Different Approaches to the Evaluation of Performance in Retailing

Abstract

The aim of this article is to compare different approaches to the evaluation of economic performance in retailing. For the first time in retailing, this essay simultaneously applies traditional productivity measures as well as parametric and non-parametric techniques to estimate efficiency, and compares the results obtained. The empirical application is carried out on a sample of 491 retailers operating in Spain in 2004. The results reveal important differences depending on the methodology employed. Overall, none of the methodologies can be said to be better than the rest.