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Efficiency of Universities and Research-Focused Institutions Worldwide: An Empirical DEA Investigation Based on Institutional Publication Numbers and Estimated Academic Staff Numbers

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  • Lutz Bornmann
  • Sabine Gralka
  • Félix de Moya Anegón
  • Klaus Wohlrabe

Abstract

One of the core indicators in the field of scientometrics is the number of papers published by a unit within a given period. However, such indicators can only be assessed properly by considering the unit’s available resources. When evaluating the efficiency of institutions worldwide, the problem concerning the availability of internationally standardized data arises. While on the output side consistent publication indicators are available, these data are frequently not available on the input side. We therefore introduce a new input indicator based on the authors’ mentions in the institutions’ papers. We calculate efficiency scores for more than 4,800 universities and other research-focused institutions worldwide. “Harvard University” is the best performing institution (in all years) followed by many other institutions from Northern America or Europe. The results of the study show that institutions in the Pacific region have the highest average efficiency scores, followed by Northern America and Western Europe. While many results of this study are scarcely surprising, it is the first time that an efficiency analysis is being performed for a multitude of institutions worldwide using a standardized input indicator. It seems that the new proxy indicator based on co-authors is suitable for reflecting institutional staff numbers.

Suggested Citation

  • Lutz Bornmann & Sabine Gralka & Félix de Moya Anegón & Klaus Wohlrabe, 2020. "Efficiency of Universities and Research-Focused Institutions Worldwide: An Empirical DEA Investigation Based on Institutional Publication Numbers and Estimated Academic Staff Numbers," CESifo Working Paper Series 8157, CESifo.
    • Handle: RePEc:ces:ceswps:_8157
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    7. Tommaso Agasisti & Sabine Gralka, 2019. "The transient and persistent efficiency of Italian and German universities: a stochastic frontier analysis," Applied Economics, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 51(46), pages 5012-5030, October.
    8. Dag. W. Aksnes & Gunnar Sivertsen & Thed N. van Leeuwen & Kaja K. Wendt, 2017. "Measuring the productivity of national R&D systems: Challenges in cross-national comparisons of R&D input and publication output indicators," Science and Public Policy, Oxford University Press, vol. 44(2), pages 246-258.
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    12. BERBEGAL MIRABENT, Jasmina & SOLÉ PARELLADA, Francesc, 2012. "What Are We Measuring When Evaluating Universities’ Efficiency?," Regional and Sectoral Economic Studies, Euro-American Association of Economic Development, vol. 12(3).
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    Cited by:

    1. Hongwei Li & Dongyang Ma & Wei Cui & Min Tao & Jiahui Zhang, 2023. "The Evaluation of Comprehensive Teaching and Research Efficiency and Its Key Influencing Factors Analysis of “Double First-Class” Universities in China," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(2), pages 1-14, January.
    2. Awadh Pratap Singh & Shiv Prasad Yadav & Preeti Tyagi, 2022. "Performance assessment of higher educational institutions in India using data envelopment analysis and re-evaluation of NIRF Rankings," International Journal of System Assurance Engineering and Management, Springer;The Society for Reliability, Engineering Quality and Operations Management (SREQOM),India, and Division of Operation and Maintenance, Lulea University of Technology, Sweden, vol. 13(2), pages 1024-1035, April.

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    bibliometrics; efficiency; data envelopment analysis; universities; research-focused institutions; world;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • I21 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Education - - - Analysis of Education
    • I23 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Education - - - Higher Education; Research Institutions
    • D61 - Microeconomics - - Welfare Economics - - - Allocative Efficiency; Cost-Benefit Analysis
    • H52 - Public Economics - - National Government Expenditures and Related Policies - - - Government Expenditures and Education

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