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on Islamic Finance |
| By: | Ezzedine Ghlamallah (CERGAM - Centre d'Études et de Recherche en Gestion d'Aix-Marseille - AMU - Aix Marseille Université - UTLN - Université de Toulon); Ahmed Danyal Arif |
| Abstract: | This article explores the universal condemnation of interest and delves into the metaphysical aspects of monetary systems. It critically examines the historical and philosophical viewpoints against interest from various cultures and religions, including ancient Greek and Roman societies, Judaism, Christianity, and Islam. The paper highlights the ethical, economic, and metaphysical reasons behind the condemnation of interest, associating it with injustices like exploitation and social inequality. Additionally, it discusses the concept of free money advocated by Silvio Gesell and its similarities to the Islamic practice of zakāt, emphasizing the negative economic impacts of hoarding wealth and advocating for a monetary system that discourages such practices. The metaphysical analysis draws on Aristotelian principles, suggesting that just like physical entities, monetary systems should adhere to natural laws of entropy and equilibrium, thus challenging the current financial practices that encourage perpetual growth and destabilize economic systems. The paper concludes by proposing a redefinition of money that aligns with these metaphysical principles, advocating for the abolition of interest to achieve a more equitable and stable economic system. |
| Keywords: | Islamic economics, monetary metaphysics, debt, currency, ribā, zakāt |
| Date: | 2024–06 |
| URL: | https://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:hal:journl:hal-05160176 |
| By: | International Monetary Fund |
| Abstract: | Economic growth slowed to 5.2 percent in 2024 (compared to 6.5 percent in 2023), reflecting a sluggish extractive sector and inflation remains contained. Growth is projected to slow further to 4.0 percent in 2025 due to the projected contraction in the extractive sector. After widening in 2024, the current account is projected to narrow in 2025. Risks are balanced: upside risks include new mining and gas projects and a further increase in exported commodity prices. Downside risks include an escalation of geopolitical tensions in the region, disruptions in extractives, weather shocks and cuts in official development assistance. Moreover, challenges related to infrastructure, governance, vulnerability to economic shocks, and limited economic diversification constrain Mauritania’s economic development. |
| Date: | 2025–07–08 |
| URL: | https://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:imf:imfscr:2025/170 |
| By: | Wu, Victor Y. |
| Abstract: | Mehmood et al. (2023) estimate the effect of Ramadan fasting hours on judicial decisions using case-level data from Pakistan and India. Using exogenous variation in fasting intensity due to the Islamic lunar calendar and latitude, the authors find that Muslim judges are significantly more likely to issue acquittals with longer fasting hours. Their main result, reported in Table 1, shows that each additional hour of fasting beyond the baseline minimum increases acquittal rates by about 10%. I successfully computationally reproduced this main result using the original authors' data and code: I found no coding errors or discrepancies in the replication package, and the point estimates and p-values in my reproduction match those reported in the published article. I then evaluated robustness for the Pakistan sample of judges using three alternative specifications. First, the result is robust to alternative inclusion of control variables: It remains stable and statistically significant whether controlling for case-level covariates, judge-level covariates, both, or none. Second, the effect persists across a different fixed effects specification that includes only district fixed effects. Finally, the result is robust to clustering standard errors at the judge level, although clustering at the month level increases the standard error and renders the estimate statistically insignificant. Overall, the authors' main finding is both computationally reproducible and robust. |
| Date: | 2025 |
| URL: | https://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:zbw:i4rdps:245 |