Alternative functional forms for production, cost and returns to scale functions

An input-oriented radial measure for returns to scale aggregation.

In production theory, it is necessary to be capable of predicting the production func- tion’s long-run behaviors. Hereof, returns to scale is a helpful concept. Returns to scale describes the reaction of a production function to the proportionally scaling all its input variables. In this regard, Data envelopment analysis (DEA) provides a com- prehensive framework for returns to scale evaluation...

Marginal Values and Returns to Scale for Nonparametric Production Frontiers

Characterization of efficient points of the production possibility set under variable returns to scale in DEA

  We suggest a method for finding the non-dominated points of the production possibility set (PPS) with variable returns to scale (VRS) technology in data envelopment analysis (DEA). We present a multiobjective linear programming (MOLP) problem whose feasible region is the same as the PPS under variable returns to scale for generating non-dominated points. We demonstrate that Pareto solutions o...

Bank Size, Returns to Scale and Cost Efficiency

Since the passage of Dodd-Frank, government regulators have become more interested than ever in the significant increase of bank size in the U.S. financial sector. To shed light on the reasons of the bank size increase and its effects on banks, we study the dynamic interactions between size, cost efficiency and returns to scale. Using Fourier flexible form, we show that banks of all but the lar...

Estimating Variable Returns to Scale Production Frontiers with Alternative Stochastic Assumptions

A stochastic production frontier model is formulated within the generalized production function framework popularized by Zellner and Revankar (1969) and Zellner and Ryu (1998). This framework is convenient for parsimonious modeling of a production function with variable returns to scale specified as a function of output. Two alternatives for introducing the stochastic inefficiency term and the ...