Measuring the Productivity of the Construction Industry in China by Using DEA-Based Malmquist Productivity Indices
Publication: Journal of Construction Engineering and Management
Volume 134, Issue 1
Abstract
Data envelopment analysis (DEA) measures the relative efficiency of decision-making units and avoids any functional specification to express production relationship between inputs and outputs. DEA-based Malmquist productivity index (MPI) measures the productivity change over time. In this paper, the MPI is used to measure the productivity changes of Chinese construction industry from 1997 to 2003. The results of analyses indicate that productivity of the Chinese construction industry experienced a continuous improvement from 1997 to 2003 except for a decline from 2001 to 2002. It is found that there are gaps in productivity development level among western, midland, eastern, and northeastern regions in the Chinese construction industry. The DEA-based MPI approach provides a good tool to support setting up policies and strategic decisions for improving the performance of the Chinese construction industry and promoting the sustainable development of the industry between different regions.
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Acknowledgments
The research was supported by the foundation under Grant No: UNSPECIFIEDhtcsr06t05 from National Center of Technology, Policy and Management, Harbin Institute of Technology. The work described in this paper was also funded by the Research Grants Council of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, China Grant Nos. UNSPECIFIEDPolyU 5252/05E and UNSPECIFIED5264/06E and the Development Program for Outstanding Young Teachers in Harbin Institute of Technology Grant No. HITQNJS.2007.027. The writers are grateful to three anonymous referees and the editor for their insightful comments that helped improve the paper.
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Information & Authors
Information
Published In
Journal of Construction Engineering and Management
Volume 134 • Issue 1 • January 2008
Pages: 64 - 71
Copyright
© 2008 ASCE.
History
Received: Aug 14, 2006
Accepted: May 30, 2007
Published online: Jan 1, 2008
Published in print: Jan 2008
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