Efficiency Analysis Based on Two-Stage Undesirable Dynamic SBM Model

Abstract

In previous studies exploring the causes of lung cancer, smoking has long been recognized as the primary risk factor, while the impact of air pollution has been relatively overlooked. This is particularly true in Asia, where efficiency evaluation studies examining the relationship between industrial and transportation-related pollution and lung cancer remain limited. Moreover, existing literature often relies on static or single-stage models, with limited integration of dynamic and multi-stage approaches to capture the complex interactions between pollution and health outcomes. This study is the first to apply a Two-stage Undesirable Dynamic SBM model to analyze the efficiency relationship between air pollution and lung cancer, using 22 counties and cities in Taiwan as DMUs. It systematically evaluates the "production and environment efficiency" in the first stage and the "life health and well-being efficiency" in the second stage. By addressing a significant gap in Asian research on pollution-related lung cancer efficiency, this study also develops an analytical framework with high relevance for policy applications. The model provides robust empirical evidence to support government initiatives in promoting precision health and sustainable development goals (SDG 3 and SDG 11).

Keywords: AQI; Air pollution; efficiency; environment efficiency; health and well-being; two-stage undesirable dynamic SBM model.