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On the Technically Efficient Organization of an Industry: A Study of U.S. Airlines

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  • Subhash Ray
  • Xiaowen Hu

Abstract

In nonparametric analysis of production efficiency, the focus of attention is typically on the individual firm. In this article, we evaluate efficiency in resource utilization at the industry level. We propose an integer programming model to measure the extent of input saving possible if the observed output level of the industry is allocated to an optimal number of identical firms. This approach is applied to data for U.S. airlines covering the period 1970–84. Our results confirm that there were too few airlines prior to deregulation and suggest that there were too many firms during the early years of the post-deregulation era. Copyright Kluwer Academic Publishers 1997

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  • Subhash Ray & Xiaowen Hu, 1997. "On the Technically Efficient Organization of an Industry: A Study of U.S. Airlines," Journal of Productivity Analysis, Springer, vol. 8(1), pages 5-18, March.
    • Handle: RePEc:kap:jproda:v:8:y:1997:i:1:p:5-18
    DOI: 10.1023/A:1007751413007
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    4. Maindiratta, Ajay, 1990. "Largest size-efficient scale and size efficiencies of decision-making units in data envelopment analysis," Journal of Econometrics, Elsevier, vol. 46(1-2), pages 57-72.
    5. R. D. Banker & A. Charnes & W. W. Cooper, 1984. "Some Models for Estimating Technical and Scale Inefficiencies in Data Envelopment Analysis," Management Science, INFORMS, vol. 30(9), pages 1078-1092, September.
    6. Douglas W. Caves & Laurits R. Christensen & Michael W. Tretheway, 1984. "Economies of Density versus Economies of Scale: Why Trunk and Local Service Airline Costs Differ," RAND Journal of Economics, The RAND Corporation, vol. 15(4), pages 471-489, Winter.
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    Cited by:

    1. Valentin Zelenyuk, 2024. "Aggregation in efficiency and productivity analysis: a brief review with new insights and justifications for constant returns to scale," Journal of Productivity Analysis, Springer, vol. 62(3), pages 321-334, December.
    2. Valentin Zelenyuk, 2018. "Some Mathematical and Historical Clarifications on Aggregation in Efficiency and Productivity Analysis and Connection to Economic Theory," CEPA Working Papers Series WP032018, School of Economics, University of Queensland, Australia.
    3. Contreras, I. & Lozano, S., 2022. "Size efficiency, splits and merger gains, and centralized resource reallocation of Spanish public universities," Socio-Economic Planning Sciences, Elsevier, vol. 81(C).
    4. Hien Thu Pham & Antonio Peyrache, 2015. "Industry Inefficiency Measures: A Unifying Approximation Proposition," CEPA Working Papers Series WP102015, School of Economics, University of Queensland, Australia.
    5. Blancard, Stéphane & Boussemart, Jean-Philippe & Chavas, Jean-Paul & Leleu, Hervé, 2016. "Potential gains from specialization and diversification further to the reorganization of activities," Omega, Elsevier, vol. 63(C), pages 60-68.
    6. Antonio Peyrache & Maria C. A. Silva, 2022. "Efficiency and Productivity Analysis from a System Perspective: Historical Overview," Springer Books, in: Duangkamon Chotikapanich & Alicia N. Rambaldi & Nicholas Rohde (ed.), Advances in Economic Measurement, chapter 0, pages 173-230, Springer.
    7. Subhash C. Ray, 2008. "Are Indian Firms too Small? A Nonparametric Analysis of Cost Efficiency and Industry Structure of Indian Manufacturing," Working papers 2008-10, University of Connecticut, Department of Economics.
    8. Chandra, Pankaj & Cooper, William W. & Li, Shanling & Rahman, Atiqur, 1998. "Using DEA To evaluate 29 Canadian textile companies -- Considering returns to scale," International Journal of Production Economics, Elsevier, vol. 54(2), pages 129-141, January.
    9. Cesaroni, Giovanni, 2020. "Technically and cost-efficient centralized allocations in data envelopment analysis," Socio-Economic Planning Sciences, Elsevier, vol. 70(C).
    10. Ray, Subhash, 2016. "Cost efficiency in an Indian bank branch network: A centralized resource allocation model," Omega, Elsevier, vol. 65(C), pages 69-81.
    11. Subhash C. Ray & Shilpa Sethia, 2022. "Nonparametric measurement of potential gains from mergers: an additive decomposition and application to Indian bank mergers," Journal of Productivity Analysis, Springer, vol. 57(2), pages 115-130, April.
    12. Peyrache, Antonio, 2013. "Industry structural inefficiency and potential gains from mergers and break-ups: A comprehensive approach," European Journal of Operational Research, Elsevier, vol. 230(2), pages 422-430.
    13. Peyrache, Antonio, 2015. "Cost constrained industry inefficiency," European Journal of Operational Research, Elsevier, vol. 247(3), pages 996-1002.
    14. Subhash C. Ray & Shilpa Sethia, 2024. "A state-level resource allocation model for emission reduction and efficiency improvement in thermal power plants," Indian Economic Review, Springer, vol. 59(1), pages 205-257, October.
    15. Pham, Hien Thu & Hoang, Viet-Ngu & Yu, Ming-Miin & McLennan, Char-lee J., 2024. "Dynamic efficiency of Australia's innovation systems: A regional and state analysis," Technological Forecasting and Social Change, Elsevier, vol. 205(C).
    16. Cesaroni, Giovanni, 2018. "Industry cost efficiency in data envelopment analysis," Socio-Economic Planning Sciences, Elsevier, vol. 61(C), pages 37-43.
    17. Subhash C. Ray & Shilpa Sethia, 2023. "A State-Level Resource Allocation Model for Emission Reduction and Efficiency Improvement in Thermal Power Plants," Working papers 2023-08, University of Connecticut, Department of Economics.
    18. Subhash Ray, 2007. "Are some Indian banks too large? An examination of size efficiency in Indian banking," Journal of Productivity Analysis, Springer, vol. 27(1), pages 41-56, February.
    19. Toloo, Mehdi & Keshavarz, Esmaeil & Hatami-Marbini, Adel, 2021. "Selecting data envelopment analysis models: A data-driven application to EU countries," Omega, Elsevier, vol. 101(C).
    20. Ane Elixabete Ripoll-Zarraga & Sebastián Lozano, 2020. "A centralised DEA approach to resource reallocation in Spanish airports," Annals of Operations Research, Springer, vol. 288(2), pages 701-732, May.
    21. Lu, Wen-Min & Wang, Wei-Kang & Hung, Shiu-Wan & Lu, En-Tzu, 2012. "The effects of corporate governance on airline performance: Production and marketing efficiency perspectives," Transportation Research Part E: Logistics and Transportation Review, Elsevier, vol. 48(2), pages 529-544.

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