نشریه اقتصاد دفاع و توسعه پایدار
پیاپی 25 (پاییز 1401)

Being aware of the criticality of paying attention to productivity levels and their fluctuations over time, the objective of the present study is to measure capital efficiency of companies affiliated with the Armed Forces of Iran. For this purpose, this paper employs a model of Auxiliary Variable Measure related to the Data Coverage Analysis method to calculate capital efficiencies. Thereafter, it compares the results obtained, with the capital efficiency results obtained through other commonly used methods. Additionally, the Malmquist index was used to calculate productivity growth.
Considering that the results obtained from the data envelopment analysis are highly dependent on the sample size used, the bootstrap method was used to correct the skewness of the results. Finally, using our model of auxiliary variables measures related to the data coverage analysis method, we rank the companies understudy in terms of capital efficiency, and furthermore, calculate the exact amount of modification of each of the input and output variables. Moreover, using a larger sample we evaluate the performance of the companies understudy in relation to their competitors. The results obtained show that between 2015 and 2017, Ansar Bank and Hekmat Saba Insurance Company, had the highest and lowest capital and labor productivities, respectively. On the other hand, in terms of total productivity of the surveyed companies, the results show that productivity in 2019 compared to 2017 has either remained constant or has decreased.

Developing the knowledge-based economic sector has been identified as a key strategy for enhancing economic resilience amidst sanctions, and furthermore, the Economic Complexity Index has been proposed as a key indicator for assessing the development of this sector. On the other hand, some argue that improvements in terms of economic complexity index not only signal the enhancement of economic resilience against sanctions, but further, ensure of resilience against other external economic and political pressures. This paper draws on the inductive-comparative method, as well as a combination of qualitative and quantitative methods to examine and estimate the strength of the relationship between economic complexity index and economic defense components. For this purpose, using the foundation data method and open and selective coding, the modus operandi of this paper first identified the most important components of economic defense. Subsequently, based on the results obtained, a questionnaire was designed and to engage the opinion of scientific and executive experts in this field. Finally, the results of the survey were analyzed using the fuzzy Delphi method. The results obtained confirm the effect of economic complexity index on economic defense, and further highlight its role in areas such as, deterrence capacity, coping capacity and the ability to achieve economic defense strategy goals. On the other hand, in the context of the Iranian economy, the results indicate that enhancing the country's economic resilience in relation to crises and international sanctions is contingent on improving the main variables of the economic complexity index, i.e.: the development knowledge-based economy; entrepreneurship and job creation; improving the quality of domestically produced goods; increasing economic growth and prosperity; enhancing economic authority and economic flexibility; developing the agricultural sector; developing the production chain; increasing exports; enhancing the capacity of the country for engaging in economic diplomacy; reducing Iran's economic dependence on imports; and increasing the investment level in the economy.

Due to the lack of investment to enhance the electricity production capacity, Iran is facing electricity shortages and power cuts. Energy conversion agreements have been one of the solutions proposed by the government to attract investors to this industry. Ministry of Energy’s lack of financial resources, in addition to lower energy demand during off-peak seasons, has led to a reluctance towards increasing the attractiveness of energy conversion agreements for investors. On the other hand, the expansion of the cryptocurrency mining industry has increased the burden on the power grid, especially during the warmer seasons.
Drawing on financial modeling and Comfar software, this article demonstrates the attractiveness of combining decentralized power plants and cryptocurrency mining farms as an investment opportunity. Furthermore, the paper proposes limiting energy conversion contracts to four months of the year - when there exists a higher demand for electricity. Removing the requirement from power plants to supply solely to the government, by allowing them to supply the electricity they generate directly to cryptocurrency mining fields (or other customers), will decrease the burden on the financial resources of government, and furthermore, could lead to generating income by selling natural gas during the off-peak seasons. Furthermore, the government can increase the guaranteed basic price of agreements by drawing on the resulting financial resources, thus increasing the attractiveness of investment in the electricity production industry.

The security of human societies, it is divided into five important categories: military, political, economic, social and environmental. The Economic security, as an important aspect of national security at all individual, social and national levels, has attracted the attention of security thinkers. At the simplest level, individual economic security is related to the level of human access to basic necessities and at higher levels, it is related to a wide range of discussions about employment, income distribution, and welfare.This article aims to examine and express the indicators of individual economic security, the factors that create individual economic security, the factors that threaten individual economic security, and the custodians of individual economic security based on the Supreme Leader's point of view. Therefore, all his words, statements and messages from 1998 to 2021 were analyzed by using the Grand Theory method. The results of the research showed that in terms of leadership, the indicators of individual economic security include; security of Work, job, basic needs, life and livelihood, well-being and health, production and investment, income and wealth, profit and capital, and business. He also mentions security (general, economic and social), development and economic justice, stability of laws and access to information as factors that create individual economic security and economic insecurity, corruption, poverty, consumerism and despair as factors that threaten it. From the point of view of the Supreme Leader, the three forces, together with the security agencies and police and intelligence forces, are in charge of providing individual economic security.

Since the middle of the twentieth century knowledge has been the most significant driver of transformations of various aspects of human life. In economic and defense realms, these transformations have led to the emergence of knowledge-based economic models and knowledge-based defense sector, thus changing the face of national power. In view of the foregoing, the purpose of the current study is to gain an understanding of the transformations in economic and defense realms, in order to facilitate the interaction between these fields, and thus, increase the national power of Iran in the knowledge era.
The present study can be classed as descriptive-analytical research. It employs the Rand multivariable method to analyze and investigate the main axis of knowledge-based national power. In addition, the assessment framework for identifying knowledge-based arenas is grounded on the KAM method. Evaluation of the indicators and components of knowledge-based economy and knowledge-based defense sectors indicates that despite decades of policymaking for creating synergies between the knowledge-based economic and knowledge-based defense sectors _ as stated in the upstream documents of the country from the fourth five-year plan onwards_ there have been insignificant advancements made on this front. Furthermore, quantitative analysis of the outcome of development plans indicates that the most significant efforts made so far have treated the variables of national resources and military capability as separate issues. This is despite the fact that national performance factors play the most crucial role in turning national resources into military capabilities, thus enhancing national power. Hence, Iran's development policies should be re-oriented towards improving the components of national performance which act as the intermediate link between knowledge-based economy and the knowledge-based defense sectors.

The lack of attention to policymaking for the cyberspace field in Iran, has left the opportunities present in this field under-utilized, whereas the harms emanating from this field are spreading. Policymaking has several dimensions, including problem recognition, design, formulation, legitimization, implementation, and evaluation. Cryptocurrencies are one of the products that are based on blockchain technologies. Even though many countries are searching for strategies to utilize the benefits presented by this technology, the challenges present in this field has meant that a unitary comprehensive approach to these challenges has not yet been proposed. A comprehensive model policymaking for cryptocurrencies, should take full advantage of global achievements, whilst being compatible with the local context and requirements. In line with foregoing, this article attempts to analyze the components of a policymaking model for cryptocurrencies; the relationships between them; the threats posed by cryptocurrencies; the key actors; and the potential roles of the central bank.
The present paper can be classed as mixed developmental-applied research. The qualitative data for the purpose of this study was collected via MaxQuda software. Data theorizing was based on qualitative analysis foundation's method. After undertaking coding, the opinions of experts in the field were gathered and analyzed according to structural equation modeling method of Partial least square (PLS). The model was subsequently confirmed by quantitative analysis. The paper ends with presenting suggestions for future research.