Article: Estimation comparison of the capacity utilisation at constant and non-constant returns to scale: the case of the Tunisian manufacturing sector Journal: International Journal of Computational Economics and Econometrics (IJCEE) 2016 Vol.6 No.1 pp.56 - 70 Abstract: The capacity utilisation is a key indicator of a country's economic performance that measures the contribution of assets to the achievement of the output. Measurements of productivity growth are sensitive to the changes of this rate. Therefore, the existence of a capacity utilisation measure is not only useful to the formulation of the economic policy but also to the development of appropriate empirical measures to assess the national and sectoral economic performance. In Tunisia, like in any other developing country, the need to ensure a strong and sustainable economic growth has become a solution to many social problems that mortgage the country's future. From the estimated results of the capacity utilisation, we notice a significant under-utilisation of production capacity in the manufacturing sector. In addition, it seems that the economy, which is represented by a policy of inefficient technology resulting in non-constant returns to scale (NCRS) throughout the study period 1970-2008. Inderscience Publishers - linking academia, business and industry through research

Title: Estimation comparison of the capacity utilisation at constant and non-constant returns to scale: the case of the Tunisian manufacturing sector

Authors: Kamel Helali; Maha Kalai; Mohamed Siala

Addresses: Faculty of Economics and Management of Sfax, University of Sfax, Airfield Road Km 4, B.P. 1088, 3018, Sfax, Tunisia ' Faculty of Economics and Management of Sfax, University of Sfax, Airfield Road Km 4, B.P. 1088, 3018, Sfax, Tunisia ' Faculty of Economics and Management of Tunis, University of El Manar, Campus Universitaire El Manar II, B.P. 248, 2092, Tunisia

Abstract: The capacity utilisation is a key indicator of a country's economic performance that measures the contribution of assets to the achievement of the output. Measurements of productivity growth are sensitive to the changes of this rate. Therefore, the existence of a capacity utilisation measure is not only useful to the formulation of the economic policy but also to the development of appropriate empirical measures to assess the national and sectoral economic performance. In Tunisia, like in any other developing country, the need to ensure a strong and sustainable economic growth has become a solution to many social problems that mortgage the country's future. From the estimated results of the capacity utilisation, we notice a significant under-utilisation of production capacity in the manufacturing sector. In addition, it seems that the economy, which is represented by a policy of inefficient technology resulting in non-constant returns to scale (NCRS) throughout the study period 1970-2008.

Keywords: capacity utilisation; returns to scale; economic performance; Tunisia; manufacturing industry; estimation comparison; developing countries; economic growth; production capacity.

DOI: 10.1504/IJCEE.2016.073350

International Journal of Computational Economics and Econometrics, 2016 Vol.6 No.1, pp.56 - 70

Received: 19 May 2014
Accepted: 24 Mar 2015
Published online: 30 Nov 2015 *

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Title: Estimation comparison of the capacity utilisation at constant and non-constant returns to scale: the case of the Tunisian manufacturing sector

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