Research and development (R&D) of countries play a major role in a long-term development of the economy. We measure the R&D efficiency of all 28 member countries of the European Union in the years 2008--2014. Super-efficient data envelopment analysis (DEA) based on robustness of classification into efficient and inefficient units is adopted. We use the number of citations as output of basic research, the number of patents as output of applied research and R&D expenditures with manpower as inputs. To meet DEA assumptions and to capture R&D characteristics, we analyze a homogeneous sample of countries, adjust prices using purchasing power parity and consider time lag between inputs and outputs. We find that the efficiency of general R&D is higher for countries with higher GDP per capita. This relation also holds for specialized efficiencies of basic and applied research. However, it is much stronger for applied research suggesting its outputs are more easily distinguished and captured. Our findings are important in the evaluation of research and policy making.

翻译：国家的研发活动对经济的长期发展具有重要作用。本文以2008-2014年欧盟全部28个成员国为对象，采用基于有效与非有效单元分类稳健性的超效率数据包络分析，测度其研发效率。以引文数量作为基础研究产出指标，专利数量作为应用研究产出指标，研发支出与人力资本作为投入指标。为满足DEA假设并刻画研发特征，我们分析同质化国家样本，通过购买力平价调整价格，并考虑投入与产出之间的时间滞后。研究发现，人均GDP较高的国家整体研发效率更高。这一关系同样适用于基础研究与应用研究的专项效率，但在应用研究中表现更为显著，表明其产出更易识别与计量。本研究对科研评估与政策制定具有重要参考价值。