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on MENA - Middle East and North Africa |
| By: | Rutledge, Emilie; Alkaabi, Khaled |
| Abstract: | Purpose — To gauge the job satisfaction levels of UAE nationals employed in the (‘real’ and quasi-) private sector. Despite private sector Emiratisation (labour market nationalisation) having been in place since the late 1990s and considered a strategic government priority in 2007, the numbers of nationals employed in the private sector as a ratio to those employed in the public sector remains particularly low. Design/methodology/approach — This study is based on a survey of 653 nationals employed in the non-classic sector (i.e., working at commercially-run entities). The instrument used was based on the Job Satisfaction Survey construct and assessed, inter alia, the impact of sectoral pay and benefit discrepancies and prevailing societal sentiment towards the ‘appropriacy’ of pursuing a non-conventional career path. Findings — statistically significant relationships between the dependent variable of “continuance intentions” and various predictor variables were observed: β .399 for salary and benefits; whilst sociocultural influences was found to have a significant and negative relationship, β -.423. Originality/value — This research can help in a) identifying and prioritising the economic and social issues that are impacting the pace of Emiratisation and b) in understanding what incentives and measures can be useful and effective for the operational implementation of labour nationalisation policies throughout the Arab Gulf and therefore adds to the growing body of literature on an Arab Middle East HRM model. |
| Keywords: | Arab Gulf labour markets; UAE; Emiratisation; labour nationalisation; job satisfaction; Job Satisfaction Survey. |
| JEL: | J08 J21 J45 J61 J82 |
| Date: | 2017–02–19 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:pra:mprapa:76931&r=ara |
| By: | Aykut Mert Yakut (Postdoctoral Research Fellow, Department of Economics, Middle East Technical University, Ankara, Turkey); Ebru Voyvoda (Department of Economics, Middle East Technical University, Ankara, Turkey) |
| Abstract: | This study focuses on the effects of public policies on the size distribution of income in Turkey. To this end, an intertemporal dynamic equilibrium model with heterogeneous agents in a small open economy framework is constructed. This study serves several extensions to the literature via its algebraic structure and the calibration process in which various micro-level data sets are utilized. The results reveal that, in line with the previous findings of the literature, increasing budget allocations to unilateral social transfer programs has no significant effect on the size distribution of income and has adverse effects on the labor market decisions of relatively poor laborers. On the contrary, subsidizing the cost of labor has positive impacts on labor supplies and the size distribution of income improves in favor of relatively poor households. |
| Keywords: | Income distribution, Redistributive policies, Internal migration, Intertemporal CGE |
| JEL: | D33 D58 D91 D92 H23 |
| Date: | 2017–02 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:met:wpaper:1703&r=ara |
| By: | Mathilde MAUREL (Centre d'Economie de la Sorbonne CNRS - Université Paris 1); Charlemagne NIKIEMA (Centre d'Economie de la Sorbonne - Université de Paris I) |
| Abstract: | We examine the role of new decentralized media (the internet) vs old media (television) on individuals’ political engagement in North Africa. Drawing our data from the Afrobarometer round 5 survey, we tackle issues of endogeneity by resorting first to a propensity score matching method to identify the effect of media on political participation. We then address endogeneity by relying to a bivariate probit model while using lightening activity as an instrument for media. The analysis evidences the political power of the internet and TV. Getting news from internet reduces voting but increases protests, while TV watching induces more vote and less protest. This effect is channeled through the impact of media on the perception about political institutions, which differs across the different media. |
| Keywords: | media, political participation, North Africa |
| JEL: | D74 F50 O55 L96 |
| Date: | 2016–10 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:fdi:wpaper:3279&r=ara |
| By: | Mathilde MAUREL (Centre d'Economie de la Sorbonne CNRS - Université Paris 1); Charlemagne NIKIEMA (Centre d'Economie de la Sorbonne - Université de Paris I) |
| Abstract: | We examine the role of new decentralized media (the internet) vs old media (television) on individuals’ political engagement in North Africa. Drawing our data from the Afrobarometer round 5 survey, we tackle issues of endogeneity by resorting first to a propensity score matching method to identify the effect of media on political participation. We then address endogeneity by relying to a bivariate probit model while using lightening activity as an instrument for media. The analysis evidences the political power of the internet and TV. Getting news from internet reduces voting but increases protests, while TV watching induces more vote and less protest. This effect is channeled through the impact of media on the perception about political institutions, which differs across the different media. |
| Keywords: | media, political participation, North Africa |
| JEL: | D74 F50 O55 L96 |
| Date: | 2016–10 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:fdi:wpaper:3278&r=ara |
| By: | Ben Jebli, Mehdi; Ben Youssef, Slim |
| Abstract: | The autoregressive distributed lag (ARDL) bounds approach to cointegration and Granger causality tests are used to investigate the dynamic short and long-run causality relationships between per capita renewable energy (RE) consumption, carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions, real gross domestic product (GDP), agricultural value added (AVA), and arable land use (LUSE) for the case of Morocco during the period 1980-2013. Two models are used: the first with the AVA variable, and the second with the LUSE variable. The Wald test confirms the existence of a long-run relationship between variables for each considered model. Our long-run estimates indicate that an increase in economic growth, agricultural production, and arable land use contribute to increase the use of renewable energy, while a decrease in CO2 emissions increases renewable energy consumption. Granger causality tests reveal the existence of a short-run unidirectional causality running from AVA and from LUSE to RE consumption; a long-run unidirectional causality running from LUSE to RE, and a long-run bidirectional causality between AVA and RE. We recommend that Morocco should continue to encourage renewable energy use because this latter is not in competition with agricultural production for land use, but rather it is a complementary activity. |
