Anis Omri

CO2 Emissions, Energy Consumption and Economic Growth Nexus in MENA countries: Evidence from Simultaneous Equations Models

This paper examines the nexus between CO2 emissions, energy consumption and economic growth using simultaneous-equations models with panel data of 14 MENA countries over the period 1990-2011. Our empirical results show that there exists bidirectional causal relationship between energy consumption and economic growth. However, the results support the occurrence of unidirectional causality from energy consumption to CO2 emissions without any feedback effects, and there exists bidirectional causal relationship between economic growth and CO2 emissions for the region as a whole. The study suggests that environmental and energy policies should recognize the differences in the nexus between energy consumption and economic growth in order to maintain sustainable economic growth in MENA region.

Causal Relationships between Energy Consumption, Foreign Direct Investment and Economic Growth: Fresh Evidence from Dynamic Simultaneous-Equations Models

This paper examines the interrelationships between energy consumption, foreign direct investment and economic growth using dynamic panel data models in simultaneous-equations for a global panel consisting of 65 countries. The time component of our dataset is 1990–2011 inclusive. To make the panel data analysis more homogenous, we also investigate this interrelationship for a number of sub-panels which are constructed based on the income level of countries. In this way, we end up with three income panels; namely, high income, middle income, and low income panels. In the empirical part, we draw on the growth theory and augment the classical growth model, which consists of capital stock, labor force and inflation, with foreign direct investment and energy. Generally, we show mixed results about the interrelationship between energy consumption, FDI and economic growth.

An empirical investigation of factors affecting small business success

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to develop a mediational model of small businesses success. In this paper, the authors investigate how the human, social, and financial capital of entrepreneurs influences the capacity of small business to succeed. The objective through this model is to demonstrate that it is through the process of innovation these capitals are converted into success. Design/methodology/approach – The paper suggests an original, conceptual framework for how small businesses can succeed. Findings – To validate this mediational model, the authors used the conditions/steps proposed by Baron and Kenny (1986). Research limitations/implications – The results of this study have implications for both research and practice. This study provides a new contribution to the existing literature by introducing the innovation in the explanation of the links between these capitals and small business success, i.e. business with greater access to human and financial resources are more likely to undertak...

A robust analysis of the relationship between renewable energy consumption and its main drivers

We provide a comprehensive and robust analysis of the drivers of renewable energy consumption for a panel of 64 countries, using both the static (Pooled OLS, Panel Fixed and Random Effects) and dynamic (difference and system GMM) panel data estimation approaches. We show that the dynamic panel data model provides more efficient estimators than the static ones and that increases in per capita CO2 emissions and per capita trade with foreign partners mainly drive the changes in per capita renewable energy consumption. We also find limited evidence of oil price effects on renewable energy consumption, which reflects the fact that renewable energy is just a complement and not a perfect substitute of crude oil, at least in the short run.

Failure Factors in Tunisian Micro-enterprises: Introspection through Cognitive Mapping

Abstract This paper aims to identify the key factors of entrepreneurial failure in Sfax, a Tunisian region known for its entrepreneurial culture, using a sample of 150 micro-enterprises operating in different sectors of the economy. To study this particular phenomenon, the authors used the cognitive approach and the structural analysis, regarded as a tool for structuring ideas and for schematizing the mental image of micro-entrepreneurs. The results show that the weak engagement and the insufficient wealth of human, financial and social capital of microentrepreneurs represented the main potential barriers that reduced the success of their micro-enterprises. This study also emphasizes the importance of the attributes of human and social resources (e.g., education, experience, knowledge and skills, social networks, and family) as critical resources for successful individual businesses.

An international literature survey on energy-economic growth nexus: Evidence from country-specific studies

In this paper, an extensive review of the rapidly growing in the literature on the nexus between economic growth and four types of energy consumption: total energy consumption, electricity consumption, nuclear consumption, and renewable consumption. The various hypotheses associated with the causal interaction between these variables along with a survey of the empirical literature are also discussed. The survey focuses on country coverage, periods, modeling techniques, and empirical conclusions. A general observation from these studies that results are found to be sensitive to methodology and type of energy considered. The empirical results for the specific countries surveyed show that (i) for energy consumption-growth nexus: 29% supported the growth hypothesis, 27% the feedback hypothesis, 23% the conservation hypothesis, and 21% the neutrality hypothesis; (ii) for the electricity consumption-growth nexus: 40% supported the growth hypothesis, 33% the feedback hypothesis, and 27% conservation hypothesis; (iii) for the nuclear consumption-growth nexus: 60% supported the neutrality hypothesis, and 40% the growth hypothesis; and (iv) for the renewable consumption-growth nexus: 40% supported the neutrality hypothesis, 40% the conservation hypothesis, and 20% the growth hypothesis. These mixed results may be attributed to the different used data, selected variables, and econometric approaches undertaken.

How small business fail in Tunisia

This paper aim to draw an average cognitive map in order to explain the failure factors of Tunisian small business. The method adopted in the study of this phenomenon is the cognitive approach. Our study extends entrepreneurship literature and previous studies by proposing a new approach to building an average cognitive map for the explanation of small businesses failure.