Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Children of a Lesser God? Demand-Driven Mechanism and the Potential Rise of Unequal Competition in IHES

  • Original Article
  • Published:
Higher Education Policy Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

This study aims to determine whether the introduction of input-oriented resource allocation in the Italian higher education system has resulted in behaviours influencing the attractiveness of universities. The results of an analysis of panel data spanning 57 public universities reveal that the geographical characteristics in which they operate seem to restrict the autonomy of some universities, harming their ability to choose a proper solution that improves attractiveness and results in gaining more funds. These findings emphasise the pivotal role played by external factors in the extent to which university behaviour can impact attractiveness, while also suggesting that a level playing field can only be guaranteed within the system if governments reduce the internal disparities in Italian tertiary education.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

Notes

  1. The IHES distinguishes between ‘regular’ and ‘non-regular’ students: the former refers to all students who are attending courses for no longer than the established time.

  2. From 2013 scientific areas are 14. However, data on the programmatic offerings (in this case the number of students in each field) of each university are available, grouped in the original classification (source anagrafe.miur.it).

  3. It is possible to find a similar indicator in the literature (see for example Ciricaci 2014) and in recent regulatory measures (see for example Ministerial Decree n. 987/2016).

  4. Standard errors of regional characteristics are clustered at a regional level for avoiding the overestimation of the regional variables’ effects.

  5. Results and coefficients of the analysis with fixed effect are similar to those with random effect. This is particularly true in terms of university organisational behaviours, which lost their significance when the model included control variables – particularly those related to regional characteristics, as was the case in the random-effect analyses. However, in this work, random effects results are presented in light of the Hausman test, as described in the ‘Methods and variables’ section.

References

  • Adcroft, A., and Willis, R. (2005) ‘The (Un)intended outcome of public sector performance measurement’, International Journal of Public Sector Management (18): 386–400.

  • Agasisti, T. (2009) ‘Market forces and competition in university systems: theoretical reflections and empirical evidence from Italy’, International Review of Applied Economics 23(4): 463–83.

  • Agasisti, T. and Giuseppe C. (2006) ‘Governance Models of University Systems—towards Quasi‐markets? tendencies and perspectives: a European comparison.’ Journal of Higher Education Policy and Management 28(3): 245–262.

  • Agasisti, T. and Carmen P.E. (2010) ‘Comparing efficiency in a cross-country perspective: the case of Italian and Spanish state universities’, Higher Education 59(1): 85–103.

  • Andresani, G. and Ewan F. (2006) ‘Studying governance within the British public sector and without’, Public Management Review 8(3): 415–31.

  • Bacci, S., Chiandotto, B., Di Francia, A., and Ghiselli, S. (2008) ‘Graduates job mobility: a longitudinal analysis’, Statistica, 68(3/4), 255-279 doi: https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.6092/issn.1973-2201/3534

  • Barzelay, M. (2001) The new public management: Improving research and policy dialogue, University of California Press.

  • Bjorn T. A. Helen L.S. and Oughton C. (2011) ‘Regional innovation systems: theory, empirics and policy’, Regional Studies, 45(7), 875-891, doi: https://doi.org/10.1080/00343404.2011.596701

  • Bouckaert, G., and Halligan, J. (2008) Managing performance: international comparisons, London: Routledge.

  • Brizzi, G.P., Del Negro P., and Romano A. (2007) Storia delle università in Italia, Messina: Sicania.

  • Brown, R. (2008) ‘Higher Education and the Market’, Perspectives: Policy and Practice in Higher Education 12(3): 78–83.

  • Burke, J. C. Rosen J. Minassians H. Lessard T. 2000. Performance Funding and Budgeting: An Emerging Merger?: The Fourth Annual Survey (2000). [Washington, D.C.]: Distributed by ERIC Clearinghouse. Article; Article/Report; Microform. https://trove.nla.gov.au/work/33300846 (February 19, 2019).

  • Cameron, K. (1983) ‘Strategic responses to conditions of decline: higher education and the private sector’, The Journal of Higher Education 54(4): 359–80.

