Approaching Effects of the Economic Crisis on University Efficiency - A Comparative Study of Germany and Italy

UO‐Working‐Paper Series 01‐16

22 Pages Posted: 30 Nov 2016 Last revised: 12 Aug 2017

See all articles by Erik E. Lehmann

Erik E. Lehmann

University of Augsburg - Faculty of Business and Economics

Michele Meoli

University of Bergamo

Stefano Paleari

University of Bergamo - SIGE Sezione di Ingegneria Gestionale

Sarah Stockinger

University of Augsburg - Faculty of Business and Economics

Date Written: November 28, 2016

Abstract

In this paper, we compare the efficiency of the Italian and German university system in the process of translating public funding into the multiple outputs of a university, i.e. graduating students, publishing research, and patenting activity. We do this with a particular focus on the policies implemented following the financial crisis in 2007/08. Using a sample of 133 public universities, of which 73 public universities in Germany and 60 public Italian universities, observed over the period 2006-2011, we find that Italian universities are significantly better in terms of cost efficiency than German universities. The crisis does not show a general impact, while the treatment effect indicates that Italian universities coped better during the crisis than their German counterparts at a highly significant level.

Keywords: higher education, economic crisis, governance, data envelopment analysis, malmquist productivity index

JEL Classification: H11, H12, I2, N30

Suggested Citation

Lehmann, Erik E. and Meoli, Michele and Paleari, Stefano and Stockinger, Sarah, Approaching Effects of the Economic Crisis on University Efficiency - A Comparative Study of Germany and Italy (November 28, 2016). UO‐Working‐Paper Series 01‐16, Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=2876483 or http://dx.doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.2876483

Erik E. Lehmann

University of Augsburg - Faculty of Business and Economics ( email )

Universitätsstr. 16
Augsburg, 86135
Germany

Michele Meoli

University of Bergamo ( email )

Via Marconi 5
24044 Dalmine, Bergamo
Italy
+390352052026 (Phone)
+390352052077 (Fax)

Stefano Paleari

University of Bergamo - SIGE Sezione di Ingegneria Gestionale ( email )

Via Marconi 5
24044 Dalmine, Bergamo
Italy
+39 03 520 52340 (Phone)
+39 03 556 2779 (Fax)

Sarah Stockinger (Contact Author)

University of Augsburg - Faculty of Business and Economics ( email )

Augsburg, 86135
Germany

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