{"title":"The effects of IMF programs on income inequality: a semi-parametric treatment effects approach","authors":"M. Chletsos, Andreas Sintos","doi":"10.1108/ijdi-12-2021-0265","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1108/ijdi-12-2021-0265","url":null,"abstract":"\u0000Purpose\u0000This paper aims to provide new insights regarding the impact of International Monetary Fund (IMF) programs on income inequality.\u0000\u0000\u0000Design/methodology/approach\u0000The paper uses a novel methodological approach proposed by Acemoglu et al. (2019), using (1) the regression adjustment, (2) the inverse probability weighting and (3) the doubly robust estimator, which combines (1) and (2), and a sample of annual data for 135 developing countries over the time period 1970 to 2015.\u0000\u0000\u0000Findings\u0000The findings show that IMF programs are associated with greater income inequality for up to five years. By differentiating the effect of IMF programs, the authors find that only IMF non-concessional programs have a significant detrimental effect on income inequality, while IMF concessional programs do not have a consistent effect on income inequality. In addition, the authors find that only IMF programs with a higher number of conditions have a detrimental and statistically significant effect on income inequality, compared to IMF programs with a smaller number of conditions, where their effect on income inequality is found to be insignificant.\u0000\u0000\u0000Originality/value\u0000To the best of the authors’ knowledge, the analysis developed in this paper contributes to the existing literature by applying the most methodologically sound identification strategy, which does not rely on the linearity assumption, the selection of instruments or matching variables and additionally takes into account the selection bias related to IMF program participation.\u0000","PeriodicalId":37830,"journal":{"name":"International Journal of Development Issues","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2022-04-25","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"48234123","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Wage premium for soft skills in IT sector","authors":"Andrei Ternikov","doi":"10.1108/ijdi-12-2021-0257","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1108/ijdi-12-2021-0257","url":null,"abstract":"\u0000Purpose\u0000This study aims to investigate the relationship between the demand on “soft” skills and suggested salaries for IT specializations in Russia.\u0000\u0000\u0000Design/methodology/approach\u0000Based on the database of vacancies, econometric modeling and cluster analysis of job occupations are implemented.\u0000\u0000\u0000Findings\u0000The results show positive association between demand for “soft” skills and wage if the model is controlled for the working experience and narrow professional occupations. Findings provide evidence that there is significant wage premium for “soft” skills in cases when job positions either imply no experience or require specialists with at least three years of tenure.\u0000\u0000\u0000Originality/value\u0000This research provides new evidence on the relationship between “soft” skills and wage using job postings data from Russia. This paper identifies the presence of wage premium for “soft” skills among IT specialists if controlling for sub-specializations, year, region and working experience. The robustness checks indicate no significant changes in the obtained results.\u0000","PeriodicalId":37830,"journal":{"name":"International Journal of Development Issues","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2022-04-08","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"41759133","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Estimating the returns to education in a chronically depressed labour market: the case of Kosovo","authors":"Ardiana Gashi, N. Adnett","doi":"10.1108/ijdi-12-2021-0254","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1108/ijdi-12-2021-0254","url":null,"abstract":"\u0000Purpose\u0000This paper aims to investigate whether the conventional approach to estimating the private and social rates of return to education generates reliable findings when used in economies with chronically depressed labour markets.\u0000\u0000\u0000Design/methodology/approach\u0000Conventional techniques (the Mincer earnings function and the discounting method) are used to provide initial estimates of the private and social returns to education in Kosovo. However, this study argues that in countries with chronically depressed labour markets, such as in Kosovo, the conventional approach is likely to significantly underestimate the private and social returns from achieving a higher level of educational attainment. This study extends the estimation approach to take into account the greater probability of more highly educated Kosovars being: employed, employed in the formal and public sectors and having longer job tenure.\u0000\u0000\u0000Findings\u0000The extended approach to estimating rates of return to schooling generates higher private and social rates of return to education than the conventional approach. Moreover, in contrast to the findings of the conventional approach, the revised approach suggests that private and social rates of return are highest from completion of upper secondary and tertiary education.\u0000\u0000\u0000Research limitations/implications\u0000The results indicate that if governments in economies with chronically depressed labour markets decide upon their educational priorities based on unadjusted rates of return, then resources may be misallocated.\u0000\u0000\u0000Originality/value\u0000The analysis presented in this paper suggests that conventional approaches to estimating private and social rates of return to education are not suitable for use in economies with chronically depressed labour markets. In addition, the paper provides the first comprehensive analysis of the rates of return to education in Kosovo. These results are used to provide a critique of the Kosovo Government’s recent educational priorities.\u0000","PeriodicalId":37830,"journal":{"name":"International Journal of Development Issues","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2022-04-07","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"44342621","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Emad Kazemzadeh, Mohammad Taher Ahmadi Shadmehri, Taghi Ebrahimi Salari, N. Salehnia, A. Pooya
