فصلنامه پژوهشهای اقتصادی ایران (Jun 2011)
The Comparison of Research and Total productivity in Iranian Public Universities'
Abstract
Total factor productivity is an index to represent optimal use of production factors, and the degree of achievement of predetermined goals. In this study efficiency and productivity of research sector and total production (education and research) of 31 large state universities has been investigated, in order to improve the competitiveness and productivity. With the use of data envelopment analysis the efficiency and productivity changes of universities were measured, and also productivity growth of total and research productivity with separate components has been investigated. The results indicate that universities are technically inefficient. For example in research scope during 5 year, 7 universities are efficient, while 23 universities are inefficient. In total efficiency (research and educational) scope, 19 universities are efficient, while 12 university are inefficient. In order to avoid having randomized result in one year or to compare the first year with the last period, the geometrical mean of 5 years of study have been used. The findings of this study indicates that, Tehran university, Shiraz university, Kurdistan university, Ardebil university, Kermanshah university, Lorestan university and Hamedan university have the highest rang of efficiency among the others and also 13 university were lower than average. Consequently the study suggests that there are no significant improvements in research productivity and TFP in these years, which is due to the low improvement in technological efficiency. Moreover improvement of efficiency and productivity in universities requires strategic planning and productivity management cycle improvement.