  • Capano, G. (2008). ‘Looking for serendipity: the problematical reform of government within Italy’s universities’, Higher Education 55(4): 481–504.

  • Cattaneo, M. Malighetti, P. Meoli, M. and Paleari, S. (2017) ‘University spatial competition for students: the Italian case’, Regional Studies 51(5): 750–64.

  • Cattaneo, M. Horta, H. Malighetti, P. Meoli, M. and S. Paleari. (2017) ‘Effects of the financial crisis on university choice by gender’, Higher Education 74 (5): 775–98.

  • Chan, S. J., and Lin, L.W. (2015) ‘Massification of higher education in Taiwan: shifting pressure from admission to employment’, Higher Education Policy 28(1): 17–33.

  • Ciriaci, D. (2014) ‘Does university quality influence the interregional mobility of students and graduates? the case of Italy’, Regional Studies 48(10): 1592–1608.

  • Ciriaci, D. (2006) ‘Opportunità di occupazione, soddisfazione e fuga dei laureati meridionali’, La Questione Agraria, n. 4, pp. 55-82.

  • Civera, A. Cattaneo M. Meoli, M. and Paleari, S. (2017) EAIR 39th Annual Forum in Porto, 3 till 6 September, Porto, Portugal.

  • de Rijcke, S., Wouters, P.F. Rushforth, A.D. Franssen T.P., and Hammarfelt. B. (2016) ‘Evaluation Practices and effects of indicator use - a literature review’ Research Evaluation 25: 161–9.

  • Daines, J. R. (1970) ‘Test difficulty as a factor in achievement’, The Journal of educational research 64 (3): 139-141.

  • Dill, D. D. (2000) ‘Program diversity in higher education: an economic perspective’, Higher Education Policy 13(1): 99–117.

  • Dill, D. D. (2003) ‘Allowing the market to rule: the case of the United States’, Higher Education Quarterly 57(2): 136–57.

  • Dotti, N. F., Fratesi, U. Lenzi C. and Percoco, M. (2013) ‘Local labour markets and the interregional mobility of Italian university students’, Spatial Economic Analysis 8(4): 443–68.

  • Dougherty, K. J, Sosanya, M. J., Hana, L. Natow, S.R. Pheatt L. and Vikash, R. (2014). ‘Performance funding for higher education: forms, origins, impacts, and futures’. The ANNALS of the American Academy of Political and Social Science 655 (1): 163–84. https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1177/0002716214541042

  • Dougherty, K. J. and Reddy, V. (2013). ‘Performance funding for higher education: what are the mechanisms? What are the impacts?’ ASHE Higher Education Report 39 (2). San Francisco, CA: Jossey-Bass. https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1002/aehe.20008.

  • Enders, J., De Boer, H., and Weyer, E. (2013). Regulatory autonomy and performance: The reform of higher education revisited. Higher education, 65(1): 5-23.

  • Estermann, T. Pruvot, E.B. and Kulik, A.L.C. (2013) ‘Designing strategies for efficient funding of higher education in Europe’ DEFINE Interim Report. Brussels

  • Ezza, A. Pischedda, G. and Marinò L. (2017) ‘Performance-based funding in public competition. Lights and shadows in the Italian higher education system’, Journal of International Business and Economics 17(2): 5–22.

  • Farhan, B. Y. (2016) ‘Competitive behaviour in publicly funded academic institutions’, Interchange 47(4): 357–73.

  • Frank, R. J. (2001) ‘Higher education: The ultimate winner-take-all market’. In M. Devlin & J. Meyerson (Eds.), Forum futures- exploring the future of higher education. San Francisco CA: Jossey- Bass.

  • Franck, E. P. and Schönfelder, B. (2000) ‘On the role of competition in higher education — uses and abuses of the economic metaphor’, Schmalenbach Business Review 52(3): 214–37.

  • Frank, R. H. and Cook, P.J. (2013) ‘Winner-take-all markets’, Studies in Microeconomics 1(2): 131–54.