{"title":"Oil price shocks on shale oil supply and energy security: a case study of the United States","authors":"Emad Kazemzadeh, Mohammad Taher Ahmadi Shadmehri, Taghi Ebrahimi Salari, N. Salehnia, A. Pooya","doi":"10.1108/ijdi-12-2021-0264","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1108/ijdi-12-2021-0264","url":null,"abstract":"\u0000Purpose\u0000The purpose of this study is to examine oil price shocks on US shale oil supply and energy security during the period 2000q1–2020q4.\u0000\u0000\u0000Design/methodology/approach\u0000In this study, the Shannon–Wiener index was used to calculate energy security, and then a structural vector autoregression (VAR) was applied to measure the effect of oil price shocks.\u0000\u0000\u0000Findings\u0000The results of the variance decomposition indicate that oil prices account for about 20% of changes in US shale oil production, while it explains only about 3% of changes in energy security. Finally, historical decomposition confirms the results of impulse response functions.\u0000\u0000\u0000Originality/value\u0000The novelty of this study is that so far, no study has examined the effect of oil price shock on shale oil production and energy security in the USA using the structural VAR model. This study also used the latest Shannon–Wiener index as a measure of energy security in the USA. The reason for selecting this index is that, in addition to considering the share of the total consumption of each primary energy, the share of energy imports from each country as well as the political risk of energy exporting countries to the USA are also included.\u0000","PeriodicalId":37830,"journal":{"name":"International Journal of Development Issues","volume":"327 3","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2022-03-29","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"41290449","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Financial stability aspects of monetary policy transmission in developing countries: empirical evidence from Kazakhstan","authors":"Z. Ybrayev","doi":"10.1108/ijdi-06-2021-0128","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1108/ijdi-06-2021-0128","url":null,"abstract":"\u0000Purpose\u0000This study aims to determine whether the transmission of monetary policy to the real economy depends on the structural conditions of financial stability. In particular, the paper shows that the effects of shocks to financial stability on output and inflation is conditional on the state of credit in the economy, measured broadly as a credit-to-GDP.\u0000\u0000\u0000Design/methodology/approach\u0000The authors use a threshold vector autoregression model with Bayesian techniques to investigate the impact of private nonfinancial sector credit on the dynamic relationship between financial conditions, monetary policy transmission mechanism and macroeconomic performance in Kazakhstan from 2005:Q1 to 2020:Q1.\u0000\u0000\u0000Findings\u0000In the modeled threshold vector autoregression (VAR) specification, the authors document that when the credit-to-GDP gap is low or the credit is below its trend, an increase to the interest rate leads to a short-term economic expansion. However, when the credit-to-GDP gap is high or the nonfinancial credit is above its trend, a tightening in monetary policy leads to an economic contraction with domestic financial conditions being weaker compared to a low credit environment.\u0000\u0000\u0000Originality/value\u0000The outcome is consistent with the related literature, which argues that a more sustained increase in credit is followed by a sharper economic contraction, but only when the economy is in the high credit state. These results highlight that financial stability measures (e.g. credit state) is important to take into account when conducting monetary policy in emerging economies.\u0000","PeriodicalId":37830,"journal":{"name":"International Journal of Development Issues","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2022-01-25","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"47857932","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"The impact of external debt on total factor productivity and growth in HIPCs: non-linear regression approaches","authors":"S. Beyene, Balázs Kotosz","doi":"10.1108/ijdi-07-2021-0145","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1108/ijdi-07-2021-0145","url":null,"abstract":"\u0000Purpose\u0000The purpose of this study is to provide an empirical analysis of the impact of external debt on total factor productivity (TFP) and growth along with the TFP channel through which external debt affects the growth of heavily indebted poor countries (HIPCs).\u0000\u0000\u0000Design/methodology/approach\u0000This study uses panel data econometrics; basically, the seemingly unrelated regression (SUR) and alternative non-linear (panel threshold) models. For robustness check, it also uses panel-corrected standard errors, feasible generalized least squares and SUR (using alternative variables).\u0000\u0000\u0000Findings\u0000External debt significantly reduces both TFP and growth. Besides, it confirms that the relationship between external debt and TFP and gross domestic product growth is non-linear. Further external debt can affect the growth of HIPCs through the TFP channel. However, the threshold model result reveals weak evidence of threshold values although there are some threshold values of 67 and 54 for TFP and growth models, respectively.\u0000\u0000\u0000Originality/value\u0000To the best of the authors’ knowledge, this is the first study on most concerned countries (HIPCs) that shows a detailed and complete analysis of the TFP channel and the impact of external debt on growth. Thus, it provides appropriate and sound policies that consider the unique characteristics of the countries. Unlike most previous findings, this study does not support an inverted U-shape relationship between external debt and growth. Further, it provides insights into the relationships among TFP, external debt and growth. Moreover, it considers basic panel econometric tests like cross-sectional dependence, uses a non-linear simultaneous equations model along with the alternative non-linear model and is supported by different robustness checks.