the area of decreasing returns to scale (DRS). In 2006–2010, thefive-year averages
of TE, PTE, and SE scores are around 0.80–0.83, 0.88–0.89, 0.90–0.92 respec-
tively, all placed at a considerably high level, but that of SE is much better. There is
no wide variation of each indicator across all years, reflecting a stable efficiency
trend. The standard deviations of TE, PTE, and SE scores are small, reflecting the
between-university variation of TE, PTE, or SE is not enlarged and in the same
pattern during this period.
Overall speaking, technical efficiencies, pure technical efficiencies, and scale
efficiencies in NEAM disciplines of 211Us all have certain rooms to improve.
According to the efficiency scores of 2010, 65 and 63% of total 211Us should
improve their TE and SE respectively. More importantly, there are 56% of total
211Us operating in the area of DRS, which means that these universities should
avoid conducting research activities by merely increasing the use of research inputs,
or enlarging research scale. In fact, for most 211Us, it’s the best choice to enhance
their research capacities, and operate in an intensified mode.
4.3.1.2 Comparing Research Efficiency Between 985Us
and Non-985Us
Overall speaking, for either 985Us or non-985Us, the DEA-efficient proportion is
not high enough, and more than 50% of all universities need to improve their
research efficiency. Given the data offive-year averages, compared with the pro-
duction frontier of full sample, the DEA-efficient proportion of 985Us is 8.4%
lower than that of non-985Us.
In 2006–2010, the averages of TE scores for 985Us and non-985Us are around
0.77–0.84 and 0.80–0.82 respectively. Compared with the stable status of TE in
non-985Us, the changes of TE in 985Us in thesefive years are more obvious, but
after 2008, the TE of both 985Us and non-985Us are almost in the same trend.
According to the results of standard deviations of TE scores, there is a wider
variations in non-985Us than in 985Us, which means that the between-university
TE gap is much greater among non-985Us.
4.3.1.3 Comparing Research Efficiency Between 211Us by Location
In 2006–2010, the averages of TE scores for eastern, central, and western 211Us are
around 0.80–0.87, 0.76–0.81, and 0.73–0.81 respectively, so the technical effi-
ciency status of eastern 211Us is better than that of central or western 211Us.
However, the internal gaps are also obvious inside eastern 211Us, the TE status of
JUs or HSZUs is substantially higher than that of OUs, and the TE status of OUs is
not so good, even lower than that of central or western 211Us after 2008.
According to the SDs of TE scores of eastern, central and western 211Us, the
differences are not obvious. The SD of eastern 211Us is slightly lower than that of
4.3 Conclusions 159