  • Giovanelli, L. Rotondo, F. and Marinò, L. (2017) ‘A Performance Management System to Improve Student Success in Italian Public Universities: Conditions and Critical Factors of an IT System.’ In Reshaping Accounting and Management Control Systems, Lecture Notes in Information Systems and Organisation, eds. Katia Corsi, Nicola Giuseppe Castellano, Rita Lamboglia, and Daniela Mancini. Springer International Publishing, 203–19.

  • Le Grand, J. (1991) ‘Quasi-markets and social policy’, The Economic Journal 101(408): 1256-1267

  • Lepori, B. Huisman, J. and Seeber, M. (2014). ‘Convergence and differentiation processes in swiss higher education: an empirical analysis’, Studies in Higher Education 39 (2): 197–218

  • Grisorio, M. J. and Prota, F. (2019) ‘Italy’s national research assessment: some unpleasant effects’, Studies in Higher Education, DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/03075079.2019.1693989

  • Hazelkorn, E. (2014) ‘Reflections on a Decade of Global Rankings: What we’ve Learned and Outstanding Issues’, European Journal of Education 49 (1): 12–28.

  • Herbst, M. (2009) 'Financing public universities: the case of performance funding’ Dordrecht: Springer.

  • Hicks, D. (2012) ‘Performance-based university research funding systems’, Research Policy 41(2): 251–61.

  • Huber, J. Morris B. H. and Kahn, B. (1986) ‘Effects of competitive context and of additional information on price sensitivity’, Journal of Marketing Research 23(3): 250.

  • Hübner, M. (2012) ‘Do tuition fees affect enrollment behavior? evidence from a ‘natural experiment’ in Germany’, Economics of Education Review 31(6): 949–60.

  • Huggins, R. (2003) ‘Creating a UK competitiveness index: regional and local benchmarking’, Regional Studies 37(1): 89–96.

  • Huisman, J. (1995) ‘Differentiation, diversity and dependency in higher education.’ https://research.utwente.nl/en/publications/differentiation-diversity-and-dependency-in-higher-education (February 21, 2019).

  • Huisman, J. Lepori, B. Seeber, M. Frølich, N. and Scordato, L. (2015) ‘Measuring institutional diversity across higher education systems’, Research Evaluation 24 (4): 369-79. doi:https://doi.org/10.1093/reseval/rvv021.

  • Huisman, J. Meek, L. and Wood, F. (2007). ‘Institutional diversity in higher education: a cross-national and longitudinal analysis’, Higher Education Quarterly 61 (4): 563–77.

  • Istat, Istituto Nazionale di Statistica. 2019. “Rapporto Annuale 2019. La situazione del Paese” Roma. ISBN 978-88-458-1981-0.

  • Iuzzolino, G. Pellegrini, G. and Viesti, G. (2013) ‘Regional Convergence’ In The Oxford Handbook of the Italian Economy Since Unification, edited by G. Toniolo, 571–598. Oxford: Oxford University Press.

  • Jahnke, H. (2001) ‘Mezzogiorno e knowledge society: i rischi di spreco e fuga delle risorse umane’ Rivista Economica del Mezzogiorno 15(4), 749–762.

  • Jaffe, A. B. (1989) ‘Real effects of academic research’, The American Economic Review 79(5): 957–70.

  • Jeon, J. and So Y. K. (2018) ‘Is the gap widening among universities? On research output inequality and its measurement in the Korean higher education system’, Quality & Quantity 52(2): 589–606.

  • Jongbloed, B. (2002) Lifelong learning: implications for institutions’, Higher Education 44(3): 413–431.

  • Jongbloed, B. (2003) ‘Marketisation in higher education, clark’s triangle and the essential ingredients of markets’, Higher Education Quarterly 57(2): 110–35.

  • Jongbloed, B. (2008) ‘Performance-oriented Budgeting in Europe: trends effects and consequences’, Zeitschrift fur Hochschulentwicklung, (3): 1–18.

