Economics Research

Abstract The aim of this paper is to provide a comparison between different methods of natural monopoly regulation for electricity distribution companies in Iran and introduce the best suitable one based on productivity, quality and incentive considerations. Here we have concluded that the price cap regulation model is the most efficient method of regulation for the situation under consideration. Based on the literature, the target values of both productivity and quality has been calculated in different scenarios of this research. The sample consists of 39 electricity distribution companies in Iran during period 2006 to 2016. First, using the SFA and DEA methods to determine the efficiency score of each company, we have calculated the X-factor for every firm in a 5-year period. In addition, the X-factor was calculated based on Malmquist index and differential method. The results suggest that target X-factor is in the range of 1.7% to 3%. The results indicated that there is an opportunity to increase productivity of electricity distribution companies. To encourage the firms to improve their productivity, a higher target rate of productivity growth would be considered for low-efficiency firms and a lower target for high-efficiency ones. Service quality has been evaluated mainly by quantification and measurement of energy not supplied (ENS) and the waiting time for a new customer to be connected to the power grid and to be able to use electricity. And the target quality value was set for each company.

Abstract Regional inequality has economic, social and cultural dimensions. One of the main concerns of planners and policymakers in economic development programs is reduction of poverty and inequality based on provincial income per capita. Therefore, through budget allocation tools, the government can reduce inequalities in provincial incomes per capita and create more balance among provinces. In this paper, the effects of inequality in the allocation of provincial budget on provincial inequalities are estimated using dynamic panel data method for period 2005-2016 in 30 Iranian provinces. The estimation results indicate that the increase in inequality of provincial capital formation budget has reduced inequality in provincial income. This result indicates an increase in government investment in infrastructure and a higher share of government development budget in less-developed provinces. Also, with increasing inequality in provincial current per capita budget, inequality in regional income has increased; because an increase in inequality of current per capita budget in the provinces can lead to unbalanced public service provision and an increase in inequality of income per capita.

Abstract Economic sanctions, by causing economic problems for states and influencing their revenues and spending policies, can undermine the quality of life and health for common people. Sanctions can negatively affect the total amount of available resources in a country and the proportion of it allocated to public domains such as healthcare. Thereby sanctions can increase vulnerability of citizens. This study aims at investigating the impact of economic sanctions on public health expenditure in developing resource-exporting countries by applying dynamic panel data method over period 1996 to 2012. The result shows that both minor and major economic sanctions significantly decrease public health expenditure as a percentage of government expenditure. In addition, our findings indicate that major economic sanctions significantly increase public health expenditure as a percentage of gross domestic product. This can be attributed to the fact that major economic sanctions have had a greater impact on gross domestic product than on public health expenditure. Overall, the results of this study show adverse effects of sanctions on the health of citizens by reducing allocated public expenditure to healthcare sector.

Abstract This study presents new evidence on the effects of life insurance, banking and capital market on economic growth in 18 developed and 20 developing countries using Generalized Method of Moments (GMM) approach to dynamic panel data method for years 2000-2016. The results show that in developed countries life insurance accelerates economic growth, while the effects of private credit on economic growth are negative and the stock market has not had a significant effect on growth. In developing countries, the results indicate that the stock market can increase economic growth, while the effect of private credit is negative on growth and life insurance has not had a significant effect. Overall, the results suggest that the effects of development in financial activities on growth vary based on the time period, income level, and financial development. That is, countries at different levels of development should engage in different financial activities to ensure sustainable growth.

Abstract Export sophistication, which means producing and exporting goods that are more sophisticated and have more value-added, along with economic freedom can influence economic growth in different countries through technological improvement, increasing expertise and encouraging innovation. This study examines the effects of export sophistication and economic freedom as factors that influence economic growth in a selection of oil-exporting countries. To meet this end, the export sophistication index is calculated based on Hausman et al. (2007) for period 1998 to 2017. The results indicate that, due to high share of oil and gas in the export basket, the sophistication of exported goods in the select countries is relatively low. However, this index has a positive significant effect on economic growth of select countries with a coefficient of 0.41. The economic freedom index in select countries is close to the global averages and its effect on economic growth is significant and positive with a coefficient of 0.06. Other control variables such as human capital, financial development and gross capital formation are also found statistically significant. Our findings confirm the need for planning to increase sophistication of exports. To achieve this end, apart from producing and exporting goods that are more sophisticated, the development of oil and gas downstream industries, which are capable of producing complex and high value-added goods, should be on the agenda.

Abstract During recent years, the growth of international trade has been more than that of world output, and countries have shown more interest in forming regional unions and agreements to increase their trade. The aim of this study is to estimate the net effect of D8 formation on trade of its member countries. In this regards, a gravity model has been applied using panel data method for period 1990-2014, in accordance with a Difference-in-Differences (DID) approach and Poisson-Pseudo maximum likelihood method. The D8 countries are selected as target group and select member countries of Organization of Islamic Cooperation are chosen as control group. Our Results show that the net effect of D8 formation on trade among its member countries is positive and significant. Also, the bilateral trade among member countries has had a direct relationship with their size and common language and inverse relation with the distance between them.

Abstract The aim of this study is to provide a comprehensive investigation of the obstacles and factors affecting optimal implementation of Value-Added Tax Act (the VAT Act) and to propose an effective model using Structural Equation Modelling (SEM), The population of this study includes the taxpayers and tax officials in Zanjan Province. Relevant literature and previous studies were reviewed and the obstacles and factors affecting the optimal implementation of the VAT Act were identified. The detected obstacles and factors were verified by expert opinion. After that, the identified obstacles were classified into four main categories, namely, structural, administrative, cultural and finally economic and political obstacles and the effective factors were classified into four main categories, including, human resources, taxpayers, tax system and legal factors. Then, the questionnaires were distributed among the taxpayers and tax officials and the obtained data were analyzed using SPSS and Amos software. The results indicate that both obstacles, i.e., the structural, administrative, cultural and economic and political obstacles and effective factors, i.e., human resources, taxpayers, tax system and legal factors have positive and significant relationship with the optimal implementation of VAT Act; in other words, these obstacles and factors exert a considerable influence on the optimal implementation of the VAT Act. The innovation of this research is that a wide range of the obstacles and factors affecting optimal implementation of VAT Act were identified and ranked. Considering the resistance economy and increasing pressure of sanctions, identifying the obstacles and factors affecting optimal implementation of VAT Act can be a major step forward in boosting tax revenues and reducing the government's dependence on oil resources.