A Longitudinal, Multi-factor Analysis of the Research and Development Performance of Taiwan

Abstract

Abstract This paper analyses the educational, intellectual, and research and development (R&D) performance of Taiwan for 30 years from 1981 to 2010. Two input factors of the total R&D expenditure as a percentage of the gross domestic product (GDP) and educational expenditure per student at Taiwan universities, along with the three output factors of the total annual number of papers published in the Science Citation Index and Engineering Index, number of students receiving higher education, and per capita gross national product (GNP). The input and output are used to perform the necessary calculations of window analysis within the framework of Data Envelopment Analysis (DEA). The consensus of the results points to the existence of multi-time periods where Taiwan's performance is technically efficient and inefficient. The major events that have affected and shaped Taiwan's educational development and performance are explored and presented. This shows that the educational system of Taiwan has made great strides over the years.