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on Arab World |
| By: | Tansel, Aysit (Middle East Technical University) |
| Abstract: | This paper focuses on the implications of private tutoring in Turkey for questions of equity regarding the provision of public education, based on an analysis of previously published research. The nature of the private tutoring and its relation to the two national selection examinations in Turkey are also discussed. |
| Keywords: | national selection examinations, educational equity, private tutoring, Turkey |
| JEL: | I21 I24 I25 |
| Date: | 2012–06 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:iza:izadps:dp6626&r=ara |
| By: | Akarca, Ali T. (University of Illinois at Chicago); Tansel, Aysit (Middle East Technical University) |
| Abstract: | Antalya and Muğla provinces located in southwestern Turkey have emerged as the new magnets for internal migration in the country. Characteristics of immigration from other provinces to these two are described, and analyzed in the context of the gravity model. The factors that affect the migration to Antalya and Muğla seem to be the same and their effects on the flows to each destination differ only slightly. Better job opportunities, especially in the hotel and restaurant services sector, appear as the main attraction fueling this migration. Surprisingly, the pleasant climates of the two provinces do not seem to matter. |
| Keywords: | Turkey, gravity model, internal migration, Antalya, Muğla |
| JEL: | J61 R23 |
| Date: | 2012–06 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:iza:izadps:dp6627&r=ara |
| By: | Alessia LO TURCO (Universit… Politecnica delle Marche, Dipartimento di Scienze Economiche e Sociali); Daniela MAGGIONI (Universit… Politecnica delle Marche, Dipartimento di Scienze Economiche e Sociali) |
| Abstract: | We provide evidence on the effects of the recent financial and economic crisis on the Turkish manufacturing. We first decompose aggregate sales, exports and imports, dissecting the contribution of the extensive and intensive margins at the firmand firm-product level. Secondly, we investigate the determinants of both margins, inspecting the role of firm and product heterogeneity in the onset of the crisis, andwe support the demand shock explanation of the crisis. Our findings point at the prevalence of the intensive margin in the negative 2009 evolution of overall and exported sales. On the contrary, the drop in imports, which represents the most dramatic one, is importantly driven by the net exit of large and exporting firms and by the net dropping of products. More productive firms lead the slump in export sales and, among the products, capital and intermediate goods experience the sharpest demand decline. Also, importing favours exporting especially during the crisis. Finally, a stronger resilience emerges for exporters of own products compared to carry-along-trade exporters. |
| Keywords: | Turkey, crisis, exports, imports, turnover |
| JEL: | D22 F10 F14 |
| Date: | 2012–06 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:anc:wpaper:376&r=ara |
| By: | Karaoglan, Deniz (Middle East Technical University); Okten, Cagla (Bilkent University) |
| Abstract: | This article analyzes married women's labor supply responses to their husbands' job loss (added worker effect) and worsening of unemployment conditions (discouraged worker effect). We find that married women whose husbands are unemployed or underemployed are more likely to participate in the labor force and work more hours using yearly cross-sectional data from Turkey for the 2000-2010 period. We also construct two year panels based on questions on previous year's labor market outcomes. Panel results provide further support for the added worker effect. Wives whose husbands experience a job loss are more likely to increase their labor force participation. However, a worsening of overall unemployment conditions appears to have a discouraging effect on wives' labor supply response, wives tend to decrease their labor participation when unemployment rate in their region increases. |
| Keywords: | female labor force participation, added worker effect, Turkey |
| JEL: | J21 J60 |
| Date: | 2012–06 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:iza:izadps:dp6616&r=ara |
| By: | Mohammad Reza Farzanegan (University of Marburg); Gunther Markwardt (University of Dresden) |
| Abstract: | The Middle East and North Africa (MENA) countries are among the world's top emitters of CO2 and SO2 in per capita terms. The objective of this paper is to analyze whether investing in the democratic development of these countries is an eective tool to make the economic growth in this region more environmentally compatible. Arguing on the basis of the Environmental Kuznets Curve hypothesis and using panel data on the income-emissiondemocracy nexus, we nd evidence that improvements in the democratic development of the MENA countries help to mitigate environmental problems. Our results clearly show, that the quality of democratic institutions has a greater in uence on local environmental problems than on global environmental issues in the MENA region. |
