A scale elasticity measure for directional distance function and its dual: Theory and DEA estimation

In this paper we introduce a scale elasticity measure based on directional distance function for multi-output-multi-input technologies and explore its fundamental properties. Specifically, we derive necessary and sufficient condition for equivalence of the scale elasticity measure based on the directional distance function with the input oriented and output oriented scale elasticity measures. We also establish duality relationship between the scale elasticity measure based on the directional distance function with a scale elasticity measure based on the profit function. This result is theoretical, yet it is also valuable for empirical researchers as it provides a testable analytical condition for when (and only when) the alternative primal and dual definitions of scale elasticity for multi-output-multi-input technologies yield equivalent conclusions about economies or diseconomies of scale.