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Begin New Search Political Geography South Caucasus Publishing Institution Center for Economic and Social Development (CESD)

11. Evaluation and Modeling of Comparative Advantages in Agriculture in Azerbaijan

Author:
CESD Research Team
Publication Date:
12-2015
Content Type:
Working Paper
Institution:
Center for Economic and Social Development (CESD)
Abstract:
The short history of transition to the economic model is based on the modern principles of the market and assurance to the trade surplus that was formed by natural resources within external trade. During previous periods in Azerbaijan these ones were considered the main causes for the shape of production and export opportunities according to the principles of comparative advantage. It is not a coincidence that the size of the non-oil sector does not even reach the 10% (7.4% in 2013) of the export. In addition, exports are approximately six times less than imports. Other important issues are the increase of citizen‟s welfare, the creation of a strong supply of food for the country, and the support of an effective use of a potential export through the use of agriculture, which is an essential part of Azeri employment (37.1% in 2013). Additionally, the agricultural sector needs to be more profitable in Azerbaijan. For the reasons mentioned above, the main aims of this research are to analyze the local characteristics of agriculture, to define the export possibilities and products that have comparative advantages in agriculture, and to research about countries in which there are more suitable market conditions and export opportunities. Moreover, the dependency of a country‟s financial stability on raw materials, especially oil and oil products, is going to form an international threat. On the other hand, providing sustainability in the Azerbaijani economy is currently one of the main duties of the government.
Topic:
Agriculture, Markets, Trade, and Financial Stability
Political Geography:
Azerbaijan and South Caucasus

12. Assessment of the Effect of Declining Oil Prices on Azerbaijan Economy

Author:
CESD Research Team
Publication Date:
12-2014
Content Type:
Working Paper
Institution:
Center for Economic and Social Development (CESD)
Abstract:
The main goal of this study is to assess how the oil price decline in the world market will potentially impact the Azerbaijani Economy. The paper specifically looks at how last changes in the world market will affect both the revenue and expenditure sides of the state budget. The study also examines the “side impact” and “domino effects” of low oil prices.
Topic:
Markets, Oil, Economy, Economic Growth, and Currency
Political Geography:
Azerbaijan and South Caucasus

13. Competitiveness in Azerbaijan: Assessing Sectorial Economic Policies

Author:
Ziya Alili, Rashad Hasanov, Farhad Bayramov, and Vugar Bayramov
Publication Date:
12-2014
Content Type:
Special Report
Institution:
Center for Economic and Social Development (CESD)
Abstract:
CESD- Center for Economic and Social Development, Azerbaijan has developed new research paper titled as “Competitiveness in Azerbaijan: Assessing Sectorial Economic Policies”. This publication was developed and printed with the support of Friedrich-Ebert-Stiftung. This research paper assesses economic diversification and cross-sector competitiveness in Azerbaijan by employing extensive qualitative and quantitative methodologies. The paper will measure the extent to which Azerbaijan’s economy is labor- and GDP-diversified or not. If it is not, we must ask what kind of policies can be developed for sectorial diversification and economic development. This paper will further analyze the government’s fiscal and monetary policies aimed at developing better, quantitatively based recommendations.
Topic:
Development, Economics, Diversification, and Fiscal Policy
Political Geography:
Azerbaijan and South Caucasus

14. Multipolarity is key: Assessing Azerbaijan's foreign policy

Author:
Djan Sauerborn, Bastian Matteo Scianna, and Marius Mazziotti
Publication Date:
12-2013
Content Type:
Working Paper
Institution:
Center for Economic and Social Development (CESD)
Abstract:
This paper seeks to outline how Azerbaijan should manage the numerous foreign policy challenges it faces due to its strategic location, wealth in resources, neighbors and surrounding conflicts. As a small state, Baku should seek to balance interests and pursue a path of multipolarity, without however forfeiting a strong stance towards governments that threaten its status quo. Russia, Turkey, Iran, Israel and the West all have their interests and Azerbaijan has to become a pawn in the hands of the powerful. The resolution of the “frozen conflict” over Nagorno-Karabakh would mark a great step in the right direction, providing Baku with more leverage. The economic power of Azerbaijan gives the South Caucasian Republic a unique asset and allows Baku to play a balancing role regarding conflict prevention and conflict solution in this region which is often described as a geopolitical chessboard.
Topic:
Conflict Prevention, Foreign Policy, Geopolitics, and Multipolarity
Political Geography:
Russia, Iran, Turkey, Azerbaijan, and South Caucasus

15. Accession to the Customs Union: Shaping the strategy for Azerbaijan

Author:
Ziya Alili, Tural Abbasov, David N. Chang, Max Hoyt, and Vugar Bayramov
Publication Date:
12-2013
Content Type:
Working Paper
Institution:
Center for Economic and Social Development (CESD)
Abstract:
This paper analyses the implications of the potential accession of the Republic of Azerbaijan to the Customs Union of Belarus, Kazakhstan, and Russia, combining qualitative and quantitative approaches. The qualitative approach employs stakeholder and sectorial analysis, while quantitative methodologies include Hedonic Estimation and Linear Regression Models. The stakeholder analysis discusses the implications of accession for different interested parties, namely businesses, citizens and international partners of Azerbaijan. The sectorial analysis assesses the varied probable impact of accession on different economic sectors. The quantitative methods are designed to answer the question following question: How much would the Azerbaijani economy benefit if it had joined the Customs Union when it was established in 2010? Although CESD finds a number of quantitative benefits to accession (for example, an additional two to five percent growth in GDP), qualitative analysis reveals disadvantages that were not captured by quantitative methodologies and helps provide a more comprehensive picture that disfavors accession, namely the long-term disadvantage of ceding independence vis-à-vis Azerbaijan’s energy policy. Accordingly, the Center for Economic and Social Development strongly recommends against accession. However, considering economic, social and political pressures, Azerbaijan may be persuaded to accede. In this scenario, CESD would recommend learning from the experience of the UK while acceding to the European Union and attaining several key exemptions from the rules and regulations of the Customs Union.
Topic:
Development, European Union, Regional Integration, and Customs
Political Geography:
Russia, Kazakhstan, Azerbaijan, South Caucasus, and Belarus

