Investigating economic roles of multinational construction industries: A super-efficiency DEA approach

The economic role of the construction industries has changed across countries in the past decades with rapid economic growth. This research investigates the economic role of multinational construction industries covering 41 countries and regions over 2000–2014 through measuring their overall economic performance and their linkage performance. The efficiency indicators are innovatively measured and ranked by combining the super-efficiency data envelopment analysis (DEA) model with the World Input-Output database. The results demonstrate that the construction industries play an important role in promoting national economic development and enhancing pull effect efficiencies, particularly in less advanced economies. The impact of the construction industries in advanced economies relates mainly to push effect production efficiencies. The research results can assist policymakers and businesses to formulate policies and strategies to ensure the construction industries continue to contribute to the growth and development of the economy. The research provides a feasible pathway towards applying DEA in a multi-regional input-output analysis.