نشریه اقتصاد دفاع و توسعه پایدار
پیاپی 26 (زمستان 1401)

Food security is critically tied with people's lives and social stability. Food security can be defined as access to sufficient nutritious food and forms the first pillar of economic growth and development. Hence, its attainment would be the main goal of every country. Thereby, it is necessary to examine the factors that can help enhance the food security of the region. In line with this objective, the purpose of the present study is to examine the factors affecting the food security of select countries between 2008-2019. For this purpose, the modus operandi of this paper utilizes the Pedroni Cointegration Method to determine the long-term relationship between the variables under investigation. The results obtained indicate that GDP per capita and the share of rural population have a positive and significant effect on food security. On the other hand, population growth and internal conflicts have a negative and significant impact on food security. Therefore, any efforts towards maintain peace, controlling population growth and improving the abovementioned variables will enhance food security and development.

The stock market mechanism has been effective in enhancing the market structure in Iran by the virtue of reducing price fluctuations, regulating markets, adjusting supply and demand, as well as controlling inflation. The aim of the present study is to examine the effectiveness of the Iranian Commodity Exchange Market for transitioning towards a resistive economy. For this purpose, this paper examines the factors affecting the GDP _ here taken as the main index indicating the transition towards a resistive economy. The paper utilizes the vector self-explanatory model with discrete intervals to analyze seasonal data between 1393 and 1401. Thereafter, based on the opinions of 26 experts in this sector, the paper applies the SWOT model to determine the strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats presented by the Iranian Commodity Exchange market, and accordingly provides some policy recommendations. The results obtained indicate a positive and significant relation between commodity trading volume on the exchange market and GDP. Specifically, the results indicate that with a percentage increase in the trading volume on the commodity exchange market, the gross domestic product will increase by 1.21 percent. Governmental bodies such as the Ministry of Agricultural Jihad, the Ministry of Security and the Ministry of Economic Affairs and Finance can further pave the road towards growth of this sector by strengthening relationships with producers and merchants and guiding them towards the commodity exchange market. Moreover, the parliament and the government can facilitate the participation of companies in the Iranian Commodity Exchange market by enacting protective laws, as well as granting tax incentives and providing credit to small and large enterprises.

Micro-financing presents an important method for directing the otherwise unproductive liquidity towards enhancing the production capacity. This paper starts by presenting a detailed definition of crowdfunding. Thereafter, it examines various models of crowdfunding throughout the world, and specifically in Iran, through investigating the role of Basij in channeling people's donations towards the holy defense effort. Accordingly, this paper explicates the capacities and characteristics of Basij that allowed this institution to act as the trustee for channeling micro financing towards the Holy Defense effort, whilst considering background and intermediary conditions. In line with this objective, the first paper presents the data and findings related to different economic sectors, including the current methods and amounts of financing in the country, including bank payment facilities across various regions and economic sector and industries, the characteristics, and capabilities of the Basij organization, as well as the performance of the Basij organization since the holy defense and the country's current crowdfunding platforms. Subsequently, by utilizing data based theorizing research strategy, data was analyzed, and a theory for mobilizing capacities towards collective micro-financing based on the systematic Strauss and Corbin method was developed. The results obtained indicate that capacities possessed by the Basij, including jihadi groups, previous experiences, as well as the high productivity of Basij, renders this institution a suitable candidate for managing crowdfunding platform.

The decreasing willingness and ability of ‘the great powers’ to engage directly in regional matters has meant that the result of the current dispersion of power has been the fluidization of the international order. Hence, new spaces have opened for emerging regional powers to exercise action and become more active in trying to increase their sphere of influence in various regions of the world. Amidst these conditions, the geo-economical approach of East Asia based on cooperation and mutual prosperity which has unleashed previously hidden opportunities, has brought relative order and stability to that region. On the other hand, we observe the prevailing dominance of geopolitics of terror, instability, war, and conflict in West Asia. The international position and geographical location of Iran has located this country in the middle of these two regions, with opposing approaches to geopolitics; One is Asia in its general sense, which seems to be more inclined towards developing a flourishing geo-economy, and the other is West Asia, which is caught in the geopolitical trap of fear.In light of the foregoing, the modus operandi of this paper started by collecting data through document examination and analyzed them using a descriptive-analytical method. The results of this study indicate that in the current climate, turning away from the West Asian geopolitics of fear towards (East) Asian prosperity should be the main objective of country in terms economic diplomacy. Furthermore, the paper argues that this objective should be pursued through a framework of mutual benefits with neighboring countries.

A review of the historical course of global economic development shows that the rise of knowledge-based economies first occurred in the mid twentieth century. During this era, we first observed the development of information and communication technologies, and subsequently the rise of the internet economy, the electronic economy and digital economy. Furthermore, with the advancement of this age we observe the formation of a new sector termed the ‘smart economy’. The rise of this sector has in turn gave rise to a new order within the world economy, whereby the countries with the strongest knowledge-based economic sectors have benefited greatly in terms of increases in influence and wealth. Accordingly, from the middle of the first decade of the 21st century, ‘smart economy’ has become a subject of discussion within the theoretical literature of economic growth and development. By this light, the present article seeks to design a macro-evolutionary model for the transition from agricultural and industrial economy to a smart economy.In order to achieve the main goals of this article, we started by collecting data through semi-structured interviews, observation and documentation review. Next, we analyzed the data through three-stage coding based on grounded theory. The results obtained indicate that we are observing a transition from large multinational companies to smaller economies. This transition has in turn leveled the playing field, allowing smaller actors to play an important role in creating the world of tomorrow. In this transition, electronic chips, smart investment, and high-quality human capital will be the drivers of this transition. Lastly, the paper ends by presenting the most important requirement for devising a strategy for macro-transition towards a smart economy based on the results of the grounded theory.

Transit corridors represent one of the delicate and critical areas that economic transformation of countries and their might in the global geometry of power depends upon. Considering the effects of sanctions on the Iranian economy, it is necessary for this country to strategically plan for developing and strengthening its transit linkages, thus, weakening sanctions regimes. The transit corridor of the Persian Gulf which has the potential to integrate the transportation network between Iran, Iraq, Syria, and the Persian Gulf countries, represents one of the critical transit axes that have often been discussed. The development of this corridor can lead to the development of the national economy, strengthen convergence between regional actors, secure Iran's territories and improve geopolitical relations, thus paving the way for the optimal integration of Iran in the international system.In line with the foregoing, the present article uses a descriptive-exploratory method to determine strategies for developing the Persian Gulf-Mediterranean transit corridor, as well as investigating its implications on Iran standing with regards to its regional and extra-regional relations. The results show that if the Persian Gulf-Mediterranean Corridor were to be developed, Iran will assume a greater role in maintaining the security of the axis of resistance, and moreover, the security of Western Asian countries will be tied to that of Iran. Furthermore, the development of this corridor will improve the economic and strategic power of the axis of resistance by providing a means for the region to end the current impasse in the transit and economic fields. Currently, the region is engulfed by tensions and non-economic political considerations which have undermined mutual security. This is despite the fact that economic potential that is currently dormant in the region and its activation could enhance security and wealth in the region.