scholarly journals The Environmental Effects of FDI Evidence from Middle East and North Africa Countries

2021 ◽  
Vol 29 (6) ◽  
pp. 0-0
Keyword(s):  
Theoretical Model ◽  
Middle East ◽  
North Africa ◽  
Environmental Effects ◽  
Environmental Kuznets Curve ◽  
Empirical Work ◽  
Kuznets Curve ◽  
Mena Countries ◽  
Empirical Results ◽  
Negative Effect

Empirical work on the environmental effects of FDI has produced a mixed bag of results, with hardly any evidence for Middle East and North Africa (MENA) countries. A theoretical model is presented, postulating that whether FDI has a positive or negative effect on the environment depends on the position of the underlying country or region on the environmental Kuznets curve (EKC). The empirical results indicate that FDI leads to environmental degradation in MENA countries and that they fall on the rising sector of the EKC. The theoretical model is supported by the empirical results.

scholarly journals The effects of international tourism, electricity consumption and economic growth on CO2 emissions in North Africa

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
younesse el menyari
Keyword(s):  
Economic Growth ◽  
Co2 Emissions ◽  
North Africa ◽  
Environmental Kuznets Curve ◽  
Negative Relationship ◽  
Electricity Consumption ◽  
Real Income ◽  
Kuznets Curve ◽  
Causality Test ◽  
Empirical Results

Abstract This study examines the influence of tourism, economic growth and electricity consumption on carbon dioxide (CO2) emission in the presence of Environmental Kuznets Curve (EKC) model for a panel of four countries of North Africa, namely Morocco, Algeria, Tunisia and Egypt, over the period 1980–2014. Since we find the existence of cross-sectional dependence, we apply the unit root tests of CIPS and CADF, the Westerlund cointegration test as well as the dynamic seemingly unrelated regression (DSUR), and Dumitrescu-Hurlin Granger causality test. The empirical results show that electricity consumption has a positive effect on CO2 emissions. In contrast, tourism has a negative relationship with CO2 emissions, implying improvement in the quality of the environment. The conclusions confirm the hypothesis of the environmental Kuznets curve for the countries in our sample. In addition, the causality test indicates the following results: (i) A one-way causality from real income, electricity consumption and tourism to carbon emissions. (ii) A one-way causality runing from electricity consumption to real income and tourist arrivals. (iii) A two-way causality between real income and tourism development. Based on these empirical results, several policies recommendations are proposed for the four countries of North Africa.

scholarly journals Long-run analysis of Environmental Kuznets Curve in the Middle East and North Africa

2017 ◽  
Vol 8 (4) ◽  
pp. 72-79 ◽  
Author(s):  
Younes Ben Zaied ◽  
Nidhaleddine Ben Cheikh ◽  
Pascal Nguyen
Keyword(s):  
Middle East ◽  
Co2 Emissions ◽  
North Africa ◽  
Environmental Kuznets Curve ◽  
Estimation Method ◽  
Emissions Reduction ◽  
Kuznets Curve ◽  
Mena Region ◽  
Long Run ◽  
Cointegration Tests

The main originality of this paper is to empirically investigate the long-run relationship between carbone dioxide (CO2) emissions, energy use and real GDP per capita in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) during the last three decades. Using panel cointegration tests (Westerlund, (2007) and DOLS estimation method, we validate the Environmental Kuznets Curve (EKC) hypothesis in the long run for the MENA region countries. Therefore, we conclude that oil producer countries have adopted several policy decisions in favor of CO2 emissions reduction. The estimated turning point of the EKC confirms our intuitions that only oil producer countries achieve CO2 emissions reduction goal.

scholarly journals The Export-Led Growth Hypothesis: A Panel Cointegration Approach in the Middle East and North Africa Countries (1980-2017)

2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ayat Abdelrahim Suliman Esaa ◽  
Harun Bal ◽  
Erhan İşcan
Keyword(s):  
Economic Growth ◽  
Panel Data ◽  
Middle East ◽  
Least Squares ◽  
North Africa ◽  
Panel Cointegration ◽  
Ordinary Least Squares ◽  
Mena Countries ◽  
Empirical Results ◽  
Growth Hypothesis

