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This paper investigates the impact of the sectoral reallocation of labor on unemployment in Morocco. Using the Lilien index for job reallocation, we estimate an autoregressive distributed lag model using quarterly data between 2001 and 2019. The analysis yielded two key findings. In the short run, job reallocation raises unemployment, which can be attributed to the inadequacy of the quantity of newly created jobs in the emerging sectors, the mismatch between the actual and the needed skills of the workforce, and the costs of job search. In the long run, job reallocation reduces unemployment as the emerging sectors develop and the workforce adapts to the changes in the labor market. Policymakers should design strategies that accelerate the adaptation of labor supply to the needs of emerging sectors and reduce transitional unemployment. Public policy should focus on identifying and developing emerging and labor‐intensive sectors that can absorb the surplus of skilled and unskilled labor. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper explores the causal relationship between irresponsible behavior and corruption in Tunisia in the time of COVID‐19. In our modeling approach, the abuse of power is used as a proxy for corruption, while lockdown breaches are used as a proxy for irresponsible behavior. Based on the vector error‐correction model, the Granger causality test is performed to identify the direction of the causal relationship. An empirical study involving the use of real data from the National Anticorruption Authority is conducted. The results reveal the existence of a unidirectional Granger causal relationship running from lockdown breaches to the abuse of power. These findings imply that the irresponsible behavior of Tunisians may constitute in itself a factor that can exacerbate their exposure to corruption in periods of crisis, especially in the absence of well‐established corporate social responsibility. The implications of our findings for public policy are also discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper, using multi‐level modelling, sought to highlight student‐level and school‐level characteristics that differentiate the academic performance in mathematics from a sample of 6080 Moroccan secondary students who participated in the 2011 Trends in International Mathematics and Science Study (TIMSS) test. The results indicated little evidence to support the Heyneman–Loxley effect, as they showed that individual and family characteristics were the strongest determinants of achievement compared to the schools' factors. Students scored higher when they were boys, were younger, were more self‐confident, were more ambitious, and felt secure in school. They also scored higher when they came from families with a higher socioeconomic status, particularly when their parents were able to ensure the availability of learning resources, and were of a higher level of education. Finally, schools were matter for their pupil achievement mainly through the location channel, as urban pupils outperformed rural ones. However, the other school characteristics, including those related to teachers, played a negative, or at best neutral, role in pupil outcomes. These findings have important public policy implications. Redesigning education policy towards improving the school's environment and fostering inclusivity would be needed to enhance learning performance of Moroccan students. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Formulating policy to strengthen rural livelihood in a country like Benin may be very challenging. This paper investigates the effect of input policies on crop diversification in rural Benin. Multistage sampling techniques have been used to collect primary data from 522 households in the Collines Region. Considering access to fertilizer and seed policies, we used a linear regression analysis to find that access to fertilizer and seed negatively affect the extent of crop diversification. Although some factors (household size and access to extension services) have a positive relationship with crop diversification, we maintain that if the government wants to promote crop diversification as a farmer's strategy to manage risk and uncertainty, there is a need to rethink the input policies. Nevertheless, making fertilizer and seed accessible to farmers is a great opportunity in a country where access to inputs is the major agricultural constraint. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the last thirty years, remarkable achievements have been made in China's poverty reduction course. The dramatic fall in China's poor can be attributed mainly to a high rate of economic growth, government poverty reduction policies and targeted programmes and pro-poor macroeconomic and industrial policies. This paper focuses on China's poverty reduction policies and programmes and their impact on the poor regions and poor households. Lessons are drawn for poverty reduction and economic development in African countries. The paper also explores the potential for collaboration in poverty reduction between China and African countries and recommendations are made for the governments and donor agencies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The paper empirically investigates the degree of bank competition and intermediation efficiency in Ghana. The evidence obtained suggests a non-competitive market structure in the Ghanaian banking system, which hampers financial intermediation. The study also finds that Ghanaian banks are monopolistically competitive. It is argued that the structure, as well as the other markets characteristics, constitutes an indirect barrier to entry thereby shielding the large profits in the Ghanaian banking system. Further, it is argued that policies that encourage and stimulate greater consolidation in the financial sector would go a long way to enhance competition among banks and improve efficiency and profitability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]