Macroeconomics
Sohail Rudari; Seyyed Hadi Arabi; Sanaz Rahimi Kahkashi
Abstract
The present study aimed to examine the transfer, reception, and the spillover of volatility from March 1982 to September 2022, using the time-varying parameter vector autoregression model based on Barunik-Krehlik (TV-VAR-BK) with monthly frequency. The results indicated that the primary relationship ...
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The present study aimed to examine the transfer, reception, and the spillover of volatility from March 1982 to September 2022, using the time-varying parameter vector autoregression model based on Barunik-Krehlik (TV-VAR-BK) with monthly frequency. The results indicated that the primary relationship among the volatility of the analyzed variables is of long-term nature, with the exchange rate emerging as the dominant factor in explaining the volatility of the examined network. In the short term, liquidity serves as the primary transmitter of volatility to inflation and the exchange rate. However, in the medium and long term, the exchange rate becomes the primary transmitter of volatility to inflation, while liquidity acts as the net receiver of currency volatility. Additionally, the long-term impact of the exchange rate is more pronounced. Failure to control currency volatility can lead to inflation turbulence by transferring volatility to liquidity, underscoring the significance of exchange rate stability in managing liquidity and inflation.IntroductionThe exchange rate is one of the key factors influencing inflation. In addressing the impact of exchange rate volatility, the status of inflation plays a crucial role (Tahsili, 2022). Moreover, assessing the factors influencing the exchange rate stands as one of the most challenging empirical problems in macroeconomics (Williamson, 1994). Since the exchange rate is significant economic indicator in any country, alterations in monetary variables (e.g., liquidity and inflation rates) as well as non-monetary variables can lead to fluctuations and instability in the exchange rate (Amrollahi et al., 2021). The causality of volatility between money and inflation can vary depending on economic conditions (Al-Tajaee, 2019). A deeper understanding of liquidity growth dynamics, inflation, and exchange rates in Iran elucidates the reasons behind high inflation, rapid and continuous liquidity growth, and the impact of exchange rate volatility. Extreme changes in each variable overshadow the others, indicating a complex relationship among exchange rates, inflation, and liquidity. Examining the relationship between the volatility of different assets unveils the phenomenon of volatility spillover, where fluctuations in one component trigger volatility in others. An additional crucial aspect is understanding the modes of transmission, reception, and intensity of the causal relationship among exchange rates, inflation, and liquidity in Iran during different periods. In different years, the mutual influence of these components may have varied based on political, economic conditions, health, and pandemic issues, each of which impacting decision-making concerning exchange rates, inflation, and liquidity as three vital macro-economic components. In this respect, the present study used the time-varying parameter vector autoregression model based on Barunik-Krehlik (TV-VAR-BK) with monthly frequency in order to examine volatility spillover from March 1982 to September 2022 in Iran, providing a new perspective on investigating causality by analyzing the time-frequency volatility among exchange rates, inflation, and liquidity.Materials and MethodsThis study is applied and analytical in terms of its purpose and research method, respectively. The data was sourced from the Economic Accounts Department and the National Accounts of the Central Bank. The TVP-VAR-BK model was employed to analyze the time series among exchange rates, inflation, and liquidity. The TVP-VAR-BK model helped analyze the transmission and reception of volatility of variables across different periods (short-term, medium-term, and long-term). Furthermore, the analysis delved into whether the variables acted as net receivers or net transmitters of volatility.Results and DiscussionThe results showed that, in the short term, liquidity exerted the most significant influence and transmitted volatility to other variables. Notably, the most substantial impact and transmission of volatility by the liquidity occurred in 2013, following the tightening of sanctions on Iran. In the medium and long term, the exchange rate emerged as the most influential factor on other research variables.Examining the causal relationship in the short term, a strong causal connection was identified from liquidity volatility to inflation and the exchange rate. However, no causal relationship was observed between inflation and the exchange rate in the short term. Therefore, in the short term, liquidity could be the primary cause of volatility in inflation and the exchange rate. Failure to control short-term liquidity volatility could lead to severe volatility directly and indirectly within the studied network.Moving to the medium term, the transfer of volatility was