Providing a systematic and comprehensive treatment of recent developments in efficiency analysis, this readable book makes available an intuitive yet rigorous presentation of advanced nonparametric and robust methods. This flexible toolbox can be used in theories based on the neoclassical theory of production and its alternatives, including evolutionary theories. The methods are complemented by empirical analysis of three different economic fields: scientific research, mutual funds industry and the insurance sector. The research demonstrates the utility of the toolbox for a wide range of economic issues, including the analysis of economies of scale and scope, dynamics of age and agglomeration effects, trade-offs in production and service activities, and explanations of efficiency differentials. Of interest to applied economists broadly, this book will also be of interest to those focused on Operations Research and/or Management Science.

Designed for applied economists who have an interest in the advantages of traditional nonparametric methods (DEA/FDH) for efficiency analysis, but are sceptical about adopting them because of the drawbacks they present

Methodology.- The Measurement of Efficiency.- Statistical Inference in Nonparametric Frontier Estimation.- Nonparametric Robust Estimators: Partial Frontiers.- Conditional Measures Of Efficiency.- Applications.- Economies of Scale, Scope and Experience in the Italian Motor-Vehicle Sector.- Age, Scale and Concentration Effects in a Public Research System.- Exploring the Effects of Manager Tenure, Fund Age and their Interaction.- Conclusions.