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on MENA - Middle East and North Africa |
| By: | Ahmed, Mosab;; Abushama, Hala; Siddig, Khalid; Kirui, Oliver; Dorosh, Paul; Taffesse, Alemayehu Seyoum |
| Abstract: | This report synthesizes the key discussions and outcomes of the “Navigating Sudan’s Conflict: Research Insights and Policy Implications†conference, held on March 5, 2024, in Nairobi, Kenya. Convening a diverse group of experts in research, development, and humanitarian efforts, the conference aimed to explore actionable solutions for the socioeconomic challenges triggered by Sudan’s ongoing conflict. Participants at the conference delved into the conflict’s adverse impacts on agriculture, markets, employment, and food security, as well as its wider regional impacts. Notably, the conference findings underscore the urgent need for supporting smallholder farmers, stabilizing markets, generating employment opportunities, and enhancing agricultural productivity within a comprehensive recovery strategy. Furthermore, conference participants stressed the importance of innovative data gathering, collaborative policy formulation, international support, and coordination to ensure effective interventions. This report succinctly presents the interventions discussed in the conference’s research and panel discussion sessions, particularly the pivotal insights offered in each to guide policy that will build peace, strengthen resilience, and relaunch and accelerate human and economic development efforts in Sudan. |
| Keywords: | REPUBLIC OF THE SUDAN; EAST AFRICA; AFRICA SOUTH OF SAHARA; AFRICA; armed conflicts; data collection; policy innovation; food security; agriculture; resilience; markets |
| Date: | 2024 |
| URL: | https://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:fpr:ssspwp:140775a&r= |
| By: | Hallman, Alice; Johannesson, Magnus; Kujansuu, Essi |
| Abstract: | Alan et al. (2023) carry out a field experiment where they randomly allocate 20 corporations in Turkey to a treatment group or a control group. White-collar employees at the headquarters of the corporations are invited to participate in a training program to improve the workplace environment. They report that the program reduces separation (workers quitting) and improves prosocial behavior, workplace quality and support networks. We test the robustness reproducibility of these results, focusing on the results reported in Table 8 of the original paper. We first successfully reproduce the results in Table 8 computationally based on the posted code and data, and we then carry out five robustness tests. We do not find robust support for an effect of the treatment on any of the four primary outcome variables (separation, prosocial behavior, workplace quality and support networks). The relative effect size of the robustness tests averaged across the primary hypotheses is 0.62, suggesting some inflation in the original effect sizes. The effects reported in the paper are driven by the additional employees added to the sample about one year after the initial baseline data collection and after the randomization of firms to treatment and control (and this sample is not balanced on observables across the treatment and control group). Not having access to the raw data limited the possible robustness tests. |
| Date: | 2024 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:zbw:i4rdps:118&r= |
| By: | International Monetary Fund |
| Abstract: | Domestic stability has improved since the new government took office in October 2022. This has facilitated the passage of Iraq’s first three-year budget, which entailed a large fiscal expansion starting in 2023. The non-oil economy has rebounded strongly in 2023 after stalling in 2022 and was largely unaffected by the ongoing conflict in the region. Nonetheless, Iraq remains highly vulnerable to oil price fluctuations and private sector activity is hindered by the large state footprint—including as an employer of first resort—corruption, red tape, underdeveloped infrastructure, and poor access to credit. |
| Date: | 2024–05–16 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:imf:imfscr:2024/128&r= |
| By: | Burak Deniz; Ýbrahim Yarba |
| Abstract: | This study analyzes bank loan maturity and corporate investment linkage by using novel firm-level data covering the universe of all incorporated firms in Türkiye over the last decade. The results of the panel regression model with multi-dimensional fixed effects reveal that loan maturity has a significant positive association with investment, indicating that longer debt maturity fosters corporate investment. The results reveal that the positive linkage between longer debt maturity and investment is more pronounced for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). This is also the case for young firms and firms with high growth opportunities. Considering the evidence provided in the literature that bank lending conditions, including maturity structure, are highly cyclical and vulnerable to financial conditions and economic policy uncertainties, our findings highlight the importance of reducing the policy uncertainties as well as the importance of policies that make equity financing more attractive and deepen the capital markets. |
| Keywords: | Bank loans, Corporate investment, Debt maturity structure |
| JEL: | C23 D22 E22 G31 G32 |
| Date: | 2024 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:tcb:wpaper:2405&r= |
| By: | Matolín, Maximilian |
| Abstract: | The research paper focuses on the internal character of the conflict and the symbiosis of the parties in it. It provides a further understanding of the personal and national security context in relation to the political situation on the West Coast of Yemen, with the focus on Tareq Saleh, nephew of the late Ali Abdullah Saleh, and his personally created militia, Yemeni National Resistance. |
| Date: | 2024–05–26 |
| URL: | https://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:osf:socarx:qg9ej&r= |
| By: | Mohamed ID BAHA (FSJES Agadir); Mohamed Eddani (FSJES Agadir) |
| Abstract: | This article aims to model the relationship between the use of Digital Technologies (DT) and the performance of Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) in Morocco. The theoretical study draws on various theories and models to construct a conceptual model based on three groups of influencing factors. This model is then empirically validated with 211 SMEs in the Souss Massa (SM) region. Using the structural equations approach, the results of the quantitative study demonstrate the positive and significant influence of DT characteristics on the performance of these SMEs, especially when these technologies are user-friendly or provide a comparative advantage. Additionally, the results indicate that companies benefit in terms of image, positive outcomes, and employee productivity when employees rely on DT and use them frequently. However, task-technology fit has no significant effect. This study provides insights for SMEs in the SM region and offers perspectives for future research. Keywords: Digital Technologies (DT); structural equations; SME performance; task-technology fit; DT use; DT characteristics. |
| Abstract: | Cet article vise à modéliser la relation entre l'utilisation des Technologies Numériques (TN) et la performance des Petites et Moyennes Entreprises (PME) au Maroc. L'étude théorique s'appuie sur diverses théories et modèles pour construire un modèle conceptuel basé sur trois groupes de facteurs d'influence. Ce modèle est ensuite soumis à une vérification empirique auprès de 211 PME de la région de Souss Massa (SM). En utilisant l'approche des équations structurelles, les résultats de l'étude quantitative démontrent l'influence positive et significative des caractéristiques des TN sur la performance de ces PME, surtout lorsque ces technologies sont conviviales ou présentent un avantage comparatif. De plus, les résultats indiquent que les entreprises bénéficient en termes d'image, de résultats positifs et de productivité des employés lorsque ces derniers dépendent des TN et les utilisent d'une manière fréquente. Cependant, l'adéquation tache-technologies n'a aucun effet significatif. Cette étude apporte des contributions aux PME de la région de SM et offre des perspectives pour des recherches futures. Mots clés : Technologies Numériques (TN) ; équations structurelles ; performance des PME ; adéquation tâche-technologie ; utilisation des TN ; caractéristiques des TN. |
| Keywords: | African Scientific Journal, Digital Technologies (DT), Structural equations, SME performance, Task-technology fit, DT use, DT characteristics, Technologies Numériques (TN), Équations structurelles, Performance des PME, Adéquation tâche-technologie, Utilisation des TN, Caractéristiques des TN, Sigles et acronymes |
| Date: | 2024 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:hal:journl:hal-04563306&r= |