In this paper we study the effect of economic freedom on output per worker using a panel least square estimation methodology for a sample of 14 Asia-Pacific (APAC) and 18 OECD countries over the 1980-2014 period. This methodology allows us not only to study the relationship between the economic...

Financial Inclusion - access to financial products by households and firms - is one of the main albeit challenging priorities, both for Advanced Economies (AEs) as well as Emerging Markets (EMs), even more so for the latter. Financial inclusion facilitates consumption smoothing, lowers income...

Policymakers and pundits have not shied away from using economic jargon while covering the United States' recent financial crisis. Language typically reserved for banking, finance, and economic policy experts has become commonplace. While the economic crisis has been widely covered, there is...

There are many studies addressing the role of the economic policy versus the role of institutions in growth. However, few of these studies have addressed the role of the second moments of the policy instead of the policy itself in affecting growth. In this study, the role of inflation volatility...

Eradicating extreme poverty remains one of the most significant and challenging sustainable development goals (SDGs) in the Middle East and North African (MENA) region. The latest World Bank statistics from 2018 show that extreme poverty in MENA increased from 2.6% to 5% between 2013 and 2015....

Using a micro-foundation based monetary Small Open Economy (SOE) model of McCandless (2008) with a cash-in-advance constraint, a capital adjustment cost, foreign bonds, and a trade sector, the study quantifies the welfare implications under two policy scenarios: (a) a reduction in inflation...

The gender equality target is still considered one of the most challenging goals for most Middle East and North African (MENA) Countries. Using panel least square with regional dummies (LSDV) for 22 MENA countries over the period 1990–2007, the study concludes that with less than 5 years for...

The health target is still considered one of the most challenging goals for most Middle East and North African (MENA) Countries. Using Panel Least Square with Regional Dummies (LSDV) for 20 MENA countries over the period 2000–2009, the study concludes that with less than 5 years for the...