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The main objective of our research is to study the direct impact of pro-growth economic policies on employment creation globally and regionally, as evidence has countered policy-makers’ expectation that output growth leads automatically to job creation. We innovate by using the ratio of employment to the population above 25 years as dependent variable instead of the customary employment elasticity. We apply generalized methods of moments’ econometrics on dynamic panel data models and find that growth stimulates employment creation on average across 76 countries. The policies promoting private sector credit, investments, openness, services, education spending, tertiary enrollment, and a fixed exchange rate are the ones that create employment. Larger government size undermines job creation, while policies promoting FDI and industrial development fail to stimulate employment. However, we establish that the effect of pro-growth policies on employment varies significantly across regions, with evidence of weaker links between economic policies and employment in Sub-Saharan Africa and the Middle East. The authors acknowledge the financial assistance of the European Commission within the context of the FEMISE research program (project FEM35-12) for preliminary work on this research. The contents of this document are the sole responsibility of the authors and can under no circumstances be regarded as reflecting the position of the European Union. Scopus

This paper investigates the cost efficiency levels of the banking sectors of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries for the period from 2001 to 2015 and provides a comparison of conventional and Islamic banks. We obtain measures of efficiency using a stochastic frontier model and the meta-frontier approach. The evidence demonstrates that Islamic banks are less efficient and have a weaker level of production technology than conventional banks. The cost efficiency of banks varies significantly across the six Gulf countries and over time. We adopt the results drawn from the meta-frontier model that allow to take into account the differences between the studied countries, and empirically examine the bank-specific, financial, macroeconomic, and political determinants of banking efficiency. The results provide evidence of the differential effects of the selected variables on the efficiency of conventional and Islamic banks. These variables affect the performance of the two types of banks in different ways and with different magnitudes. 2018, The Indian Econometric Society. Scopus

This paper assesses the information and communications technologies (ICT)-labour relationship from a macroeconomic perspective to clarify some ambiguity regarding the overall employment effect of ICT adoption in the short and long term. For that, we use two panel data techniques, generalized method of moments (GMM) and the pooled mean group model (PMG), on a large sample of developing and developed countries, covering five regions, during the period from 1990–2015. Our findings provide evidence that the overall impact of ICT adoption is labour saving in the short term, and this adverse effect still carries on in the long run, inducing higher structural unemployment. The displacement of the labour market induced by ICT adoption is real, persistent, and universal. Policy-makers should facilitate the transition of labour from old to new jobs and reduce the period of adaptability.

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to evaluate and compare the efficiency ratios and the technological gaps of banking industries in seven countries of the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region. Design/methodology/approach The meta-frontier model was used to evaluate efficiency across countries that may have different production technologies. Findings The results of the meta-frontier analysis of banking systems over the period from 1991 to 2011 showed that Tunisian banks were the most efficient in terms of cost and profit. For the cost (profit) model, the analysis of the technological gap showed that Egyptian (Tunisian) banks used the most advanced technology in offering financial services to clients. The comparison of efficiencies confirmed that most efficient banks in terms of cost are not necessarily the most efficient in terms of profit and vice versa. The authors also concluded that cost efficiency analysis provides a partial view of banking efficiency and hence, profit efficiency analysis is as important. Originality/value The study is relevant for policymakers, regulators and monetary authorities and for researchers to know more about the real differences of efficiency of banks across countries in MENA region and to clarify the sources of this inefficiency to better adapt to the new environment, to make strategic decisions and to reference the performance of banking institutions.

Resume Les auteurs examinent le potentiel de creation d'emplois des secteurs d'activite tunisiens sur le long terme. Ils estiment l'elasticite production-emploi de long terme a partir de donnees de panel portant sur quinze secteurs et sur la periode 1983–2010, en utilisant un estimateur de type MG (moyenne de groupe). L'analyse montre que les industries extractives ne peuvent pas absorber de main-d'œuvre, et que le developpement de l'hotellerie-restauration se fait sans creation d'emplois sur le long terme. Les auteurs preconisent en consequence d'axer la politique economique sur les secteurs particulierement intensifs en main-d'œuvre – services et industries manufacturieres d'exportation – et sur les activites paratouristiques plutot que touristiques.

This article examines the long-term ability of Tunisian industries to generate employment opportunities. Using a panel data set of 15 industries over 1983–2010, the authors estimate their long-run output–employment elasticities, using the “mean group” estimator. They argue that economic policy should target the most labour-intensive industries, particularly service industries and export manufacturing industries. After demonstrating the inability of the mining industry to absorb labour, the authors highlight the long-run jobless growth in the hotel, bar and restaurant industry and suggest that future investment in this industry will yield no results and that future tourism policy should focus rather on para-tourism activities. Scopus

This paper applies the meta-frontier approach to investigate the profit efficiency level of the banking sector in the MENA region. This approach enables the assessment of the banking efficiency while considering technological gap between the investigated countries and the whole banking industry. We integrate the country-specific conditions in the designed model (macro-financial, macro-economic, regulatory and banking characteristics). Empirical results were obtained through a dataset of seven countries, namely Tunisia, Morocco, Algeria, Egypt, Jordan, Lebanon and Turkey, over the period from 1991 to 2011. The analysis supports the view that profit efficiency varies from one country to another, and the technological gap plays an important role in explaining the ability of the banking sector in one country to compete with others. The results of the efficiency scores corrected by technological and environmental heterogeneities led us to conclude that Jordanian banks were the most efficient while the Lebanese banks enjoyed a very advantageous banking technology. This work eventually emphasizes relevant recommendations to improve the performance of the banking sector.

International audience; Background Public district hospitals (PDHs) in Tunisia are not operating at full plant capacity and underutilize their operating budget. Methods Individual PDHs capacity utilization (CU) is measured for 2000 and 2010 using dual data envelopment analysis (DEA) approach with shadow prices input and output restrictions. The CU is estimated for 101 of 105 PDH in 2000 and 94 of 105 PDH in 2010. Results In average, unused capacity is estimated at 18% in 2010 vs. 13% in 2000. Of PDHs 26% underutilize their operating budget in 2010 vs. 21% in 2000. Conclusion Inadequate supply, health quality and the lack of operating budget should be tackled to reduce unmet user’s needs and the bypassing of the PDHs and, thus to increase their CU. Social health insurance should be turned into a direct purchaser of curative and preventive care for the PDHs.

The standard Hecksher-Ohlin-Samuelson framework claimed that foreign trade benefits developing countries, but many empirical studies suggest otherwise. After analyzing data on income deciles from the World Income Distribution Database for 66 developing countries, we found that trade openness benefits underprivileged people in affluent countries but not in developing countries. Also, external financial flows and democracy in conjunction do not exert significant effects, suggesting that these variables might affect income distribution through different channels. Finally, we reinforce the Kuznets inverted-U hypothesis; namely, the presence of an economic development threshold beyond which low-income deciles would increase.