An empirical study on long-term relationship between total factor productivity and non-oil exports in Iran

This paper presents an empirical investigation on the effect of exports of non-oil goods and services on economic growth in Iran over the period 1991-2011 using Vector Autoregressive method. We also analyze the existing causal relationships between total factor productivity and non-oil exports. The results show that total factor productivity has direct and significant relationship with non-oil exports in long-term, it means that if total factor productivity increases, non-oil exports also increases. The results of the survey also indicate that the existing shock on non-oil exports does not have any significant impact on total factor productivity but the incoming shock on total factor productivity reduces non-oil exports during the first period. It also increases non-oil exports during the first period to the fourth period and from the fifth period; it continues until it reduces to a small amount, remains in that amount and eventually disappears.