Second-order conic programming for data envelopment analysis models

Abstract

Data envelopment analysis (DEA) is a widely used benchmarking technique. Its strength stems from the fact that it can include several inputs and outputs of not necessarily the same type to evaluate efficiency scores. Indeed, the aforesaid method is based on mathematical optimization. This paper constructs a second-order conic optimization problem unifying several DEA models. Moreover, it presents an algorithm that solves the former problem, and provides a MATLAB function associated with it. As far as known, no MATLAB function solves DEA models. Among different types of DEA, this function can handle deterministic, Malmquist index, and stochastic models. In fact, DEA is involved in various practical applications, thus, this work will provide some possible future extensions, not only for MATLAB but also for any programming software in applications of decision science and efficiency analysis.