| Keywords: | democratic development; political institutions, environmental quality; MENA |
| JEL: | O56 Q58 |
| Date: | 2012 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:mar:magkse:201227&r=ara |
| By: | Mohammad Reza Farzanegan (University of Marburg) |
| Abstract: | Over the last decade, the Iranian government budget on military has been higher than the average of the world. The current increasing international sanctions aim to reduce the military capabilities and capacities of the Iranian government. We analyze the response of the Iranian economy to shocks in its military budget from 1959-2007, using Impulse Response Functions (IRF) and Variance Decomposition Analysis (VDA). The Granger causality results show that there is unidirectional causality from the military spending growth rate to the economic growth rate. The response of income growth to increasing shocks in the military budget is positive and statistically significant. |
| Keywords: | dMilitary spending, Economic growth, VAR model, Impulse Response, Sanctions, Iran |
| JEL: | C22 H50 H |
| Date: | 2012 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:mar:magkse:201223&r=ara |
| By: | Sumru Altug (Koc University and CEPR); Fabio Canova (EUI, ICREA-UPF, CREMED, CREI, and CEPR) |
| Abstract: | We examine the relationship between institutions, culture and cyclical fluctuations for a sample of 45 European, Middle Eastern and North African countries. Better governance is associated with shorter and less severe contractions and milder expansions. Certain cultural traits, such as lack of acceptance of power distance and individualism, are also linked business cycle features. Business cycle synchronization is tightly related to similarities in the institutional environment. Mediterranean countries conform to these general tendencies. |
| Keywords: | Business cycles, institutions, culture, Mediterranean countries, synchronization. |
| JEL: | C32 E32 |
| Date: | 2012–06 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:koc:wpaper:1217&r=ara |
| By: | Mohammad Reza Farzanegan (University of Marburg) |
| Abstract: | There is an increasing tension between the Iranian Government and the west on an increasingly likely European oil embargo and the Iranian threat to close the Strait of Hormuz. The main question is: What will happen to the international oil prices in the case of shocks in the flow of Iranian oil to the international markets? In this study, we analyze the dynamic relationship between the Iranian oil supply and international oil prices from January 1973 - September 2011, using a modified version of the Granger causality test introduced by Toda and Yamamoto (1995). Our results show that there is no Granger causality between the Iranian oil production and international oil prices. Historical data on the Iranian oil production do not provide any useful information to explain the current and future values of international oil prices. Thus, global oil prices do not follow shocks in the Iranian oil production. |
| JEL: | E37 Q32 Q34 Q38 |
| Date: | 2012 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:mar:magkse:201232&r=ara |
| By: | Mohammad Reza Farzanegan (University of Marburg) |
| Abstract: | Resource-rich countries of the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) have the highest youth unemployment rate in the world. While other parts of the world are experiencing an increasing trend in new firms’ formation as a potential solution for their unemployment problem, the MENA region has the lowest records in new business establishments. In this study, we investigate the reasons behind such a significant lag of the resource-rich countries in entrepreneurship. Panel data for more than 80 countries from 2004-2009 shows that higher dependence on resource rents reduces entrepreneurship activities. The decline is more significant in countries with higher levels of point resources such as oil and coal. |
| Keywords: | resource curse, entrepreneurship, panel data |
| JEL: | O13 Q32 M13 |
| Date: | 2012 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:mar:magkse:201224&r=ara |
| By: | Rabah Arezki; Mustapha K. Nabli |
| Abstract: | This paper takes stock of the economic performance of resource rich countries in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) over the past forty years. While those countries have maintained high levels of income per capita, they have performed poorly when going beyond the assessment based on standard income level measures. Resource rich countries in MENA have experienced relatively low and non inclusive economic growth as well as high levels of macroeconomic volatility. Important improvements in health and education have taken place but the quality of the provision of public goods and services remains an important source of concerns. Looking forward we argue that the success of economic reforms in MENA rests on the ability of those countries to invest boldly in building inclusive institutions as well as high levels of human capacity in public administrations. |
| Keywords: | natural resources, volatility, inclusive growth, Middle East and North Africa |
| JEL: | D74 D63 F32 Q33 |
| Date: | 2012 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:oxf:oxcrwp:086&r=ara |
