Total Factor Productivity Growth of African Public Universities

Abstract

The study investigates the Total Factor Productivity Growth of 15 African public universities using the DEA-Based Malmquist Productivity Index. The general model, teaching-only model and research-only model are estimated. The operating environment is adjusted to ascertain the extent to which it affects the productivity of the African public universities. Total factor productivity gains for African public universities averaged at 7.5%, 0.7% and 6.8% for the general model, teaching-only model and research-only model, respectively. Productivity improvements are therefore majorly a result of research productivity gains rather than teaching productivity gains before and after adjusting for the operating environment. The university research productivity gains are, however, mainly attributed to technological progress rather than technical efficiency change.

Keywords: African public universities, Malmquist Productivity Index, Technical efficiency change, Technological change, Total factor productivity growth

DOI: 10.7176/JESD/10-2-16