Evaluation of multi-period regional R&D; efficiency: An application of dynamic DEA to China's regional R&D; systems

The existing studies about regional R&D; efficiency measurement in a specific period have not considered the dynamic interdependence between regional R&D; activities over different periods. This paper offers a solution to this problem in multi-period regional R&D; efficiency...

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Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Chen, K, Kou, M, Fu, X
Format: Journal article
Language:English
Published: Elsevier 2017
Description
Summary:The existing studies about regional R&D; efficiency measurement in a specific period have not considered the dynamic interdependence between regional R&D; activities over different periods. This paper offers a solution to this problem in multi-period regional R&D; efficiency measurement with a novel application to China's regional R&D; systems. This solution can present a systemic measurement for the overall efficiency score of multi-period regional R&D; investment activities, and deduce a weighted decomposition of the overall efficiency score into period efficiency scores. This paper develops a dynamic analytical framework with a new estimation technique from a long-term and systemic perspective associated with data envelopment analysis technique. Our efficiency model with endogenous weights on period efficiencies effectively accounts for the linking function and double role of R&D; capital stock in the operation of connected regional R&D; systems and the intertemporal dependence of R&D; investment on R&D; outputs. The R&D; capital stock as the carry-over estimated using the perpetual inventory method helps this efficiency model to account for the time lag and multi-period influence of R&D; inputs on R&D; outputs. This approach is applied to a new database of R&D; input-output systems in China's provinces during the first five-year period (2006–2010) after China's National Plan for Medium- and Long-term Scientific and Technological Development (NPMLSTD).