Diversification-consistent data envelopment analysis with general deviation measures

We propose new efficiency tests which are based on traditional DEA models and take into account portfolio diversification. The goal is to identify the investment opportunities that perform well without specifying our attitude to risk. We use general deviation measures as the inputs and return measures as the outputs. We discuss the choice of the set of investment opportunities including portfolios with limited number of assets. We compare the optimal values (efficiency scores) of all proposed tests leading to the relations between the sets of efficient opportunities. Strength of the tests is then discussed. We test the efficiency of 25 world financial indices using new DEA models with CVaR deviation measures.

► New DEA efficiency tests which take into account portfolio diversification are proposed.
► General deviation measures are used as the inputs and return measures as the outputs.
► The choice of the set of investment opportunities including portfolios with limited number of assets is discussed.
► The strength of the proposed tests is compared.
► The efficiency of 25 world financial indices is investigated before and during crises.