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13 pages, 749 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Measuring the Level of the Youth Informal Economy in Lithuania in 2004–2020

by Mangirdas Morkunas

Economies 2022, 10(11), 275; https://doi.org/10.3390/economies10110275 - 06 Nov 2022

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1569

This paper investigates the development of the youth informal economy in Lithuania in 2004–2020. Specific youth-tailored multiple indicators multiple causes (MIMIC) model has been derived in order to estimate the level of the youth informal economy. In total, 173 direct phone interviews with [...] Read more.

This paper investigates the development of the youth informal economy in Lithuania in 2004–2020. Specific youth-tailored multiple indicators multiple causes (MIMIC) model has been derived in order to estimate the level of the youth informal economy. In total, 173 direct phone interviews with company managers were conducted in order to acquire information for the MIMIC model calibration. It was revealed that during the investigated period, the youth informal economy fluctuated between 38.7% and 46.1% and was significantly higher compared with the overall informal economy in Lithuania. Although showing a strong correlation level (0.742) the overall informal economy within the country and the youth informal economy show slightly different developmental paths, the latter being more prone to higher increases during a crisis period. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Nexus between Politics and Economics in the Emerging Countries)

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18 pages, 552 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Reflections of the “Export-Led Growth” or “Growth-Led Exports” Hypothesis on the Turkish Economy in the 1999–2021 Period

by Ayhan Orhan, Melek Emikönel, Murat Emikönel and Rui Alexandre Castanho

Economies 2022, 10(11), 269; https://doi.org/10.3390/economies10110269 - 29 Oct 2022

Cited by 4 | Viewed by 1855

Abstract

Various factors determine and affect economic growth, one of which is exports. Trade theory also states that exports increase the growth of the domestic economy in various ways. For this reason, the effect of exports on economic growth is a long-term area of [...] Read more.

Various factors determine and affect economic growth, one of which is exports. Trade theory also states that exports increase the growth of the domestic economy in various ways. For this reason, the effect of exports on economic growth is a long-term area of research. In addition to the studies examining the effect of foreign trade on economic growth in the literature, some studies investigate the effects of economic growth on export capacity. These studies suggest that the export-based economic growth hypothesis is valid when the causality relationship between exports and growth is from exports to growth, and the growth-led export hypothesis is valid when it is from growth to exports. To this end, the primary purpose of this study is to investigate the validity of the new economic model for Turkey in two different periods. In this context, this study comparatively focuses on the 1999:Q1–2013:Q4 and 2014:Q1–2021:Q4 periods to test the validity of the export-led growth hypothesis and the growth-led export hypothesis. According to the analysis results for the 1999:Q1–2013:Q4 periods, only the growth-led export hypothesis is valid, and a 1% increase in the economic growth rate in this period increases exports by 0.42%. Considering the 2014:Q1–2021:Q4 period, the hypotheses of “Economic growth is not the cause of exports and exports are not the cause of economic growth” are rejected, and according to these test results, it was determined that both the export-led growth hypothesis and the growth-led export hypothesis are valid. In the results of this period, a 1% increase in economic growth rate increases exports by 0.38%, and a 1% increase in exports increases economic growth by 1.36%. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Nexus between Politics and Economics in the Emerging Countries)

12 pages, 289 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Misuse of Deferred Taxes in Portugal

by Alexandre Moniz, Gualter Couto and Pedro Pimentel

Economies 2022, 10(9), 230; https://doi.org/10.3390/economies10090230 - 16 Sep 2022

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1612

Abstract

Financial transparency is essential for stakeholders to make decisions, ensuring a correct amount of tax is paid to the state. Many companies have opted for the recognition of deferred tax assets to present a different result, but there is scant literature. This study [...] Read more.

