Ahmed Driouchi

Determinants of Software Piracy Under Risk Aversion: A Model with Empirical Evidence

This paper studies the determinants of software piracy in world economies from a risk avoidance perspective. A risk aversion model for the commercialization of pirated software is developed to account for behavioral elements of risk and uncertainty avoidance among countries’ software pirates (i.e., counterfeiters and suppliers) and test empirically for the effects of country characteristics on piracy levels. Panel regression analysis is conducted to identify the determinants of software piracy using this model on a data set of 87 countries during 2007–2011. The empirical results confirm those obtained in prior research (e.g., the inverted U-shaped relationship between GDP per capita and piracy rates) but divulge that the behavioral-country component capturing the attitudes towards risk of software pirates improves the explanatory power of the statistical regressions after controlling for country performance and institutional factors. We also show that human development and good country governance reduce piracy rates. Besides providing support for our risk aversion-based piracy model and hinting at the need to consider population behavior in policy-making, these findings underline the relevance of human development and country institutions in explaining software piracy rates.

Labor and Health Economics in the Mediterranean Region: Migration and Mobility of Medical Doctors

Ahmed Driouchi holds a PhD in Applied Economics from the University of Minnesota, as well as a “Doctorate –èsSciences” in Economics from the Hassan II Institute of Agronomy and Veterinary Medicine in Morocco. He is a professor of Applied Economics at Al Akhawayn University and also Dean of the Institute of Economic Analysis & Prospective Studies. His current work emphasizes the economics of knowledge for development, with focus on education, health, and poverty. His geographical area of research covers the Arab, MENA and the Mediterranean economies, with their relation to Europe. Ahmed has produced many different scientific articles and has spent several years looking at the economics of Intellectual Property Rights and Innovations. The most recent areas covered include market analysis of pharmaceuticals and patents besides theory and applications, and contribution to the migration of skilled labor. His active affiliation with FEMISE has been of great help to him in generating new ideas and innovative research outcomes. Released: November 2013 An Excellent Addition to Your Library!

Knowledge-based economic policy development in the Arab world

The Arab world is one of the fastest growing economies in the world. In order to keep up with the ever-progressing and expanding developments, advancements must be made with the current systems process and procedures. Knowledge-Based Economic Policy Development in the Arab World focuses on knowledge economy as the most important engine for economic growth and development under the globalising world economies. This publication analyses the major issues that constrain further access to knowledge economy in the Arab countries with comparisons in Eastern and Central European economies. Researchers, business practitioners and academics interested in new economic and development inclusive growth policies will benefit greatly from the wide variety of discussion in this publication.

ICTs for Health, Education, and Socioeconomic Policies: Regional Cases

Ahmed Driouchi holds a PhD in Applied Economics from the University of Minnesota, USA. He has also a “Doctorate –èsSciences” with major in Economics from the Hassan II Institute of Agronomy and Veterinary Medicine, Morocco.He is a professor of Applied Economics at Al Akhawayn University and Dean of the Institute of Economic Analysis & Prospective Studies. His current work emphasizes the economics of knowledge for development with focus on education, health and poverty. His geographical area of research covers the Arab, MENA and the Mediterranean economies with their relation to Europe. Ahmed has produced many different scientific articles. He also spent several years looking at the economics of Intellectual Property Rights and innovations. The most recent areas covered include market analysis of pharmaceuticals and patents besides theory and applications, and contribution to the migration of skilled labor. His active affiliation with FEMISE has been of great help to him in generating new ideas and innovative research outcomes. Ahmed Driouchi (Al Akhawayn University, Morocco)

Brain Drains or Brain Gains in Physicians Emigration? Evidence from MENA and East European Countries

This is a contribution to the new economics of skilled labor emigration that focuses on the mobility of physicians inside European Union from sending MENA and East European countries. Economic models under risk neutrality and aversion are used. The findings show that the education could change significantly the results on the emigration benefices. The empirical results based on the available data on emigration by Docquier and Marfouk (2006, 2008) and Bhargava, Docquier and Moullan (2010) allowed further use of the model to understand the current trends in the emigration of physicians and the border between brain gain and brain drain. The countries included in the study are all exhibiting brain gain under 1991-2004 emigration data. Each country is encouraged to anticipate the likely effects of this emigration on the economy with the increase of health demand, the domestic wages and the increase in education capacity for medical doctors.