An Efficiency Analysis of Female Hair Dressers in Empangeni, South Africa: The Role of Infrastructure

Infrastructure is widely considered an important determinant of firm performance but evidence on its importance on technical efficiency of hairdressers is very limited. Against this background, this study sought to compute and compare the technical efficiency levels of female hairdressers operating by the road side with those operating within formalised and designated salons. Primary cross-sectional data were collected using questionnaires and analysed within a quantitative research design. Technical efficiency was measured using a stochastic frontier technique which, in computing efficiency scores, separates the effect of random factors that are exogenous to the hairdressers. Based on a Cobb Douglas functional form chosen by relevant statistical tests, results from the stochastic frontier model estimated by the maximum likelihood confirm that hairdressers operating in designated saloons are more efficient when compared with hairdressers operating by the road side. A policy implication arising from this finding is that the provision of proper infrastructure is necessary to improve technical efficiency of hairdressers currently operating by the road side.