Abstract:

The present study aimed to measure the degree to which OECD member countries utilize their national income efficiently in terms of socioeconomic development output and assess the findings comparatively. Data envelopment analysis (DEA), which is a non-parametric mathematical programming methodology, was used for the measurement of efficiency in the study. DEA which is described as a linear programming model aims to measure the relative performances of decision-making entities when it is difficult to evaluate because of multi inputs and outputs. There are two different types of DEA, one the input oriented and one the output oriented. Since the per capita national income variable is used as the sole input in the present study, the output oriented DEA model was preferred. Life expectancy at birth, infant survival rate, rate of college graduates, employment rate, internet use rate, female representation in politics and per capita electricity consumption variables were used as the outputs. As a result of the analysis, the socio-economic efficiency levels of the OECD countries are determined according to the per capita national income and the target values are determined for the countries that are inefficient. In addition to individual assessment of the nations, countries with similar national income were categorized under certain efficiency groups. Finally, similarities and differences between Turkey and other OECD countries were identified.

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