Efficiency In Public Higher Education: A Stochastic Frontier Analysis Considering Heterogeneity

Vanesa D'Elia; Gustavo Ferro

doi:10.4067/S0718-88702021000200021

Authors

Vanesa D'Elia Universidad del CEMA (UCEMA)
Gustavo Ferro Universidad del CEMA (UCEMA) & CONICET

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.4067/S0718-88702021000200021

Keywords:

Universities’ Teaching Efficiency, Stochastic Frontier Analysis, Heterogeneity

Abstract

We aim to study technical efficiency of undergraduate teaching activity in national (public) universities in Argentina. We employ a stochastic frontier analysis (SFA) with a panel of 37 national universities over 2005-2013. We compare models that do not account for heterogeneity with heterogeneity-extended SFA models. We find from 18 percent to 25 percent of inefficiency on average in terms of lost outcomes (graduates) depending on the specification, with high dispersion among universities. Models considering heterogeneity report the highest levels of technical efficiency. Besides, the results show evidence of heterogeneity both observed and unobserved. Our estimates are robust to different specifications.

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Author Biography

Gustavo Ferro, Universidad del CEMA (UCEMA) & CONICET

Associate Professor Universidad del CEMA (UCEMA) and Independent Research CONICET

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