  • Jongbloed, B. Kaiser, F. and Westerheijden. D. (2017) ‘Improving Diversity, Quality and Efficiency in Dutch Higher Education Using Performance Agreements’. In 39th EAIR Forum 2017: Under Pressure? Higher Education Institutions Coping with Multiple Challenges.

  • Jongbloed, B. and Koelman J. (2000) ‘Vouchers for Higher Education?’ Enschede: Center for Higher Education Policy Studies (CHEPS), 39 p. 39.

  • Jongbloed, B. and Vossensteyn H. (2001) ‘Keeping up performances: an international survey of performance-based funding in higher education’, Journal of Higher Education Policy and Management 23(2): 127–145.

  • Kabók, J. Tibor, K. Csüllög, M. and Lendák, I. (2013) ‘Data envelopment analysis of higher education competitiveness indices in Europe’ Acta Polytechnica Hungarica 10(3): 17.

  • Kabók, J. Radišić, S. and Kuzmanović, B. (2017) ‘Cluster analysis of higher-education competitiveness in selected European countries’ Economic Research-Ekonomska Istraživanja 30(1): 845–57.

  • Li, A.Y. Gándara, D. and Assalone, A. (2018) ‘Equity or disparity: do performance funding policies disadvantage 2-year minority-serving institutions?’, Community College Review 46 (3): 288–315. doi:https://doi.org/10.1177/0091552118778776.

  • Liefner, I. (2003) ‘Funding, resource allocation, and performance in higher education systems’, Higher education 46(4): 469–489.

  • Marinò, L. (2014) L’azienda pubblica nel quasi-mercato: Il management sanitario tra autonomia formale ed opzioni di scelta reali. G Giappichelli Editore.

  • Mitze, T. Burgard, C. and Björn A. (2015) ‘The Tuition Fee ‘Shock’: Analysing the Response of First-Year Students to a Spatially Discontinuous Policy Change in Germany’ Papers in Regional Science 94(2): 36.

  • OECD. 2018. Education at a Glance 2018: OECD Indicators. OECD. https://www.oecd-ilibrary.org/education/education-at-a-glance-2018_eag-2018-en

  • Ofori, D. and Esther, A. (2012) ‘Strategic planning in public universities: a developing country perspective’, Journal of Management and Strategy 3(1). http://www.sciedu.ca/journal/index.php/jms/article/view/761 (February 19, 2019).

  • Osborne, S. P. (2006) ‘The new public governance?’, Public Management Review 8 (3): 377-387, DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/14719030600853022

  • Pang, B., and Appleton, N. ‘Higher Education as an Immigration Path for Chinese Students and Scholars’ The Qualitative Report, 9(3), 500-527. Retrieved from https://nsuworks.nova.edu/tqr/vol9/iss3/ 8

  • Pennington, K. Mitchell, R. Williams, and Karvonen, M. (2006) ‘Challenges facing rural community colleges: issues and problems today and over the past 30 years’, Community College Journal of Research and Practice 30(8): 641–55.

  • Perry, D. C. (2015) ‘The University as Urban Developer: Case Studies and Analysis: Case Studies and Analysis’ 1st ed. Routledge. https://www.taylorfrancis.com/books/9781315698854 (February 21, 2019).

  • Pollitt, C. and Bouckaert, G. (2011) Public management reform: a comparative analysis: new public management, governance, and the Neo-Weberian State. Third edition. Oxford: Oxford Univ. Press.

  • Pucciarelli, F. and Kaplan, A. (2016) ‘Competition and strategy in higher education: managing complexity and uncertainty’, Business Horizons 59(3): 311–320.

  • Reale, E. and Seeber, M. (2011) ‘Drivers of inequalities in higher education and the unexpected consequences of equality policies’, High Education Policy 24: 185–211. https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1057/hep.2010.31

  • Rossi, F. (2010) ‘Massification, competition and organizational diversity in higher education: evidence from Italy’, Studies in Higher Education 35(3): 277–300.

  • Shanka, T. Quintal, V. and Taylor, R. (2006) ‘Factors influencing international students’ choice of an education destination–a correspondence analysis’, Journal of Marketing for Higher Education 15(2): 31–46.