16. Azerbaijan’s foreign trade; Comparative Analysis

Author:
CESD Research Team
Publication Date:
03-2012
Content Type:
Working Paper
Institution:
Center for Economic and Social Development (CESD)
Abstract:
The CESD report on Azerbaijan’s foreign trade analyzes challenges and current developments in this sector. The paper reviews how foreign trade relations changed particularly in terms of countries and commodities since the independency. Different sources are referenced in the report in order to comparatively illustrate existing circumstances in above mentioned sector,
Topic:
International Trade and Finance, Oil, Economy, and Trade
Political Geography:
Azerbaijan and South Caucasus

17. Iran's Economy: On the Background of the New Sanctions

Author:
CESD Research Team
Publication Date:
07-2012
Content Type:
Working Paper
Institution:
Center for Economic and Social Development (CESD)
Abstract:
CESD has produced new paper on Iranian economy on the background of the new sanctions. The paper looks current situation of Iranian economy, potential impacts of new sanctions, Iranian relations with West, neighbors as well as with Azerbaijan. The paper also focuses on social and economic impacts of new sanctions not only on Iranian economy but also Iranian population.
Topic:
International Relations, Sanctions, Population, and Economy
Political Geography:
Iran, Middle East, Azerbaijan, and South Caucasus

18. CESD Anti-Corruption Strategy for the Republic of Azerbaijan

Author:
Vugar Bayramov
Publication Date:
08-2011
Content Type:
Working Paper
Institution:
Center for Economic and Social Development (CESD)
Abstract:
In the interest of fighting against corruption in an effective and enduring way, the implementation of comprehensive measures is extremely important. As such, the package of anti-corruption measures prepared by the Center for Economic and Social Development (CESD) has been developed to strengthen the fight against corruption and bribery and to achieve longlasting results. Corruption acts as an impediment to development in many ways and is a basic concern for many countries around the world. Many usually consider corruption to be the process of bribing officials or the extortion of bribes by officials, while others understand corruption to be theft, misappropriation of state money and wealth, or an individual's personal enrichment achieved by using his/her position. In all of these cases, the existence of corruption in the first place disturbs the construction of a legal state, is detrimental for economic and social development, contributes to the inefficient use of the society’s resources and harms people with low-income. Therefore, the fight against corruption is one of the most important goals set before those countries that have chosen democratic and civil development. In recent years, the government of Azerbaijan has adopted a number of anti-corruption measures, including new laws and programs. The government established the “State Program addressed to the fight against corruption” and “Fund of the struggle against Corruption” in February 2004. The 2007-2011 “National Strategy with respect to increasing transparency" has also been accepted. The main purpose of these steps taken is to increase transparency, to eliminate circumstances creating corruption, to implement preventative measures, and to continue those effective measures.
Topic:
Corruption, Development, and Economy
Political Geography:
Azerbaijan and South Caucasus

19. Sector Policy Convergences in technical rules/standards and customs in Azerbaijan to support EU Eastern Partnership Initiative

Author:
Vugar Bayramov and Tim McNaught
Publication Date:
12-2011
Content Type:
Working Paper
Institution:
Center for Economic and Social Development (CESD)
Abstract:
The overall goal of this paper is to understand how Azerbaijan can converge its Trade and Customs Policy with the European Union to meet the economic integration goals set in the EU Eastern Partnership Initiative in Azerbaijan. More specifically, the paper is interested in harmonizing standardization, Technical Barriers to Trade, and customs legislation with the European Union.
Topic:
European Union, Partnerships, Trade, Standardization, and Customs
Political Geography:
Europe, Azerbaijan, and South Caucasus

20. Managing Resource Revenues in Oil-Rich CAREC Countries: The Case of Azerbaijan

Author:
Vugar Bayramov, Tim McNaught, and Elchin Rashidov
Publication Date:
04-2011
Content Type:
Working Paper
Institution:
Center for Economic and Social Development (CESD)
Abstract:
The high inflow of oil revenues to Azerbaijan in recent years has led to large and unsustainable increases in government expenditures in the state budget and State Oil Fund of the Azerbaijan Republic. Given that oil revenues are exhaustible, volatile, and unpredictable, a sustainable fiscal policy must be enabled that allows for intergenerational equity, diversification in the economy, and predictable annual revenues that reduce pressures of appreciation. This paper aims to describe the recent and current management of oil revenues in Azerbaijan, provide a summary of international practices of natural resource management, and to make policy recommendations for future management of oil revenues. Recommendations include isolating oil money from the Azerbaijan economy, collecting it in the State Oil Fund, using permanent income hypothesis to employ a smooth distrubution function, and other investment considerations.
Topic:
Oil, Natural Resources, Budget, Investment, and Fiscal Policy
Political Geography:
Azerbaijan and South Caucasus