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X-Efficiency

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Abstract

One has to distinguish the X-efficiency concept from the theory intended to explain it. As a concept X-inefficiency is similar to technical inefficiency. Leibenstein originated the concept of X-inefficiency because of a belief that there is nothing technical about the most substantial sources of non-allocative inefficiencies in organizations. At the time of the original article (Leibenstein 1966), it seemed that no available concept, such as organizational inefficiency or motivational inefficiency, implied all the elements that could be involved in non-allocative inefficiencies. Hence, the comprehensive term, ‘X-inefficiency’, was used.

This chapter was originally published in The New Palgrave Dictionary of Economics, 2nd edition, 2008. Edited by Steven N. Durlauf and Lawrence E. Blume

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Bibliography

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Leibenstein, H. (2008). X-Efficiency. In: The New Palgrave Dictionary of Economics. Palgrave Macmillan, London. https://doi.org/10.1057/978-1-349-95121-5_1888-2

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1057/978-1-349-95121-5_1888-2

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  • Publisher Name: Palgrave Macmillan, London

  • Online ISBN: 978-1-349-95121-5

  • eBook Packages: Springer Reference Economics and FinanceReference Module Humanities and Social SciencesReference Module Business, Economics and Social Sciences

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Chapter history

  1. Latest

    X-Efficiency
    Published:
    21 March 2017

    DOI: https://doi.org/10.1057/978-1-349-95121-5_1888-2

  2. Original

    X-Efficiency Theory
    Published:
    26 November 2016

    DOI: https://doi.org/10.1057/978-1-349-95121-5_1888-1