predominantly from the exchange rate to liquidity and, to a lesser extent, from liquidity to inflation. In the medium term, the transfer of volatility from the exchange rate to inflation was less pronounced. This suggests that fluctuations in the exchange rate strongly transfer volatility to liquidity in the medium term, and liquidity significantly contributes to the emergence of inflation volatility. The exchange rate, albeit to a minor extent, can directly contribute to the transfer of volatility to inflation. This underscores the dominant role of the exchange rate in the network during the medium term.In the long term, no causal relationship between liquidity and inflation was observed, and there was no causality in the transfer of volatility between inflation and the exchange rate. This implies that factors other than the investigated network can explain inflation volatility in the long term. Although there is causality in the transfer of volatility from the exchange rate to liquidity in the short- and medium-term periods, this causality is stronger in the long term. Hence, while the classical view on liquidity and inflation holds until the medium term, the post-Keynesian view becomes evident in the long term. Overall, the exchange rate stands out as the dominant factor in the investigated network. Without stability in the exchange rate, Iran’s economy shall anticipate the fluctuating growth of liquidity and inflation in the short- and medium-term periods.ConclusionThe primary relationship among the volatility of the examined variables proved to be long-term, with the exchange rate emerging as the dominant factor explaining the volatility within the investigated network. In the short term, liquidity functioned as the net transmitter of volatility to inflation and the exchange rate. However, in the medium and long term, the exchange rate takes on the role of the primary transmitter of volatility, while inflation and liquidity assume the positions of net receivers of currency volatility. Moreover, the impact of the exchange rate was found to be notably stronger. Should exchange rate volatility remain uncontrolled, it has the potential to induce inflation volatility by transferring it to liquidity. This underscores the critical importance of maintaining exchange rate stability for the effective control of liquidity and inflation.
Macroeconomics
Zahra Sheikhali Zadeh; Jafar Haghighat; Zahra Karimi Takanlou; Seyed Saleh Akbar Mousavi
Abstract
The present study aimed to explore the impact of banking crisis on income distribution among various income classes in 60 world countries during 1990–2020. In this line, the Generalized Method of Moments (GMM) was used to estimate the six models with different dependent variables that depicted ...
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The present study aimed to explore the impact of banking crisis on income distribution among various income classes in 60 world countries during 1990–2020. In this line, the Generalized Method of Moments (GMM) was used to estimate the six models with different dependent variables that depicted income percentiles for the wealthy, middle, and poor classes. The findings indicated that during a banking crisis, the income share of the wealthy class decreases, while the middle class and the bottom 20% experience an increase in their income share. Consequently, banking crisis could contribute to income equality in the countries under study. In addition to the variable of banking crisis, other variables such as financial development and financial openness could lead to income inequality, while the variables like the ratio of public expenditure to GDP, trade openness, GDP, and GDP squared would cause income distribution equality in the countries. The results suggest that governments support lower-income percentiles through subsidies, support packages, more job opportunities, and provision of low-interest loans, in a bid to mitigate the detrimental effects of banking crisis and reduce income inequality. Furthermore, governments should levy taxes, such as capital gains tax, on higher-income percentiles.IntroductionThe literature offers various definitions for banking crisis. For instance, Liana et al. (2015) define banking crisis as the occurrence of simultaneous bankruptcies within the banking sector, resulting in substantial damage to the capital of the entire banking system, significant economic repercussions, and government intervention. According to Laeven and Valencia (2020), banking crisis occurs when two conditions are met: 1) “significant signs of financial distress within the banking system (indicated by significant bank runs, losses in the banking sector, and/or bank liquidations)” and 2) “significant intervention measures in banking policy in response to significant losses in the banking system.” The year in which both criteria are met is the year when crisis becomes systemic. Banking crisis exerts a myriad of effects, with one notable consequence being the issue of income inequality. There are two points of debate in this respect: the impact of banking crisis on income inequality and the reciprocal influence of income inequality on banking crisis. This research focused