A superlative indicator for the Luenberger-Hicks-Moorsteen productivity indicator: Theory and application

Frederic Ang and Pieter Kerstens

European Journal of Operational Research, 2020, vol. 285, issue 3, 1161-1173

Abstract: Consisting of the difference between an output indicator and an input indicator, the Luenberger-Hicks-Moorsteen (LHM) productivity indicator allows straightforward interpretation. However, its computation requires estimating distance functions that are inherently unknown. This paper shows that a computationally simple Bennet indicator is a superlative indicator for the LHM indicator when one can assume profit-maximizing behavior and the input and output directional distance functions can be represented up to the second order by a quadratic functional form. We also show that the Luenberger- and LHM-approximating Bennet indicators coincide for an appropriate choice of directional vectors. Focusing on a large sample of Italian food and beverages companies for the years 1995−2007, we empirically investigate the extent to which this theoretical equivalence translates into similar estimates. We find that the Bennet indicator is a close empirical alternative to the LHM indicator for the sample.

Keywords: Productivity and competitiveness; Bennet; Luenberger-Hicks-Moorsteen; Superlative; Italian food and beverages sector (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2020
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Citations: View citations in EconPapers (7)

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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:eee:ejores:v:285:y:2020:i:3:p:1161-1173

DOI: 10.1016/j.ejor.2020.02.030

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