Dang Luo, Muffarah Ambreen, Assad Latif and Xiaolei Wang
Electricity plays an important role in the economic condition of any country. Nowadays, Pakistan is badly affected by shortage of electricity, which directly affected the economic…
Abstract
Purpose
Electricity plays an important role in the economic condition of any country. Nowadays, Pakistan is badly affected by shortage of electricity, which directly affected the economic growth of state. The purpose of this study is to propose an improved grey model DGPM(1,1,N) to forecast Pakistan's production of electricity, installed capacity and consumption.
Design/methodology/approach
To significantly simulate and predict accuracy, the discrete grey polynomial model DGPM(1,1,N) is improved with new information priority accumulation. The particle swarm optimization (PSO) algorithm is used for parameter optimization. The value of parameter is adjusted into improved grey model. By adjusting the parameter value in the model, the accuracy of prediction is enhanced.
Findings
The installed capacity of electricity needs more attention to improvement through implementation of effective polices, resolving major issues and funding scheme to fulfill the electricity demand of country. And improved DGPM(1,1,N) has better accuracy than original DGPM(1,1,N), DGM(1,1), nongrey models, linear regression and Holt–Winters methods.
Practical implications
This paper provides a practical and efficient improved grey method to predict the electricity production, consumption and installed capacity in Pakistan. This research and suggestion will help Pakistani government to formulate better policies to decrease the consumption of electricity and increase the installed capacity of electricity.
Originality/value
This paper not only improves the grey model with accumulation generation operator but also forecasts Pakistan's electricity production, installed capacity and consumption. It is a new idea to predict the installed capacity of electricity and the findings provide suggestions for the government to make policies.
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This paper examines the transformation of Syrian political economy from 1970 until 2005. I argue that Syria has undergone two important phases of political and economic…
Abstract
This paper examines the transformation of Syrian political economy from 1970 until 2005. I argue that Syria has undergone two important phases of political and economic transformation, from building a centralized state and economy in the early 1970s to embarking on the path of market economy in the early 1990s. With the logic of competitiveness guiding the direction of economic development, the socio-economic changes of the mid-1980s and after have corresponded with an important process of class and state formation. After a brief discussion of the current transition in Syria, the following sections of the paper attempt to provide a critical study of the different strategies for economic development. Section two examines the process of state and economic centralization of the 1970s and 1980s and highlights the contradictions of this period. Section three assesses the impact of economic liberalization through a study of competitiveness in the economic policies of the 1990s and 2000. The final section examines the economic and political impasse that Syria has been faced with. In conclusion, I argue that the current path of market economy as the strategy for capital accumulation has not resolved the socio-economic problems that Syria has faced in the last two decades. This strategy will continue to face contestation by marginalized groups such as factions of the Baath Party, landless peasants, workers and small producers as Syria becomes even more integrated into the regional and global economy.
Syrian Foreign Minister Asaad Hassan al-Shaibani recently visited Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and Qatar to seek financial and political support for the fledgling…
Details
DOI: 10.1108/OXAN-DB292414
ISSN: 2633-304X
Keywords
Geographic
Topical
The purpose of this study is to cover the change that happened in the American foreign policy toward Iran by changing the American leadership from Obama to Trump. In addition to…
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this study is to cover the change that happened in the American foreign policy toward Iran by changing the American leadership from Obama to Trump. In addition to its coverage for the Iranian foreign policy toward the Arab region during the presidency period of Obama in the USA and also during the presidency period of Trump, to discover whether a change has happened in the Iranian foreign policy toward the Arab region is a result of the change in the American foreign policy or not. This can be discovered by concentrating on Yemen, Syria and Iraq, taking into consideration the Iranian and American national interests in the Arab region, as well as the regional role of Iran and its intervention in the Arab region.
Design/methodology/approach
This study was based on the analytical method of the foreign policy that is based on analyzing facts and events, as well as analyzing the roles and interests within the framework of the states’ foreign policy. This method was used in the study for the purpose of analyzing the impact of the change in the American leadership from Obama to Trump on the US foreign policy toward Iran in the light of the American interest; in addition to the Iranian foreign policy toward the Arab region (Yemen, Syria and Iraq) in the presidency period of both Obama and Trump in light of the regional role of Iran and its passion to achieve its national interest.
Findings
The study concluded that the change in the American foreign policy toward Iran is a result of the change of the American leadership from Obama to Trump by the American interest requirements in accordance to the respective of both of them. The change in the American policy led to a change in the trends of the Iranian foreign policy toward the Arab region in the term of the regional Iranian role. Under the American and Iranian convergence in the period of Obama, the Iranian role in the Arab region was limited to what could achieve its national interest and what did not threaten the American interest, especially after Iran had guaranteed that the USA is by its side. In the framework of the American and Iranian confrontation under Trump’s current presidency, the Iranian role has expanded in the Arab region, where Iran has intensified its intervention in Yemen, Syria and Iraq politically and militarily. Iran became more threatening to the American interest, as it became a means of pressure to the USA under Trump’s ruling in the purpose of changing its position toward it.
Originality/value
The importance of the study stems from the fact that it is seeking to analyze the change of the American foreign policy toward Iran within the period of two different presidential years of Obama and Trump, whereas, their trends were different in dealing with Iran between rapprochement and hostility toward it, on the basis of the American interest. In addition to testing whether this change in the American foreign policy toward Iran has been accompanied by a change in the Iranian foreign policy toward the Arab region.
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Zahid Shafait and Umar Farooq Sahibzada
Dark triad (DT) personality traits, that is, Machiavellianism, narcissism and psychopathy, are socially unenthusiastic and predict a range of antisocial behaviors. Academic…
Abstract
Purpose
Dark triad (DT) personality traits, that is, Machiavellianism, narcissism and psychopathy, are socially unenthusiastic and predict a range of antisocial behaviors. Academic entitlement, similarly, demonstrates the students’ rising temptation of higher grades without putting corresponding efforts. Based on coercion theory, this research investigated power distance as mediator between DT and academic entitlement (externalized responsibility and entitled expectations). Further, this study examined DT model of personality as a predictor of academic entitlement in Chinese higher education institutions (HEIs).
Design/methodology/approach
Chinese HEIs were ascertained for data collection. Students (with bachelor’s, master’s and Ph.D. degrees) responded to 719 questionnaires for data analysis. Hypothesized relationships were examined through partial least squares structural equation model (PLS-SEM).
Findings
This study established positive and significant direct link between DT and academic entitlement. The indirect effect through power distance was found insignificant between the relationship of DT and academic entitlement.
Originality/value
Based on coercion theory, this study extends the prevailing literature through unexplored effects of DT on academic entitlement and role of power distance in Chinese HEIs. This study validated the effect of DT on academic entitlement; however, direct-only no-mediation of power distance between the relationships is novel in Chinese HEIs. Moreover, power distance as mediator is novel between the relationships. Hence, this study provides an understanding of mentioned associations and contributes to the literature.