Economic Research Forum (ERF)

Yilmaz Kilicaslan

Author

Yilmaz Kilicaslan
Professor of Economics, Faculty of Economics of Anadolu University, Eskisehir, Turkey

Dr. Yilmaz Kilicaslan is a Professor of Economics at the Faculty of Economics of Anadolu University, Eskisehir, Turkey and a Research Associate of Economic research Forum (ERF), Egypt. After he graduated from the Department of Economics of Anadolu University with B.Sc. in Economics in 1993, he went to Northeastern University, Boston, MA, USA with a government scholarship in 1995. He received an M.A. degree in Economics at Northeastern University in 1997. In 1999, He started his Ph.D. study at the Department of Economics of the Middle East Technical University in Ankara, Turkey where he also worked as a Research Assistant during his Ph.D. study. After completing his Ph.D. in 2005, he started to work as an Assistant Professor of Economics at the Department of Economics of Anadolu University. During 2007-2008, he worked at the Working Lives Research Institute (WLRI) of London Metropolitan University, London, UK as a Research Fellow. He worked as a visiting professor at the Department of Economics of Rice University, Houston, TX, USA during the summer of 2013. Dr. Kilicaslan served as a Member of Advisory Board at The Scientific and Technological Research Council of Turkey (TUBITAK), Ankara, Turkey between 2018-2022. He is currently a Member of Executive Board of Social and Humanities Research Support Group at The Scientific and Technological Research Council of Turkey, Ankara, Turkey. His main research areas include economic growth and development, labour markets, industrial development, productivity in manufacturing and other industries, ICT and innovation, and economics of education. He’s been teaching economic growth and development, econometrics, microeconomic theory at both undergraduate and graduate level at both Anadolu University and TOBB University of Economics and Technology.

Content by this Author

Labour market effects of robots: evidence from Turkey

Evidence from developed countries on the impact of automation on labour markets suggests that there can be negative effects on manufacturing jobs, but also mechanisms for workers to move into the services sector. But this narrative may not apply in developing economies. This column reports new evidence from Turkey on the effects of robots on labour displacement and job reallocation.

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Happiness in the Arab world: should we be concerned?

Several Arab countries have low rankings in the latest comparative assessment of average happiness across the world. But as this column explains, the average is not a reliable summary statistic when applied to ordinal data. The evidence from more robust analysis of socio-economic inequality in happiness suggests that policy-makers should be less concerned about happiness indicators than the core development objective of more equitable social conditions for citizens.

It’s too early to tell what happened to the Arab Spring

Did the Arab Spring fail? This column presents a view the consensus view from ERF’s recent annual conference in Morocco: careful analysis of the fundamental drivers of democratic transitions suggests that it’s too early to tell.

Arab regional cooperation in a fragmenting world

As globalisation stalls, regionalisation has emerged as an alternative. This column argues that Arab countries need to face the new realities and move decisively towards greater mutual cooperation. A regional integration agenda that also supports domestic reforms could be an important source of growth, jobs and stability.

Reformed foreign ownership rules in UAE: the impact on business entry

In an effort to stimulate economic growth and diversify the economy, the government of the United Arab Emirates has recently implemented regulatory reform that allows 100% foreign ownership of companies operating in the country. This column examines the implications of the reform for entry of new firms in Dubai, using unique data on new business licences in the emirate.

Self-employment in MENA: the role of religiosity and personal values

How important are individual’s values and beliefs in influencing the likelihood that they will embrace the responsibilities, risks and entrepreneurial challenge of self-employment? This column presents evidence from 12 countries in the Middle East and North African region on the roles of people’s religiosity and sense of personal agency in their labour market choices.

Gender differences in business record-keeping and planning in Iraq

Only one in every ten informal businesses in Iraq is led by a woman. Yet as research summarised in this column reveals, those businesses are more likely to set budgets and sales targets, and to keep business records. This may be evidence of the role of social exclusion in motivating greater reliance on the formal bureaucratic system.

Conflict and debt in the Middle East and North Africa

With the global economy is in its third year of deceleration amid declining inflation and oil prices, the Middle East and North Africa grew by just 1.9% in 2023, with a forecast for growth in 2024 at 2.7%. In addition to heightened uncertainty brought on by the conflict centred in Gaza, many countries in the region are also grappling with pre-existing vulnerabilities, including rising debt levels. This column summarises a new report that unpacks the nature of debt in MENA – and explains the critical importance of keeping rising debt stocks in check.

Making aid-for-trade more effective in the MENA region

Aid-for-trade represents an important opportunity for developing countries to enhance their trade capacities. But the positive effect of aid-for-trade on exports can hinge on the quality of institutions in recipient countries. According to research reported in this column, in the Middle East and North Africa, it is specific aid types – such as aid to support trade policy reform and aid to enhance productive capacities – that matter most for exports.

Sanctions and carbon emissions in Iran

How are Iran’s energy use and emissions of carbon dioxide affected by the imposition of economic sanctions? This column summarises new research that analyses a range of different scenarios and which takes account of multiple economic, social and environmental dimensions, notably what happens to growth and energy intensity, and whether sanctions are lifted.

Can a free trade area in services boost trade within the Arab region?

With trade in goods among Arab countries remaining modest, trade in services could play the pivotal role of an engine of growth in economic integration within the region, as well greater participation in global value chains. This column outlines progress to date and what needs to be done to make a success of AFTAS, the Arab free trade area in services.




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