Total factor productivity of fertilizer manufacturing industry in China: a dynamic analysis

The paper applies nonparametric DEA-Malmquist index approach to estimating total factor productivity(TFP) growth,efficiency change and technological progress rate for the period from 1998 to 2005 of fertilizer manufacturing industry in China.The study indicates that efficiency changes in the cross-country and the eastern region is the key factor for TFP growth from 1998 to 2001,but technological progress has been the main driving force for TFP growth since 2002.The situation in the western region is similar to that in the eastern region;however,technological progress has been the main driving force for TFP growth since 2003.For the center region,TFP growth always depends on technological progress.