This study examines the hypothesis of the Export-Led Growth in the seven selected Middle East and North Africa countries, the hypothesis state that export growth driven by export promotion policies enhances overall economic growth. Empirical investigations have tended to focus attention on the direction of causality between exports and economic growth using Granger causality tests. However, the empirical results based on these tests are, at best, mixed and often contradictory. The paper employs panel data analysis by utilizing the Pedroni panel cointegration, Pedroni Dynamic Ordinary Least Squares and Fully Modify Ordinary Least Squares, and Canning-Pedroni causality methods, a recent development in panel data econometrics, properties of integration and cointegration and consistency of parameters. The study considers the following three variables; Real Gross Domestic Product (GDP), Real exports (EXP) and Real import (IMP). Annual secondary data are obtained from the World Bank Development Indicator for seven MENA countries, Namely, Algeria, Egypt, Sudan, Jordan, Saudi Arabia, UAE, and Qatar. The empirical results emphasize the existence of a positive relationship between Export and GDP. Results of waled and Z-bar Group statistics indicate the long-run unidirectional causality between Export and GDP, operates from Export to the GDP. It confirms the validity of Export-led growth hypothesis of the seven selected MENA countries. Empirical evidence suggests significant policy prescriptions; these countries should focus more on supporting export orientated industries through aid-for-trade, trade-capacity building schemes and other types of policies in order to promote economic growth.

Party systems and ideological cleavages in the Middle East and North Africa

2020 ◽  
pp. 135406881989429
Author(s):  
Abdullah Aydogan
Keyword(s):  
Middle East ◽  
North Africa ◽  
Political Party ◽  
Party Systems ◽  
Party Competition ◽  
Right Wing ◽  
Left Wing ◽  
Mena Region ◽  
Quantitative Evidence ◽  
Mena Countries

Previous studies have contrasted the political party systems in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) with those in more democratic countries, raising three important points: (1) the religious–secular dimension, rather than the economic or social left–right, explains the underlying political party competition; (2) left-wing politics is relatively weaker than right-wing politics; and (3) parties that are traditionally known as rightist take left-leaning positions on numerous issue dimensions, and vice versa. Even though this particular literature on party politics in the MENA has greatly improved our understanding of political dynamics in the region, these studies have either lacked quantitative evidence to support these points or their evidence was limited to single-country cases. This study aims to address this issue by analyzing original expert survey data of the ideological positions of political parties in the MENA region. Results show that in addition to the religious–secular dimension, the economic left–right divide and the pace of political reforms are highly important dimensions. The study also provides numerous examples showing that the policy stances of leftist and rightist parties are significantly reversed when MENA countries are compared with more developed democracies.

Food security in selected Middle East and North Africa (MENA) countries: an inter-country comparison

Food Security ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 11 (3) ◽  
pp. 531-540 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nasrin Omidvar ◽  
Davod Ahmadi ◽  
Kate Sinclair ◽  
Hugo Melgar-Quiñonez
Keyword(s):  
Food Security ◽  
Middle East ◽  
North Africa ◽  
Mena Countries ◽  
Country Comparison

China and the Revolutions in the Middle East and North Africa

2011 ◽  
Vol 3 (1-2) ◽  
pp. 192-203 ◽  
Author(s):  
Randall Peerenboom
Keyword(s):  
Social Justice ◽  
Middle East ◽  
North Africa ◽  
Authoritarian Regimes ◽  
Northern Africa ◽  
Mena Countries ◽  
Turn On ◽  
Potential Sources ◽  
The Government

The 2011 revolutions in the Middle East and Northern Africa (MENA) led to considerable hope for some people that China would experience a similar political uprising, as well as considerable anxiety for the ruling regime. The government’s immediate response was to downplay the risk of a similar event occurring in China by distinguishing between China and MENA, while at the same time cracking down on activists and other potential sources of instability—including attempts to organize popular revolutionary protests in China. Although the government has so far managed to avoid a similar uprising, neither response has been entirely successful. Despite a number of significant diff erences between China and MENA countries, there are enough commonalities to justify concerns about political instability. Moreover, relying on repression alone is not a long-term solution to the justified demands of Chinese citizens for political reforms and social justice. Whether China will ultimately be able to avoid the fate of authoritarian regimes in MENA countries will turn on its ability to overcome a series of structural challenges while preventing sudden and unpredictable events, like those that gave rise to the Arab revolutions, from spinning out of control.

