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Abstract
This dissertation aims to exploit the U.S. banking efficiency from bank specialization and bank assets. From different aspects, three related studies in the dissertation evaluated the efficiency of the U.S. banks over the period 2000-2005. Study one introduced the Fourier Flexible Cost function to assess the economies of scale and scope along the output expansion path. Study two introduced the application of the Input Distance function to evaluate of the technical efficiency and allocative efficiency from the input aspect. Study three introduced the Stochastic Frontier analysis and Data Envelopment analysis to trace the productivity change from three sources: Technical Efficiency change, Technological Change, and Scale Efficiency change. All studies found that the bank efficiency is affected by the bank specialization and bank assets. Agricultural banks will benefit more from the output expansion than non agricultural banks. Agricultural banks are able to thrive more under the specialized mode of the production. Agricultural banks were more technical efficient and allocative efficient but deteriorated faster than non agricultural banks after 2003. Additionally, the technological improvement would be the sustainable source to increase the banks productivity. Compared to the agricultural banks, non agricultural banks tend to have more incentives and higher capabilities to make the technological innovation.