Financial transparency is essential for stakeholders to make decisions, ensuring a correct amount of tax is paid to the state. Many companies have opted for the recognition of deferred tax assets to present a different result, but there is scant literature. This study investigates the impact of recognizing deferred tax assets and their contribution to earnings manipulation, together with the effect of the 2008 global financial crisis. Using data from 29 companies listed on the stock exchange and headquartered in Portugal between 2007 and 2012, formalize correlation tests and a linear regression model were used, concluding that more indebted companies tend to recognize more deferred tax assets, paying less tax to the state and that for the sample size and study period, it was not possible to conclude the impact of the 2008 financial crisis. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Nexus between Politics and Economics in the Emerging Countries)

15 pages, 513 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Do Regional Heads Utilize Capital Expenditures, Grants, and Social Assistance in the Context of Elections?

by Chanif Rizqiyati and Doddy Setiawan

Economies 2022, 10(9), 220; https://doi.org/10.3390/economies10090220 - 09 Sep 2022

Viewed by 1257

Abstract

This study empirically analyzes the alleged existence of political budget cycles in Indonesian local governments. Using panel data, this quantitative study concentrates on capital expenditures, grant expenditures, and social assistance expenditures in the election year and the year before the election. The purposive [...] Read more.

This study empirically analyzes the alleged existence of political budget cycles in Indonesian local governments. Using panel data, this quantitative study concentrates on capital expenditures, grant expenditures, and social assistance expenditures in the election year and the year before the election. The purposive sampling method is used to take the sample—a local government that experienced two election cycles from 2012 to 2018. The sample consists of 1306 observational data points on capital expenditures and grants, and 636 observational data points on social assistance. The study tests its hypothesis using multiple regression analysis. The results indicate that the election year negatively affects capital expenditures, positively affects grants, and has no effect on social assistance. The year before the election negatively affects capital expenditures, but positively affects grants and social assistance. The incumbent positively affects social assistance but does not affect capital expenditures and grants. Transfers have a negative effect on capital expenditures, a positive effect on grants, and no effect on social assistance. The interactions of the election year and year before the election with the incumbent is not proven in this study. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Nexus between Politics and Economics in the Emerging Countries)

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20 pages, 956 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Evaluating the Liquidity Response of South African Exchange-Traded Funds to Country Risk Effects

by Damien Kunjal

Economies 2022, 10(6), 130; https://doi.org/10.3390/economies10060130 - 02 Jun 2022

Viewed by 2094

Abstract

Liquidity is important for the stability of financial markets and the growth of national economies. However, the liquidity of financial markets may be influenced by country risk shocks through informational asymmetry, funding constraints, and portfolio rebalancing activities. Therefore, the objective of this study [...] Read more.

Liquidity is important for the stability of financial markets and the growth of national economies. However, the liquidity of financial markets may be influenced by country risk shocks through informational asymmetry, funding constraints, and portfolio rebalancing activities. Therefore, the objective of this study is to investigate the effects of disaggregated country risk components on the liquidity of the South African Exchange-Traded Fund (ETF) market. The sample employed segregates South African ETFs based on their benchmarking styles—particularly, ETFs with domestic benchmarks and ETFs with international benchmarks. The results from the panel Autoregressive Distributed Lag (ARDL) model suggest that the liquidity of ETFs tracking domestic benchmarks is influenced positively by all country risk components in the long run, although only political and financial risks positively influence its short-run liquidity. Similarly, political and economic risk shocks positively influence the liquidity of ETFs tracking international benchmarks in the long-run; however, financial risk negatively influences its liquidity in both the long and short run. These findings suggest that investors can improve the overall performance and liquidity of their portfolios by taking into account the stability of political, financial, and economic risks. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Nexus between Politics and Economics in the Emerging Countries)

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17 pages, 842 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Effect of the Complexity of the Customs Tax System on the Tax Effort

by Jazmín González Aguirre and Alberto Del Villar

Economies 2022, 10(3), 55; https://doi.org/10.3390/economies10030055 - 23 Feb 2022

Cited by 3 | Viewed by 3370

Abstract

This paper empirically analyses the effects of the tax complexity and other elements, such as natural resource revenues, public expenditure, and the capacity of the statistical system, on the efficiency of Ecuadorian Customs Administration. For this purpose, the methodology used consists of modeling [...] Read more.

