Farshad Momeni; Hamid Padash; Amir Khadem Alizadeh; Ramineh Soleimanzadeh
Abstract
Semiotics is the process of studying signs. The study of the relationship between semiotics and other sciences is a relatively new topic in the scientific world. Discovering this relationship can be the goal of various research, including this one. This study, by adopting a semiotic approach, examines ...
Read More
Semiotics is the process of studying signs. The study of the relationship between semiotics and other sciences is a relatively new topic in the scientific world. Discovering this relationship can be the goal of various research, including this one. This study, by adopting a semiotic approach, examines development within the framework of institutionalism. This research shows that there is a link between semiotics and the institutional approach of development in several ways. First, the market is a contractual phenomenon and is influenced by the preferences and values of individuals. Second, the state is an institution that can be analyzed using semiotic analysis. Third, consumption and value of goods depend on how they use signs. Fourth, production is a semiotic behavior. Fifth, the rational behavior of actors has a logical and semiotic meaning. Finally, the system of values and norms that shape the behavior of individuals is a subject of cultural semiotics.
Jamal Kakaie; Ali Faridzad; Farshad Momeni; Ali asghar banouei
Abstract
One of the essential indices for measuring sustainable development is ecological footprint. This paper which focuses on concept of ecological footprint of fossil fuels, tries to answer two important questions. The first question is wether the pattern of export and import of energy content in Iran confirms ...
Read More
One of the essential indices for measuring sustainable development is ecological footprint. This paper which focuses on concept of ecological footprint of fossil fuels, tries to answer two important questions. The first question is wether the pattern of export and import of energy content in Iran confirms its comparative advantage? The second question is how much is the ecological footprint of Iranian economic sectors in year 2011? To measure ecological footprint of fossil fuels, we employ two different databases in this article, first activity by activity symmetric I-O table calculated by Iranian Statistical Center for year 2011 and second, Hydrocarbon Balance Sheet of year 2011. Our main results are presented based on two scenarios. In the first scenario, production technology is identical between Iran and other countries, and in the second scenario production technology isn’t the same. Our results based on two scenarios show that in macro level Iranian economy has trade surplus in fossil fuels content. But in sectoral level, 23 and 18 economic sectors have trade deficit in energy content based on first and second scenarios respectively. Ecological footprint based on our first scenario is more than 191 million hectares and the deficit per person is 2.3 hectare. In the second scenario the ecological footprint is 184 million hectares and the deficit per person is 2.2 hectares. Our conclusion is that because of low level of energy productivity in Iran, the results of second scenario are more realistic.
Mahmoud Motavaseli; Farshad Momeni; rozita Lajevardi; mohamad majid ranjbar
Abstract
Many years have passed since the adoption of planning mechanism in the development process of Iran. However, Iran has been failed to achieve this goal. The investigation of different levels of decision making in Iran shows that two factors are among the main reasons that lead the planning structure of ...
Read More
Many years have passed since the adoption of planning mechanism in the development process of Iran. However, Iran has been failed to achieve this goal. The investigation of different levels of decision making in Iran shows that two factors are among the main reasons that lead the planning structure of Iran to be interwoven with a circle of underdevelopment. These two factors are lack of attention to the element of goal orientation, which means lack of proper understanding of concept of development in the planning process, and ignoring the element of rationality, which means not paying attention to the nature of man, his way of thinking and the collective identity of his decisions and actions. In this study, we have used the theoretical foundations of Goulet's classification of rationality and two criteria of coordination and commitment in the implementation of programs to study the interaction between rationality of different planning groups. Then, we have represented some experiences of decision-making in Iran to identify the dominant rationality in planning system of Iran. Our findings show that decision-making priorities in Iran have been derived from a reductionist interaction rather than an efficient interaction between rationalities and it was political rationality that dominated at various levels of decision-making.
Farshad Momeni; Shima Hajinoroozi
Abstract
In this paper by applying the Social Order Approach developed by North, Wallis and Weingast we indicate how natural states with limited access order and rent-oriented behaviors prevent achievement of privatization goals. This study applies descriptive-analytical approach to suggest that corruption in ...
