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Performance-based funding and university research productivity: the moderating effect of university legitimacy

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  • Mattia Cattaneo
  • Michele Meoli
  • Andrea Signori

Abstract

The introduction of competitive funding mechanisms in higher education is found to generally increase research productivity. However, the diversity within higher education systems may lead universities to behave in substantially different ways in response to the adoption of competitive funding criteria. In particular, we argue that the legitimacy of universities, defined as their level of recognition based on the adherence to socially accepted norms and expectations, is crucial in shaping their reaction. This paper investigates the change in research productivity experienced by Italian universities following the introduction of the first Performance-based Research Funding System (PRFS) in 2003, focusing on the moderating effect of university legitimacy. Using a sample of 75 universities observed during the period 1999–2011, we find that the introduction of PRFS leads to an increase in research productivity, and this increase is significantly more pronounced among more legitimate universities. Copyright Springer Science+Business Media New York 2016

Suggested Citation

  • Mattia Cattaneo & Michele Meoli & Andrea Signori, 2016. "Performance-based funding and university research productivity: the moderating effect of university legitimacy," The Journal of Technology Transfer, Springer, vol. 41(1), pages 85-104, February.
    • Handle: RePEc:kap:jtecht:v:41:y:2016:i:1:p:85-104
    DOI: 10.1007/s10961-014-9379-2
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    Citations

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    Cited by:

    1. Erik E. Lehmann & Michele Meoli & Stefano Paleari & Sarah A. E. Stockinger, 2018. "Approaching effects of the economic crisis on university efficiency: a comparative study of Germany and Italy," Eurasian Business Review, Springer;Eurasia Business and Economics Society, vol. 8(1), pages 37-54, March.
    2. Daniele Rotolo & Michael Hopkins & Nicola Grassano, 2023. "Do funding sources complement or substitute? Examining the impact of cancer research publications," Journal of the Association for Information Science & Technology, Association for Information Science & Technology, vol. 74(1), pages 50-66, January.
    3. Elena Madeo, 2021. "The Role of Crowdfunding for New Funding Challenges in Public Universities: An Italian Case Study," Journal of Education for Sustainable Development, , vol. 15(2), pages 186-205, September.
    4. Laura Sinay & Rodney William (Bill) Carter & Maria Cristina Fogliatti Sinay, 2020. "In the race for knowledge, is human capital the most essential element?," Palgrave Communications, Palgrave Macmillan, vol. 7(1), pages 1-7, December.
    5. James A. Cunningham & Erik E. Lehmann & Matthias Menter & Nikolaus Seitz, 2019. "The impact of university focused technology transfer policies on regional innovation and entrepreneurship," The Journal of Technology Transfer, Springer, vol. 44(5), pages 1451-1475, October.
    6. Laura Pascual‐Nebreda & Pablo Cabanelas‐Lorenzo & Alicia Blanco‐González, 2022. "Understanding dissatisfaction through evaluation theory," Managerial and Decision Economics, John Wiley & Sons, Ltd., vol. 43(7), pages 3116-3129, October.
    7. Clovia Hamilton & Simon P. Philbin, 2020. "Knowledge Based View of University Tech Transfer—A Systematic Literature Review and Meta-Analysis," Administrative Sciences, MDPI, vol. 10(3), pages 1-28, September.
    8. Yu, Nannan & Dong, Yueyan & de Jong, Martin, 2022. "A helping hand from the government? How public research funding affects academic output in less-prestigious universities in China," Research Policy, Elsevier, vol. 51(10).
    9. Mehdi Rhaiem & Nabil Amara, 2020. "Determinants of research efficiency in Canadian business schools: evidence from scholar-level data," Scientometrics, Springer;Akadémiai Kiadó, vol. 125(1), pages 53-99, October.
    10. Katerina Guba & Mikhail Sokolov & Angelika Tsivinskaya, 2020. "Fictitious Efficiency: What the Russian Survey of Performance of Higher Education Institutions Actually Assessed," Voprosy obrazovaniya / Educational Studies Moscow, National Research University Higher School of Economics, issue 1, pages 97-125.
    11. Alice Civera & Michele Meoli, 2018. "Does university prestige foster the initial growth of academic spin-offs?," Economia e Politica Industriale: Journal of Industrial and Business Economics, Springer;Associazione Amici di Economia e Politica Industriale, vol. 45(2), pages 111-142, June.
    12. Migheli, Matteo & Zotti, Roberto, 2020. "The strange case of the Matthew effect and beauty contests: Research evaluation and specialisation in Italian universities," Socio-Economic Planning Sciences, Elsevier, vol. 71(C).
    13. Губа К. С. & Соколов М. М. & Цивинская А. О., 2020. "Фиктивная Эффективность: Что На Самом Деле Оценивал Мониторинг Эффективности Образовательных Организаций," Вопросы образования // Educational Studies Moscow, National Research University Higher School of Economics, issue 1, pages 97-125.
    14. Biancardi, Daniele & Bratti, Massimiliano, 2018. "The Effect of the First Italian Research Evaluation Exercise on Student Enrolment Choices," IZA Discussion Papers 11302, Institute of Labor Economics (IZA).
    15. Robert A. Buckle & John Creedy, 2022. "Methods to evaluate institutional responses to performance‐based research funding systems," Australian Economic Papers, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 61(3), pages 615-634, September.
    16. Aridi, Anwar & Querejazu, Daniel & Zuniga, Pluvia, 2021. "Knowledge transfer activities and conditions for impact in Bulgarian public research institutions: A survey-based diagnostic," MERIT Working Papers 2021-026, United Nations University - Maastricht Economic and Social Research Institute on Innovation and Technology (MERIT).
    17. Miotto, Giorgia & Del-Castillo-Feito, Cristina & Blanco-González, Alicia, 2020. "Reputation and legitimacy: Key factors for Higher Education Institutions’ sustained competitive advantage," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 112(C), pages 342-353.
    18. Garcia-Perez-de-Lema, Domingo & Madrid-Guijarro, Antonia & Martin, Dominique Philippe, 2017. "Influence of university–firm governance on SMEs innovation and performance levels," Technological Forecasting and Social Change, Elsevier, vol. 123(C), pages 250-261.
    19. Biancardi, Daniele & Bratti, Massimiliano, 2019. "The effect of introducing a Research Evaluation Exercise on student enrolment: Evidence from Italy," Economics of Education Review, Elsevier, vol. 69(C), pages 73-93.

    More about this item

    Keywords

    University research; Competitive funding; VTR; Research assessment; University legitimacy; I23; I28; H52;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • I23 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Education - - - Higher Education; Research Institutions
    • I28 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Education - - - Government Policy
    • H52 - Public Economics - - National Government Expenditures and Related Policies - - - Government Expenditures and Education

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