Centralization, Decentralization, and Conflict in the Middle East and North Africa

This paper examines broadly the intergovernmental structure in the Middle East and North Africa region, which has one of the most centralized government structures in the world. The authors address the reasons behind this centralized structure by looking first at the history behind the tax systems of the region. They review the Ottoman taxation system, which has been predominantly influential as a model, and discuss its impact on current government structure. They also discuss the current intergovernmental structure by examining the type and degree of decentralization in five countries representative of the region: Egypt, Iran, West Bank/Gaza, Tunisia, and Yemen. Cross-country regression analysis using panel data for a broader set of countries leads to better understanding of the factors behind heavy centralization in the region. The findings show that external conflicts constitute a major roadblock to decentralization in the region.Fiscal decentralization; intergovernmental relations; Middle East and North Africa

Decentralization, economic development, and growth in Turkish provinces

There have been important developments in the decentralization of the government structure in Turkey since the early 1980s. This paper examines economic development and growth in Turkish provinces. Although there is a rich literature on the economic effects of government decentralization from both developed and developing countries, these effects have not been examined widely in the context of Turkish local governments. The authors first describe changes since the early 1980s and recent reform efforts. They then provide an empirical analysis of the effects of decentralization in Turkish provinces using cross-sectional and panel data approaches. The panel dataset consists of 67 provinces from 1976 to 2001. The analysis examines whether variations in local decentralization across these provinces and across time have had a significant impact on economic development and growth in those provinces. The findings suggest a weak negative economic effect of decentralization through a number of municipalities per capita. However, the findings do not show any significant impact from the creation of new provinces by separation from the existing ones.Municipal Financial Management,Economic Theory&Research,Regional Governance,Intergovernmental Fiscal Relations and Local Finance Management,Public Sector Management and Reform

DOES HIGHER SHARE IN TOTAL TRADE STIMULATE REGIONAL LABOR MARKET OUTCOMES? THE CASE OF TURKEY

Standard trade theory relies on the assumption of long-run full-employment, thus implying that although trade can affect wage rates and change the sectoral distribution of employment, it has no effect on the overall level of employment. In the empirical literature, it is a controversial debate that trade openness is good for employment in the long-run. If so, the further question is about the poorer regions in the developing countries which are fully open to trade. Turkey is one of these countries experienced trade liberalization three decades ago. Although its regions’ connection to markets is effective due to limited lack of access to key inputs and low transport costs, their shares in total trade and labor market outcomes strikingly vary depending on the density of local economic activities. While trade volumes and employment creation capacities of some regions are quite high, relevant indicators for some others are disappointing. The aim of this paper is to explore the relation between regional trade volumes and major labor market indicators. To this end, empirical analyses are designed to test the hypothesis that more regional trade volume leads to more employment opportunities and stimulates the job creation capacities of local labor markets. The data sets used in the analyses are from Turkish Statistical Institute, one being trade statistics by province which consists of export and import volume data for 81 provinces. The other set contains individual-based micro data from Household Labor Force Survey and both of these sets are at NUTS level 2, analyzing Turkey with 26 statistical regions. Time-interval for the analyses is from the year 2004 to 2008. Since the nature of labor market data set is cross-sectional and the dependent variable created is a dummy, the methodology used in the study is based on the probit regression. The preliminary results of the paper shows that higher the trade volumes of regions generally improve the indicators of local labor markets in Turkey.

Investigation of Prudent Investment Hypothesis in ISE

Aim of this study is to examine whether institutional investors pursue prudent investment policy in ISE. Empirical analysis is performed by examining the difference among various firm characteristics of company portfolios constructed according to institutional ownership for the years, 2005, 2006 and 2007. Firm characteristics are market value, leverage ratio, turnover ratio, standard deviation of stock returns and return-on-assets. Analysis results suggest that institutional investors invest prudently in ISE companies. Institutional investors seem to prefer companies with big scale, high level of return-on-assets, low level of total risk, stock liquidity, and leverage ratio.Institutional Investors, Prudent Investment Hypothesis, ISE

Testing Profitability of Momentum Investment Strategy in ISE

Aim of this study is to investigate profitability of momentum investment strategy in ISE. Sample of the study consists of the stocks traded in National Market of ISE from July 2000 to June 2010. We use 3, 6, 9, 12 month holding and testing periods. Performance of momentum strategy is tested by t-test, Jensen method and Fama-French three factor model. Analysis results suggest that momentum strategy appears to have a poor performance for 3, 6 and 9 month periods. However, on the contrary, momentum strategy seems to be profitable for 12 month formation period.Momentum Strategy, Efficent Market Hypothsis, Behavioral Finance.

