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on Central and Western Asia |
| By: | Djavad Salehi-Isfahani (Virginia Tech); Mohammad H. Mostafavi-Dehzooei |
| Abstract: | We study the impact of a nation-wide unconditional cash transfer program on labor supply in Iran. In 2011, the government started monthly deposits of cash into individual family accounts amounting to 29% of the median household income. We use panel data and fixed effects to study the causal effect of the cash transfers on labor supply using the exogenous variation in the intensity of treatment, which we define as the value of cash transfers relative to household income in the year before transfers. We also use a difference-in-differences methodology that relies on exogenous variation in the time households first started receiving transfers. With the exception of youth, who have weak ties to the labor market, we find no evidence that cash transfers reduced labor supply, while service sector workers appear to have increased their hours of work, perhaps because some used transfers to expand their business. |
| Date: | 2017–04–05 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:erg:wpaper:1090&r=cwa |
| By: | Abasov, Muzaffar |
| Abstract: | Azerbaijan implemented two significant devaluations in 2015 decreasing AZN’s rate against USD from 0.78 to 1.55. Considering the favorable situation after AZN’s devaluation, it is now cheaper to increase local production, especially agricultural products. Additionally, as a result of tensions between Russia and Turkey, there is a huge vacant market for agricultural goods in Russia which is a good opportunity for Azerbaijan to export. Citrus fruits are one of them. Considering possible options we recommend government to take policy decisions offered in paper. |
| Keywords: | citruc fruits, azerbaijan, manat's devaluation, azerbaijan economy |
| JEL: | F13 Q02 |
| Date: | 2016 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:pra:mprapa:78257&r=cwa |
| By: | Mirkasimov, Bakhrom; Ahunov, Muzaffar |
| Abstract: | Central Asian “stans”– Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan and Turkmenistan – jointly have 31.4 million people in the labor force (See table 1). The largest labor share belongs to Uzbekistan (13.6 million) and the smallest number live in Turkmenistan (2.3 million). Labor force participation rates in these economies, as a legacy of Soviet period, are high and, in Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan, at comparable level with advanced economies like South Korea. In Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan labor force participation rates are even higher than in other economies. |
| Keywords: | labor markets, informality, Central Asia |
| JEL: | J46 O53 |
| Date: | 2017 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:pra:mprapa:78751&r=cwa |
| By: | Burhan Can Karahasani; Firat Bilgel (Okan University, Turkey) |
| Abstract: | This paper examines the link between healthcare access/utilization and health outcomes in Turkey within a spatial framework. Our initial set of findings highlight an overall duality in health indicators which is getting stronger once spatial dimension is included. Specifically we find wider spatial dichotomy for health outcomes relative to access and utilization measures. Finally once we consider unobserved heterogeneity, spatial spillovers and spatial variability; our results pin point a non-robust link between healthcare access/utilization measures and health outcomes which works better among the already developed regions of Turkey. Overall our combined results indicate an ongoing polarization of health-based human capital development which coincides with local variations of the relationship between healthcare access/utilization and outcomes in Turkey. |
| Date: | 2017–04–26 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:erg:wpaper:1089&r=cwa |
| By: | Cheratian, Iman; Goltabar, Saleh |
| Abstract: | The relationship between energy consumption and economic growth has undergone extensive investigation and the empirical evidences are mixed ranging from bi- and uni-directional causality to no causality. These conflicts may be due to the fact that countries have different energy consumption patterns and various sources of energy. This paper is the first study on causal relationships between industrial energy consumption and real regional economic growth based on the panel data for 31 provinces in Iran over the period 2004–2014. We employ the GMM-SYS approach for the estimation of the panel vector autoregression (PVAR) model. Afterwards, by doing an in-depth analysis of energy consumption data, the purpose of this paper is to contribute to the debate by examining the causality in various forms of energy consumption (Diesel fuel, Natural Gas, Gasoline, Kerosene, LPG&LNG, Petroleum and Electricity). We discover: (a) totally, there is bidirectional causality between industrial energy consumption and regional growth; (b) regional growth leads to Gasoline consumption; (c) Natural gas consumption leads to regional growth; (d) there exists no causal relationship between regional growth and Diesel fuel, Kerosene, LPG&LNG and Petroleum consumption; (e) there is also bidirectional causality between industrial electricity consumption and regional economic growth. Taken together, the results of this study involve valuable information for policy makers at regional level. |
| Keywords: | Energy consumption, GDP PerCapita, Manufacturing sector, Causality, Panel VAR, Iran. |
| JEL: | C33 L60 N55 O13 Q43 R11 |
| Date: | 2017–04–15 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:pra:mprapa:78315&r=cwa |