The impossibility of convex constant returns-to-scale production technologies with exogenously fixed factors

The extensions to the variable (VRS) and the constant (CRS) returns-to-scale models developed by Banker and Morey are considered among the main approaches to the incorporation of exogenously fixed factors in models of data envelopment analysis (DEA). Recently, Syrjänen showed that the Banker and Morey CRS technology is not convex. Taking into account that its subset VRS technology is explicitly assumed convex, this observation leads to difficulties with explaining the fundamental production assumptions of the CRS extension. Motivated by the example of Syrjänen, the contribution of this paper is twofold. First, we show that the nonconvex Banker and Morey CRS technology is nevertheless a suitable reference technology for the assessment of scale efficiency. Second, we ask if a convex technology could be constructed that would “correct” the nonconvexity of the CRS technology of Banker and Morey. The answer to this is negative: one consequence of assuming both convexity and ray unboundness with fixed exogenous factors is that we can always “mix-and-match” discretionary and nondiscretionary factors taken from different units, arriving at totally unrealistic production plans. This demonstrates that generally there exists no meaningful convex CRS technology with exogenously fixed factors that can be used in its own right, apart from its use as a reference technology in the measurement of scale efficiency.

► The Banker-Morey (BM) CRS technology with exogenous factors is not convex. ► The BM technology is nevertheless suitable for testing scale efficiency. ► Any convex CRS technology with exogenous factors includes unrealistic units.