China’s regional public safety efficiency: a data envelopment analysis approach

This study develops a comprehensive public safety efficiency index that includes the inputs and outputs of regional public safety. The DEA-BC(2) model was used to measure the technical efficiency (TE), pure technical efficiency (PTE), and scale efficiency (SE) of public safety at 31 province-level administrative divisions (regions) in China from 2014 to 2018, and to analyze the effectiveness of public safety in each year. The findings indicate that the average TE, PTE, and SE of all regions from 2014 and 2018 were mostly redundant and ineffective. The average Malmquist index continued to decline, with the lack of technological progress identified as the main hindering factor. The public safety efficiency of 31 regions was affected by the technical progress change, pure technical efficiency change, and scale efficiency change at different periods. The findings suggest that all regions should improve the public safety inputs, better allocate various input elements and utilize public safety resources more effectively.