Size and efficiency in African manufacturing firms: evidence from firm-level panel data

• 成果类型: Article
• 署名作者: Söderbom, M; Teal, F
• 署名单位: University of Oxford
• 刊物名称: JOURNAL OF DEVELOPMENT ECONOMICS
• ISSN/ISSBN: 0304-3878
• DOI: 10.1016/j.jdeveco.2003.02.005
• 发表日期: 2004
• 页码: 369-394
• 关键词: African manufacturing; PRODUCTIVITY; EFFICIENCY; human capital; firm size

摘要

Three dimensions of the performance of firms in Ghana's manufacturing sector are investigated in this paper: their technology and the importance of technical and allocative efficiency. We show that the diversity of factor choices is not due to a nonhomothetic technology. Observable skills are not quantitatively important as determinants of productivity. Technical inefficiency is not lower in firms with foreign ownership or older firms and its dispersion across firms is similar to that found in other economies. Large firms face far higher relative labour costs than small firms. If these factor price differentials could be levelled out, substantial gains thorough improvements in allocative efficiency would be possible. (C) 2003 Published by Elsevier B.V.