نشریه اقتصاد دفاع و توسعه پایدار
پیاپی 14 (زمستان 1398)

This paper examines and prioritises Islamic financing methods for the armed forces. In doing so, it identifies 28 factors which it classifies under four categories using the Delphi method; the financier, complementary institutions, the receiver of finance and macro-economic factors. Thereafter, it utilises the AHP method to compare these factors and categories, and hence, prioritise objectives for financing the armed forces. This paper finds that the factors underlying efficiency, investment risks, and liquidity of the financial tools, the possibility of transfer and successful selling with appropriate marketing of supplementary institutions   are respectively rated one to three under supplementary institutions. Factors underlying financial stability, the time period needed for accessing resources through financial tools, technical, economic and financial feasibility are respectively ranked one to three under the finance receiver category. Factors underlying fundamental transformation of the economic order for increasing efficiency and sustainable economic growth, reduction of vulnerability to risks, supporting the defence foundations of the country using financial tools in line with national monetary policies are respectively ranked one to three under macro-economic category. In conclusion this paper finds cooperative bonds most preferable as an Islamic financial tool and thereafter, respectively, Istisna’a bonds, Islamic treasury documents, leasing bonds, loan bonds and benefit bonds.

Securing financing for a project is a fundamental aspect of project management and has a crucial place in strategic management circles. This importance derives from the fact that staring a project without appropriate financing method would be impossible in the first-place, and moreover, choosing an inappropriate financing method is the main reason behind project delays or discontinuation of a project. In recent years, the emersion of an Islamic finance market structured around providing financial products and services based on sharia has been an important consequence of the growth of the Islamic finance sector. This has in part been made possible thanks to Islamic thinkers who by adhering to sharia norms and laws have been able to design a range of financial products in accordance with the exigent demands of Islamic societies.  This paper examines the significance and the role of Islamic bonds including, private, non-private with expected returns and non-private with definite returns. Accordingly, it identifies, analyses and prioritizes the appropriate mechanisms for financing reconnaissance equipment military projects, using the Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP) method. This paper finds that cooperative, Istisna’a, morabeheh and rental bonds should be prioritized over other methods in national defence projects, based on their performance in four criterions; returns, risks, time horizons and financing ratio.

This paper examines the application of the principles of human resources accountancy in increasing the efficiency of armed forces’ human capital. The statistical population of this paper include; employees of the military sector including commanders, experts and officers in project administration adjutancy, budgeting and planning, and the adjutancy of finance for Khorasan Razavi’s armed forces. Through employing a simple randomised sampling method 58 personnel were selected for the survey. Data collection, as well as, descriptive and inferential analysis was done using SPSS and Smart PLS softwares. In doing so, as regards to the objective of this study, this paper finds the employment of the principles of human resources accountancy in the armed forces positively efficacious for increasing efficiency; the influence of human resources accountancy (0/69), recruitment and employment criteria (0/54), educational criteria (0/63), maintenance and retention (0/20), rewards and compensation criteria (0/59), cooperativeness criteria (0/44) and operational management criteria (0/50). In conclusion, considering the significance of human resources accountancy, this paper proposes to the authorities and policymakers of the armed forces to take a special consideration in employing the discussed principles for the purpose of increasing the efficiency of the armed forces’ human capital.

It is predicted that Liquefied natural gas (LNG) commerce will grow sevenfold the rate of expansion of the pipelines. Iran with huge expanses oil and gas will naturally be affected by developments in this sector. Using a descriptive approach, this paper first depicts the current state of the LNG industry in Iran and globally. Thereafter, by reviewing the current literature on the subject this paper proposes three distinct approaches for Iran to adopt; First, joining the current group of LNG exporting countries. Second, developing pipelines and focussing on neighbouring countries markets. Third, using the surplus production of gas for injection into oil fields for the purpose of preserving production, and completing the value chain in petrochemicals sector for export. With current sanction, the first approach considering the diversity of the market and current prices will likely encounter difficulties. Furthermore, exporting to nearby markets will not be economically justifiable. With long-term agreements, the second approach could secure longer term demands. Yet, it would not be economically justifiable for distant markets. The third aproach, would be in the long-term interest of the country since, in contrast to gas exports, petrochemicals yield higher added value and, furthermore, it would ensure the long-term increase in the production of crude. The drawback for the last approach is the dissipation of current commercial advantages. This paper proposes using a combination of all three approaches for the LNG sector.

This paper examines Iran’s maritime shipping industry’s stance globally, as well as its potential role in transforming the Iranian economy into a ‘resistive economy’. The maritime industry has the potential to realise some of the provisions of a resistive economy, specifically by playing a crucial role in increasing competitiveness globally, diversifying commercial partners _ especially by securing new import bases, forming new markets, developing strategic partnerships, reducing the vulnerability of the revenues from oil and gas exports by finding new strategic customers, increasing the export of gas, increasing the export of petrochemicals and increasing the export of oil products. A review of the maritime industry in Iran indicates that it has one of the biggest fleets in the Persian Gulf; yet, in terms of maritime connections indexes, despite the increase in recent years, it occupies a place below Saudi Arabia, Oman and the UAE (occupying the 40th place globally among countries with coastal borders). Input-outputs data from the Central Bank in 1378, 1383 and 1389 indicate that prior and subsequent linkages, the diversity of subsequent linkages and the potential for employment in the industry have developed. Hence, indicating that the sector could play a progressive role in the process of uneven growth. The share of domestically produced maritime equipment (including various types of ships), from all maritime equipment used has increased twofold, indicating increasing self-reliance of production in the industry, thus, taking a step toward realising economic resilience in the sector.

Macro-dynamics can be defined as fundamental societal, technological, economic and political changes that exhibit three main characteristics; slow and sustainable development, wide ranging implications for human life and universality. The objective of this paper is to investigate the global macro dynamics affecting the minerals industry, in Iran and globally. The modus operandi of this paper is to employ a structural VAR model to investigate urbanisation macro dynamics, technological progress macro dynamics and environmental macro dynamics in affecting the growth in production of Iron and copper ores. Subsequently, the data is used to provide economic strategies in line with the objective of increasing the efficiency of Iran’s minerals sector, through a dissection of the global macro dynamics affecting the minerals industry. Based on these results, copper production is most affected by technological macro-dynamics. Moreover, the growth of urbanisation _considering the demand for copper in infrastructural projects, will witness a positive growth in the long-term. Notwithstanding, the technological and urbanisation macro-dynamics affecting the production of copper in Iran will only hold for the short-term. In regards to iron ore production the crucial variables are the urbanisation macro dynamics. In contrast, Iron ore production in Iran has not followed the global pattern, and in fact has gone in the opposite direction.