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This paper seeks to evaluate efficiency and competition dynamics of the banking sector in Kenya for the period 2001–2017 using bank‐level data for 37 commercial banks. We apply non‐parametric data envelopment analysis to analyze measures of various aspects of efficiency in the banking sector. We also adopt Panzar–Rosse, H‐statistics to assess the level of competition in the banking sector. To examine the effect of efficiency on competition, panel estimators are applied. The study findings indicate that efficiency was on an upward trend and averaged 69%. The banking sector is characterized by monopolistic competition as shown by an H‐statistic of.59. Managerial ability measured by data envelopment analysis efficiency score was found to be an important factor in promoting competition for the Kenyan banking sector. The study shows that there is room for Kenyan banks to improve their efficiency by optimizing the scale of operations and continuing to adopt technology. This paper recommends policy makers to continue adopting policies that promote greater banking sector efficiency and competition. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The lack of resources is often highlighted as the most important correlate of poor learning outcomes in developing countries. However, increasing school resources may not necessarily drive better learning if resources are not properly translated into learning outcomes. This paper investigates the efficient utilization of school resources to promote learning. It tries to better understand the extent to which efficiency plays a role in the relationship between school resources and learning outcomes. Applying the Data Envelopment Analysis methodology, an efficiency analysis is performed using the PASEC 2014 learning assessment that covers 10 francophone West and Central African countries. The results show that the efficiency of school resource utilization varies across countries and across schools within the same countries. The relationship between some of the key elements of school resources and learning is weak in the least efficient schools. This suggests that resources allocated to the least efficient schools should consider first addressing inefficiency issues. While efficiency drivers may vary depending on the country's specific contexts, findings show that student absenteeism, community engagement in school management, teaching time and school environment seem to play a role in school efficiency. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper examines the strategic fit of mergers and acquisitions (M&A) in Mozambican banks, using a two-stage data envelopment analysis (DEA) approach to compute the impact of contextual variables on efficiency scores and returns to scale of the resulting virtual merged banks. In an 'M&A DEA' model, different pairs of bidder and target companies are considered. In the first stage an M&A DEA model is used. Simplex regression is adopted in the second stage. The results reveal that ownership (public or foreign) impacts virtual efficiency levels. However, the findings also show that care must be exercised with M&A because the resultant banking organization could be oversized when foreign ownership is predominant, especially when public ownership is low. Given the relative sizes of the markets in terms of productive resources, M&A involving Mozambican banks can easily lead to decreasing returns to scale. Thus, a greater emphasis should be given to merging purely public banks with foreign ones and vice versa. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper analyses the productivity of a representative sample of African seaports in Angola, Mozambique and Nigeria from 2004 to 2010, using a data envelopment analysis (DEA) approach. The paper finds that Nigerian seaports are the most efficient, followed by those in Mozambique and Angola. A discussion of the results is provided, in addition to the related policy implications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]