INPUT CONGESTION IN LOAN OPERATIONS

In the previous decade the Swedish banking sector underwent large chan ges. Probably the single most influential cause was a gradual relaxati on of regulations. The development meant new challenges and opportunit ies to Swedish banks. This paper investigates the development of effic iency in loan operations in Swedish banks using Data Envelopment Analy sis. Data from 12 banks over a period of 9 years are collected and pre sented in the form of a 'window analysis' of efficiency patterns. Part icular emphasis is put on analyzing growth strategies and returns to s cale.