Assessing the comparative spatial disadvantage of regions in the European Union using non-radial data envelopment analysis methods

In this paper we propose non-radial data envelopment analysis models for assessing the comparative spatial disadvantage (CSD) of the Level II regions of the European Union (EU). CSD is considered as a relatively new element of spatial efficiency which seeks to enhance the spectrum of the current methods used for assessing spatial inequality and dispersion. The paper also proposes a goal programming formulation for assessing ‘production’ function coefficients of the social cohesion among the regions of the EU assuming elimination of the levels of comparative disadvantage.