In this paper, we document a study that involved applying a multiple imputation technique with chained equations to data drawn from the 2007 iteration of the TIMSS database. More precisely, we imputed missing variables contained in the student background datafile for Tunisia (one of the TIMSS 2007 participating countries), by using Van Buuren, Boshuizen, and Knook's (SM 18:681-694,1999) chained equations approach. We imputed the data in a way that was congenial with the analysis model. We also carried out different diagnostics in order to determine if the imputations were reasonable. Our analysis of multiply imputed data confirmed that the power of multiple imputation lies in obtaining smaller standard errors and narrower confidence intervals in addition to allowing one to work with the entire dataset.

No abstract

Currently, economic theory is highly interested in the definition and the measurement of competitiveness as is the case of empirical studies that diverged about issues related to determination, specification, and estimation techniques. The present article aims to propose a synthetic indicator for national competitiveness through empirical analysis. For data collected from World Economic Forum report (2014), a principle component analysis has been conducted in order to identify competitiveness' key explanatory variables. The Partial Least Squares (PLS) estimation shows that the importance of the variables in the construction of the competitiveness index differs according to the level of development of the country. These results indicate to policy makers the most effective instrumental variables that could affect their national economies' to make improvements.

Abstract-Many empirical studies have shown that a large part of the growth productivity is realized through foreign technology, so the objective of this paper is to test the role of foreign presence in the technology transfer through the analysis of its impact on productivity for Tunisian manufactory sector-based over the period 1990-2012. To this end, econometric equations that relate the total factor productivity (TFP), with foreign direct investment (FDI) that reflects technological spillovers will be tested. However, we use the generalized method of moments to determine the TFP.Index Terms-Diffusion of technology, foreign direct investment (FDI), productivity.

The growing interest in the knowledge economy raises many questions about its effect on economic growth. The study aims to position a set of MENA countries in the context of the knowledge economy compared to developed countries. It also detects theoretically and empirically the knowledge effect on economic growth. To do this, the authors have estimated an endogenous growth model, using the dynamic panel data technique, for a sample of 16 MENA countries over 1995-2014. The results show that, despite the significant improvements that have registered in the knowledge economy pillars, the selected countries are still lagging compared to developed countries. Far from international comparisons, the internal effects of these knowledge pillars (education, innovation, ICT, institutional regime) on growth are positive and highly significant.