on the former. There are various channels through which banking crisis can adversely impact households and their income, including:(a) Loss of deposits in a failed banking institution(b) Loss of employment or earnings directly due to (i) disruption of the payments process, (ii) the bankruptcy of financial institutions (for employees and other stakeholders of these institutions) or (iii) the interruption of credit flows (for borrowing clients with information capital invested in the failed financial institutions)(c) Tax increases or curtailment of public spending due to fiscal cost of bail-outs of financial firms or their customers(d) Temporary or permanent changes in relative prices of (i) consumption goods, (ii) wage rates, (iii) production goods (iv) asset prices, that arise through knock-on effects on the rest of the economy(e) Involuntary unemployment if the crisis leads to a generalized economic downturn. (Honohan, 2005, pp. 6–7)In this context, the present study tried to answer the following questions: How does a banking crisis influence the income distribution of households and contribute to income inequality? Is the presumed impact the same across different income classes (i.e., wealthy, middle, and poor)?Materials and MethodsIn line with El Herradi and Leroy (2022), the present study used the following economic model:(1) In the model, refers to the income share of six different percentiles (p) including Top1%, Top10%, Top20%, Middle-class (21–79 percentile), Bottom20% and Bottom10% in the country i at the time t. is a dummy variable of the banking crisis (1 if a country i faces a banking crisis, otherwise 0). indicates the dependent variable of income distribution, with two lags to show the dynamics of the model. Finally, is a vector of lagged control variables, including GDP and GDP squared, financial development, trade openness, financial openness, the ratio of government public expenditures to GDP and political governance. Also, , and refer to country fixed effects, time fixed effects and an error term, respectively. , and k are model coefficients. The study sample comprised 60 countries worldwide, with annual data spanning the years 1990 to 2020.Results and DiscussionThe occurrence of a banking crisis is linked to significant yet varied effects across the income distribution. Consequently, during a banking crisis, the income shares of the top 1%, top 10%, top 20%, and bottom 10% experienced a decrease. Moreover, a banking crisis resulted in an increase in the income share of the middle-class population (21–79 percentiles) as well as the bottom 20% of individuals. Notably, the rise in the middle class was more substantial. Conversely, the lowest income group (the bottom 10%) exhibited a negative correlation between banking crisis and income share, mirroring the trend observed in the upper percentiles. However, the reduction in the income shares of the lowest income group (the bottom 10%) is considerably less than the losses suffered by higher income groups. According to the findings, the adverse impacts of banking crisis are more pronounced at the right end of income distribution. Therefore, the crisis could contribute to a reduction in income inequality.ConclusionThe findings indicated that a banking crisis adversely affects the income shares of the top 1%, top 10%, and top 20%. In simpler terms, a banking crisis diminishes the income share of these groups in the overall income of society. Notably, the reduction in the income shares of the top 10% (-0.426) is more pronounced compared to the top 1% and top 20% percentiles. Conversely, a banking crisis can increase the income share of the middle class (21–79 percentiles) and of the bottom 20% (i.e., the poor class), with a particularly substantial increase observed in the middle class. Turning to the lowest income group (the bottom 10%), a negative correlation exists between banking crisis and income share. Despite facing a decrease in income similar to the top income percentiles, the decline in their income share is considerably less than the losses experienced by the wealthy percentiles.In summary, a banking crisis could diminish the income share of the wealthy class and increase the income share of the middle and lower classes, contributing to a reduction in income inequality in the studied countries. Consequently, to mitigate the adverse effects of a banking crisis, governments can provide support to low-income percentiles through subsidies, support packages, more job opportunities, and low-interest loans. Additionally, taxes on high-income percentiles, such as capital gains tax, can be helpful. The measures can ultimately lead to a reduction in the income share of the wealthy percentiles and an increase in the share of the lower percentiles, improving income distribution and reducing income inequality.
Macroeconomics
Mohammad Hossein Jafari; Amineh Mahmudzadeh; Masoud Nili
Abstract
This paper examines the potential of government fiscal support in mitigating the consequences of shocks, particularly in relation to the infection rate of contagious diseases. The focus is on the emergence of Covid-19 and the various interventions implemented by governments to combat it. The study utilizes ...
