The evolution of non-parametric frontier analysis methods: a review and recent developments

Abstract

The assessment of performance of activity units such as bank branches, retail outlets, sales forces in
the profit-making sector and schools, local authorities and hospitals in the non-profit sector are given
increased attention by the econometric and operational research communities in recent years. A relatively
new methodology has been developed based on the use of linear programming for assessing performance
of activity centres. This paper provides a state of the art review concerning the basic models and also
recent trends of this methodology.