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This study examines discretionary fiscal policy effects on output by employing a Panel VAR model in MENA countries during 1990–2018. the results demonstrate fiscal multipliers are larger when public debt is low, at a high institutional quality, and during recession periods. Contrary to empirical studies, we found the response of output to fiscal shocks is larger at a low level of financial development. Our findings have significant policy implications focusing on fiscal policy mix in downturns of an economy, lower levels of public debt, lower levels of financial development, and a higher level of institutional quality. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper investigates the role of natural resource rent and other forms of rent on the economic growth of Middle Eastern and North African (MENA) countries within the framework of the rent curse theory. Rent curse theory suggests that while certain types of rent, such as geopolitical, regulatory, and labour rent, can hinder growth, others may act as incentives. Employing the partial least squares structural equation model (PLS-SEM), this study examines the impact of rent and financial development on economic growth in the region. The empirical findings reveal that forms of rent derived from natural resources and regulatory rent have a negative effect on financial development and economic growth, but labour rent and geopolitical rent do not have any contribution to economic growth, so the rent curse theory cannot be confirmed by these two sources of rent. Furthermore. The result indicates that financial development is a crucial factor for economic progress. Moreover, the study suggests that globalization can enhance financial development in MENA countries and stimulate growth. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The mechanism of trade openness and inflation rate is a matter that many papers have ever attempted to verify. Providing evidence from different countries, negative and positive effects of openness on the inflation rate have been discovered. This paper examines the answer by applying an unbalanced static panel data method of estimation for Middle East and North African countries in the period of 1990- 2010. In contrast to Romer (1993) which presents a negative correlation between them, this paper explores that countries with more open degree of international trade are exposed to higher rate of inflation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]