| By: | Jellal , Mohamed; Tarbalouti , Essaid |
| Abstract: | We presented a theory that attempts to explain the stylized fact of the persistence of child labor in developing countries. Our model shows the importance of the role of institutions in explaining the level of education of these countries. These institutions can be formal as the quality of educational governance or informal social norms as incentives for more education. Our main result showed the existence of a strategic complementarity between the formal institution and informal institution which may create a poverty trap.In particular our theoretical model is a conceptual framework for analyzing our preliminary studies in progress on the determinants of child labor in Morocco. |
| Keywords: | formal institution; informal institution; social norm; education; child labor |
| JEL: | I21 Z13 K31 J2 |
| Date: | 2012 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:pra:mprapa:39384&r=ara |
| By: | Menatallah Darrag (Faculty of Management Technology, The German University in Cairo); Dina Mohamed Yousri (Faculty of Management Technology, The German University in Cairo); Ahmed Badreldin (Faculty of Management, University of Marburg, Germany) |
| Abstract: | Academic dishonesty (AD) is an ongoing concern for authorities in higher education, where its importance is manifested in two folds. First, AD negatively affects the integrity and quality of research of individuals and institutions; and secondly it negatively affects the honesty level of the youth with far-reaching consequences for ethics and performance. Although AD is a challenge for all societies, there is strong evidence that developing countries are more prone to suffer from AD than developed countries. This exploratory paper follows similar studies for other countries, addressing the dimension of AD within higher education in Egypt. The results confirm significant levels of AD, with the top practice being to work cooperatively on individually assigned tasks. Interestingly, there are differences between the faculties, but not between public and private institutions. Management students, for example, showed by far the highest willingness to cheat on exams or to plagiarize. |
| Keywords: | Academic dishonesty, higher education, Egypt |
| JEL: | I20 I23 |
| Date: | 2012–05 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:guc:wpaper:31&r=ara |
| By: | Yusuf Soner Baskaya; Eda Gulsen; A. Hakan Kara |
| Abstract: | [TR] 2011 yilinin ikinci yarisinda enflasyonda hizli bir yukselis gozlenmesi ve enflasyonun uzunca bir muddet hedefin belirgin olarak uzerinde seyretmesi enflasyon beklentilerinin yakindan izlenmesini gerektirmektedir. Bu calisma, beklenti olusumunun zaman icindeki seyrini inceleyerek anilan donemde davranissal bir bozulma yasanip yasanmadigini incelemektedir. Elde edilen bulgular, enflasyon hedefinin beklentilerin temel belirleyicilerinden biri olmaya devam ettigini ve gecmis enflasyonun beklentiler uzerindeki etkisinin zaman icinde azaldigini gostermektedir. Bu sonuclar, enflasyon hedefinin cipa olma niteligini koruduguna isaret etmektedir. [EN] After displaying a sharp increase during the second half of 2011, inflation has been significantly above the target for a long period, necessitating a close monitoring of inflation expectations. This study assesses the evolution of inflation expectations and investigates whether there is a behavioral deterioration in the recent period. Our findings indicate that inflation target is still one of the main determinants of inflation expectations. Moreover, the weight of past inflation in explaining inflation expectations has been declining through time. These results suggest that inflation targets continue to serve as an anchor. |
| Date: | 2012 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:tcb:econot:1214&r=ara |
| By: | Serajuddin, Umar; Verme, Paolo |
| Abstract: | One of the recurrent explanations of the Arab spring is that governments were disconnected from their populations and that public policies were simply not in line with people's sentiments and expectations. This paper provides a methodology to better understand how objective conditions of deprivation are translated into subjective feelings of deprivation using a strand of the recent literature on relative deprivation. The authors apply this methodology to better understand the question of gender and youth deprivation in the context of the Moroccan labor market. They find that the reference group (the people with whom people compare themselves) plays a pivotal role in understanding how feelings of labor deprivation are generated. This can explain the apparent mismatch between objective conditions and subjective feelings of deprivation related to joblessness among young men and women. The methodology can help us understand why greater discontent may be exhibited by a group of individuals who are in fact less deprived in a material sense. It can also potentially help governments design public policies that address objective conditions of deprivation, such as unemployment, with a better understanding of subjective implications. |
| Keywords: | Labor Markets,Population Policies,Labor Policies,Gender and Development,Housing&Human Habitats |
