Eco-efficiency assessment for some European countries using slacks-based measure data envelopment analysis

Abstract

One problem raised by the lack of energy efficiency is the generation of more greenhouse gases (GHGs) that can cause air pollution and climate change. Ecological efficiency (eco-efficiency) means the efficiency of resources used. A poor performance from this efficiency can then be detected for further improvement. In this research, we conduct an assessment on the eco-efficiency for some European countries as they consume a large part of global energy annually. A total of 17 European countries were selected as decision making units (DMUs) and assessed by the Slacks-based measure (SBM) Data Envelopment Analysis (DEA) model. Indices including Catch-Up, Frontier-Shift, and Malmquist Productivity Index (MPI) have been used to evaluate eco-efficiency, as well as efficiency change, technological change, and productivity change, over 2013-2017. In the model, energy consumption and share of renewable energy are used as energy inputs, and labor productivity and gross capital formation are used as economy inputs. On the other hand, GDP is used as a desired output, and CO2 emissions is used as one undesired output. The experimental results show that the 17 countries as a whole lacked eco-efficiency in 2013-2017, implying more efforts are required to improve their eco-efficiency.