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on Arab World |
| By: | Catik, A. Nazif; Karaçuka, Mehmet |
| Abstract: | This paper analyses inflation forecasting power of artificial neural networks with alternative univariate time series models for Turkey. The forecasting accuracy of the models is compared in terms of both static and dynamic forecasts for the period between 1982:1 and 2009:12. We find that at earlier forecast horizons conventional models, especially ARFIMA and ARIMA, provide better one-step ahead forecasting performance. However, unobserved components model turns out to be the best performer in terms of dynamic forecasts. The superiority of the unobserved components model suggests that inflation in Turkey has time varying pattern and conventional models are not able to track underlying trend of inflation in the long run. -- |
| Keywords: | Inflation forecasting,Neural networks,Unobserved components model |
| JEL: | C45 C53 E31 E37 |
| Date: | 2011 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:zbw:dicedp:20&r=ara |
| By: | Bouoiyour, jamal |
| Abstract: | Tunisia is considered one of the best performing countries in terms of economic growth among countries in the Middle East and North Africa. During the past 30 years, this growth was 5% on average. At the same time, the country has opted very early for a very pronounced policy of opening to the outside, and the West in particular. It is attractive to link this performance in terms of growth to such liberalization. This paper shows clearly that this is not the case. Not only the liberalization has not produced the desired effects in terms of employment and wages (the effects are certainly positive, but remain very low and cover only the export-oriented sectors), but it has increased specialization in products intensive in labor and unskilled cheap, and whose technology content is low. Similarly, this policy has accentuated the inequalities between skilled workers and unskilled workers. |
| Keywords: | Trade liberalization; inequality; specialization |
| JEL: | F16 F11 |
| Date: | 2010–12 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:pra:mprapa:31358&r=ara |
| By: | Dr. Nader Alber (Faculty of Commerce- Ain Shams University, Egypt) |
| Abstract: | This paper aims at analyzing the profit efficiency of the Saudi banks, and testing how it could be affected by banking expansion. This has been conducted using a sample of 6 commercial banks (out of 11), and covering the period from 1998 to 2007. Profit efficiency has been measured, using the ratio of actual profitability to the best one, which a similar bank (in size) can realize |
| Keywords: | profit efficiency, banking expansion |
| JEL: | M0 |
| Date: | 2011–03 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:cms:2icb11:2011-117&r=ara |
| By: | Amirul Afif Muhamat; Mohammad Nizam Jaafar; Hardi Emrie Rosly (Department of Risk Management & Financial Services, Faculty of Business Management, UiTM Shah Alam, Malaysia) |
| Abstract: | This paper discusses on the potential of revitalizing the idle waqaf lands for agribusiness activities. The study employs secondary data gathered from relevant authorities which then interpolated to determine meaningful result. The study indicates that there lucrative revenue that can be generated from agribusiness activities. However, a better management and coordination at the macro and micro level is needed amongst the various stakeholders to ensure the idle waqaf lands will be utilized efficiently. The constraint of this study is in term of having latest empirical data on the official size based on the suitability of the waqaf lands for agriculture. Nevertheless, the limitation of the study can be an opportunity for future study. The outcome from this study will create awareness on the potential of waqf lands in agribusiness activities and the lucrative returns that this sector can produce. In addition, the study will contribute in enriching literature in this field. There is limited study has been done in measuring the potential of waqaf lands for agribusiness activities. Thus, this paper is one of its kinds in exploring the potential of waqaf lands |
| Keywords: | Waqaf lands, Agribusiness, Waqaf, Islamic finance, Jawhar |
| JEL: | M0 |
| Date: | 2011–03 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:cms:2icb11:2011-136&r=ara |
| By: | Karaçuka, Mehmet; Catik, A. Nazif |
| Abstract: | In this paper we aim to analyze the productivity spillovers of foreign affiliated and domestic firms in Turkish manufacturing industries. As a novelty inter-sectoral linkages are modeled through the use of spatial models. Our results indicate the existence of positive and significant productivity spillovers among the neighborhood firms. We also find that an increase in the share of foreign affiliated firms in a given industry has positive impact on the productivity level of vertically related industries. However, our results do not provide any clear evidence that domestic firms benefit from the foreign affiliated firms either operating in the same industry or in the neighborhood industries. The findings suggest that unlike the effects of foreign affiliated firms, research and development expenditures significantly contribute to the productivity levels of domestic firms. -- |
| Keywords: | Productivity,foreign direct investment,research and development,spatial econometrics |
| JEL: | C31 J24 O14 O33 |
| Date: | 2011 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:zbw:dicedp:21&r=ara |
| By: | Dr. Mohammad Ali Motafakkerazad; Sakineh Sojoodi; Nassim M. Aslaninia (Economic Department, University of Tabriz, Iran) |
| Abstract: | Buy domestic promotions in various countries often urge citizens to help domestic workers whose jobs are threatened by imports. To explain why purchasers might engage in buy domestic purchase activities, researchers develop and test a behavioral model about why people help distressed victims. The aim of this study was to investigate the role of factors underlying consumer choice of domestic vs. foreign products on a sample of consumers in Iran. For this purpose authors use multiple-group structural equation analysis of survey data from Iran to test the model that features seven explanatory constructs drawn from previous behavioral research. Empirical results confirmed the postulated that domestic punches costs, similarity and common fate have significant impact on consumer domestic purchase decisions. However, findings did not lend support for theoretical propositions related to ethnocentric, patriotism, social concerns. Implications for domestic economic are outlined in the conclusions |
| Keywords: | Iranian Goods, Patriotism, Ethnocentrism, Social concern, Responsibility, Conceptual Model |
| JEL: | M0 |
| Date: | 2011–03 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:cms:2icb11:2011-086&r=ara |
| By: | Shahnaz Mashayekh; Hadise Haji Moradkhani; Mahboobeh Jafari (Economic& Social Sciences Faculty, Al-Zahra University, Tehran, Iran) |
| Abstract: | This paper investigates the relationship between a set of economic variables (i.e. inflation rate, interest rate of one-year investing deposits in state banks, interest rate of bonds and the growth rate of gold price) and Tehran Stock Exchange (TSE) indicators during April 1998 to March 2008 |
| Keywords: | Economic variables, Tehran stock Exchange(TSE), Vector auto-regressive model, Johansen co- integration test, Vector-error correction model |
| JEL: | M0 |
| Date: | 2011–03 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:cms:2icb11:2011-134&r=ara |