Evaluating Compatibility of Macroeconomic Studies in Iran with Research Priorities of Iranian Economy Using Content Analysis Method

Conducting research projects in line with the country’s macroeconomic priorities will accelerate scientific progress of the country. The present paper will first test the hypothesis that “macroeconomic studies in Iran are not compatible with research priorities of the Iranian economy.” To test the hypothesis, the status quo is compared to the optimal situation. The status quo is determined by analyzing the content of scientific and research papers on Iran’s macroeconomy, written in 2000-2007 period, while the optimal situation is derived from content analysis of five analytical books on the Iranian economy.The hypothesis survived the test. Therefore, one may claim that Iran’s macroeconomic researches have not been compatible with research priorities of the Iranian economy. The most common subjects discussed in Iranian economic analytical books include: distribution and allocation of national revenues (8.6 percent), government’s expenses (7.8 percent), national production (7.7 percent), and inflation (7.2 percent). These four subjects account for about one-third of all subjects covered in those books. The most common issues taken into account in macroeconomic researches include: economic growth (10.4 percent), inflation (9.8 percent), foreign exchange rate system (7.8 percent), and investment (6.4 percent). More than one-third of macroeconomic research papers focus on these four topics.According to Iran’s economic experts, as reflected in their books, more research is needed on such macroeconomic subjects as monetary policy and central bank, macroeconomic aspects of oil and gas industries, and macroeconomic aspects of the government’s economic activities