Cost Efficiency Evaluation Based on a Data Envelopment Analysis Approach by Considering Undesirable Outputs on the Basis of the Semi-Disposability Assumption

Abstract

It is considerably important to calculate the cost efficiency in data envelopment analysis for the efficiency evaluation of decision-making units. The present paper develops the classical cost efficiency model in which all the input prices are constant and certain for each decision-making unit, considering undesirable outputs under the semi-disposability assumption. The proposed models are interval and uncertain under the constant returns to scale and also variable returns to scale assumptions, for the easy solution of which, their lower and upper bounds are obtained on the basis of the theorem presented in the text. In order to simulate the proposed models and show their scientific capabilities, additionally, 56 electricity producing thermal power plants in Iran were studied in 2015. Results of the present study show that under both assumptions of constant returns to scale and variable returns to scale, the highest cost efficiency bounds belonged to the combined and steam cycle power plants. Moreover, the average of lower and upper cost efficiency bounds of the power plants under study were 34% and 35%, respectively, in 2015, under the constant returns to scale assumption, and 52% and 54%, respectively, under the variable returns to scale assumption.