scholarly journals Diet, Genetics, and Disease: A Focus on the Middle East and North Africa Region

2012 ◽  
Vol 2012 ◽  
pp. 1-19 ◽  
Author(s):  
Akl C. Fahed ◽  
Abdul-Karim M. El-Hage-Sleiman ◽  
Theresa I. Farhat ◽  
Georges M. Nemer
Keyword(s):  
Middle East ◽  
Chronic Diseases ◽  
North Africa ◽  
Genetic Factors ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Micronutrient Deficiencies ◽  
Mena Region ◽  
Mena Countries ◽  
Nutritional Genomics

The Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region suffers a drastic change from a traditional diet to an industrialized diet. This has led to an unparalleled increase in the prevalence of chronic diseases. This review discusses the role of nutritional genomics, or the dietary signature, in these dietary and disease changes in the MENA. The diet-genetics-disease relation is discussed in detail. Selected disease categories in the MENA are discussed starting with a review of their epidemiology in the different MENA countries, followed by an examination of the known genetic factors that have been reported in the disease discussed, whether inside or outside the MENA. Several diet-genetics-disease relationships in the MENA may be contributing to the increased prevalence of civilization disorders of metabolism and micronutrient deficiencies. Future research in the field of nutritional genomics in the MENA is needed to better define these relationships.

scholarly journals Environmental Performance and Economic Growth in Middle East and North Africa Countries

2019 ◽  
Vol 9 (24) ◽  
Author(s):  
Hichem Dkhili
Keyword(s):  
Economic Growth ◽  
Middle East ◽  
North Africa ◽  
Environmental Performance ◽  
Middle Eastern ◽  
Smooth Transition ◽  
African Countries ◽  
Mena Region ◽  
Mena Countries ◽  
The Impact

Background. Studies on environmental performance/quality and economic growth show inconclusive results. Objective. The aim of the present study is to assess the non-linear relationship between environmental performance and economic growth in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region from 2002–2018. Methods. A sample of fourteen (14) MENA countries was used in the present analysis. However, due to important differences between countries in this region, the whole sample was divided into two sub-samples; nine Middle Eastern countries (MEAS) and five North African countries (NAF). We performed the panel smooth transition regression model as an econometric approach. Discussion. Empirical results indicate a threshold effect in the environmental performance and economic growth relationship. The threshold value differs from one group of countries to another. More specifically, we found that the impact of environmental performance and economic growth is positive and significant only if a certain threshold level has been attained. Until then, the effect remains negative. Conclusions. The findings of the present study are of great importance for policymakers since they determine the optimal level of environmental performance required to act positively on the level of economic growth. MENA countries should seek to improve their environmental performance index in order to grow output. Competing Interests. The authors declare no competing financial interests.

scholarly journals Empowering Women, Developing Society: Female Education in the Middle East and North Africa

1970 ◽  
pp. 4-11
Author(s):  
Faraneh Roudi-Fahimi ◽  
Valentine M. Moghadam
Keyword(s):  
Middle East ◽  
Secondary School ◽  
North Africa ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Access To Education ◽  
School Enrolment ◽  
Mena Countries ◽  
The Past ◽  
Secondary School Enrolment ◽  
And Gender

Education is a key part of strategies to improve individuals' well-being and societies' economic and social development. In the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) (countries and territories included in the Middle East and North Africa as defined here are listed in Table 1), access to education has improved dramatically over the past few decades, and there have been a number of encouraging trends in girls' and women's education (see Figure 1). Primary school enrolment is high or universal in most MENA countries, and gender gaps in secondary school enrolment have already disappeared in several countries. Women in MENA countries are also more likely to enrol in universities than they were in the past.

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