Social family allowances in Belgium. The impact of potential reforms on child poverty

Report (2010)

L'âge du départ à la retraite comme question de politique de santé publique?

in La Sève (2010), 1

Does Retirement Affect Cognitive Functioning?

Report (2010)

This paper analyzes the effect of retirement on cognitive functioning using two large scale surveys. On the one hand the HRS, a longitudinal survey among individuals aged 50+ living in the United States ... [more ▼]

This paper analyzes the effect of retirement on cognitive functioning using two large scale surveys. On the one hand the HRS, a longitudinal survey among individuals aged 50+ living in the United States, allows us to control for individual heterogeneity and endogeneity of the retirement decision by using the eligibility age for Social Security as an instrument. On the other hand, a comparable international European survey, SHARE, allows us to identify the causal effect of retirement on cognitive functioning by using the cross-country differences in the age-pattern of retirement. The results highlight in both cases a significant negative, and quantitatively comparable, effect of retirement on cognitive functioning. Our results suggest that promoting labor force participation of older workers is not only desirable to insure the viability of retirement schemes, but it could also delay cognitive decline, and thus the occurrence of associated impairments at older age. [less ▲]

Which causal relation between retirement and cognitive performance? Implications for the design of policies in prevention of cognitive impairment

Conference (2009, October 11)

Tracking the stepwise effects of regulatory reforms over time: a "back-door" approach

in Applied Economics (2009), 41(2), 211-218

Most of the literature on the efficiency effects of regulatory reforms ignores the gradual nature of the implementation of these reforms. This article describes a new simple data manipulation that ... [more ▼]

Most of the literature on the efficiency effects of regulatory reforms ignores the gradual nature of the implementation of these reforms. This article describes a new simple data manipulation that minimizes data requirements to measure econometrically the impact on efficiency of each stage of multi-stages regulatory reforms. The approach can easily be implemented using standard stochastic frontier software programs. It is illustrated with data on the Spanish port system, which went through a two-stage reform during the 1990s. [less ▲]

How to generate regularly behaved production data? A Monte Carlo experimentation on DEA scale efficiency measurement

in European Journal of Operational Research (2009), (199), 303-310

Monte Carlo experimentation is a well-known approach used to test the performance of alternative methodologies under different hypotheses. In the frontier analysis framework, whatever the parametric or ... [more ▼]

Monte Carlo experimentation is a well-known approach used to test the performance of alternative methodologies under different hypotheses. In the frontier analysis framework, whatever the parametric or non-parametric methods tested, experiments to date have been developed assuming single output multi-input production functions. The data generated have mostly assumed a Cobb–Douglas technology. Among other drawbacks, this simple framework does not allow the evaluation of DEA performance on scale efficiency measurement. The aim of this paper is twofold. On the one hand, we show how reliable two-output two-input production data can be generated using a parametric output distance function approach. A variable returns to scale translog technology satisfying regularity conditions is used for this purpose. On the other hand, we evaluate the accuracy of DEA technical and scale efficiency measurement when sample size and output ratios vary. Our Monte Carlo experiment shows that the correlation between true and estimated scale efficiency is dramatically low when DEA analysis is performed with small samples and wide output ratio variations. [less ▲]

Valorisation of Microsimulation Model for Social Security Mimosis

Report (2008)

This report is part of the output of the project AG/01/116. The main objectives of project AG/01/116 were to further refine and validate the microsimulation model for social security, MIMOSIS, both by ... [more ▼]

This report is part of the output of the project AG/01/116. The main objectives of project AG/01/116 were to further refine and validate the microsimulation model for social security, MIMOSIS, both by extending the data coverage and refining the modules as through a comparative study of how MIMOSIS is positioned in an international perspective and also by use of MIMOSIS for evaluation of (hypothetical) policy reforms. [less ▲]

CAP Reforms and Total Factor Productivity Growth: An Analysis of Belgian Farm-level Data

Report (2008)

Have the 1992 and 2000 CAP reforms had any discernable effect upon agricultural productivity? In this study we derive detailed information on the total factor productivity (TFP) growth of arable farms in ... [more ▼]

Have the 1992 and 2000 CAP reforms had any discernable effect upon agricultural productivity? In this study we derive detailed information on the total factor productivity (TFP) growth of arable farms in Belgium over a 16-year period from 1987 to 2002. Calculations are based on a carefully constructed high-quality detailed farm-level data set containing 1728 observations, involving over 100 farms in most years. Three output variables (cereals, other crops, other outputs) and four input variables (land, labour, capital and other inputs) are constructed, using multilateral Fisher index numbers where crop aggregation is required. The TFP measures are calculated using a Malmquist TFP index relative to a series of data envelopment analysis (DEA) frontiers. Annual average TFP change of 1.0% per year is estimated for this industry. This rate does not compare well with rates of over 2% that are commonly reported in studies involving other developed countries. The pattern of TFP growth over the period indicates that the two CAP reforms (in 1992 and 2000) have had no discernable effect upon TFP trends. An inspection of shadow shares (derived from the DEA frontiers) indicates that substantial distortions remain in this industry, especially with regards to the excess use of labour and constrained use of land, relative to other inputs. Finally, tabulation of results by region and farm size shows fairly uniform TFP change across regions, but poor performance in small farms, where TFP actually levels actually fell over this period. [less ▲]

Incorporating quality of service in a benchmarking model:an application to French electricity distribution operators

Report (2007)

In this paper we use annual data on 92 French electricity distribution units (2003-2005) to estimate a benchmarking model that includes a quality of service indicator (number of interruptions). Our ... [more ▼]

In this paper we use annual data on 92 French electricity distribution units (2003-2005) to estimate a benchmarking model that includes a quality of service indicator (number of interruptions). Our methodology involves the estimation of input distance functions using stochastic frontier analysis (SFA) and data envelopment analysis (DEA) techniques. The empirical results indicate that the inclusion of the quality variable has no significant effect upon mean technical efficiency scores, and the mean shadow price of one interruption is approximately ten Euros. The analysis in this paper is the first preliminary step in a larger project which is investigating the feasibility of including quality measures into benchmarking models that are often used by regulatory authorities [less ▲]

An Ageing Burden Indicator

in Marin, B.; Zaidi, A. (Eds.) Mainstreaming Ageing. Indicators to Monitor Sustainable Policies (2007)

In this chapter we propose a simple framework to compute a burden indicator to be used in the ageing sustainability debate. Relying on the projections of population as well as on the employment rate and ... [more ▼]

In this chapter we propose a simple framework to compute a burden indicator to be used in the ageing sustainability debate. Relying on the projections of population as well as on the employment rate and the generosity of the systems, it offers the possibility to anticipate the main reforms to be accomplished in order to share the burden of the pay-as-you-go schemes between generations [less ▲]