Developing country efficiency assessment by means of a comprehensive model based on data envelopment analysis

This paper introduces a comprehensive model aimed to assess the relative efficiency of developing countries. The model is based on data envelopment analysis (DEA) and considers only outputs as performance measures. The millennium development goals (MDGs), an initiative originated by the United Nations, are considered to define 13 performance measures that are used to evaluate the efficiency of 54 developing countries around the world. Inefficient countries are ranked by their inefficiency scores and efficient developing countries are ranked based on their super-efficiency scores, both of which are derived from the DEA model. Target performance measures are defined for the inefficient countries to provide insight to policy makers and the like.