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This paper examines the potential of government fiscal support in mitigating the consequences of shocks, particularly in relation to the infection rate of contagious diseases. The focus is on the emergence of Covid-19 and the various interventions implemented by governments to combat it. The study utilizes a cross-country analysis, using a dataset that includes government fiscal measures, infection rates, and selected institutional and economic metrics from different countries. To isolate the effects of vaccinations, the analysis is specifically focused on the year 2020. The findings indicate that a one percentage point increase in the ratio of direct government spending to GDP corresponds to an approximate 0.08 percentage point reduction in the confirmed infection rate. Given the average infection rate of 1.6 percent in 2020, this translates to a significant 5 percent decrease in infection rates. Additionally, the study reveals that the effectiveness of fiscal support measures is influenced by the institutional quality of the countries. Higher institutional quality is associated with greater effectiveness of fiscal support measures in reducing the infection rate. Furthermore, the study highlights that the impact of government spending on reducing the infection rate is enhanced when accompanied by the implementation of governmental rules.1.IntroductionWith the outbreak of the COVID–19 pandemic, countries faced with a widespread shock that precipitated health–economic crises. In an effort to curb the spread of the disease, governments implemented quarantine measures while concurrently endeavoring to aid vulnerable households and businesses, aligning citizens with restrictive policies. It is essential to note that government responses extended beyond financial support; a comprehensive set of policies was enacted to address the outbreak and its ramifications. In this respect, the present research aimed to study the impact of fiscal measures on the prevalence of COVID–19.The study investigated the hypothesis that government financial support may contribute to diminishing the prevalence of COVID–19. Should this hypothesis prove valid by drawing from the lessons learned during the COVID–19-induced shock, we can advocate for a more widespread application of fiscal policy tools in similar circumstances. This recommendation may extend beyond the conventional goal of stabilizing the macroeconomy, encompassing a proactive approach towards reducing infection rates. Yet a significant portion of the existing literature refers to the limited role of fiscal policies in stabilizing economy.The significance of this study lies in its quantitative assessment of the impact of monetary and fiscal policies, along with the identification of institutional factors that influence the scale and composition of supportive policies. This information can help policymakers to make necessary institutional changes, enabling a more adept response to potential future shocks.In line with the hypothesis testing, the research also investigated the impact of certain fiscal support measures adopted by governments on reducing the infection rate of COVID–19.2.Materials and MethodsDue to the absence of the necessary database for testing the research hypothesis, the researchers constructed a suitable database by amalgamating and refining data sourced from various databases, including research centers specializing in infectious diseases, the World Bank, and other international statistical institutions. The study used a cross-country panel analysis to measure the impact of fiscal policies while controlling for influential variables.3.Results and DiscussionThe study showed that the overall direct government expenditures aimed at combating the outbreak of COVID–19 had a significantly negative relationship with the confirmed infection rate. This finding demonstrates a satisfactory level of stability in relation to changes in the control variables.Furthermore, the study employed the rule of law index to measure the impact of institutional quality on the effectiveness of expenditures. The index did not show a direct correlation with the infection rate. However, the significance of the coefficient associated with the product of the rule of law and government direct expenditures suggests that enhancing institutional quality can increase the effectiveness of expenditures in reducing the infection rate.The analysis of the expenditures indirectly linked to health revealed that a one-percentage-point increase in the ratio of such expenditures to GDP led to a 0.13 percentage-point decrease in the confirmed infection rate. Given the average 1.6% infection rate in 2020, this translates to a 5% decrease in the infection rate.The research results indicate that support provided through grants to small businesses, aids to tenants, income support for households, and expenditures resulting from reductions in various tax bases or similar measures proved successful in aligning businesses and households with quarantine policies. Moreover, these measures demonstrated a relatively acceptable ability to reduce the infection rate. Considering the average ratio of 3.4% of these expenditures to GDP of countries, it can be asserted that with an approximately 30% increase in support (equivalent to a one-percentage-point increase in this ratio), the average infection rate has decreased by 5%, hence a decrease in the mortality rate.4.ConclusionThe research results indicate that fiscal policies, beyond their role in stabilizing the macroeconomy, remain a potent tool in the hands of policymakers. Appropriately employed, these policies have the potential to mitigate the adverse effects of severe shocks, such as the outbreak of a disease. Specifically, the research highlights the effectiveness of fiscal support policies adopted during the COVID–19 outbreak in aligning households and businesses with imposed restrictions. There was evident reduction in the infection rate, even when controlling for other influential variables. Furthermore, the study underscored the impact of institutional quality, measured by the rule of law index, on the effectiveness of government fiscal support. It suggests that fiscal support measures carried out within a robust institutional framework demonstrate greater effectiveness. Conversely, in contexts characterized by weak institutions, the effectiveness of fiscal support is diminished.
