Measuring sustainability performance for China: A sequential generalized directional distance function approach

This paper aims to present certain composite sustainability efficiency indicators for China based on a sequential generalized directional distance function. This approach can measure the sustainability performance of a country with diverse outputs, nature of technologies, and non-radial slacks. First, we propose the concept of a generalized directional distance function under a sequential environmental production technology. Second, we develop several standardized composite indicators related to sustainability performance. We then estimate the sequential generalized directional distance function based on a series of sequential data envelopment analysis models. Finally, we empirically examine regions in China using the proposed model and present some implications based on the empirical results. (C) 2014 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.