| Keywords: | Autoregressive distributed lag; Granger causality; renewable energy; agricultural value added; arable land use; Morocco. |
| JEL: | C3 Q1 Q15 Q42 Q54 |
| Date: | 2017–02–01 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:pra:mprapa:76798&r=ara |
| By: | Mustafa Sakr (Department of Economics, University of Pretoria, South Africa); Andre Jordaan (Department of Economics, University of Pretoria, South Africa and IPAG Business School, Paris, France) |
| Abstract: | As literature remains sparse regarding emerging African multinational corporations (EAMNCs), this article focuses on examining the key push factors (i.e. home country macroeconomic specifications) influencing the outward foreign direct investment flow from South Africa and Egypt. Based on dynamic panel data model estimation, the empirical research proves that trade openness, patent and the gross domestic product (GDP) and the GDP growth rate of South Africa and Egypt are dominant drivers of their outward foreign direct investment. In contrast, the number of investment treaties and inward foreign direct investment rate do not significantly influence outbound investment decisions of South African and Egyptian corporations. |
| Keywords: | South African MNCs, Egyptian MNCs, emerging African MNCs, emerging MNCs, push factor determinants of OFDI |
| JEL: | P45 F21 |
| Date: | 2017–02 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:pre:wpaper:201709&r=ara |
| By: | Deniz Karaoğlan (Department of Economics, Bahçeşehir University); Aysıt Tansel (Department of Economics, METU; Institute for the Study of Labor (IZA) Bonn, Germany; Economic Research Forum (ERF) Cairo, Egypt) |
| Abstract: | This study investigates the factors that may influence the obesity in Turkey which is a developing country by implementing Quantile Regression (QR) methodology. The control factors that we consider are education, labor market outcomes, household income, age, gender, region and marital status. The analysis is conducted by using the 2008, 2010 and 2012 waves of the Turkish Health Survey (THS) prepared by the Turkish Statistical Institute (TURKSTAT). The obesity indicator in our study is the individual’s Body Mass Index (BMI). QR regression results provide robust evidence that additional years of schooling has negative effect on individual’s BMI and this effect significantly raises across different quantiles of BMI. QR results also indicate that males tend to have higher BMI at lower quantiles of BMI, whereas females have higher BMI at the top quantiles. This implies that females have higher tendency to be obese in Turkey. Our findings also imply that the positive effect of age on individual’s BMI levels raises across the quantiles at a decreasing rate. In addition, the effect of living in urban or rural areas do not significantly differ at the highest quantile distributions of BMI. Our results also reveal that the negative effect of being single on BMI increases gradually in absolute value across the quantiles of BMI implying that single individuals have less tendency to be obese or overweight compared to the married or widowed/divorced individuals. Moreover, the negative effect of being in labor force on individual’s BMI increases across the quantiles of BMI implying that an individual is more likely to be obese if he/she is out of labor force. Finally, the impact of household income on BMI is positive and significant at all quantiles. |
| Keywords: | Obesity, adults, BMI, quantile regression, Turkey |
| JEL: | I12 I18 C21 |
| Date: | 2017–01 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:met:wpaper:1701&r=ara |
| By: | Cheriet, F. |
| Abstract: | Our research aims to analyze the ongoing processes of valorization of local products in Algeria. Indeed, since 2008, the country has engaged in a process of analysis of the existing and selection of local products in order to develop signs of quality and origin. This process has accelerated in recent years, with two elements: the launch in 2013 of an ambitious Algeria-EU twinning project, with a strong allocation to support the development of local products in Algeria; and the installation in July 2015 of the ministerial committee for products labeling. Based on the results of previous academic research (Salhi, 2009 and 2013, Hadjou and Cheriet, 2013, Lamani 2014) and documents emanating from Algerian institutions, we analyze the existing process, its difficulties in terms of implementation and operational constraints faced by several actors in terms of involvement and replication. Finally, we propose some elements of discussion and perspectives to reinforce the processes in progress. ....French Abstract: L’objectif de cette recherche est de dresser un bilan des démarches en cours de valorisation des produits de terroir en Algérie. En effet, depuis 2008, le pays s’est engagé dans un processus d’analyse de l’existant et de sélection de produits de terroir en vue de développer des signes de qualité et d’origine. Ce processus s’est accéléré depuis quelques années, avec deux éléments : le lancement en 2013 d’un ambitieux projet de jumelage Algérie –UE, avec une forte dotation pour appuyer les démarches de la valorisation des produits de terroir en Algérie ; et l’installation en juillet 2015 du comité interministériel chargé de la labellisation. En nous appuyant sur les résultats de recherches académiques antérieures (Salhi, 2009 et 2013, Hadjou et Cheriet, 2013, Lamani 2014) et des documents émanant des institutions algériennes, nous analysons dans cette recherche le processus existant, ses difficultés en termes de mise en place et d’opérationnalisation, et les contraintes rencontrées par les opérateurs en termes d’adhésion et de réplication. Enfin, nous proposons quelques éléments de discussion et des perspectives pour renforcer les démarches en cours. |
| Keywords: | TERROIR; VALORISATION; EVALUATION; DEMARCHE INSTITUTIONNELLE; ALGERIE; PROMOTION; INSTITUTIONAL PROCESS; ALGERIA |
| JEL: | L66 N57 Q18 |
| Date: | 2017 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:umr:wpaper:201702&r=ara |