Read More
In this paper by applying the Social Order Approach developed by North, Wallis and Weingast we indicate how natural states with limited access order and rent-oriented behaviors prevent achievement of privatization goals. This study applies descriptive-analytical approach to suggest that corruption in natural states is one of main limitations to success of privatization program and then investigates the impacts of corruption on three of the most important goals of privatization: strengthening the role of productive private sector in economy, promoting productivity and improving the public sector's financial health. Natural states with rent-oriented behaviors prevent strengthening of productive private sector through disturbing business environment and distorting transfers of ownership. Also corruption makes it difficult to access the goal of promoting productivity, through distorting the motivations of productive investment and reducing the available financial resources of productive private sector to improve productivity. Transferring state firms to the private sector and releasing of resources, makes an opportunity for natural states able to benefit elites more than before. Therefore, where institutional structure is corrupted and rent-based, it is impossible to improve financial health of public sector. Investigating the experience of Iran as a country with a natural state and widespread corruption confirms the theoretical-analytical framework of the study and shows that none of the goals of privatization has been achieved. During the implementation of privatization, not only the role of private sector has not improved, but also the share of government sector has increased. Also, total factor productivity index has not changed significantly and budget deficit of government has increased along with the acceleration of transfers of ownership.
Farzaneh Samadian; Farshad Momeni; hossien amiri
Abstract
This paper examines the impact of oil revenues and institutions on the capacity of job creation in member-countries of Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC). The main research question is that how can be injecting unplanned oil revenues into the economy of OPEC members and through ...
Read More
This paper examines the impact of oil revenues and institutions on the capacity of job creation in member-countries of Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC). The main research question is that how can be injecting unplanned oil revenues into the economy of OPEC members and through what channels and mechanisms lead to inflict the productive capacities of these countries and limit job creation in these economies. In this regard, the hypothesis of research highlights the negative impact of oil revenues in an inefficient institutional framework on job creation capacity of oil exporting country’s economy. Accordingly, due to the severe Interweaving conditions of economy and policy in petroleum exporting countries, the theoretical model used in this study is based on the doctrine of institutional economics and to estimate the model and to test the hypothesis, we use data for 12 OPEC member countries over the period 2002-2014 in a panel-data econometric model.The results indicate that abundance of oil revenues in OPEC countries with inefficient infrastructure and institutions leads to decline in employment capacity. Statistical evidence also confirms the de-capacitation of employment in the economies of OPEC member countries through channels such as undermining the quality of institutions and over-reliance on imports in these countries.Based on these evidence, we come to the point that inconsiderate infusion of oil revenues in OPEC member countries in an inefficient institutional framework, limits the capacity of employment and in this way, their opportunities to achieve economic growth have become a threat to their development and growth.
Farshad Momeni; Ali Nikounesbati
Abstract
Studies show that not only there are important differences between old and new institutionalism, but also new Institutional economics is not a single body of thought. In addition, there are important differences in the assumptions, methods and subject matter between the new institutional economics and ...
Read More
Studies show that not only there are important differences between old and new institutionalism, but also new Institutional economics is not a single body of thought. In addition, there are important differences in the assumptions, methods and subject matter between the new institutional economics and neoclassical economics. Overall, the institutional approach led to major changes in explanations and policy recommendation about development problems, of which, we can mention the emphasize on importance of informal institutions and organizations, the importance of the firm and importance of interdisciplinary approach. Comparing the approaches of institutional and neoclassical economics toward economic growth, as the most important index of development, shows that institutional approach has greater explanatory power and it suggests different policy recommendations. Recent institutional studies show that creation of a democratic and participatory institutional structure is the foundation of economic growth and a prerequisite for the implementation of right economic policies. However, special attention also should be given to poverty and inequality. Therefore, the move towards a democratic structure is the most important institutional reform that should be done in Iran. This is the only practical way to reduce inequality and achieve sustained growth in the country.
Amir Jafarzadeh; Abbas Shakeri; Farshad Momeni; Ghahraman Abdoli
Volume 14, Issue 55 , January 2015, , Pages 1-40
Abstract
The Followingfollowing paper explores cooperation among Caspian Sea countries for naturalgas exporting to Europe. What is puzzling here is whether environmental requirements, inNabucoo and Trans Caspian Sea gas projects, play an important role in the strategic decisionprocess among three gas-exporting ...
Read More
The Followingfollowing paper explores cooperation among Caspian Sea countries for naturalgas exporting to Europe. What is puzzling here is whether environmental requirements, inNabucoo and Trans Caspian Sea gas projects, play an important role in the strategic decisionprocess among three gas-exporting countries in the region: Iran, Azerbayejan andTurkmenistan. using Maskin’s cooperation model, considering externality, , coalitionamong natural gas exporters and importers for the Projects has been exploredIn this paper we answer the question whether a coalition should be formed between the threecountries to export gas to Europe. We also calculate the bargaining power of these twocountries (or three countries?!).The results show that (or all?!) countries have profits to make the coalition for gas exportingamong the Nabucoo project. Given the environmental requirements, Trans Caspian is lessEconomical than Nabucco so Iran can play important and active role to form a coalition toexport gas to Europe in the Nabucco project.