This paper empirically analyses the effects of the tax complexity and other elements, such as natural resource revenues, public expenditure, and the capacity of the statistical system, on the efficiency of Ecuadorian Customs Administration. For this purpose, the methodology used consists of modeling a stochastic production frontier whose estimation procedure is based on the maximum likelihood method for a data panel composed of six countries: Bolivia, Chile, Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, and Panama for the period from 2006 to 2017. The results of the study show that the countries whose tax system has a lower degree of complexity present a better level of revenue collected and tax effort as well as an improvement in the quality and dissemination of national statistical data. Furthermore, this paper provides evidence that the tax effort tends to decrease when the price of crude oil is on the rise. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Nexus between Politics and Economics in the Emerging Countries)

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16 pages, 328 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Analysis of International Capital Inflows and Institutional Quality in Emerging Markets

by Immaculate Simiso Nxumalo and Patricia Lindelwa Makoni

Economies 2021, 9(4), 179; https://doi.org/10.3390/economies9040179 - 15 Nov 2021

Cited by 4 | Viewed by 3370

Abstract

This study investigates the cointegrating and causality relationships between foreign direct investment (FDI), foreign portfolio investment (FPI) and institutional quality in a sample of 12 emerging market economies for the period from 2007 to 2017. A composite index for institutional quality composed of [...] Read more.

This study investigates the cointegrating and causality relationships between foreign direct investment (FDI), foreign portfolio investment (FPI) and institutional quality in a sample of 12 emerging market economies for the period from 2007 to 2017. A composite index for institutional quality composed of the Worldwide Governance Indicators was constructed using the Principal Components Analysis (PCA) method. The panel autoregressive distributed lag (ARDL) model and the error correction model (ECM) were applied to assess the cointegrating and causal relationships between the key variables. In addition to finding significant cointegrating relationships between institutional quality and the foreign capital inflows (FDI and FPI), the results confirmed unidirectional causality from FDI and FPI to institutional quality in the long run. The results further suggested that the long-run relationship between the two foreign capital inflows was more of a trade-off nature, dependent upon the dynamics of the institutional environment in the host economy. The recommendations suggested include that emerging markets should continue to open their economies in pursuit of capital inflows, which will reciprocally strengthen their domestic institutional environment. Strengthening institutions could curtail the persistence of institutional weaknesses and insulate emerging economies from the adverse effects of volatile capital flows and, over the long run, enhance capital inflows. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Nexus between Politics and Economics in the Emerging Countries)

14 pages, 775 KiB

Open AccessArticle

The Month-of-the-Year Effect in the European, American, Australian and Asian Markets

by Gualter Couto, Pedro Pimentel, Catarina Barbosa and Rui Alexandre Castanho

Economies 2021, 9(4), 168; https://doi.org/10.3390/economies9040168 - 03 Nov 2021

Viewed by 1985

Abstract

This paper examines the existence of the month-of-the-year effects in four different continents, namely Europe, Asia, America, and Oceania. Nine indexes were analyzed in order to verify differences between monthly returns from January 1990 to December 2013, followed by an examination of the [...] Read more.

