otherfive groups, their PTEC indexes undergo an annual decline ranging from 6 to
9%. Concerning SEC index, most groups experience some improvements ranging
from 3 to 5%, while the SEC index of western 211Us is decreased by 4% on
average.
5.3.2.2 Cumulative Change of Research Productivity Relative to Base
Year 2006
In order to further explore the differences on the cumulative effect caused by yearly
research productivity changes, we analyze and compare the cumulative changes
(2006–2010) of TFP index and its decomposition of 211Us in HSS research among
the different regions categorized above. still, 2006 is the base year.
In Fig.5.15, we present the cumulative TFP index changes relative to base year
by region. From thefigure, we can see that though certain differences exist in the
cumulative TFP index changes between different regions, most of them generally
share the similar pattern, which is featured by minorfluctuations and slow growth
rates during thefive years.
More specifically, TFP indexes of central 211Us, western 211Us, and HSZUs,
are cumulatively decreased during thesefive years. Particularly to western 211Us,
their TFP index is consistently reduced relative to base year, resulting into a
five-year cumulative reduction of 15%. To central 211Us and HSZUs, in spite of
their substantial improvements of TFP indexes in 2007, their TFP indexes are in the
downtrend after 2007, and the slight increase in 2010 doesn’t change the overall
trend, resulting into the TFP indexes are cumulatively reduced by 11.6 and 4.6%
respectively for thefive years.
To eastern 211Us, JUs and OUs, their TFP indexes undergo a consistent growth
in this phase relative to base year. Though there are somefluctuations in the TFP
indexes of JUs and OUs, the TFP indexes of eastern 211Us, JUs, and OUs are
cumulatively increased by 11.2, 22.2 and 14.6% respectively.
Next, we analyze the cumulative changes of TEC index, TC index, PTEC index
and SEC index in the same way, in order to further explore the sources of TFP
index changes between different regions. See Fig.5.16for details.
The cumulative changes of each decomposition index of 211Us in different
regions basically show a consistent trend. Before 2008, the productivity improve-
ments of most of groups are basically relied on the advance of technical efficiency,
namely obtaining productivity improvement by the catch-up effect. After 2008,
only TC indexes are improved cumulatively, other indexes, indicating different
aspect of research productivity, are decreased with varying degrees. Thus, growth
effect indicated by TC index almost becomes the unique factor driving the pro-
ductivity growth of 211Us in different regions. More specific discussions can be
made as below.
First, before 2008, TC indexes of most 211Us in different regions are cumula-
tively decreased. However, after 2008, their growths are very substantial.
5.3 Differences and Trends on 211Us’Research Productivity by Location 241