Farshad momeni; Golrooz Ramezanzadeh Velis
Volume 14, Issue 54 , October 2014, , Pages 1-32
Abstract
The purpose of this paper is to open new horizons for decision-making and resource allocation system in Iran in order to meet the national development goals. To this end, we have relied on theoretical framework of institutionalism and the important finding of historical institutionalists that “History ...
Read More
The purpose of this paper is to open new horizons for decision-making and resource allocation system in Iran in order to meet the national development goals. To this end, we have relied on theoretical framework of institutionalism and the important finding of historical institutionalists that “History of development is the economic history of institutional innovations that reduce transactions cost” to analize underlying factors of institutional changes and significant role of government and historical context in path of institutional innovations of reducing transaction cost and features of said innovations that result in development and reduction of transaction cost in developed societies. Also,by referring to the economic history of our country, we have tried to render and study important evidence of prominent achievements to reduce transactions cost. To achieve such purpose, we have presented two samples of said innovations in post-revolution Iran "clarification of costs and sources that are based on dollar unit " and "clarification of foreign trade rules" and we have compared the situation before and after these innovations. The result of this research indicates that in the context of the political economy of Iran, it is possible to increase the speed of realization of national development goals trough institutional innovations of increasing opportunity cost for rent seeking and drowing up manufacturers’s trust.
Golrooz Ramezanzadeh Velis; Farshad Momeni
Volume 13, Issue 51 , January 2014, , Pages 19-51
Abstract
The phenomenon of “resource curse” or “paradox of plenty” is inconsistent with the general belief that natural resources always result in economic growth. The present study is focused on this question “why despite the fact that oil exporting developing countries benefit ...
Read More
The phenomenon of “resource curse” or “paradox of plenty” is inconsistent with the general belief that natural resources always result in economic growth. The present study is focused on this question “why despite the fact that oil exporting developing countries benefit from the most major transfer of wealth without war, such countries suffer from economical failure”. To address the mentioned question, we have relied on a descriptive – analytic approach and employed the framework of institutionalism theory to study “shortsightedness” among decision makers and policymakers of such societies and finding consequences and damages of this trend and effective solutions for these problems. In order to study that how this phenomenon has been created and continues to persist, we have used “historical explanation” and “political economy”. In summary, according to causes specified by mentioned explanatory methods, the main factor was found in weakness of institutional structure. Considering Iran as the case study, this country experienced two shocks of income from petroleum industries in 1971 and 2011. By following the historical origins and considering the political economy of Iran, one can see that the finding of the present article is also true for Iran. In this regard and alongside with other amending solutions, adjustment of budgeting and taxation systems are proposed by the present study as solutions for achieving effective and productive utilization of incomes produced by petroleum industries for the purpose of long term development.
Farshad Mo’meni; Farzaneh Samadian
Volume 13, Issue 50 , October 2013, , Pages 17-62
Abstract
This paper reviews the effects of institutions quality on the mechanisms that influence the turning of the blessing of oil resource revenues into a curse for Iranian economy and during 1973-2011. The main research question is that in a situation characterized by inefficient and malfunctioning institutions, ...
Read More
This paper reviews the effects of institutions quality on the mechanisms that influence the turning of the blessing of oil resource revenues into a curse for Iranian economy and during 1973-2011. The main research question is that in a situation characterized by inefficient and malfunctioning institutions, the injection of oil revenue into the economy, how and through which channels, will cause resource curse to happen. This paper also shows that natural resources, like oil, don't lead to disasters per se; but this is the institutional-structural framework in a country and its interaction with the rents of oil revenues that can lead to the curse of natural resources. This study is a descriptive analysis and the analysis has been carried out by using Institutionalism Approach. According to the findings of this research, the negative effects of oil revenues in Iranian economy caused by inefficient and malfunctioning infrastructures and institutions, lead to short-run and long-run decrease in economic growth and resource curse finally. In Iran, oil revenue shows its immediate effect through fiscal policy and the government's budget (oil price effect on government expenditure) and then through budget deficit, it is related to the monetary sector of the economy (great impact of oil price on liquidity).So volatility of oil revenues and the rigidity of the government budget compared with the oil revenues is one of the main channels which the resource curse have been developed in Iran and caused to liquidity growth and inflation. It has important consequences such as increasing imports, decreasing non-oil export and increasing share of value added of services sector in GDP; the increase in the share of value added of services sector in GDP is such that the service sector (mainly brokerage and intermediary services) exceeds more than 50% of Iran's GDP.