Macroeconomics
Mohaddeseh Saberi; Zahra Afshari; Ahmad Sarlak; Seyed Fakhroddin Fakhr Hosseini; Esmaeil Safarzadeh
Abstract
In this paper, the effect of population aging on economic growth in a closed economy in which the element of human capital is endogenously formed is simulated. For this purpose the computable generalized Diamond overlapping generation’s model are used for a period of 50 years. First, the dynamic ...
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In this paper, the effect of population aging on economic growth in a closed economy in which the element of human capital is endogenously formed is simulated. For this purpose the computable generalized Diamond overlapping generation’s model are used for a period of 50 years. First, the dynamic effect of aging on macroeconomic variables, especially economic growth, are simulated in the baseline scenario (current state of the Iranian economy).Then the dynamic effects of public policies under different scenarios of human capital and pensions ratios on economic growth for a period of 50 years are simulated. The results of the model showed that the government's general policies to increase human capital increase the share of skilled labor (effective labor) and therefore have a growth effect. At values of public policy tools above the baseline scenario(industrial status), the effect of productivity on aging prevails and long-term growth increases.In addition, the results showed that increasing the ratio of pensions to the level of developed countries encourages demand-based economic growth, but has a level effect and does not change long-term growth. The results show that increasing aging, if combined with government policies to promote human capital, can potentially offset the negative impact of aging on growth.
Macroeconomics
Maryam Mehrara; Amir Gholami; Seyed Mohammad Mehdi Ahmadi
Abstract
Due to the importance of balancing internal and external of the economy, research on the interaction effects of the budget deficit, savings gap, and current account deficit has always been a major issue for policymakers. The main purpose of this study was to test the validity of the triple deficit hypothesis ...
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Due to the importance of balancing internal and external of the economy, research on the interaction effects of the budget deficit, savings gap, and current account deficit has always been a major issue for policymakers. The main purpose of this study was to test the validity of the triple deficit hypothesis during the period 1978-2019 in the Iranian economy with the presence of the degree of trade openness for two models of oil trade and without oil trade. In the present paper, by providing a theoretical framework and using the Johansen - Juselius cointegration test method and the error correction mechanism, long-term and short-term relationships of the variables of this research are investigated. The results showed that the long-run relationship among the components of the triple deficit hypothesis is established in the two models of oil trade and without oil trade, but the validity of the triple deficit hypothesis is not confirmed in the short run. Through the Impulse response functions, decisions were made about the interrelationships among the variables, and the results of this method confirmed the validity of the triple deficit hypothesis for the oil trade model and the occurrence of the inverse mechanism for the oil-free trade model. Finally, in the oil trade model, internal and external imbalances reduced trade openness, and in the non-oil trade model, only the savings gap played such a role. This emphasized the key role of the private sector in reducing internal and external imbalances.
Macroeconomics
Zana Mozaffari; Bakhtiar Javaheri
Abstract
Human capital is a hidden variable. In different economic studies, various proxies have been used as a proxy for human capital, including the average literacy index, the number of graduates or the average number of years of schooling. This study will review the economic literature first, and then the ...
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Human capital is a hidden variable. In different economic studies, various proxies have been used as a proxy for human capital, including the average literacy index, the number of graduates or the average number of years of schooling. This study will review the economic literature first, and then the three pillars of human capital index including education variables, skills and health will be analyzed for the Iranian economy. In addition, by using fuzzy approach and Mamdani Fuzzy Inference System, the human capital index in the Iranian economy during the 1981-2019 period will be estimated. The results of this calculation shows that during the period under study, the human capital index has continuously grown; in 1981, the index was estimated at 0.13 and 0.59 in 2019. On this basis, it can be stated that human capital in the Iranian economy during the 1981 to 2019 period has grown significantly. This accumulation of human capital can be seized in the production processes, leading to increase in production and productivity..
Macroeconomics
Ehsan Habibpour Moghaddam; Seyed Mahdi Barakchian; Masoud Nili
Abstract
Since the beginning of the 2010s, the investment in Iran has experienced a continuous and severe fall and the level of the total real investment at the end of 2018 has approximately reached its 2002 level. In this paper, we show that the fluctuation of the investment (in machinery) up to the beginning ...
