Analyzing the effect of health reforms on the efficiency of Ecuadorian public hospitals.

This study aims to assess whether Ecuadorian health reforms carried out since 2008 have affected the efficiency performance of public hospitals in the country. We contribute to the literature by shedding new light on the effects on public healthcare efficiency for developing countries when policies move toward health equity and universal coverage. We follow a two-stage approach, wherein the first stage we make use of factor and cluster analysis to obtain three clusters of public hospitals based on their technological endowment; we exploit Data Envelopment Analysis for panel data in the second stage to estimate robust efficiency measures over time. Our innovative empirical strategy considers the heterogeneity of healthcare institutions in the analysis of their efficiency performance. The results show a significant decrease in the average efficiency of low and intermediate technology hospitals after the new constitution was adopted in 2008. The decline in efficiency coincides with the two reforms of 2010 and 2011 that brought on higher social security coverage.

Modelling environmental constraints on the efficiency of management forms for public service delivery.

This paper presents a new non-parametric methodology in which robust frontiers are used to measure the impact of environmental constraints on efficiency. In this approach, a data panel structure is applied to determine which management forms for the delivery of municipal services - public or private, in cooperation or individual - are best suited to the environment where the services are provided. The study method proposed is then applied to analyse the waste collection service provided in Spanish municipalities during the period 2002-2014. The results obtained show that of the management forms considered inter-municipal cooperation adapts best to heterogeneous environmental conditions.

Do healthcare financing systems influence hospital efficiency? A metafrontier approach for the case of Mexico.

The objective of this article is to discuss the impact of healthcare financing systems on the efficiency of Mexican hospitals. The Mexican healthcare system is undergoing a process of transformation to establish conditions for allocating limited health resources in order to achieve efficiency and transparency; in this line, there is a concern about the implications of different funding options. In terms of financing arrangements, the Mexican health system is divided into three categories (one private and two public). In the framework of New Public Management theory, non-parametric metafrontier methods are used to estimate differences in efficiency of hospitals under different financing schemes, and in relation to the potential technology available in the healthcare system. Empirical evidence suggests that: 1) an out-of-pocket funding system, on average, incentivizes more efficient behavior; and 2) public funding seems to be the best option for complex and high-technology hospitals, and capitation appears to be the most appropriate way of negotiating their funding.

Scale and scope economies in Mexican private medical units / Economías de escala y alcance en unidades médicas privadas en México

Objective. To evaluate technical efficiency and potential presence of scale and scope economies in Mexican private medical units (PMU) that will improve management decisions. Materials and methods. We used data envelopment analysis methods with inputs and outputs for 2 105 Mexican PMU published in 2010 by the Instituto Nacional de Estadística y Geografía from the "Estadística de Unidades Médicas Privadas con Servicio de Hospitalización (PEC-6-20-A)" questionnaire. Results. The application of the models used in the paper found that there is a marginal presence of economies of scale and scope in Mexican PMU. Conclusions. PMU in Mexico must focus to deliver their services on a diversified structure to achieve technical efficiency.

Objetivo. Evaluar la eficiencia técnica y la presencia de potenciales economías de escala y alcance en unidades médicas privadas (UMP) mexicanas, de forma que sea posible establecer planes para la mejora de su gestión. Material y métodos. Se utilizó el método de Análisis Envolvente de Datos con información de insumos y productos para 2 105 UMP del año 2010 publicada por el Instituto Nacional de Estadística y Geografía a través del cuestionario denominado "Estadística de Unidades Médicas Privadas con Servicio de Hospitalización (PEC-6-20-A)". Resultados. La aplicación de los modelos encuentra una presencia marginal de economías de escala y alcance en las UMP mexicanas. Conclusiones. La operación de las UMP en México debe enfocarse a prestar servicios bajo un modelo diversificado para alcanzar mejores niveles de eficiencia técnica.

Scale and scope economies in Mexican private medical units.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate technical efficiency and potential presence of scale and scope economies in Mexican private medical units (PMU) that will improve management decisions. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We used data envelopment analysis methods with inputs and outputs for 2 105 Mexican PMU published in 2010 by the Instituto Nacional de Estadística y Geografía from the "Estadística de Unidades Médicas Privadas con Servicio de Hospitalización (PEC-6-20-A)" questionnaire. RESULTS: The application of the models used in the paper found that there is a marginal presence of economies of scale and scope in Mexican PMU. CONCLUSIONS: PMU in Mexico must focus to deliver their services on a diversified structure to achieve technical efficiency.

Environmental externalities and efficiency measurement.

Production of desirable outputs often produces by-products that have harmful effects on the environment. This paper investigates technologies where the biggest good output producer is not the greatest polluter, i.e. technologies located on the downward-sloping segment of the frontier depicted in Färe et al. (1989). Directional distance functions and Data Envelopment Analysis techniques are used to define an algorithm that allows them to be identified empirically. Furthermore, we show that in such situations producers can contribute social goods, i.e. reducing polluting wastes, without limiting their capacity to maximise production of marketable output. Finally, we illustrate our methodology with an empirical application to a sample of Spanish ceramic tile producers.