Abstract Advanced efficiency measurement methods usually fall within Stochastic Frontier Analysis (SFA), Data Envelopment (DEA), or their derivatives. Although SFA has some theoretical advantages, it been criticized for relying on arbitrary and potentially restrictive assumptions about model specification. One strand of the literature suggests use nonparametric SF models to cope with issue. We ...

In this paper, a hybrid method for solving multi-objective problem has been provided. The proposed method is combining the ε-Constraint and the Cuckoo algorithm. First the multi objective problem transfers into a single-objective problem using ε-Constraint, then the Cuckoo optimization algorithm will optimize the problem in each task. At last the optimized Pareto frontier will be drawn. The adv...

In panel stochastic frontier models, the Fixed Effects (FE) approach produces biased technical efficiency scores when time-invariant variables are important in the production process, and the Random Effects (RE) approach imposes distributional assumptions about the inefficiency. Moreover, technical efficiency scores obtained from these models are biased when the sample contains a large number o...

In this study, we use Stochastic Frontier analysis approach to estimate cost efficiency, economies of scale, and technological progress among Iranian banks from 1999 to 2012. The results show that there is a marked difference in cost efficiency before and after the recent financial sanctions against Iranian banking industry. Moreover, the results indicate that specialized government-owned banks...

This paper considers modelling spatially varying regression effects for multivariate mortality count outcomes. Alternative approaches to spatial regression heterogeneity are considered: the multivariate normal conditional autoregressive (MCAR) model is contrasted with a flexible set of priors based on the multiple membership approach. These include spatial factor priors and a nonparametric appr...

In the literature two approaches of productivity analyses can be found, namely the neoclassical approach and the frontier approach. Neoclassical analysis weights inputs by value shares, a procedure that requires data on factor input shares or prices. This approach imputes productivity growth to factors, but cannot distinguish a movement towards the efficiency frontier and a movement of the latt...