Efficiency frontiers: Urbanization and development

Data envelopment analysis (DEA) is proposed as an alternative to ordinary l east squares (OLS) in the explanation of cause-effect/input-output relation ships. Use of DEA permits efficiency frontiers to be located and the magnit udes of inefficiencies to be estimated, as raw materials for further explor atory inquiry. The method is applied to the relationships between personal computer deployment, urbanization, and economic development.