https://www.um.edu.mt/library/oar/handle/123456789/65669 2026-07-08T06:51:13Z 2026-07-08T06:51:13Z https://www.um.edu.mt/library/oar/handle/123456789/67057 2021-01-12T12:49:07Z 2020-01-01T00:00:00Z

Title: The impact of U.S economic sanctions on European Union’s trade with target economies Abstract: Since ancient times, economic sanctions have been a frequently used foreign policy tool, and the U.S is one the leading sanctioning countries. One of the most citied arguments for the ineffectiveness of economic sanctions, is that some trade may be diverted towards third countries. The principal aim of this study is to test this hypothesis by studying the impact of U.S sanctions on trade between target countries and the European Union, which may constitute an attractive alternative market. A sample of 164 countries was used, including both sanctioned and non-sanctioned countries, to minimize sample selection bias. Initially, a gravity model of international trade was estimated with a simple pooled OLS regression, to measure the impact of time-invariant variables such as distance and colonial relationship. Gravity variables performed relatively well. Distance is confirmed to be a push factor of trade, having a higher impact on E.U Exports. A variable representing colonial relationship between member states and E.U’s trading partners, resulted positive through all levels of trade, but only when time fixed effects were incorporated within the model. GDP has a significant positive relationship with all levels of trade, while having a higher impact on E.U Imports. Population also has a positive relationship when regressed with total bilateral trade. To account for MRTs and thus curtailing omitted variable bias, country and time fixed effects were used in the subsequent model. Dummy variables representing multilateral or unilateral, and limited or extensive sanctions were introduced in the model. As expected, multilateral sanctions resulted to have a significant depressing impact on trade between E.U member states and target economies, even in cases of targeted non-trade sanctions. Multilateral limited sanctions lead to a decrease of 10.19% of total bilateral trade, while multilateral extensive sanctions reduce bilateral trade by 33.25%. On the other hand, unilateral extensive sanctions induce a positive effect on all levels of trade between the E.U and target countries. This indicates that some form of trade is diverted to the European market when the U.S impose extensive sanctions without cooperation from member states. Description: B.COM.(HONS)ECONOMICS

2020-01-01T00:00:00Z https://www.um.edu.mt/library/oar/handle/123456789/66980 2021-01-11T14:42:15Z 2020-01-01T00:00:00Z

Title: Analysing the economic determinants of fertility rates across EU member states Abstract: One of the most crucial issues being faced by most industrialised societies is the presence of low fertility rates. The significant decline in fertility, being faced by all 27 European Union member states has been a crucial issue, mainly due to the possibility of a population crisis. Declining fertility levels threaten economic growth, as the elderly population rises whilst the working age population decreases. Meanwhile, governments must allocate more resources to pension funding and health care. The main aim of this dissertation is to analyse the main determinants of fertility rates for the 27 European Union member states, covering the period between 2007-2018. This twelve-year period is analysed by employing a panel regression. The main results found in this study suggest that fertility rates are impacted by changes in infant mortality rates, economic growth and unemployment levels, whereas the impact that female employment has on fertility seems to have become positive and weaker in recent years. This study finds a strong association between periods of economic slowdown and dips in fertility rates. This emphasises the importance of employing policy measures during periods of uncertainty and rising unemployment levels, in order to reduce labour market instability and the impact that this will eventually have on global economic output. Description: B.COM.(HONS)ECONOMICS

2020-01-01T00:00:00Z https://www.um.edu.mt/library/oar/handle/123456789/66974 2021-01-11T14:44:36Z 2020-01-01T00:00:00Z

Title: Exploring interests amongst University of Malta students towards battery electric vehicles Abstract: The European Union (EU) aims that by 2030 member states reduce greenhouse gas levels by 30% when compared to 1990 levels. Recently, electric vehicle (EV) demand has gained some momentum and many countries are witnessing a developing EV market. EU agreements and targets have been significantly important to encourage the shift from internal combustion engine vehicles to EVs in order to combat climate change. Despite the steady growth of EVs across Member States, Malta’s share of EVs is relatively low. In fact, Malta has exceeded vehicle saturation levels as internal combustion engine vehicles are continuously on the rise, while cleaner alternative transportation remains at its infancy. The main objective of this study is to identify the determinants that influence the demand for EVs amongst University of Malta students who have the potential to be the first cohort group that are willing to transition from conventional transport to electromobility. A quantitative online survey is used to collect data from 494 University students. A Logit regression model is used to assess the role of the measured predictors on the intention to buy an EV. The empirical literature mostly focuses on the functional characteristics of the EV, specifically the driving range, recharging/refuelling time and charging infrastructure. Similarly, this study investigates attitudes towards key EV technology factors together with student demographics, driving characteristics and environmental concern. This research identifies potential socio-technical barriers which are possibly hindering EV uptake in Malta. Although the majority of EVs satisfy driving range needs, this research has identified that range anxiety has a profound impact on individuals. On the other hand, charging an EV is not perceived as an inconvenience. EVs are still in their early commercialization period and therefore EV users are mostly dependent on public charging rather than private charging. Results show that University students are biased towards vehicle brands, such that familiarity and/or trust with a vehicle brand is a major factor propelling EV diffusion. Looking ahead, EV technology will not be static and EV features such as the battery life, the driving range and the time needed to recharge an EV will eventually improve. In spite of this fact, the extent to which such technological improvements may affect the demand for EVs is difficult to predict. Implications of public policy and interventions for wider EV adoption amongst University students are consequently discussed. Description: B.COM.(HONS)ECONOMICS

2020-01-01T00:00:00Z https://www.um.edu.mt/library/oar/handle/123456789/66961 2021-01-11T14:33:03Z 2020-01-01T00:00:00Z

Title: Labour market institutions and income inequality : evidence from a panel of European countries Abstract: Over the past few decades, income inequality has risen in a majority of advanced countries, leading to a broad debate on the causes of this trend. Empirical studies have relatively overlooked the role labour market institutions have in explaining these developments, and the few studies which have assessed this relationship reported conflicting results. This study looks at the relationship between income inequality and labour market institutions in developed countries. Moreover, to shed light on the conflicting findings within the literature, this dissertation specifically aims to assess whether the hypothesised relationship is nonlinear. In this light, the first empirical model estimated uses annual data on income inequality and labour market institutions and their squared values, in a panel of 26 European countries for the period 2005 to 2018, where labour market institutions consist of trade union density, wage-setting coordination, the Kaitz index, employment protection legislation (EPL), unemployment benefit replacement rates and the tax wedge. Subsequently, other potential commonly identified correlates of income inequality, consisting of other macro-economic variables and population characteristics are incorporated within the empirical model. The empirical findings indicate that trade unions, captured through the union density rate and the degree of wage-bargaining coordination explanatory variables, have a sizeable role in explaining variations in income inequality across countries and over time, for the selected sample. Whereas union density has a consistently statistically-significant inverted U-shaped relationship with income inequality, wage-setting coordination has a robustly statisticallysignificant U-shaped relationship with the distribution of household income. These quadratic relationships are present in the extended model, both robustness tests and after the inclusion of institutional interaction terms, underscoring the persistence of the hypothesised non-linear relationship of unions with income inequality. Furthermore, when adopting a wider perspective by looking at the entire institutional set-up, through the introduction of institutional interaction terms, minimum wages, unemployment benefits and the tax wedge also have a role in explaining income inequality patterns. Description: B.COM.(HONS)ECONOMICS

2020-01-01T00:00:00Z