Information on the economies of scope (or cost complementarities) between two or more output variables is traditionally obtained from the second derivative properties of an econometrically estimated multi-output cost function. However, in some instances the econometric estimation of a cost...

Almost all previous approaches to estimating semiparametric frontier models, where the functional form for the production (cost) function is unknown, have been local nonparametric (ie. kernel) approaches. In this paper we use a penalized (ie. spline) approach. We show how this approach can be...

In this paper, we introduce a new class of index numbers for international price comparisons. We prove the existence and uniqueness of the new price index. We then propose a stochastic approach to the Ikle (1972) and the new system of index numbers. The advantage of the stochastic approach is...

In this paper, we study estimation of fixed and random effects nonparametric panel data models using penalized splines and its mixed model variant. We define a "within" and a "dummy variable" estimator and show their equivalence which can be used as an argument for consistency of the dummy...