This paper examines the existence of the month-of-the-year effects in four different continents, namely Europe, Asia, America, and Oceania. Nine indexes were analyzed in order to verify differences between monthly returns from January 1990 to December 2013, followed by an examination of the January effect, Halloween effect, and the October effect, testing for statistical significance using an OLS linear regression in order to verify whether those effects offer consistent opportunities for investors. Investors with globally diversified portfolios benefit from the Halloween effect, with a 1.2% average monthly excess return in winter and spring, while the pre-dotcom-bubble period had a better performance than the post-dotcom-bubble period. In the global post-dotcom-bubble period, there is statistical evidence for 1.60% and 1% lower average monthly returns in January (the January effect) and in months other than October (the October effect), respectively, contradicting the literature. The dotcom bubble seems to be responsible for the January effect differing from what might otherwise have been expected in the later period. There is no consistent and clear impact on continental incidence. The Halloween effect is revealed to be a fruitful strategy in the FTSE, DAX, Dow Jones, BOVESPA, and N225 indexes taken one-by-one. The January effect excess average return was only statistically significative for the pre-dotcom-bubble period for globally diversified portfolios. This paper contributes to a wider global and comparable view upon month-of-the-year effect. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Nexus between Politics and Economics in the Emerging Countries)

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17 pages, 344 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Private Property Rights, Dynamic Efficiency and Economic Development: An Austrian Reply to Neo-Marxist Scholars Nieto and Mateo on Cyber-Communism and Market Process

by William Hongsong Wang, Victor I. Espinosa and José Antonio Peña-Ramos

Economies 2021, 9(4), 165; https://doi.org/10.3390/economies9040165 - 03 Nov 2021

Cited by 7 | Viewed by 4089

Abstract

The Austrian school economics and neo-Marxist theories both have been reviving in recent years. However, the current academic discussion lacks a debate between two schools of economics with diametrically opposed views. This paper is the first and an initial Austrian challenge to Neo-Marxist [...] Read more.

The Austrian school economics and neo-Marxist theories both have been reviving in recent years. However, the current academic discussion lacks a debate between two schools of economics with diametrically opposed views. This paper is the first and an initial Austrian challenge to Neo-Marxist scholars Nieto and Mateo’s argumentation that cyber-communism and the Austrian theory of dynamic efficiency are consistent to enhance economic development. Their argument focuses on two issues: (a) the existence of circular reasoning in the Austrian theory of dynamic efficiency, and (b) dynamic efficiency and full economic development could be strongly promoted in a socialist system through new information and communication technologies (ICT) and the democratization of all economic life. While cyber-communism refers to cyber-planning without private property rights through ICT, dynamic efficiency refers to the entrepreneurs’ creative and coordinative natures. In this paper, first, we argue that the hypothesis that dynamic efficiency and cyber-communism is not compatible. Contrary to the above cyber-communist criteria, the Austrian theory of dynamic efficiency argues that to impede private property rights is to remove the most powerful entrepreneurial incentive to create and coordinate profit opportunities. Second, we argue that the cyber-communism system is inconsistent with economic development. In this regard, we explain how the institutional environment can cultivate or stifle dynamic efficiency and economic development. Having briefly outlined the central argument of Nieto and Mateo, we examine the institutional arrangement supporting cyber-communism. After that, we evaluate the implications of cyber-communism in the dynamic efficiency process. It becomes manifest that Nieto and Mateo’s accounts are too general to recognize the complexity of how economic development works. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Nexus between Politics and Economics in the Emerging Countries)

10 pages, 274 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Study on the Impact of Institutions on the Labor Productivity of Private Enterprises in Vietnam through the Spillover Effect from State-Owned Enterprises

by Hong-Nham Nguyen Thi, Hong-Thuy Le Thi and The-Dong Phung

Economies 2021, 9(3), 122; https://doi.org/10.3390/economies9030122 - 28 Aug 2021

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 2406

Abstract

The paper analyzes the impact of institutions on the labor productivity of small and medium-sized private enterprises through the spillover effect from state-owned enterprises (SOEs). The authors used data samples from three datasets: (i) The Annual Enterprise Survey conducted by the General Statistics [...] Read more.

