Returms-to-scale Properties in DEA Models: The Fundamental Role of Interior Points

Attempts can be found in the DEA literature to identify returns to scale at efficient interior points of the production possibility set on the basis of returns to scale at points of the corresponding reference sets. However, an opposite approach is put forward in this paper, advocating that returns-to-scale properties of efficient reference units should be found by identifying first returns to scale of an efficient interior unit that is a radial projection to the frontier of an inefficient unit. Returns-to-scale properties of both the corresponding reference units and units supporting the face in question can then be established.