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on MENA - Middle East and North Africa |
| By: | Roll, Stephan |
| Abstract: | The Hamas terrorist attack on 7 October 2023 and the subsequent Israeli military intervention in the Gaza Strip marks a turning point in relations not only between the two parties to the conflict but also between Egypt and Israel. Under President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi, those ties were steadily being expanded in the areas of economic and security policy right up until the events of last October. Now they are characterized by mutual recriminations: while Egypt accuses the Israeli leadership of working towards the expulsion of the population of the Gaza Strip to Sinai, Israel criticizes Egypt for its alleged support of Hamas. Neither accusation is unfounded and both should be taken very seriously by Germany and its European partners. In fact, the Europeans should stand alongside Egypt in rejecting expulsion, which implies putting pressure on Israel to ensure the protection of the civilian population in Gaza. At the same time, it is important to support Israel's insistence that going forward, the security of the border between Egypt and the Gaza Strip cannot be left to Cairo alone. |
| Keywords: | Egypt, Israel, Gaza war, Hamas terrorist attack, 7 October 2023, Abdel Fattah al-Sisi, Benjamin Netanyahu, Muslim Brotherhood |
| Date: | 2024 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:zbw:swpcom:289474&r=ara |
| By: | Jules Gazeaud (CERDI - Centre d'Études et de Recherches sur le Développement International - IRD - Institut de Recherche pour le Développement - CNRS - Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique - UCA - Université Clermont Auvergne); Nausheen Khan (World Bank Group); Eric Mvukiyehe (Duke University [Durham]); Olivier Sterck (UA - University of Antwerp, University of Oxford) |
| Abstract: | Strong gender and social norms limit women's opportunities and labor market outcomes in the Middle East and North Africa. Empowering women in these settings is a key priority, and one typical policy response involves using cash grants and training programs to improve women's situation. In a recent paper (Gazeaud et al. 2023), we set up a randomized experiment in Tunisia to explore whether inviting women to bring their partners to financial training, combined with an unrestricted cash grant, changed the program's impacts. |
| Abstract: | L'autonomisation des femmes est une priorité au Moyen-Orient et en Afrique du Nord. De nombreux travaux académiques suggèrent qu'une approche efficace est l'utilisation de subventions monétaires et de formations financières. Dans un récent article (Gazeaud et al. 2023), nous utilisons une expérience randomisée en Tunisie pour tester si l'implication des conjoints est bénéfique. |
| Keywords: | Cash Transfers, Financial Training, Gender Roles, Employment |
| Date: | 2024–03–14 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:hal:journl:hal-04523672&r=ara |
| By: | Ilyas Ahnach (Faculté des Sciences Juridiques, Economiques et Sociales - UM5 - Université Mohammed V de Rabat [Agdal]); Said Tounsi (Faculté des Sciences Juridiques, Economiques et Sociales - UM5 - Université Mohammed V de Rabat [Agdal]) |
| Abstract: | Blockchain technology promises real development for the financial market and bringing new contribution to the market. It has been addressed in several industries and mainly financial services. It can create decentralized and distributed registers specially dedicated to financial services and can improve financial intermediation by ensuring rapid settlement, lower transaction costs and continuous operation of the market. The main objective of this paper is then to analyze whether there exists empirically a long-term relationship and a positive impact between the integration of blockchain on the performance of the stock market, taking the case of BVMC. The method used is a cointegration analysis via modeling the degree of blockchain integration in Morocco and the performance of the stock market, represented by the evolution of the MASI index, while integrating other variables to further support the model. The BVMC is in the midst of a transformation and the new development model (2021) gives it an important role in financing the economy. One of the most important acceleration levers for achieving its objectives remains digitalization. And blockchain offers plenty of advantages in terms of digital transformation for the Moroccan stock market. Several projects to create financial markets operating on a blockchain are underway in developed countries, and several theoretical studies demonstrate the advantages of blockchain integration in the financial market. The BVMC will be tempted to follow international trends and the search for performance will lead the BVMC to integrate blockchain technology. The results of the study clearly demonstrate that blockchain technology will bring new rules to the way transactions operate and are organized, and that it will have a positive impact on the performance of the Moroccan stock market. |
| Abstract: | La technologie blockchain promet un véritable développement pour le marché financier et en apportant de nouveaux apports sur le marché. Elle a été adoptée dans plusieurs industries et principalement les services financiers. Elle peut créer des registres décentralisés et distribués spécialement dédiés aux services financiers et peut améliorer l'intermédiation financière en procédant à une rapidité de règlement, une baisse des coûts de transactions ainsi qu'un fonctionnement au continu du marché. L'objectif principal de ce papier est alors d'analyser s'il existe empiriquement une relation de long terme et un impact positif entre l'intégration de la blockchain sur la performance du marché boursier, en prenant le cas de la BVMC. La méthode utilisée est une analyse de cointégration via une modélisation du degré d'intégration de la blockchain au Maroc et la performance du marché boursier, représentée par l'évolution de l'indice MASI, tout en