The paper analyzes the impact of institutions on the labor productivity of small and medium-sized private enterprises through the spillover effect from state-owned enterprises (SOEs). The authors used data samples from three datasets: (i) The Annual Enterprise Survey conducted by the General Statistics Office of Vietnam (GSO) from 2010 to 2018; (ii) Institutional data (PCI) published by the Vietnam Chamber of Commerce and Industry (VCCI) from 2010 to 2018; (iii) GSO 2012 I-O balance sheet and a set of tabular data containing 666,221 observations at the enterprise and provincial levels in Vietnam from 2010 to 2018, including both listed and unlisted enterprises. The model’s experimental result shows that institutional improvement boosts labor productivity of domestic private enterprises through a horizontal and forward spillover channel from SOEs. Through the backward spillover channel from SOEs, how institutional improvement affects the labor productivity depends on the degree of backward spillover channel from SOEs. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Nexus between Politics and Economics in the Emerging Countries)

18 pages, 1057 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Impact of Changes to Procedures on the Evaluation of the Effectiveness of Forms of Professional Activation in Poland

by Beata Bieszk-Stolorz and Krzysztof Dmytrów

Economies 2021, 9(2), 88; https://doi.org/10.3390/economies9020088 - 03 Jun 2021

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 2885

Abstract

Active labour market policy is connected with the necessity to account for the funds allocated for it. The conducted analysis forms a part of research on the evaluation of the effects of changes introduced by legal regulations. The aim of this research is [...] Read more.

Active labour market policy is connected with the necessity to account for the funds allocated for it. The conducted analysis forms a part of research on the evaluation of the effects of changes introduced by legal regulations. The aim of this research is to assess the impact of changes to the methodology of calculating on values of the cost and employment effectiveness of basic forms of economic activation in Poland. They were introduced in 2015 in connection with ongoing discussion regarding the effectiveness of the evaluation methods used. The Ministry of Economic Development, Labour and Technology is currently responsible for activating the unemployed in Poland, and funds come from the Labour Fund. The analysis used is the regression discontinuity design. This analysis showed that significant changes occurred only in the slope of the regression line for cost effectiveness after 2015 for both procedures of its calculation. This shows that the new, introduced methods of calculating effectiveness were cosmetic in nature and did not significantly affect their values. A good recommendation for improving the method of evaluating forms of economic activation of the unemployed could be to extend the time of required employment. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Nexus between Politics and Economics in the Emerging Countries)

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19 pages, 1741 KiB

Open AccessArticle

From a Recession to the COVID-19 Pandemic: Inflation–Unemployment Comparison between the UK and India

by Vijay Victor, Joshy Joseph Karakunnel, Swetha Loganathan and Daniel Francois Meyer

Economies 2021, 9(2), 73; https://doi.org/10.3390/economies9020073 - 07 May 2021

Cited by 19 | Viewed by 21258

Abstract

The recession in India and the UK peaked in 2017 due to the implications of new policy initiatives. The outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic at the beginning of 2020 intensified the crisis, causing a drastic decline in aggregate demand and output. India and [...] Read more.

The recession in India and the UK peaked in 2017 due to the implications of new policy initiatives. The outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic at the beginning of 2020 intensified the crisis, causing a drastic decline in aggregate demand and output. India and the UK have resorted to monetary and fiscal stimulus packages to face the economic crisis. This study investigated the inflation–unemployment dynamics during the recession and COVID-19 times in India and the UK. Using a generalized additive model (GAM), the results of this study revealed that the recession had given way to stagflation in India. In contrast, in the UK, it has led to a more severe recession in the short-run. During the downturn, policy initiatives aggravate the recession and eventually turn to stagflation in India due to inflation caused by the weak supply side. However, in the UK, the policy initiatives during this downturn pushed the economy into a deeper recession due to reduced demand. The outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic has had a similar recessionary impact on both economies. A time horizon based recovery plan is suggested to help the economies recover from stagflation and even deeper recession. This framework could enable policymakers to choose the right path of recovery within the shortest possible time. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Nexus between Politics and Economics in the Emerging Countries)

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