Does Competition Matter? The Efficiency of Regional Higher Education Systems and Competition: The Case of Russia
18 Pages Posted: 1 Nov 2015
Date Written: October 21, 2015
Abstract
This paper explores the relationship between the degree of competition between higher education institutions (HEIs) and the efficiency of regional higher education systems using evidence from the Russian Federation. The choice of the regional system of higher education as a unit of analysis is explained by features of the Russian system of higher education, especially by “closeness” in the borders of regions. Using data envelopment analysis (DEA) we investigate the efficiency of higher education systems in the regions and compare the results with the extent of higher education competition within them. The analysis finds that within the overall sample the correlation is positive, but not striking. However the extent of competition correlates with the efficiency of regional sets of HEIs more in less socio-economically developed regions.
Keywords: higher education, efficiency, competition, regions, Russia
JEL Classification: I23, I28
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