Factors Affect Economic Well-being: Human Developing Index for Selected Arab Countries

Authors

  • Fatma Abdulla Postgraduate student, Business Economic Department, University of Jordan
  • Alaaeddin Al-Tarawneh Associate Professor, Business Economic Department, University of Jordan https://orcid.org/0000-0002-7482-581X

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.35516/jjes.v11i1.1257

Abstract

Objectives: This study aims to analyze the impact of several factors on economic well-being in numerous Arab countries, using the Human Development Index issued by the UNDP. These countries include Egypt, Algeria, Sudan, Iraq, Morocco, Yemen, Jordan, Tunisia, Mauritania, Djibouti, Comoros, and Lebanon between 2009 and 2019.

Methods: The analysis is based on Panel data using the Feasible Generalized Least Squares regression (FGLS), and several necessary tests are applied to determine the appropriate estimation method.

Results: The study's results show that globalization led to an improvement in welfare levels. Furthermore, the results indicate that the Corruption Index reduces welfare levels. In contrast, foreign direct investments did not show a statistically significant relationship with the Human Development Index during the selected period for the chosen countries. However, the results verify that government expenditures have a positive impact on improving welfare levels in these countries.

Conclusions: The study underscores the importance of combating corruption by avoiding repression and dictatorship and curbing the control of influential entities over power and effective government. In addition, there is a need to strengthen globalization incentives by facilitating international communication processes, easing visa procedures, and encouraging entry and exit from these countries. The study also emphasizes the need for media openness, technology dissemination, and improving trade openness.

References

Acemoglu, D. and Verdier, T. (1998). Property Rights, Corruption and the Allocation of Talent: A General Equilibrium Approach. Economic Journal, 108, 1381-1403.

Agénor, P. (2002). Does globalization hurt the poor?. The World Bank, Research working paper series, 2922.

Asiedu, E. (2003). “Policy Reform and Foreign Direct Investment to Africa: Absolute Progress but Relative Decline”, mimeo, Department of Economics, University of Kansas, United States.

Barro, R., and Sala-i-Martin, X. (1992). Public finance in models of economic growth. Review of Economic Studies, 59(4), 645-661.

Basu, Sudip (2005). the Determinants of Economic Well-being: An Application in the Indian States. Development and Comp Systems 0509009, University Library of Munich, Germany.

Carr, D. L., Markusen, J. R., and Maskus, K. E. (2001). Estimating the knowledge-capital model of the multinational enterprise. American Economic Review, 91(3), 693-708.

Chowdhury, A., and Mavrotas, G. (2006). FDI and growth: what causes what?. World economy, 29(1), 9-19.‏

Crespo, N., and Fontoura, M. P. (2007). Determinant factors of FDI spillovers–what do we really know?. World development, 35(3), 410-425

Deaton, A. (2004). Health in an age of globalization. NBER working paper, 10669.

Dollar, D., & Kraay, A. (2004). Trade, growth, and poverty. The economic journal, 114(493), F22-F49.

Egunjobi, Adenike (2013). an econometric analysis of the impact of corruption on economic growth in Nigeria. E3 Journal of Business Management and Economics, 4(3), 54-65

Gil-García, J. and Puron-Cid, G. (2014).Using panel data techniques for social science research: an illustrative case and some guidelines. CIENCIA ergo-sum, Revista Científica Multidisciplinaria de Prospectiva, 21(3), 203-216.

Greene, W. (2011). Econometric analysis. Seventh edition, Pearson.

Groot, De and Groot, Olaf (2014). Foreign direct investment and welfare. Desarrollo Productivo 196, Naciones Unidas Comisión Económica para América Latina y el Caribe.

https://repositorio.cepal.org/bitstream/handle/11362/37137/1/lcl3800_es.pdf.

Gujarati, D. (2004). Basic econometrics.

Hossain, M. S., Kamal, M. S., Halim, M. R., and Zayed, N. M. (2019). Inward Foreign Direct Investment and Welfare Nexus: the Impact of Foreign Direct Investment on Welfare in Developing Countries. International Journal of Economics and Financial Issues, 9(4), 228-240

Kapur, D. and V. Milan (2014). Strengthening Rule of Law. In B.J. Debroy, A.J. Tellis and T. Reece (eds.): Getting India Back on Track: An Action Agenda for Reform. Washington, DC: Carnegie Endowment for International Peace.

Kaulihowa, T. (2017). Foreign Direct Investment and Welfare Dynamics in Africa. Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) in Development Finance, Faculty of Economic and Management Sciences at Stellenbosch University.

KOF, Index of Globalization (2021). Available at https://kof.ethz.ch/en/forecasts-and-indicators/indicators/kof-globalisation-index.html

Kolb, M. (2018). What is globalization: And how has the global economy shaped the United States. Peterson Institute for International Economics. https://www.piie.com/microsites/globalization/what-is-globalization

Le Goff, M., & Singh, R. J. (2014). Does trade reduce poverty? A view from Africa. Journal of African Trade, 1(1), 5-14.

Maingi, J. N. (2010). The impact of government expenditure on economic growth in Kenya: 1963-2008. Advences in Economics and Business, 5(012), 635-662.‏

Mantzaris, E., and Pillay, P. (2019). Corruption: consequences for Socio-economic Well-being in South Africa

OECD (2009), “General government expenditure”, in Government at a Glance 2009, OECD Publishing, Paris

OECD (2013). “Economic well-being”, in OECD Framework for Statistics on the Distribution of Household Income, Consumption and Wealth, OECD Publishing, Paris.

Perkins, R., & Neumayer, E. (2005). The international diffusion of new technologies: A multitechnology analysis of latecomer advantage and global economic integration. Annals of the Association of American Geographers, 95(4), 789-808.

Shelton, C. A. (2007). The size and composition of government expenditure. Journal of Public Economics, 91(11-12), 2230-2260.

Stark, G. (2004). Overview of Knee disarticulation. American Academy of Orthotists & Prosthetists, 16, 130-137.

Stevenson, B., and Wolfers, J. (2008). Economic growth and subjective well-being: Reassessing the Easterlin paradox (No. w14282). National Bureau of Economic Research, Working Paper 14282.

Todaro, M. P., and Smith, S. C. (2021). Economic development.‏

Tsai, M. (2007). Does globalization affect human well-being? Social Indicators Reseach, 81(1), 103-126.

Tsionas, M. (Ed.). (2019). Panel Data Econometrics theory. Academic Press.

Worldbank, (Oct 19, 2021). The World Bank Group, Combating Corruption. Retrieved from

https://www.worldbank.org/en/topic/governance/brief/anti-corruption

Downloads

Published

2024-01-01

How to Cite

Abdulla, F. ., & Al-Tarawneh, A. . (2024). Factors Affect Economic Well-being: Human Developing Index for Selected Arab Countries. Jordan Journal of Economic Sciences, 11(1), 24–34. https://doi.org/10.35516/jjes.v11i1.1257

Issue

Section

Articles