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Efficiency and economies of scale and specialization in European universities: a directional distance approach

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  • Daraio, Cinzia
  • Bonaccorsi, Andrea
  • Simar, Leopold

Abstract

In this paper we investigate economies of scale and specialization of European universities. The proposed approach builds on the notion that university production is a multi-input multi-output process different than standard production activity. The analyses are based on an interesting database which integrates the main European universities data on inputs and outputs with bibliometric data on publications, impact and collaborations. We pursue a cross-country perspective; we include subject mix and introduce a robust modeling of production trade-offs. Finally we test the statistical significance of scale and specialization and find that they both have a significant impact on the efficiency of the Humboldt model. Nevertheless, confirming previous findings, specialization has not a significant impact on the efficiency of the research model.
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  • Daraio, Cinzia & Bonaccorsi, Andrea & Simar, Leopold, 2015. "Efficiency and economies of scale and specialization in European universities: a directional distance approach," LIDAM Reprints ISBA 2015017, Université catholique de Louvain, Institute of Statistics, Biostatistics and Actuarial Sciences (ISBA).
    • Handle: RePEc:aiz:louvar:2015017
    Note: In : Journal of Informetrics, vol. 9, p. 430-448 (2015)
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    5. Daraio, Cinzia & Bonaccorsi, Andrea & Simar, Léopold, 2015. "Rankings and university performance: A conditional multidimensional approach," European Journal of Operational Research, Elsevier, vol. 244(3), pages 918-930.
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    7. Daraio, Cinzia & Simar, Léopold & Wilson, Paul W., 2021. "Quality as a latent heterogeneity factor in the efficiency of universities," Economic Modelling, Elsevier, vol. 99(C).
    8. Vanesa D’Elia & Gustavo Ferro, 2019. "Empirical Efficiency Measurement in Higher Education: An Overview," CEMA Working Papers: Serie Documentos de Trabajo. 708, Universidad del CEMA.
    9. Brzezicki, Łukasz, 2020. "The Efficiency of Public and Private Higher Education Institutions in Poland," Gospodarka Narodowa-The Polish Journal of Economics, Szkoła Główna Handlowa w Warszawie / SGH Warsaw School of Economics, vol. 2020(4), December.
    10. Hamid Kiaei & Reza Farzipoor Saen & Reza Kazemi Matin, 2023. "Cross-efficiency evaluation and improvement in two-stage network data envelopment analysis," Annals of Operations Research, Springer, vol. 321(1), pages 281-309, February.
    11. Dag Fjeld Edvardsen & Finn R. Førsund & Sverre A. C. Kittelsen, 2017. "Productivity development of Norwegian institutions of higher education 2004–2013," Journal of the Operational Research Society, Palgrave Macmillan;The OR Society, vol. 68(4), pages 399-415, April.
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    17. Shamohammadi, Mehdi & Oh, Dong-hyun, 2019. "Measuring the efficiency changes of private universities of Korea: A two-stage network data envelopment analysis," Technological Forecasting and Social Change, Elsevier, vol. 148(C).
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