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How Do The Characteristics Of The Environment Influence University Efficiency? Evidence From A Conditional Efficiency Approach

Author

Listed:
  • Tommaso Agasisti

    (National Research University Higher School of Economics)

  • Aleksei Egorov

    (National Research University Higher School of Economics)

  • Pavel Serebrennikov

    (National Research University Higher School of Economics)

Abstract

This paper explores the black box behind efficiency measurements in higher education and defines the determinants of university efficiency. Particularly, it investigates how the efficiency of universities is affected by the characteristics of the territory in which they operate. We propose an analysis that combines two perspectives: 1) the resource dependence theory, suggesting that the location of university can determine the amount of resources available to it; 2) institutional isomorphism, according to which the characteristics of other higher education institutions located in the same area may shape the university production function and the efficiency of its operations. In order to test this framework we use the data on Russian universities and non-parametric conditional order-m efficiency estimator with two categories of exogenous variables. The first group includes the social, economic and cultural characteristics of the region where the university is located. The second set includes the characteristics of other higher educationinstitutions located in the same region. Our findings highlight that the managerial efficiency of universities is strongly associated with the characteristics of the environment in which they operate.

Suggested Citation

  • Tommaso Agasisti & Aleksei Egorov & Pavel Serebrennikov, 2020. "How Do The Characteristics Of The Environment Influence University Efficiency? Evidence From A Conditional Efficiency Approach," HSE Working papers WP BRP 238/EC/2020, National Research University Higher School of Economics.
    • Handle: RePEc:hig:wpaper:238/ec/2020
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Universities; conditional eciency; order-m; DEA; exogenous variables.;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • C44 - Mathematical and Quantitative Methods - - Econometric and Statistical Methods: Special Topics - - - Operations Research; Statistical Decision Theory
    • I23 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Education - - - Higher Education; Research Institutions

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