Technical efficiency in higher education. A meta-regression analysis.

Abstract

A meta-regression analysis including 163 both published and unpublished papers providing technical efficiency scores from higher education institutions was conducted in a worldwide base. The period under examination was from 1980 until 2012. The survey was based on a total of 8325 observations as some studies provide results from more than one method, for more than one country or for more than one year. The use of four different models and three different ways of estimation produced a total of 12 alternative models. All the alternative ways of estimation based on a meta-regression model framework and OLS (ordinary least square) was used as a methodological tool: In three alternative ways (a) equally weight each estimate (b) equally weight each paper/study (c) differently weight each estimate. By this econometric analysis the impact of various meta-independent variables in the mean technical efficiency score(s) among previously published studies is examined.