputation in the core of some cooperative game associated with the negotiation process. The connections are explored between this cost-sharing rule and the “free rider problem” in public goods theory.
Springer eBooks, 2006
A well-known property of so-called ''MDP processes'' 1 is monotonicity in terms of the utilities ... more A well-known property of so-called ''MDP processes'' 1 is monotonicity in terms of the utilities of the agents, due to the sharing among the latter of a ''surplus'' of numeraire generated at each point of their trajectories. In this paper, we focus our attention on the somewhat neglected question of how this sharing takes place, and we propose to use game-theoretic concepts and methods for answering it. A byproduct of this enquiry is the formulation of a ''nontâtonnement'' process that seems to be of independent interest.
Social Science Research Network, 2005
This exercise was done in order to shed scientific and empirical light on the debate concerning t... more This exercise was done in order to shed scientific and empirical light on the debate concerning tax competition that took place in Belgium during the institutional negotiations of October 2000. The issue of increased fiscal autonomy of the Regions was a central one. A detailed account of these negotiations and their results is given in Van der Stichele and Verdonck (2001). 2 The reader interested in empirical studies bearing specifically on the mobility of tax bases should read the articles of Feld and Kirschgässner (2000), Goodspeed (1999) as well as Heyndels and Vuchelen (1989). 3 For a recent review of the theoretical literature on tax competition see Wilson (1999).
Journal of Productivity Analysis, Jun 1, 1993
The methodology of free disposal hull (FDH) measure of productive efficiency is defined and put i... more The methodology of free disposal hull (FDH) measure of productive efficiency is defined and put in perspective vis-&-vis other nonparametric techniques, in terms of the postulates on which they respectively rest. Computational issues are also considered, in relation to the linear programming techniques used in DEA. The first application bears on a comparison between a private and a public bank, in terms of the relative efficiency of their branches. Important characteristics of the data are revealed by FDH that are not by DEA, due to a better data fit. Next, efficiency estimates of judicial activities are used to evaluate what part of the existing backlog could be reduced by efficiency increases. Finally, with monthly data of an urban transit firm over 12 years, the FDH methodology is extended to a sequential treatment of time series, that supplements efficiency estimation with a measure of technical progress.
Dynamic processes for public goods. An institution-oriented survey
RePEc: Research Papers in Economics, 1978
A nontechnical, but nevertheless not informal, account is given of dynamic models recently develo... more A nontechnical, but nevertheless not informal, account is given of dynamic models recently developed in the theory of public goods. After a purely descriptive presentation of three basic models (Section 2) and their many subsequent extensions (Section 3), various reflections are made in Section 4 on issues raised by an institutional perspective: first, the usual planning interpretation of such processes is presented and commented upon; next, contrasting normative and positive approaches to public goods, it is argued that one category of processes can be given an interpretation much in line with the literature on positive public economics. Third, the planning vs. voluntary exchange institutions are contrasted from the point of view of cooperation among the agents in an economy with public goods.
Social Science Research Network, 2003
In this paper we evaluate the financial performance of virtually all of the branch offices of a l... more In this paper we evaluate the financial performance of virtually all of the branch offices of a large European savings bank for a recent six-month accounting period. We employ a complementary pair of nonparametric techniques to evaluate their financial performance, in terms of their ability to conserve on the expenses they incur in the process of building their customer bases and providing customer services valued by the bank. We find substantial variation in the ability of branch offices to perform this task, and substantial agreement on the identity of the branches at the bottom of the performance distribution. We then employ parametric techniques to determine that the list of indicators on which their financial performance is currently evaluated can be substantially reduced without statistically significant loss of information to bank management. Both findings suggest ways in which the bank can increase the profitability of its branch network.
Springer eBooks, 2006
The authors are especially indebted to their MIT colleague Denny Ellerman who kindly informed the... more The authors are especially indebted to their MIT colleague Denny Ellerman who kindly informed them of the state of his work and provided key numerical information. They also thank their colleague Jean Gabszewicz for a careful reading of an earlier version. The research on which it is reported here is part of the program "Changements climatiques, Négociations internationales et Stratégies de la Belgique" (CLIMNEG), supported by the Belgian State's Services du Premier Ministre, Services fédéraux des Affaires scientifiques, techniques et culturelles (SSTC), Brussels. Chander's work in Belgium was financed by the CLIMNEG program.
