This study evaluates telecommunications industry efficiency in 19 countries grouped into high income countries (HICs) and middle income countries (MICs). Using data from 2001 to 2013 and a two-stage Data Envelopment Analysis (DEA), it finds that HICs outperformed MICs, however, the two groups of countries exhibited improved technical efficiency, managerial effectiveness, and operational scale. Additionally, time in deregulation is negatively associated with technical and scale efficiency in HICs, however, the influence is insignificant in MICs. Labour productivity drives technical efficiency in HICs. Also, it augments managerial resourcefulness in HICs and MICs, however, its influence on scale efficiency is immaterial. Revenue per subscription enhances technical efficiency and managerial effectiveness in the two groups of countries. The relationship with scale efficiency, which is positive in HICs is irrelevant in MICs. Capital intensity has insignificant influence on managerial effectiveness in the two clusters of countries, however, it undermines technical efficiency in HICs and scale efficiency in MICs. Gross national income per capita is inconsequential to scale enhancement. However, it contributes to technical efficiency in the two categories of countries and drives managerial performance in HICs. Efficiency performances in HICs and MICs are insensitive to the industry's concentration level. Inflation has insignificant influence on scale efficiency in HICs and MICs. Although, it drives technical efficiency and managerial performance in MICs, the influence in HICs is immaterial. The joint impact of labour productivity and capital intensity is irrelevant to operational scale in HICs and MICs, however, it is negatively associated with technical efficiency and managerial effectiveness in MICs. This empirical study provides additional insight that managers in the industry and policy makers will find useful during strategy formulation and policy deliberations.

中文翻译：

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电信业效率：高收入和中等收入国家的比较分析

本研究评估了 19 个国家的电信行业效率，这些国家分为高收入国家 (HIC) 和中等收入国家 (MIC)。使用 2001 年至 2013 年的数据和两阶段数据包络分析 (DEA)，发现高收入国家的表现优于中等收入国家，但两组国家的技术效率、管理有效性和运营规模均有所提高。此外，放松管制的时间与高收入国家的技术和规模效率呈负相关，但对中等收入国家的影响微不足道。劳动生产率推动高收入国家的技术效率。此外，它增加了高收入国家和中等收入国家的管理资源，但是，它对规模效率的影响并不重要。每个订阅的收入提高了这两组国家的技术效率和管理效率。与规模效率的关系（在 HIC 中为正）与 MIC 无关。资本密集度对两个国家集群的管理效率影响不大，但它削弱了高收入国家的技术效率和中等收入国家的规模效率。人均国民总收入与规模扩大无关。然而，它有助于提高两类国家的技术效率并推动高收入国家的管理绩效。高收入国家和中等收入国家的效率表现对行业集中度水平不敏感。通货膨胀对高收入国家和中等收入国家的规模效率影响不大。虽然它推动了中等收入国家的技术效率和管理绩效，但对高收入国家的影响并不重要。劳动生产率和资本密集度的联合影响与高收入国家和中等收入国家的运营规模无关，但与中等收入国家的技术效率和管理效率呈负相关。这项实证研究提供了额外的洞察力，行业管理人员和政策制定者将在战略制定和政策审议过程中发现有用。