Human Development Index

The present study aims to present an analytical review of the relationship between development-driven education and environmental improvement. Previous research in this field has often examined the effect of environmental pollution on the human development index in general. However, this study uniquely focuses on a separate review of human development indicators on the environment and education. Thus, this study applied an econometric method using Eviews13 software during the years 1990-2023. The analytical review of the effect of development-driven education on environmental improvement, with an emphasis on the human development index, was conducted among selected countries of the Middle East (United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, Egypt, Iran, Iraq, Jordan, Yemen, Kuwait, Lebanon, Libya, Oman, Qatar, Turkey, Syria, Cyprus, and Saudi Arabia) and Iran. The dependent variable in this paper was CO2 emission, and the independent variables included education, health, standard of living (a measure to evaluate the human development index), fossil fuel consumption, and the growth rate of the urban population. The results of the study in the Middle Eastern countries indicate that the measurement dimensions of the human development index have a negative and significant effect on environmental pollution. Higher human development is beneficial for the environment and mitigates CO2 emissions and other pollutants. Additionally, this protects the environment by lowering pressure on natural resources. The variables of urbanization rate and fossil fuel consumption have a positive effect on the level of air pollution. In addition, the results of the study in Iran demonstrate that fossil fuel consumption and urbanization are factors that directly influence the country’s air pollution, and the measurement dimensions of the human development index. No significant relationship was found regarding education (average years of education for adults), but a negative and significant effect was shown on environmental pollution.

The exchange rate is one of the crucial and effective variables in the economy of countries and contributes to the current and future economic conditions of every country significantly and undeniably by impacting many economic variables. Thus, selecting an optimal exchange system is imperative for countries. This study has investigated effective economic and political factors in selecting exchange regimes in three groups of developing countries, i.e., low-income countries, lower-middle-income countries, and upper-middle-income countries in the 2000-2018 period using the logit panel method. The results showed that for the lower-middle-income countries, the escalation of the trade balance increased the likelihood of selecting a floating exchange rate regime, and the uptrend of the Human Development Index (HDI) decreased the probability of choosing a floating exchange rate regime. Concerning the lower-middle-income countries, the upsurge of civil liberties and HDI diminished the likelihood of selecting a floating exchange regime, and the rise of the inflation rate increased the possibility of choosing a floating exchange regime. Finally, considering the third group, i.e., upper-middle-income countries, the increase in the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) made the selection of a floating exchange regime more likely, and the HDI elevation enhanced the probability of selecting a fixed exchange rate.