A Euclidean distance-based measure of efficiency in data envelopment analysis

Data envelopment analysis (DEA) has been proven as an excellent data-oriented performance evaluation method when multiple inputs and outputs are present in a set of peer decision-making units (DMUs). Several efficiency measures have been proposed in the DEA literature, see, for instances, radial efficiency measure of Charnes et al. (CCR)(A. Charnes. W.W. Cooper, and E. Rhodes, 1978. Measuring the efficiency of decision making units. Eur. J. Oper. Res. 2, 429-444), Russell graph measure (J.T. Russell, and R. Sirvant. 1999. An enhanced DEA Russell graph efficiency measure. Eur. J. Oper. Res. 115, pp. 596-607) and slack-based measure of Tone (K. Tone, 2001. A slack-based measure of efficiency in DEA. Eur. J. Oper. Res. 130, p. 498-509). In this article, we will propose an Euclidean distance-based measure of efficiency. Then, in order to discriminate the performance of efficient DMUs, an alternative super-efficiency DEA model is proposed. The applicability of the models developed is illustrated in the context of the analysis of gas companies performance.