CBE Associate Professors Publish in Comparative Economic Studies

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YEREVAN, Armenia — The American University of Armenia (AUA) Manoogian Simone College of Business and Economics (CBE) Associate Professors Dr. Knar Khachatryan and Dr. Aleksandr Grigoryan recently published an article titled “Multidimensional Deprivation from Labor Market Opportunities in Armenia: Evidence from 2018 and 2020,” in the Journal of Comparative Economic Studies. 

The article delves into the issue of multidimensional deprivation from labor market opportunities in Armenia by constructing a Quality of Employment measure. Using data from the Labor Force Survey for the years 2018 and 2020, the study is a comparative analysis of a group of individuals separated from their jobs. The multiple dimensions of deprivation from labor market opportunities are identified as reasons for separating from a job, reasons for not looking for a job, and main obstacles to finding a job. The study explores employee-level (supply factors) and job-related characteristics (demand factors). The findings reveal that demand factors were the primary drivers of amplified deprivation during the Covid-19 pandemic. Additionally, the study shows that the gender gap in labor market deprivation has increased during the pandemic, particularly among married women, and remains invariant to occupational composition.

Given the immediate relevance of the topic to Armenian policy makers, the extended abstract was translated into Armenian for broader access. The project was initiated by the AUA Policy Development and Research Fund (PDRF) with the aim of supporting the Government of Armenia’s policy development processes through research on topics of importance to Armenia. The PDRF funding opportunity is designed to examine and prescribe conditions favorable for the development of more effective government policies and reforms based on solid analytical research checked against international best practices and developed through a transparent and independent process involving appropriate stakeholders.

Founded in 1991, the American University of Armenia (AUA) is a private, independent university located in Yerevan, Armenia, affiliated with the University of California, and accredited by the WASC Senior College and University Commission in the United States. AUA provides local and international students with Western-style education through top-quality undergraduate, graduate, and certificate programs, promotes research and innovation, encourages civic engagement and community service, and fosters democratic values.