Tag: Education

DOES ZAKAT MATTER FOR HUMAN DEVELOPMENT? AN EMPIRICAL EVIDENCE FROM INDONESIA

I.K. Balyanda AKMAL

Postgraduate Student in Economics, Faculty of Economics and Business, Universitas Syiah Kuala, Indonesia

balyanda@gmail.com

M. Shabri Abd. MAJID

Senior Lecturer, Faculty of Economics and Business, Universitas Syiah Kuala, Indonesia

Corresponding author

mshabri@unsyiah.ac.id

Eddy GUNAWAN

Senior Lecturer, Faculty of Economics and Business, Universitas Syiah Kuala, Indonesia

egunawan@unsyiah.ac.id

Abstract

This study aims to empirically measure and analyze the contribution zakat to human development and, consequently towards the achievement of the Sustainability Development Goals (SDGs) program in Indonesia. Specifically, this study intends to measure the differences in the Human Development Index (HDI) of zakat recipients before and after receiving zakat and measure the effect of zakat on the HDI and its components. The response to these issues, the study estimates the value of the Human Development Index (HDI) at a minor level; the individual and household levels. 100 recipients of zakat (mustahik) from the three programs of zakat distribution by the zakat institution of Aceh Province, Indonesia (Baitul Mal Aceh – BMA) were selected as the sample of the study using a combination of purposive and proportionate stratified random samplings. These zakat programs include zakat for cancer and thalassemia patients, zakat for one family one undergraduate scholarship, and zakat for buying working capital for the poor families. The paired t-test is adopted to assess the differences in HDI of zakat recipients before and after receiving zakat, while the multiple linear regression is used to measure the effect of zakat on the HDI and its components. The study found that, after receiving zakat, the HDI of zakat recipients is higher than before. Zakat is also recorded to have a significant positive effect on the HDI, while the family size affected negatively the HDI and the types of zakat and profession of zakat recipients have an insignificant effect on the HDI. These findings suggest the positive role of zakat in improving human development and it could be used as one of the instruments to accelerate the achievement of the SDGs agenda in Indonesia.

Keywords: Education, Health, Human Development, Welfare, Zakat

JEL classification: D64, O15, Q01, I15, I25, I38

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ECONOMIC TRENDS OF THE YOUTH LABOR MARKET IN UZBEKISTAN

Kalandar ABDURAKHMANOV

PhD in Economics, Professor, Tashkent Branch of G.V. Plekhanov Russian University of Economics

kalandar.abdurakhmanov1@gmail.com

Nodira ZOKIROVA

PhD in Economics, Professor, Tashkent Branch of G.V. Plekhanov Russian University of Economics

Abstract

The relevance of the study, confirmed by the growing scientific interest in the topic of youth employment in the labor market, is increasing in the context of the new paradigm of innovative development of the national economy in Uzbekistan. The feasibility of studying the economic aspects of the youth labor market development is determined by the high birth rate and the growing unmet demand of the population for educational services. It is obvious that the problem of ensuring the affordability of quality higher education as the main factor in the employment of young people in Uzbekistan is complicated and multidimensional. It is important to explore trends, formulate ways to develop the youth labor market and create a system for monitoring the compliance of the educational market offer with the employers’ demands in the labor market. This article is aimed at assessing the current realities, predicting the prospects for the foreseeable future, justifying the ways and specific measures to create irreversible conditions for the convergence of science, education and the real economy in the labor market of Uzbekistan.

Keywords: Unemployment, labor market, youth, education, employment

JEL classification: J00, J01, J08, J2, J20, J4, J40, J6, J60, J7, J70, J8, J80
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INVESTMENT IN INNOVATION AND EDUCATION: AN EFFICIENCY BENCHMARKING ANALYSIS IN EUROPE

Aikaterini KOKKINOU

Higher Hellenic Military Academy

aikaterinikokkinou@gmail.com

George KORRES

Department of Geography, University of the Aegean

gkorres@geo.aegean.gr

Panagiota DIONYSOPOULOU

Director of General Directorate of Tertiary Education, Ministry of Education, Greece

yoldi63@gmail.com

Abstract

As technical efficiency enhancement becomes an increasingly important issue within Europe and worldwide, policy planning should draw attention towards a wide range of production ideas, component technologies and complementary socio-economic capabilities. Within this framework, it is rather difficult for any single economy to incorporate and take advantage of the relevant technological advances in economy, as well as the underlying conditions in innovation and education investments. This means that the actions of policy planning involve the targeted development of specialized knowledge assets, which are integrated from a wider range of investment areas. This paper analyses, through a benchmarking approach, investment in innovation and education in Europe, creating a spectrum of policy implications.

Keywords: Productive Efficiency, Innovation, Education, Investments

JEL classification: F13, F47, F15, R15
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