Degree Name
Master of Science
Graduate Program
Economics
Advisor
Sylwester, Kevin
Abstract
This research investigates and empirically examines the effects of both Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) and exports on the economic growth in fifteen MENA countries. The methodology involves estimating an economic growth model using panel data of the period from 1980 to 2011. By applying the OLS and the fixed effects estimation methods, the results indicate that exports have a significant positive effect on economic growth for MENA countries and the oil-exporting MENA countries. On the other hand, FDI has a significant positive effect on economic growth only in non-oil exporting MENA countries.