EVALUATING WATER-SUPPLY SERVICES IN JAPAN WITH RAM - A RANGE-ADJUSTEDMEASURE OF INEFFICIENCY

A range-adjusted measure (RAM) of efficiency, as recently developed in data envelopment analysis (DEA), is used to evaluate the performance of entities that supply water services in Japan. Its robustness proper ties are tested and pointed up for uses in improved accountability, an d are further pointed up in terms of the potential for help in conduct ing performance and efficiency audits. The results from DEA are also j oined with the Mann-Whitney rank order statistic to show how the two t echniques may be jointly used in addressing issues of general policy. The Kanto Region and Kanagawa Prefecture in Japan are used for an illu stration. (C) 1998 Elsevier Science Ltd, All rights reserved.