This paper develops a new factor-analysis-based (FAB) approach for choosing the optimal direction in a directional distance function (DDF) analysis. It has the combined merits of factor analysis and slacks-based measure (SBM) and incorporates the relative ease with which various input-output...

Chapter 1: Editors’ Introduction -- Part I: Expert Overviews -- Chapter 2: Developing Meaningful Composite Environmental Indices with DEA -- Chapter 3: Modelling the Generation of Pollutants in Environmental Economics -- Chapter 4: Environmental Productivity Growth in Consumer Durables -- Part...

The rapid growth of China’s economy since the reform in 1978 should be largely attributed to urbanization. Nonetheless, in terms of farmland productivity, urbanization may lead to perverse incentives and thus threaten food security. On the one hand, the requisition–compensation balance of...

The Chinese central government has adopted a nationwide administrative allocation policy to reduce carbon and sulfur emissions. Using the ZSG-DEA (Zero-Sum Gain Data Envelopment Analysis) approach, this paper evaluates and compares the emission efficiencies of China's provincial CO2 and SO2, and...