This paper analyzes the impact on the productivity of the U. S. interstate trucking industry of changes in the regulatory climate in 1980. Two methods of analysis are used; Total Factor Productivity (TFP) and Neo-Classical Cost Function analysis. The industry's performance in 1978 is compared to the performance in 1982. Results of the Total Factor Productivity analysis indicate the TFP of the industry in 1982, after deregulation, was lower than that of 1978. However drawing conclusions from this result would be unfounded. TFP analysis assumes constant returns to scale. Cost Function analyses find that the U. S. trucking industry exhibits significant economies of scale. As the trucking industry does not have constant returns to scale, TFP cannot be used to draw conclusions about its economic performance. The results of the Cost Function analyses are dependent on which model is chosen. The variable measuring the effect of deregulation is either positive or negative depending on exactly what other variables are included in the model. In none of the initial models is this variable found to be significantly different from zero. After deleting six data points which produce extreme residuals and correspond to questionable observations, this variable is found to be positive and significant, indicating increased costs in 1982. / Business, Sauder School of / Graduate

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M.Ed. (Educational Management) / Please refer to full text to view abstract

M.Com. (Business Management) / A high level of productivity is of utmost importance to any nation seeking economical growth and stability. However, South Africa has fallen behind its most important trading partners regarding levels of productivity. This decline in productivity started during the late 1960's and has resulted in a subsequent decline in competitiveness. Even more alarming is the fact that some third world countries have overtaken South Africa regarding productivity, and are currently maintaining economical growth rates in excess of five percent per annum. Another trend of modern times is the rapid growth in the number of white-collar workers (including knowledge workers). This rise of the knowledge worker is a result of the swing towards technology- and service organizations. It is thus clear that. the importance of knowledge worker productivity cannot be underestimated. There are however a number of problems regarding the management and improvement of knowledge worker productivity. Most of these problems have their origin in the unique characteristics of knowledge work. The aim of this study is thus to investigate the problems regarding the measurement of knowledge work, methods of improving productivity in general as well as improving knowledge worker productivity specifically, and finally to develop a guideline for the management and improvement of knowledge worker productivity. The study begins with a thorough literature study regarding productivity, knowledge workers and productivity improvement techniques. Following this is an empirical study to investigate certain specific factors which influence productivity. Finally a conclusion is made, resulting in a guideline for the management and improvement of knowledge worker productivity.

Angie Leung Mei Yin. / Thesis (M.Phil.)--Chinese University of Hong Kong, 1999. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 82-85). / Abstracts in English and Chinese. / Abstract --- p.i / Acknowledgements --- p.iii / Table of Contents --- p.iv / List of Tables --- p.vi / List of Figures --- p.ix / Chapter 1. --- Introduction --- p.1 / Chapter 2. --- Methodology and Data --- p.7 / Chapter 2.1 --- Measurement Framework --- p.7 / Chapter 2.2 --- β- Convergence --- p.12 / Chapter 2.3 --- σ - Convergence --- p.18 / Chapter 2.4 --- Data Description --- p.19 / Chapter 3. --- Results --- p.20 / Chapter 3.1 --- Convergence Results among Asian Countries --- p.20 / Chapter 3.2 --- Convergence Results Using Average Labor Sharein All Countries --- p.25 / Chapter 3.3 --- Results under σ - Convergence --- p.27 / Chapter 4. --- Determinants for Average Productivity Growth Rate --- p.33 / Chapter 5. --- Conclusion --- p.37 / Tables --- p.38 / Figures --- p.54 / Appendix --- p.76 / References --- p.82