intégrant d'autres variables pour étayer davantage le modèle. La BVMC est en pleine transformation et le nouveau modèle de développement de 2021 lui place un rôle important dans le financement de l'économie. Un des leviers d'accélération le plus importants pour la réalisation de ses objectifs reste la digitalisation. Et la blockchain offre plein d'avantages en termes de transformation digitale pour le marché boursier marocain. Plusieurs projets de création de marché financier opérant sur une blockchain sont en cours dans les pays développés, et plusieurs études théoriques démontrent les avantages de l'intégration de la blockchain sur le marché financier. La BVMC sera tentée de suivre les tendances internationales et la recherche de performance conduira la BVMC à intégrer la technologie blockchain. Les résultats de l'étude démontrent alors clairement que la technologie blockchain va apporter de nouvelles règles au mode de fonctionnement et d'organisation des transactions, et qu'elle aura un impact positif sur la performance du marché boursier marocain. |
| Keywords: | Blockchain, Decentralized ledger, Performance, Transaction cost |
| Date: | 2024–03–08 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:hal:journl:hal-04501159&r=ara |
| By: | Amoozadeh Mahdiraji, Hanif |
| Abstract: | The cooperative sector in Iran holds a distinctive position within the nation's constitutional framework and official documents. However, despite concerted efforts, it presents a duality in its performance. While demonstrating relative acceptability compared to peers within the Middle East, it remains notably distant from the prescribed standards delineated in foundational documents. Notably, in 2013, an amendment bill addressing the Cooperative Sector Law, aiming for substantial revisions, was presented by the Executive branch to Parliament. This Bill, however, failed to garner the necessary attention from stakeholders and legislative bodies, prompting a critical evaluation of its necessity. This evaluative process encompassed meticulous scrutiny of the sector's standing, involving an alignment of definitions with legal frameworks and a comprehensive assessment of goal achievement utilizing official statistical data. A systematic review of antecedent research on cooperatives was also conducted to unearth and comprehend the critical operational barriers. The findings of this comprehensive analysis unveiled a spectrum of challenges afflicting Iran's cooperative sector, ranging from ambiguity in defining cooperatives to inadequate competitiveness vis-à-vis private enterprises, lack of member awareness, deficiencies in human resources and administrative capacities, financial constraints, overreliance on governmental support, and inefficiencies within supervisory institutions. A series of strategic alternatives have emerged to address these multifaceted challenges effectively. These include redefining cooperatives in alignment with international benchmarks, harnessing the potential of New-Generation Cooperatives (NGCs), diversifying shareholding structures, deploying Crowdfunding tools, establishing Cooperatives Credit Unions, fortifying internal supervisory entities, revising founding member prerequisites, reinstating cooperative education within legal frameworks, integrating specialized expertise on cooperative boards, and rejuvenating cooperative management certifications. |
| Date: | 2024–03–27 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:osf:socarx:tyq39&r=ara |
| By: | Basheer, Mohammed; Siddig, Khalid; Elnour, Zuhal; Ahmed, Mosab O. M.; Ringler, Claudia |
| Abstract: | Efficient water resources management is essential for the sustainable development of nations, and large dams are an important tool for achieving this endeavor. Here, we present an integrated approach to simulating the impacts of large dams, integrating river systems infrastructure, hydrodynamic, and economywide models. We apply the framework to examine the biophysical, GDP, and distributional impacts of the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD) on Sudan. |
| Keywords: | frameworks; dams; natural resources management; nile river; Northern Africa; Africa |
| Date: | 2024 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:fpr:cgiarp:137219&r=ara |
| By: | Kaddachi, Hayet; kroumi, Yassine; Ben Zina, Naceur |
| Abstract: | This study is based on a sample of 100 customers of the Tunisian Post, the objective is to know the impact of digital transformation on the Tunisian Post through the D17 application. Based on our analysis; the results show that mobile payments constitute an attractive solution for individuals because they are practical and easy to use tools. For the Post, the D17 application can be considered a powerful instrument not only for the development of digital strategies, but also for the country's financial sector and the economy in general. |
| Keywords: | Digital transformation; Post-customer relationship |
| JEL: | A3 Y10 |
| Date: | 2024–03–27 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:pra:mprapa:120564&r=ara |
| By: | Soheila Khajoui; Saeid Dehyadegari; Sayyed Abdolmajid Jalaee |
| Abstract: | This study aims at predicting the impact of e-commerce indicators on international trade of the selected OECD countries and Iran, by using the artificial intelligence approach and P-VAR. According to the nature of export, import, GDP, and ICT functions, and the characteristics of nonlinearity, this analysis is performed by using the MPL neural network. The export, import, GDP, and ICT findings were examined with 99 percent accuracy. Using the P-VAR model in the Eviews software, the initial database and predicted data were applied to estimate the impact of e-commerce on international trade. The findings from analyzing the data show that there is a bilateral correlation between e-commerce which means that ICT and international trade affect each other and the Goodness of fit of the studied model is confirmed. |
| Date: | 2024–03 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:arx:papers:2403.20310&r=ara |