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Since the beginning of the 2010s, the investment in Iran has experienced a continuous and severe fall and the level of the total real investment at the end of 2018 has approximately reached its 2002 level. In this paper, we show that the fluctuation of the investment (in machinery) up to the beginning of 2010s can be explained by the use of a regression model which includes macroeconomic variables as well as measures of instability in macro environment. However, this model is not able to predict the investment drop during the 2010s and it seems that other factors play a crucial role in the severe fall of the investment in this decade. We will introduce “Political Conflicts” and “Economic Policy Uncertainty” as two indices which are constructed by applying the text analysis method to the press and digital media from 2002 to 2019. The trend of these two indices show a high degree of uncertainty during the recent decade. We will show that the “Political Conflicts” index can explain the investment drop in the 2010s.
Macroeconomics
Abdorasoul Sadeghi; Hossein Marzban; Ali Hossein Samadi; Karim Azarbaiejani
Abstract
The unstable state of macroeconomic indicators such as gross domestic product (GDP), investment, and inflation rate, as well as the disproportionate level of high volume of cash held by private individuals versus the low volume of liquidity in manufacturing firms, have always been a significant problem ...
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The unstable state of macroeconomic indicators such as gross domestic product (GDP), investment, and inflation rate, as well as the disproportionate level of high volume of cash held by private individuals versus the low volume of liquidity in manufacturing firms, have always been a significant problem in Iran's economy. In this respect, the relationship among the stock market, bank deposits, and speculation in the foreign exchange market, and also, the central bank's role in directing liquidity between them to affect the macroeconomic indicators are important. The current study evaluates this subject for 1988–2018 using a system of simultaneous equations and the three-stage least squares (3SLS) method. The findings indicate that there has been a significant negative relationship among the stock market, bank deposits, and foreign exchange speculation. The stock market and bank deposits have had a significant positive effect on investment and GDP, and in contrast, foreign exchange speculation has shown a significant negative impact. Conversely, bank deposits have negatively impacted the consumer price index (CPI), whereas foreign exchange speculation has shown a substantial direct effect. Finally, despite the existence of a significant negative relationship between three financial markets in the Iranian economy confirmed by the obtained results, the central bank has forfeited a considerable portion of its potential effectiveness in directing liquidity between parallel financial markets to affect nominal and real economic indicators due to interest rate repression.
Macroeconomics
Mohammad Ali Aboutorabi; Mehdi Hajamini; Sahar Tohidi
Abstract
In recent decades, the effect of financial development on real sector growth has been discussed from different aspects. This paper focuses on financial structure and explains the role of bank-based and market-based financial structures on economic growth by classifying the literature. Using the FMOLS ...
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In recent decades, the effect of financial development on real sector growth has been discussed from different aspects. This paper focuses on financial structure and explains the role of bank-based and market-based financial structures on economic growth by classifying the literature. Using the FMOLS method for the period 1979-2016, the effects of financial structure and banking structure on per capita GDP and sectors’ growth (agriculture, industry, and services) in Iran are estimated. Empirical findings indicate that discriminating policies and bias in financial structure in favor of a specific sector has a negative effect on real sector growth, especially agriculture and industry. Therefore, in support of the design of a balanced financial structure, it is recommended that the state should avoid any intervention or discrimination in favor of a specific sector. In the case of banking structure, the findings show that increasing the financial strength of banks encourages economic growth.
Macroeconomics
Narges Hajimoladarvish; Neda Mozaffaripour
Abstract
Replacement of labourers by robots and automation has been one of the oldest concerns in the labour market, and many people have attributed rising unemployment to the growth of innovation and technology. Some researchers have linked the impact of technology on employment to breadth and depth of markets. ...
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Replacement of labourers by robots and automation has been one of the oldest concerns in the labour market, and many people have attributed rising unemployment to the growth of innovation and technology. Some researchers have linked the impact of technology on employment to breadth and depth of markets. Available evidence suggests that the impact of innovation and technology on employment depends on the international competitiveness of countries and the quality of their workforce. Since the economic complexity index measures both exports and the level of available knowledge in economies, it can be a good candidate for considering the breadth and depth of markets. The present study examines the effect of economic complexity on unemployment by controlling for GDP and inflation and asks whether there is a level of innovation determining the relationship between the economic complexity and unemployment. For this purpose, we use a panel threshold regression for a period 2008- 2017. Findings show that the relationship between economic complexity and unemployment is non-linear. Moreover, there is the evidence of substitution of labour by robots when the innovation index is in the range of [0.456, 0.493).