Sharif Digital Repository

Although technological specialization has been recognized as a stimulating factor of international trade (Ricardian theory), new approaches emphasize the endogeneity of technological heterogeneity across countries. Following them, we proceed to examine the effect of free trade on technological differences among 20 OECD members during 1996-2008. We first use the model of Eaton and Kortum (2002) to obtain an annual estimate of technological heterogeneity within the OECD group. We then analyze the behavior of this index facing international trade statistics in the same period. The results show that the OECD countries have been experienced a technological convergence, thanks to a boost in the... 

In last decades as the international volume of trade increased significantly, examination of the relationship between trade and economic growth is one of the interesting topics for economists and policymakers. Trade can affect performance of economics by many channels, such as trade specialization, human and physical capital accumulation, knowledge and technology transfer. In this regard the aim of this thesis is the examination of trade specialization in industries with high productivity (as one of the trade influences) effects on economic growth.In this research based on Hausmann et al. (2006), we use an economic model with two sectors: modern and traditional. This model gives a primary... 

Establishing an efficient free trade agreement (FTA) requires some conditions in both trading partners. The median voter approach insists on the direction of general interests (identified by the utility of a median voter) to explain how two countries may agree to sign an FTA. At the other side, lobbying approach emphasizes on the role of interest groups (groups with a large influence on the public decisions) in forming FTAs. Taking into account the theoretically based and empirically robust foundation of the median voter approach, we rely on it to investigate the major determinants of free trade agreements in the case of ECO countries besides all their main trade partners. The database... 

During the two last decades, Iranians have faced with a wide and substantial increase in housing prices, especially in great metropolitans such as Tehran, Mashhad, Isfahan and Shiraz. This easily could be refered to a hyperinflation which significantly impeded the access of low and medium income families to housing. This study uses a structure model to recognize the responsible factors of such a rise in housing prices and to show whether there is any price bubble in market. The model consists of both supply and demand side determinants to explain the price changes across Iranian provinces over 1375-1390, in a panel data context. In particular, we use a longer and larger database which also... 

Despite the relative weakness of exchange rate structural models in determination short term fluctuations, observations show that real exchange rate respond to some fundamental economic variables. Due to the growing foreign sector of national economies, recent studies pay special attention to the impact of terms of trade on currency exchange rate. In this study, a structural model of the real exchange rate between the 70 currencies and during the period 1980-2010 has been developed in the context of panel data. Empirical micro-founded model are based on theoretical general equilibrium. Important features of such study are stationary of variables and causality test. Determination the effect... 

Concentration brings a twofold result to the market. From one side, it reduces the competition and then the number of varieties in the market, which discourages consumption; from another side, however, it reduces the price of goods due to increasing returns to scale and so encourages consumption. This controversial role of concentration raises the question that which degree of concentration might be, say, optimum for the market. Based on the Krugman approach, this study makes a relation between the number of firms, export volume, marginal and average fixed cost of production. We show that when number of firms reduces in the market, export volume could increase because of a reduction in... 

Foreign direct investment (FDI) has considerably increased in recent years and achieved two percent of the world GDP in 2009. The positive impact of FDI on many national economic variables such as export and employment has been a great motivation for countries to seek it. In spite of many promoting factors in Iran, the Iranian FDI inflow still remains small. Using a huge panel dataset including 2604 real observations, this study aims to recognize and evaluate the impact of main factors influencing FDI inwards across the world. Based on a theoretical approach, we develop an empirical gravity model which includes not only the traditional mass variables but also some specific factors to FDI... 

International trade arrangements have been considerably developed in recent decadees. Especially, one can note the role of these factors in economic development and improvement of life standards in member countries. In the meantime, Economic Cooperation Organization (ECO) was established in 1985, by Iran, Pakistan and Turkey and then extended by seven other countries: Afghanistan, Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan. Improving economic development and intra-group trade of member countries is one of the main objectives for the group. The purpose of this research is to estimate the ex-post effects of ECO on the intra-group trade of member countries.... 

In this piece of work, a gravity model is suggested as Iranian non-fuel export model to OIC countries. The most important results out of this model are the acquired coefficients of two variables, namely “ECO membership” and “Economic and Trade Freedom of Importer”. At first, we expected that for importer, being a member of ECO would increase the amount of trade with iran. Surprisingly, this is not what we see in a model. In fact, as ECO has not achieved any tangible success in increasing trade between its members, eastern Asian Muslim countries has become an important trade partner for iranians. This result is compatible with other pieces of researches about ECO. “Economic and Trade Freedom... 

The aim of this research was estimation of investment-specific technological change, using industrial database which is published annually by Bureau of Statistics of Iran. Investment-specific technological change is the quality improvement of investment in capital goods during the time. Before estimation of this rate, production function (regarding 130 industrial activities and during 14 years, 1994-2007) was estimated. All industries classified in 4 groups based on the level of technology used in them. Then factor’s production elasticities were compared between different groups of industries. The results showed that in high-tech industries the elasticities of skilled workers, import and... 

Institution covers wide range of rules, laws and policies. Two bodies of literature around institutions and resource curse have evaluated institutional quality by limited indices. In addition, although different institutions have different effects on economy, the literature hasn’t classified different kinds of institution. Furthermore, resources can affect institutions in different ways. This research has been surveyed the impact of resource dependence on institutional quality. Institutions that regulate relation between governors and citizens were named governmental institutions. Institutions that regulate the relation of citizens were named nongovernmental institutions. Governmental... 

Financial structure of firm is a determinant of firm’s cost of capital. Cost of capital is a determinant of firm value, so studding of Factors affecting the financial structure has become one of the most important topics in the financial economics in recent decades. Theoretical studies relating to the financial structure of firm have generally been aimed to studying the determinants of optimal financial structure. Empirical studies have also focused to studying the relationship between observed financial leverage and a set of explanatory variables. This approach has two major shortcomings. First, the observed leverage deviates from the optimal leverage. Second, the empirical analyses are...