| Date: | 2012–06–01 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:wbk:wbrwps:6090&r=ara |
| By: | Balibek, Emre; Memis, Hamdi Alper |
| Abstract: | Governments raise funds to meet their financing needs using a range of fixed income securities and loans with different maturities, interest rates, and exchange rate structures. Public debt managers need to consider various policy objectives when deciding on the structure of the public liability portfolio. This paper describes a simulation model developed at the Turkish Treasury to assist the decision-making process in debt strategy formulation. The model is used to analyze the medium and long-term consequences of alternative debt management strategies in terms of cost and risk characteristics, and provides key inputs to decision making. |
| Keywords: | Debt Markets,Emerging Markets,Economic Theory&Research,External Debt,Banks&Banking Reform |
| Date: | 2012–06–01 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:wbk:wbrwps:6091&r=ara |
| By: | A. Hakan Kara |
| Abstract: | Turkiye Cumhuriyet Merkez Bankasi 2010 yilinin sonlarindan itibaren yeni bir para politikasi cercevesi tasarlayarak uygulamaya koymustur. Bu makalede, yeni politikanin ortaya cikis nedenleri, uygulamasi ve sonuclari ozetlenmekte; soz konusu politika cercevesinin, orta vadeli enflasyon beklentilerini bozmadan Turkiye ekonomisini dengeli bir buyume patikasina yonlendirmekte oldukca etkili oldugu gosterilmektedir. |
| Keywords: | Para politikasi, Fiyat istikrari, Finansal istikrar, Parasal aktarim mekanizmasi |
| JEL: | E44 E52 E58 |
| Date: | 2012 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:tcb:wpaper:1217&r=ara |
| By: | Ezzrar, Abdeljaouad; Verme , Paolo |
| Abstract: | The measurement of multidimensional poverty has been advocated by most welfare scholars and is experiencing a growth in interest, partly explained by controversial debates that have emerged across academics and practitioners. This paper follows one of the least explored approaches -- Multiple Correspondence Analysis -- to assess multidimensional poverty in Morocco between 2001 and 2007. Multiple Correspondence Analysis provides two major advantages for the measurement of multidimensional poverty: it generates a matrix of"weights"based on the variance-covariance matrix of all welfare dimensions selected and provides a natural approach for constructing a composite welfare indicator that satisfies essential poverty ordering axioms. The application shows that poverty in Morocco has declined according to both monetary and multidimensional indicators and that these findings are robust to stochastic dominance tests. The paper concludes that the sustained positive growth that Morocco experienced during the last decade has translated in improvements in living conditions well beyond monetary returns. |
| Keywords: | Rural Poverty Reduction,Regional Economic Development,Achieving Shared Growth,Debt Markets |
| Date: | 2012–06–01 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:wbk:wbrwps:6087&r=ara |
| By: | Basher, Syed Abul; Raboy, David G.; Kaitibie, Simeon; Hossain, Ishrat |
| Abstract: | Using Qatar as a case study, we exploit a novel micro dataset for 102 raw agricultural imported commodities on a shipment-by-shipment basis over the period January 1, 2005 to June 30, 2010. The data comprise over half a million individual observations, with a very rich set of characteristic specifications. Several interesting initial results emerge from the analysis. First, we find evidence of import-price volatility far in excess of world price volatility across a wide spectrum of commodities. Second, supply origins for virtually all commodities are highly concentrated. In many cases commodities are sole sourced. Third, although less so, concentration is evidenced among Qatari importing companies for certain commodities. Fourth, we notice anomalies that lead to inefficient shipping methodologies and associated increased costs. The paper concludes by providing guidance for future empirical research. |
| Keywords: | Food security; Import data; Market concentration; Price volatility; Logistic inefficiency |
| JEL: | Q17 L10 Q18 |
| Date: | 2012–06 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:pra:mprapa:39357&r=ara |
| By: | Sdiri, Hanen; Ayadi , Mohamed |
| Abstract: | Recently, outsourcing services became an important component of the organizational strategy of the firm. However, a large number of studies focused mainly on the determinants of outsourcing ignoring its structural effects. The aim of this paper is to examine to what extent outsourcing relationships can be a source of innovation in industrial services using a sample of 108 Tunisian service firms. Specifically, we are interested in the domestic outsourcing of auxiliary activities. Our results support the evidence of positive effects of outsourcing service activities on the capacity of innovation. This suggests that outsourcing allows Tunisian service firms to create value, to increase flexibility and to improve the quality of their services. |
| Keywords: | Innovation; Externalisation; Secteur des services |
| JEL: | D23 L21 O32 O31 L80 |