  • Smith, P. (1995) ‘On the unintended consequences of publishing performance data in the public sector’, International Journal of Public Administration 18(2–3): 277–310.

  • Soutar, G. N. and Julia, P. T. (2002) ‘Students’ preferences for university: a conjoint analysis’, International Journal of Educational Management 16(1): 40–45.

  • Sweitzer, K., and Volkwein J. F. (2009). ‘Prestige among Graduate and professional schools: comparing the US News’ graduate school reputation ratings between disciplines’, Research in Higher Education 50: 812–36.

  • Teixeira, P. V. Rocha, Biscaia, R. and Cardoso, M.F. (2013) ‘Competition and diversification in public and private higher education’, Applied Economics 45(35): 4949–58.

  • Teixeira, P. V. Rocha, Biscaia, R. and Cardoso, M.F. (2012). ‘Competition and diversity in higher education: an empirical approach to specialization patterns of Portuguese institutions’, Higher Education 63 (3): 337–52.

  • Umbricht, M. R. Fernandez, F. and Ortagus, J.C. (2017) ‘An examination of the (Un)intended consequences of performance funding in higher education’, Educational Policy 31(5): 643–73.

  • Verhoest, K., Peters, G. B., Bouckaert, G., Verschuere, B. (2004). ‘The study of organizational autonomy: a conceptual review’, Public Administration and Development, 24: 101–118.

  • van Vught F. (2010) ‘The European classification of higher education institutions’: 46. Enschede: CHEPS

  • Weimer, D. L., and Vining, A. R. (2017) Policy Analysis: Concepts and Practice 6th ed. 6 Edition. | New York : Routledge, 2017. | Revised edition of Policy analysis, 2011: Routledge. https://www.taylorfrancis.com/books/9781315442112 (February 20, 2019).

  • Widiputera, F. De Witte, K. Groot, W. and van den Brink, H.M. (2017a). ‘Measuring diversity in higher education institutions: a review of literature and empirical approaches’, IAFOR Journal of Education 5(1): 47–63.

  • Widiputera, F. De Witte, K. Groot, W. and van den Brink, H.M. (2017b) ‘The attractiveness of programmes in higher education: an empirical approach’, European Journal of Higher Education 7(2): 153–72.

  • Williams, G. (1995) The ‘Marketisation’ of higher education: reforms and potential reforms in higher education finance In eds. David Dill and Barbara Sporn. Elsevier Science Inc.

  • Wooldridge, J. M. (2010) Econometric analysis of cross section and panel data MIT press.

Download references

Acknowledgements

This study contributes to the developmental project of the Department of Business and Economics of the University of Sassari (Dipartimenti di Eccellenza 2018–2022) financed by the Italian Minister of Education. In particular, this paper is referred to the 12th dimension of the Equitable and Sustainable Well-being model (BES – Benessere equo e sostenibile) developed by the Italian National Institute of Statistics (ISTAT).

Funding

This research was funded by: - PRIN 2017HBTK5P: From high school to job placement: micro-data life course analysis of university student mobility and its impact on the Italian North-Sud divide; P.I. Massimo Attanasio; - Fondo di Ateneo per la ricerca 2019 – University of Sassari.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Economics and Business, University of Sassari, Sassari, Italy

    Gianfranco Pischedda & Ludovico Marinò

Authors
  1. Gianfranco Pischedda
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Ludovico Marinò
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Gianfranco Pischedda.

Ethics declarations

Conflict of interest

The author declares that they have no conflict of interest.

Additional information

Publisher's Note

Springer Nature remains neutral with regard to jurisdictional claims in published maps and institutional affiliations.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Pischedda, G., Marinò, L. Children of a Lesser God? Demand-Driven Mechanism and the Potential Rise of Unequal Competition in IHES. High Educ Policy 35, 727–749 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1057/s41307-021-00230-4

Download citation

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1057/s41307-021-00230-4

Keywords

Search

Navigation