Modelling efficiency in healthcare with stochastic production frontiers (SPF) is complicated because of the immeasurable elements, quality of care and casemix as well as complex data structures. This analysis considers a SPF approach to estimating efficiencies for organizations in the Republic...

One way in which economists might determine how best to balance the competing objectives of efficiency and equality is to specify a Social Welfare Function (SWF). This article looks at how the stated preferences of a sample of the general public can be used to estimate the shape of the SWF in...