Assessing circular economy performance of OECD countries: A double-frontier multi-period DEA with flexible measures

The circular economy (CE) is a concept that aims to reduce waste and environmental impacts by keeping materials and resources in use for as long as possible. Renewable energy is a key component of the circular economy, as it can provide clean and low-carbon power for various sectors and activities. The OECD countries are among the leaders in implementing circular economy policies and practices, as well as in investing and innovating in renewable energy technologies. However, there are still challenges and opportunities for further improvement and integration of these two domains. This study applies a multi-period data envelopment analysis (DEA) with flexible measures to assess the performance and efficiency of OECD countries in achieving circular economy and renewable energy objectives over time. Actually, a non-oriented DEA technique with flexible measures under natural and managerial disposability is proposed in this research to evaluate the CE performance of entities from optimistic and pessimistic perspectives. The results show that some countries have improved their performance and efficiency, while others have stagnated or declined. The study incorporates some of main drivers and barriers for circular economy and renewable energy transition, and provides policy recommendations for enhancing countries.