Using DEA to evaluate the state of society as measured by multiple social indicators

This paper presents an approach for discussing the state of society, which is measured by multiple social indicators, using data envelopment analysis (DEA). Replacing inputs and outputs in DEA with negative and positive social indicators respectively, we analyze the desirability of living in the 47 prefectures of Japan. This is also a proposal for the potential use of DEA in multi-dimensional evaluation analysis other than the standard DEA efficiency analysis. The results using eight social indicators identify 26 DEA desirable prefectures out of the 47 and present other useful knowledge and information. It is concluded that DEA, which can avoid uniform evaluation by an a priori weighting system, provides availability as a comprehensive evaluation tool different from traditional ones.