Market Structure Conduct Performance Hypothesis Revisited Using Stochastic Frontier Efficiency Analysis

Abstract

Stochastic frontier analysis, which is used to estimate technical efficiency, is extended to examine the market structure, conduct and performance hypothesis for the U.S. trucking industry. The technical efficiency measure takes into account not only the relationship between inputs used in the production of output, but it also examines the importance of market structure conduct factors to the performance of the firm. An empirical application to U.S. trucking carriers over the period 1994-2003 is examined. Results reveal that average haul, average load, debt-to-equity and market concentration significantly affected technical efficiency. Capital, fixed and variable input variables were significant in the production function equation.