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Do Merger Policies Increase University Efficiency? Evidence From A Fuzzy Regression Discontinuity Design

Author

Listed:
  • Tommaso Agasisti

    (National Research University Higher School of Economics)

  • Aleksei Egorov

    (National Research University Higher School of Economics)

  • Margarita Maximova

    (National Research University Higher School of Economics)

Abstract

This paper studies the effect of merger policies in Russia on university efficiency. We consider the non-voluntary merger policy conducted by the Ministry of Education and Science based on university performance indicators. First, the efficiency scores of universities are estimated using a bootstrapped DEA non-parametric technique. The efficiency scores were evaluated for universities that were merged and for a control group formed through propensity score matching before and after the implementation of the policy. Then, a fuzzy regression discontinuity design was implemented in order to reveal the causal impact of mergers on efficiency levels. We find a positive, statistically significant effect of merger policy on university efficiency. The results of the analysis suggest that merged universities experience greater efficiency gains (or smaller efficiency declines) after mergers.

Suggested Citation

  • Tommaso Agasisti & Aleksei Egorov & Margarita Maximova, 2020. "Do Merger Policies Increase University Efficiency? Evidence From A Fuzzy Regression Discontinuity Design," HSE Working papers WP BRP 226/EC/2020, National Research University Higher School of Economics.
    • Handle: RePEc:hig:wpaper:226/ec/2020
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Ren, Xian-tong & Fukuyama, Hirofumi & Yang, Guo-liang, 2022. "Eliminating congestion by increasing inputs in R&D activities of Chinese universities," Omega, Elsevier, vol. 110(C).

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Universities; mergers; fuzzy regression discontinuity design; efficiency; DEA; Malmquist index.;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • I21 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Education - - - Analysis of Education
    • I23 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Education - - - Higher Education; Research Institutions
    • I28 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Education - - - Government Policy

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