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Do university units differ in the efficiency of resource utilization?

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  • Daghbashyan, Zara

    (CESIS - Centre of Excellence for Science and Innovation Studies, Royal Institute of Technology)

Abstract

The efficiency of universities is attracting increased interest, with most studies comparing the performance between different universities. However, the within-university variation is largely overlooked in the literature. Using data envelopment analysis this paper identifies heterogeneity in the performance of 47 units of a leading Swedish university (the Royal Institute of Technology) in terms of resource utilization. The findings suggest the following: First, three quarters of the units exhibit similar high performance. Second, the units are more efficient in using resources for research than for teaching. Third, efficiency in research is highly correlated with efficiency in teaching, implying a complementary relationship.

Suggested Citation

  • Daghbashyan, Zara, 2009. "Do university units differ in the efficiency of resource utilization?," Working Paper Series in Economics and Institutions of Innovation 176, Royal Institute of Technology, CESIS - Centre of Excellence for Science and Innovation Studies, revised 17 Dec 2012.
    • Handle: RePEc:hhs:cesisp:0176
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    Cited by:

    1. 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).
    2. Chia-Nan Wang & Hector Tibo & Van Thanh Nguyen & Duy Hung Duong, 2020. "Effects of the Performance-Based Research Fund and Other Factors on the Efficiency of New Zealand Universities: A Malmquist Productivity Approach," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(15), pages 1-18, July.

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Technical and scale efficiency; Data envelopment analysis; universities;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • C14 - Mathematical and Quantitative Methods - - Econometric and Statistical Methods and Methodology: General - - - Semiparametric and Nonparametric Methods: General
    • I21 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Education - - - Analysis of Education
    • I23 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Education - - - Higher Education; Research Institutions

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