\u0000","PeriodicalId":37830,"journal":{"name":"International Journal of Development Issues","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2021-12-28","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"43389914","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Optimal Power Flow Using firefly-algorithm","authors":"K. Karboune, I. Chaib, S. Arif, A. Choucha","doi":"10.21608/idj.2021.216606","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.21608/idj.2021.216606","url":null,"abstract":"In this paper, the Firefly Algorithm (FA) is proposed to find the optimal solution for the Optimal Power Flow (OPF) problem in a power system. The proposed algorithm is applied to determine the optimal settings of control variables of the OPF problem. The performance of the proposed algorithm was examined and tested on the standard IEEE 30bus test system with different objective functions and compared to other methods reported in the literature recently. Simulation results clearly obtained from the proposed (FA) approach indicated that (FA) provides an effective and robust high-quality solution for the OPF problem.","PeriodicalId":37830,"journal":{"name":"International Journal of Development Issues","volume":"13 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2021-12-25","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"87701808","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"The Hydrogeological conditions and characteristics of the groundwater occurrences in Ras Shukeir area, Suez Gulf, Egypt (Review)","authors":"M. Ibrahim, W. Emam, Wiame W. M. Emam","doi":"10.21608/idj.2021.216261","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.21608/idj.2021.216261","url":null,"abstract":"Ras Shukeir area is one of the most important regions for petroleum activities in Egypt. It is south east Ras Gharib (30 km) and north to Hurghada (150 km). Its coastal area lies on the Suez Gulf from the east, while its western area is desert land. There are shortage of knowledge on the Hydrogeological conditions and characterless of the groundwater occurrences in Ras Shoukeir which are necessary for establishing new petroleum facilities there and to forecasting flash flood. Therefore this review is an attempt to collect the most available data to help decision makers for their future social and economic developmental projects in this area. Climate of Ras Shukeir is a hot arid with dry and hot summer, whereas few sprinkles may occur in spring. The average annual temperature is 22.2°C, while the average precipitation is 5 mm. The foremost north-westerly winds are dominated. No surface water supply is present at this region except that from wadis during rainfall which is very low. The freshwater supply is based mainly on the groundwater aquifer and desalination of sea water, where there are small salt marshes. The main characteristics of the groundwater known to exist in this area were discussed. Two main and distinctive types of groundwater according to its origin are found; the first is of purely meteoric origin and the other being formed during the different geological times (formation water). The latter is being highly saline and occurred on deep wells and mixed with minerals and sulphites. Water is good in winter after the rainfall in the ranges and unpleasantly salty in the summer or during rainless period. For normal drinking purposes, fresh water of salinity up to 1000 ppm can be used. Saline water, of salinity ranging from 1000 to 3000 ppm is used for limited irrigation in a sandy soil. The courses of the hydrographic basins are filled with the Quaternary alluvial deposits which are formed of sand, gravel and boulder. Water depth in wells ranges between 0.5 and 3.2 m and the discharge ranges between 2 and 5 m 3 /day. Most deep hand-dug wells were established between 15 and 25 m in sand before reaching the water table, which is very close to or within the bed rock and obtaining a regular supply of between 10 and 50 m 3 per day.","PeriodicalId":37830,"journal":{"name":"International Journal of Development Issues","volume":"11 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2021-12-25","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"84002855","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Terrorism and the Media: The effect of the media in the growth of the phenomenon of terrorism in the environment of contemporary societies (Article Review)","authors":"Dalia El Sherbieny","doi":"10.21608/idj.2021.216259","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.21608/idj.2021.216259","url":null,"abstract":"This research aims to reveal whether some of the traditional or contemporary media, such as social media, television, radio, newspapers, etc have a greater role in the development and growth of terrorism phenomenon, terrorist acts, and terrorist groups, in the light of the fact that terrorism has different definitions, exploitation to the media and the ways to cover the terrorist event and what has been forgotten or even focusing on it.","PeriodicalId":37830,"journal":{"name":"International Journal of Development Issues","volume":"153 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2021-12-25","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"73720245","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
A. Youssef, M. Mekewi, Howaida Elsayed, M. Ahmed, M. A. Messih
{"title":"A new stratagem for the synthesis of novel ZnO-Insulin nanoparticles for controlled release of glucose in blood","authors":"A. Youssef, M. Mekewi, Howaida Elsayed, M. Ahmed, M. A. Messih","doi":"10.21608/IDJ.2021.191212","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.21608/IDJ.2021.191212","url":null,"abstract":"In this novel research, ZnO–insulin nanoparticles were prepared as glucose level regulator in the blood by sol-gel route adopting micelle template approach. The physicochemical features of the novel nanoparticles were investigated by XRD, FTIR, EDX and HRTEM which reveal noted crystallinity distortion when insulin is present. ZnONPs slight crystallite distortion could aid formulating ZnONPs activity biomedically in presence of protein entities. A homogeneous dispersion of insulin on the surface of ZnONPs was detected by HRTEM could also indicate favorable attachment mutual sites between the ZnO surface and the structural amino acid groups. The hypoglycemic activity effect of ZnONPs, ZnONPs-Insulin (1:1) and ZnONPs-Insulin (1:0.5) drugs was proven and compared to that of insulin in this study. The data showed that ZnONPs-Insulin (1:1) drug was the most potent hypoglycemic agent of them.","PeriodicalId":37830,"journal":{"name":"International Journal of Development Issues","volume":"66 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2021-12-25","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"73864107","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}