| Date: | 2012–05 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:pra:mprapa:39359&r=ara |
| By: | Babili, Mahmoud |
| Abstract: | This brief examines the Government Procurement Agreement and its relevance for developing countries, providing Syrian negotiators in the context of negotiations for WTO accession with specific recommendations. |
| Keywords: | Government Procurment Agreement, Syria, WTO, Agribusiness, Agricultural and Food Policy, Agricultural Finance, Community/Rural/Urban Development, International Relations/Trade, Marketing, |
| Date: | 2012–06 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:ags:napcpb:125188&r=ara |
| By: | Alkhareif, Ryadh; Barnett, William A. |
| Abstract: | This paper builds monthly time-series of Divisia monetary aggregates for the Gulf area for the period of June 2004 to December 2011, using area-wide data. We also offer an "economic stability" indicator for the GCC area by analyzing the dynamics pertaining to certain variables such as the dual price aggregates, aggregate interest rates, and the Divisia aggregate user cost growth rates. Our findings unfold the superiority of the Divisia indexes over the officially published simple-sum monetary aggregates in monitoring the business cycles. There is also direct evidence on higher economic harmonization between GCC countries-- especially in terms of their financial markets and the monetary policy. Monetary policy often uses interest rate rules, when the economy is subject only to technology shocks. In that case, money is nevertheless relevant as an endogenous indicator (Woodford, 2003). Properly weighted monetary aggregates provide critical information to policy makers regarding inside liquidity created by financial intermediaries. In addition, policy rules should include money as well as interest rates, when the economy is subject to monetary shocks as well as technology shocks. The data show narrow aggregates growing while broad aggregates collapsed following the financial crises. This information clearly signals problems with the financial system's ability to create liquidity during the crises. |
| Keywords: | Divisia monetary aggregates; GCC countries; index number theory; monetary aggregation |
| JEL: | E51 E58 E52 E41 |
| Date: | 2012–05–18 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:pra:mprapa:39539&r=ara |
| By: | Ryadh M. Alkhareif (Department of Economics, The University of Kansas); William Barnett (Department of Economics, The University of Kansas) |
| Abstract: | This paper builds monthly time-series of Divisia monetary aggregates for the Gulf area for the period of June 2004 to December 2011, using area-wide data. We also offer an "economic stability" indicator for the GCC area by analyzing the dynamics pertaining to certain variables such as the dual price aggregates, aggregate interest rates, and the Divisia aggregate user cost growth rates. Our findings unfold the superiority of the Divisia indexes over the officially published simple-sum monetary aggregates in monitoring the business cycles. There is also direct evidence on higher economic harmonization between GCC countries-- especially in terms of their financial markets and the monetary policy. Monetary policy often uses interest rate rules, when the economy is subject only to technology shocks. In that case, money is nevertheless relevant as an endogenous indicator (Woodford, 2003). Properly weighted monetary aggregates provide critical information to policy makers regarding inside liquidity created by financial intermediaries. In addition, policy rules should include money as well as interest rates, when the economy is subject to monetary shocks as well as technology shocks. The data show narrow aggregates growing while broad aggregates collapsed following the financial crises. This information clearly signals problems with the financial system's ability to create liquidity during the crises. |
| Date: | 2012–06 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:kan:wpaper:201209&r=ara |
| By: | Bertrand Candelon; Marc Joëts; Sessi Tokpavi |
| Abstract: | This paper investigates the global crude oil market dependence during extreme price movements. To this aim we extend the univariate Granger causality test in extreme risk developed by Hong et al. (2009) in a multivariate context. Asymptotic as well as finite sample properties are delivered. Applying this test for 32 crude oil markets, it turns out that extreme price movements are governed by non-OPEC crude oil markets rather than OPEC ones. More precisely, WTI and Brent crude oils are price setters in both extreme downside and upside price movements. More surprisingly, Mediterranean Russian Urals and Europe Forcados (resp. Ecuador Oriente) rather than Dubai Fateh act as additional benchmarks in periods of extreme price falls (resp. rises). Moreover, the integration process between crude oil markets seems to decrease during extreme price movements making diversification strategies more feasible. |
| Keywords: | Crude oil markets; Risk transmission; Globalization; Distribution tails; Granger-causality test |
| Date: | 2012 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:drm:wpaper:2012-28&r=ara |