Abstract
An extensive research has been conducted in the past on the measurement of technical efficiency. Various approaches namely (a) non-parametric, (h) grouping method, (c) linear programming, (d) statistical frontier and (e) stochastic frontier methods are discussed. The present study proposes a comparative evaluation of these approaches using the cross-section data of 397 farms of the North-West Frontier Province of Pakistan for 1988-89. The Cobh-Douglas and Translog production functions are specified to estimate technical efficiency. The estimated farm level technical efficiency Is explained by socio-economic and demo-graphic factors. It is shown that credit, education, age and assets size contribute positively towards the improvement of efficiency.