International Journal of Production Economics, Apr 1, 1995
In the classical literature on efficiency measurement, the notion of efficiency is intimately lin... more In the classical literature on efficiency measurement, the notion of efficiency is intimately linked with the one of production frontier: specifically, a productive activity is called efficient if the vector of input-output quantities that describes it belongs to the (efficient) frontier of some appropriately defined production set; and the activity is called inefficient if this vector belongs to the interior of the set. Moreover, when time-related data are involved, a sharp distinction is usually made between shifts of the frontier and gains in efficiency. Running against this tradition, we deal in this paper with efficiency, progress and regress without using the frontier concept. For describing the relation between inputs and outputs in production, we substitute another notion called "benchmark production correspondence", with respect to which we suggest that progress and regress be measured without having to distinguish between progress and efficiency gains, or between regress and efficiency losses. An illustration with a monthly time series covering almost 15 years of the activities of an urban transit company is presented and contrasted with DEA and FDH non-parametric frontier approaches.
Climate Policy, 2010
In this paper we analyze the negotiation strategy of the European Union regarding the formation o... more In this paper we analyze the negotiation strategy of the European Union regarding the formation of an international climate agreement for the post-2012 era. We use game theoretical stability concepts to explore incentives for key players in the climate policy game to join future climate agreements. We compare a minus 20 percent unilateral commitment strategy by the EU with a unilateral minus 30 percent emission reduction strategy for all Annex-B countries. Using a numerical integrated assessment climate-economy simulation model, we find that carbon leakage effects are negligible. The EU strategy to reduce emissions by 30% (compared to 1990 levels) by 2020 if other Annex-B countries follow does not induce participation of the USA with a similar 30% reduction commitment. However, the model shows that an appropriate initial allocation of emission allowances may stabilize a larger and more ambitious climate coalition than the Kyoto Protocol in its first commitment period.
Pourquoi le fédéralisme
RePEc: Research Papers in Economics, 2003
Le federalisme est pose tout d’abord comme une parmi plusieurs formes alternatives d’organisation... more Le federalisme est pose tout d’abord comme une parmi plusieurs formes alternatives d’organisation d’un Etat. Avantages et inconvenients economiques de cette forme institutionnelle sont consideres et discutes. Enfin, l’institution federale est examinee du point de vue des processus de decision qui y prevalent. Une distinction fondamentale est proposee quant a la nature et aux formes alternatives de la cooperation, dans le cadre federal, entre les entites federees. Cette distinction entre modes de cooperation eclaire aussi les relations entre federation et confederation.
RePEc: Research Papers in Economics, 1986
La notion de performance productive est ici définie par référence au fait que l'entreprise opère ... more La notion de performance productive est ici définie par référence au fait que l'entreprise opère plus ou moins près de la frontière de son ensemble de production. Il s'agit de l'efficacité technique au sens de Koopmans. Trois méthodes de mesure de celle-ci sont proposées, et ensuite appliquées aux opérations de près de 800 bureaux de poste en Belgique en 1980 (observations portant sur un mois) et en 1983 (observations sur douze mois). Si le niveau moyen de l'efficacité technique observée s'avère relativement élevé, son évolution mensuelle au cours de l'année 1983 révèle une forte rigidité d'adaptation de la main-d'oeuvre aux pointes saisonnières du trafic postal The productive performance of a public service.-The notion of productive performance is defined by référence to the fact that the enterprise opérâtes at or away from the boundary of its production set. This is also called technical efficiency, in the sensé of Koopmans. Three methods are proposed for measuring it, and are applied to the activities of about 800 postal stations in Belgium in 1980 (observations pertaining to one month) and 1983 (observations over twelve months). The observed average technical efficiency appears to be relatively high; but its monthly évolution throughout 1983 reveals a strong rigidity in adapting manpower to seasonal peak-loads. Cette communication, préparée pour les III e Journées de Microéconomie Appliquée (Nantes, 29-30 mai 1986), présente une mise à jour et une extension de travaux initialement publiés en langue anglaise (Deprins, Simar and Tulkens [1984] et, sous une forme plus courte et moins technique, Tulkens [1985]), qu'elle reprend en partie. Les nouveaux développements contenus ici résultent également d'une collaboration, cette fois avec Isabelle van Caubergh, Catherine Demain et Pierre Petit, auxquels l'auteur exprime ses remerciements. Il les adresse aussi aux fonctionnaires de la Régie des Postes de Belgique, en particulier MM. Beco et De Tournai, dont la collaboration, après les encouragements initiaux de M. Bonmijns, fut déterminante. Le traitement informatique des données a été réalisé en partie grâce à l'appui matériel du Fonds de la Recherche Fondamentale Collective (Convention n° 2.4512.84), et pour le reste dans le cadre du Programme d'Actions Concertées n° 80-85/12 réalisé au CORE avec l'appui du Gouvernement Belge.