Yaghoob Jafari

Estimates of Ad Valorem Equivalents of Barriers Against Foreign Suppliers of Services in Eleven Services Sectors and 103 Countries

A new database on the barriers faced by foreign suppliers of services has been produced by the World Bank. Data for 103 countries are available on 11 of the most important services sectors in international trade. Based on these data and building on the methodology and publications supported by the Australian Productivity Commission, this paper produces estimates of the ad valorem equivalents of the barriers for all these sectors and countries. Compared with estimates available in the literature that are based on assessments of country- and sector-specific barriers to services providers, the estimates expand the set of sectors and more than triple the set of countries for which estimates of the ad valorem equivalents of the services barriers are available.

Resource Curse: New Evidence on the Role of Institutions

This paper attempts to provide a probable answer to a longstanding resource curse puzzle; i.e., why resource-rich nations grow at a slower rate compared with less fortunate ones. Using an innovative threshold estimation technique, the empirical results reveal that there is a threshold effect in the natural resources–economic growth relationship. We find that the impact of natural resources is meaningful to economic growth only after a certain threshold point of institutional quality has been attained. The results also shed light on the fact that the nations that have low institutional quality depend heavily on natural resources while countries with high quality institutions are relatively less dependent on natural resources to generate growth.

Identification of the key sectors that produce CO2 emissions in Malaysia: application of input–output analysis

ABSTRACT An important challenge for many countries in the quest for a responsible, low-carbon economy is identifying the key economic sectors responsible for CO2 emissions and understanding what national initiatives might be appropriate to address these emissions, taking into account the role played by different production sectors and their relationship with other sectors and atmospheric pollution. In this paper, we apply input–output analysis to identify the key economic sectors that produce CO2 emissions in Malaysia from the production perspective, and we identify the sectors that should receive more consideration for mitigation policies. Results indicate the primary key sectors that demonstrated strong distribution and total effects were the energy and transportation sectors. Whether to use demand- or supply-side measures to mitigate CO2 emissions is discussed in the conclusion.

TOWARDS OIC ECONOMIC COOPERATION: IMPACT OF DEVELOPING 8 (D-8) PREFERENTIAL TRADE AGREEMENT

The Developing 8 (D-8) comprises of eight developing countries (Turkey, Malaysia, Indonesia, Bangladesh, Pakistan, Iran, Egypt and Nigeria), all of which are OIC members with large Muslim populations. The D-8 has formed a freer trade alliance with the objectives to create new opportunities and enhance intra-trade relations while providing better standards of living for its citizens. This paper examines the trade impact of possible trade liberalization among the D-8 countries using a multi-country computable general equilibrium model, i.e., GTAP. Results indicate that while the D-8 intra-trade is expected to increase very substantially, not all member countries will experience a welfare gain under a free trade arrangement. Likewise, the impact on economic sectors differs substantially across countries.

Energy consumption, emissions and economic growth in Bahrain

This study examines the Granger causality relationships between economic growth, energy consumption and emissions, from 1980 to 2007 in Bahrain, controlling for capital and urban population using Toda and Yamamoto’s approach. It was found that there is unilateral causality which runs from urban population, economic growth, capital and energy consumption to environment. Further, we found strong support for causality running from economic growth to energy consumption, emissions and capital. The existence of these linkages suggests that the government of Bahrain may pursue energy efficiency strategies and carbon emissions reduction policy in the long run without impeding economic growth. Additionally, the long run pursuit of high economic growth given sustained increases in energy efficiency may also reduce CO2 emissions intensity per unit of her GDP.

Benefits valuation of potable water quality improvement in Malaysia: the case of Kajang Municipality

This article estimates the benefits of potable water quality improvements in Kajang Municipality in the state of Selangor, Malaysia, using the avertive cost method. Households were willing to pay MYR 322 annually to improve potable water quality. This represents about 80% of their average annual water bill. The present value of aggregate benefits over a period of 30 years at various social discount rates ranged from MYR 301 million to MYR 768 million. These estimates can be used as a reference for public investment criteria. The findings suggest that there is merit in an upward revision of water tariffs if they provide improvements in water quality.