THE EXCHANGE RATE RISK OF TURKISH TOURISM FIRMS

In this study, exchange rate exposures of tourism firms, whose shares are traded in Borsa I˙stanbul (BIST), were investigated. In this manner, the data pertaining to eight tourism firms, whose shares are traded in BIST, were included in analyses for July 2002–June 2010. A regression model, which was developed by adding the exchange rate factor to the Fama- French three-factor model, was used in the study. Analysis results revealed that exchange rate risk is a crucial risk factor for three tourism firms. However, it was determined that the three tourism firms that are negatively affected by exchange rate risk have considerably larger open foreign currency positions than other tourism firms

Hepatitis B virus prevalence, immunization and immune response in people living with HIV/AIDS in Istanbul, Turkey: a 21-year data analysis

Objective: We aimed to determine Hepatitis B virus (HBV) prevalence, immune status, and the prevalence of antibody response in people living with HIV/AIDS (PLWHA) in Istanbul, Turkey. Methods: The study includes PLWHA aged 18 years and older who were followed-up for at least 6 months from 1997 to 2018. Results: Of the 653 patients with PLWHA, 99 (15.2%) were both antiHBc-IgG and antiHBs positive, 120 (18.3%) were antiHBc-IgG positive/antiHBs negative. HBsAg was positive in 40 (6.1%) patients. HBsAg positive coinfection (≤40 years 4.6% vs. >40 years 21.7%, p<0.001) and antiHBc-IgG positivity/antiHBs negativity (≤40 years 14.0% vs. >40 years 26.5, p<0.001) were higher in PLWHA older than 40 years. The prevalence of HIV/HBV coinfection reached a peak level of 22.2% in 2004, and it decreased to 3.3% in 2018. The prevalence of immunization before HIV diagnosis was low (15.6%). The prevalence of antibody response (anti-HBs>10 IU/L) after immunization for HBV was 50%. A higher protective response was associated with CD4+≥350 cell/mm3 (59.3%, p=0.014). Conclusion: HBV coexistence in PLWHA remains an imperatively important problem. The most conclusive methods in solving this problem are to prevent transmission by immunization and control measures. Also, HBV screening should in no manner be neglected in PLWHA. Keywords: HIV; Hepatitis B; prevalence

Protection of Historical Heritage From The Point Of Sustainable Environment and The Sample of Caca Bey Madrasa In Kirşehir District

Caca Bey Madrassa in the heart of the city Kırşehir madrassa was situated in the central Anatolia region. That madrassa was built by Turkish scientists from West Turkistan. Caca Bey founded the science center. Built as a madrasa was used as an observatory the building, which has undergone several renovations. Observations were accured in the years 1271-1272 by the house (observatory), but now serves as a mosque. It was known Cıncıklı mosque among the people with the name because of the blue tiles covered. The madrassa built of cut stone was square in shape and was the type of madrassa-domed structure. Caca Bey Madrassa was separated mainly two parts, one was Caca Bey Complex and the other was Caca Bey Tomb. An artful madrassa in Seljuk period was built and decorated with mosaic tiles and with stone portal, with brick and was a high observation tower. This tower was taken back later the minaret of bonds. Caca Bey Tomb, north-east corner of the school building of the madrassa has seven (7) digit stairs. Kırşehir was in the first degree earthquake zone in terms of the potential for producing earthquakes. Kırşehir was formed in first geological time, and was known as "Kırşehir Massif" in the earthquake literature. Movement Speed of Kırşehir fault line was 2 mm in a year. Depending on the strike-slip faults generally occur the earthquakes in this area. This madrassa must be renovated and strengthened bounding original characteristics of madrassa including the earthquake circumstances in that area

trans-Bis[2-(piperazin-1-yl)­ethan­amine]­bis­(saccharinato)cobalt(II)

In the centrosymmetric title complex, [Co(C7H4NO3S)2(C6H15N3)2], the CoII ion is coordinated by two saccharinate (sac) anions and two neutral 2-piperazin-1-ylethanamine (ppzea) ligands, showing a distorted octa­hedral coordination. Sac is O-bonded via the carbonyl group, while ppzea acts as an N,N′-bidentate chelating ligand. The mol­ecules are connected by N—H⋯N and N—H⋯O hydrogen bonds, forming a linear chain running parallel to the crystallographic a axis. The compound is isostructural with the reported Ni, Zn, and Cd analogues