THE EFFICIENCY OF THE SPANISH POLICE SERVICE: AN APPLICATION OF THE MULTIACTIVITY DEA MODEL

Amor DIEZ-TICIO

Department of Applied Economics

University of Zaragoza, Spain

María-Jesús MANCEBON

Department of Applied Economics

University of Zaragoza, Spain

Cecilio MAR-MOLINERO

Department of Management

University of Southampton. UK

e-mail: camm@soton.ac.uk

Abstract

In this paper we analyse the efficiency of the Spanish Police Service using Data Envelopment Analysis (DEA). The analysis concentrates on the police activities related to the solving of crimes. The theoretical and empirical study of the police production function under this dimension leads us to consider the units analysed as centres which carry out their activities with non-identical technologies and using common inputs. Accordingly, we apply the multiactivity DEA model developed by Mar Molinero (1996), one that is designed to estimate the efficiency of institutions which face several production functions using shared inputs. The results demonstrate the important differences that exist between the centres with respect to the distinct activities analysed, both as regards the efficiency rates and the factors which determine them.

Keywords: Efficiency, DEA, Economics of Crime, Police Services, Multiactivity, Production Functions, DMUs, Law enforcement.