Data envelopment analysis (DEA) is an axiomatic, mathematical programming approach to productive efficiency analysis and performance measurement. This paper shows that DEA can be interpreted as a nonparametric least squares regression subject to shape constraints on production frontier and sign constraints on residuals. Thus, DEA can be seen as a nonparametric counter-part of the corrected ordi...

This paper extends the existing research on real estate investment trust (REIT) operating efficiencies. We estimate stochastic-frontier, panel-data models specifying a translog cost function. The specified model updates the cost frontier with new information as it becomes available over time. The model can identify frontier cost improvements, returns to scale, and cost inefficiencies over time....

We examine the cost structure of public schools in this paper, using frontier cost models that enable us to estimate sources of inefficiency. A two equation stochastic frontier model is presented that can be used to explain both cost and the sources of inefficiency. Using that model and data for public schools in Nebraska over the period 1989-92, we estimate cost frontiers for the districts. Es...

This study investigated various factors explaining the technical, allocative and cost efficiency of Finnish hospitals using parametric frontier models and nonparametric DEA models. DEA scores were correlated to the same set of variables as efficiency scores by stochastic frontier models. Specialization, specialization in expensive DRGs, sufficiently high proportion of resident physicians and in...

This paper provides simulation evidence concerning some statistical properties of two different approaches to technical efficiency estimation for multipleoutput production under noisy conditions: The Ray Frontier Approach (RFA) from Löthgren (1997) and DEA+ proposed in Gstach (1996). RFA, unlike earlier approaches in the realm of stochastic frontier analysis, is capable of efficiency estimation...

the different model specifications have been proposed to estimate time-varying technical efficiency in the last two decades. these models have resulted different efficiency scores based on their built-in specifications. this study investigates the temporal pattern of technical efficiency based on cornwell, sickles, and schmidt (css, 1990) as well as lee and schmidt (ls, 1993) models. in order t...

A common feature distinguishing between parametric/ statistical models and engineering economics models is that engineering models explicitly represent best practice technologies, whereas parametric/statistical models are typically based on average practice. Measures of energy intensity based on average practice are of little use in corporate management of energy use or for public policy goal s...

The study was carried out to provide empirical evidence on technical efficiency of maize production in Nigeria using parametric and non-parametric approaches. The study employed annual secondary data on maize production in Nigeria from 1971 to 2010.Stochastic Frontier Analysis (SFA) and Data Envelopment Analysis (DEA) were used to estimate the technical efficiency of maize production. The resul...