Evaluating Excesses And Shortfalls In Prison Services

Abstract

Using data envelopment analysis, an unbiased index was establish by evaluating the ability of states to maximize their objectives subject to minimizing some conditions (inputs). This approach, which rank state from the most robustly efficient to the most robustly inefficient in its ability to maximize goals (output), while minimizing conditions (input) avoid using equal or subjective weight employed in conventional ranking scheme. The ranking of 36 states yield unexpected result and suggest a very different way of measuring and evaluating development policy.

Keywords: Data Envelopment Analysis, Decision Making Unit