Change of EU28 countries research and development indicators between 2010 and 2015

Abstract

In the paper evaluation of research and development efficiency change in EU28 countries between 2010 and 2015. The authors used the non -radial and non oriented Malmquist index of available R&D indicators of EU28 countries (five inputs and two outputs) and have found six groups of EU28 countries from the viewpoint of three index terms values (efficiency shift, frontier shift and Malmquist index). The relatively best group of countries with progress in both efficiency shift and frontier shift terms (Malmquist index >1) is represented by two countries: Italy and Germany. The last group contains the six relatively worst countries with regress in all three terms (efficiency shift, frontier shift and Malmquist index < 1): Netherlands, Greece, Malta, Poland, Luxembourg and Portugal. It was found by means of the nonparametric test that post-socialist countries are not different from capitalist EU countries from the viewpoint of efficiency change between 2010 and 2015. The biggest change in R&D efficiency using the Malmquist index between 2010 and 2015 was found in Spain, Latvia, Denmark and Ireland. Conversely, the smallest change in R&D efficiency is demonstrated by Poland, Luxembourg and Portugal.