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21. Trump Foreign Policy Impact in the Caucasus: Projecting Azerbaijan-USA relations for the next four years and beyond

Author:
Ahmed Alili
Publication Date:
01-2017
Content Type:
Working Paper
Institution:
Center for Economic and Social Development (CESD)
Abstract:
On 20th January, Donald John Trump, an American businessman and TV entertainer is going to be 45th President of the United States of America (US). This is a hard-to-be comprehended statement by the academic and research communities, who did not expect the result of the US presidential elections to turn out this way. The possibility of Trump’s victory was repeatedly denied by the major research centres, and each scandal encouraged researchers to re-state their predictions on the soon-to-be collapse of the Trump election campaign. Needless to say, these predictions were proven false by the final election results. Nevertheless, in the end, the academic and policy research communities have not produced research on what Trump’s presidency would look like. The same stands true for the foreign governments of the EU, Russia, China, and the rest of the world. In order to figure out who is the new US President and what he can do, the world has entered into a phase of intensive research on Trump. This paper is an attempt to puzzle out Trump’s foreign policy for the Caucasus and Azerbaijan.
Topic:
Foreign Policy, Political Theory, and Geopolitics
Political Geography:
America and Azerbaijan

22. Macroeconomic Forecasts for Azerbaijan in 2017: Independent View

Author:
Rashad Hasanov
Publication Date:
01-2017
Content Type:
Working Paper
Institution:
Center for Economic and Social Development (CESD)
Abstract:
Without a doubt, 2016 is considered as one of the painful years for the economy of the country. That is to say, the economy of the country encountered nearly 4.0 % decline [during January-November 2016 GDP fell by 3.9% compared with the previous year, SSCRA1], the depreciation of national currency continued, as a result, manat lost its value by 12.5% during the year. The depreciation of national currency reached 57% from January, 2015 until December, 2016. Inflation rate increased to 12.1%, hitting a two-digit level first time since 2008 and consequently, real income of population shrank by 3.2%. The tight monetary and credit policies of the government led to weakening economic activity, lending level fell to the minimum, 11 banks were closed (one of them being systematically important). The state budget revenues and expenditures executed with respectively 16.1% and 10% decrease in 2016, compared with the January-November, 2015.
Topic:
Economics, International Political Economy, and Finance
Political Geography:
Azerbaijan

23. The CESD Assessment on the 2017 State Budget Project

Author:
CESD Research Team
Publication Date:
11-2016
Content Type:
Working Paper
Institution:
Center for Economic and Social Development (CESD)
Abstract:
According to the legislation on the Budget system, the legislative project on the state budget of the Republic of Azerbaijan for 2017 and the state and consolidated budget projects of 2017 were publicized on 29th of September, 2016. It has been three years that the legislative projects on the consolidated and state budgets of the Republic of Azerbaijan are being prepared amidst the absence of positive economic trends for the country. Specifically, during the preparation of 2017 state budget, external and internal economic impacts were considered at greater extent. As in previous years, the Center for Economic and Social Development has prepared a comparative analysis of the budget project publicized by the government. It is to be mentioned that, during the preparation of the analysis, the conversion of indicators into the foreign (US dollars) currency is carried out according to annual average currency indicators published by the Central Bank of the Republic of Azerbaijan, whereas the conversion of 2016 indicators into US dollars is conducted in accordance with the average exchange rate of first 8 months (1 US Dollars = 1, 56 manat) and 2017 indicators in accordance with the official exchange rate dated 29th September 2016 (1 US dollars = 1.6252 manat). The comparison of the budget project with previous years plays a prominent role in the forecasting of socio-economic trends for next year and the determination of state fiscal policy and the short-term and strategic position of the government in separate directions.
Topic:
Budget and Finance
Political Geography:
Azerbaijan

24. Progress of Energy Union Implementation: The Case Of Azerbaijan

Author:
CESD Research Team
Publication Date:
10-2016
Content Type:
Policy Brief
Institution:
Center for Economic and Social Development (CESD)
Abstract:
Azerbaijan’s tradition in the business of oil and gas started in the 1800’s with the involvement of international oil companies and thanks to the fossil-energy Azerbaijan turned to be one of the world ́s biggest oil producers. Taking into consideration the current status in the country, the Energy Union could provide to Azerbaijan a position of stability and security through the implementation of all 5 policy areas that the EU suggests (supply security, a fully-integrated internal market, energy efficiency, climate action-emision reduction and research and innovation)
Topic:
Energy Policy and Financial Markets
Political Geography:
Azerbaijan

25. Currency market in Azerbaijan: Challenging environment for the national currency

Author:
Rashad Hasanov
Publication Date:
09-2016
Content Type:
Research Paper
Institution:
Center for Economic and Social Development (CESD)
Abstract:
In August, the exchange rate of national currency of Azerbaijan-“Manat” beat all historical records. That is to say, the exchange rate was 1 USD= 1.61 Manat in previous month . It should be noted that, the exchange rate hit 1 USD= 1.6 Manat in March, 2016. Since the second half of 2014, due to the fall of oil prices in the world markets there is a visible pressure on the national currency ‘Manat’. Overall, the Azerbaijani “Manat” lost 49.6% of its value in 2015 and in addition, a depreciation of more than 3% in the first 8 months of 2016, the losses could reach 52.2%. Although the occurring rapid dollarization and the observed stagnation in the business environment especially in imports in the first months of 2015 and 2016 resulted in short-term reduction in foreign exchange demand in the March-May period of this year and strengthening the exchange rate of USD/Manat at the level of 1.49, the process of depreciation proceeded again afterwards.
Topic:
Economics, International Political Economy, and Finance
Political Geography:
Azerbaijan

26. Feasibility study on the Deep and Comprehensive Free Trade Area (DCFTA) between Azerbaijan and the European Union

Author:
Cristina Juan Carrion and Leman Orujova
Publication Date:
09-2016
Content Type:
Research Paper
Institution:
Center for Economic and Social Development (CESD)
Abstract:
The trade relations between Azerbaijan and the European Union are a substantial part of enhancing economic and political relations among both parties. Recent years have been characterized by an expansion of the trade volume between two parties; the EU turned out to be Azerbaijan’s biggest trade partner, in terms of both imports and exports. Moreover, trade in services and foreign direct investment relations were also on rise. On the other hand, Azerbaijan is one of the main energy suppliers of the European Union among European Neighborhood countries and is a key partner to guarantee energy security.
Topic:
International Trade and Finance
Political Geography:
Azerbaijan

27. Currency market in Azerbaijan: Why the national currency is losing its value?

Author:
CESD Research Team
Publication Date:
08-2016
Content Type:
Working Paper
Institution:
Center for Economic and Social Development (CESD)
Abstract:
It has already been three month since the national currency of the Republic of Azerbaijan continuously loses its value. Since the second half of 2014, due to the fall in oil prices on the world markets, the resulting pressure on the national currency – ‘Manat’ is ongoing nowadays. Overall, Manat lost 49.6% of its value in 2015 and in addition, with more 3% depreciation in the first 7 months of 2016, the losses could reach 52.6%. Although the occurring rapid dollarization and the observed stagnation in the business environment especially in imports in the first months of 2015 and 2016 resulted in short-term reduction in foreign exchange demand in March-May period of this year and strengthening the exchange rate of USD/AZN at the level of 1.49, the process of depreciation proceeded again afterwards. As a result, the national currency increased its annual losses to the level of 3% in June-July, by depreciating 7% against the US dollar again.
Topic:
Finance
Political Geography:
Azerbaijan

28. Why Azerbaijan needs a Strategic Reform of its foreign policy towards the European Union?

Author:
Cristina Juan Carrion
Publication Date:
04-2016
Content Type:
Research Paper
Institution:
Center for Economic and Social Development (CESD)
Abstract:
During the course of 2015 Azerbaijan suffered the impact of two devaluations of the national currency, Azerbaijani Manat (AZN), due to the decrease of the world oil prices. Given that oil and natural gas accounts for more than 90% of Azerbaijani exports, continued low world oil prices had a critical negative impact on the Azerbaijani economy. The current situation has led Azerbaijan to establish new priorities that could help restructure the financial system at this critical moment. The drastic change in the economic outlook of the country has created the need to open a wider window to the European Union (EU) in order to overcome the current economic downturn.
Topic:
Finance and Financial Markets
Political Geography:
Azerbaijan