Prof Hichem Saidi, Imam Mohammed Ibn Saud Islamic University Deanship of Scientific Research, Saudi Arabia
Dr. Hichem Saidi is an accomplished Associate Professor of Economics and Quantitative Methods at Imam Mohammad Ibn Saud Islamic University, Saudi Arabia. He is also affiliated with the University of Manouba, Tunisia, where he has served as a prominent educator and researcher in quantitative economics. With a solid academic background and prolific scholarly output, Dr. Saidi has contributed significantly to the fields of financial and energy economics, econometrics, and development studies. He holds leadership positions in postgraduate programs such as the M.Sc in Data Science and the MBA in Risk and Insurance Management. His work bridges theoretical modeling and policy-relevant economic analysis, especially within the MENA and GCC regions. Dr. Saidi’s research is widely published in Q1 and Q2 journals, reflecting his scholarly impact. In addition, he plays a critical role in developing academic curricula and guiding doctoral candidates, helping shape the next generation of economic and financial researchers.
Publication Profile
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Education
Dr. Hichem Saidi has pursued an exceptional academic path with a focus on economics and quantitative methods. He earned his Ph.D. in Economics with High Distinction in 2013 from the University of Tunis El Manar, Tunisia. He earlier completed his M.Sc in Mathematical Economics and Econometrics from the same university in 2008, equipping him with advanced technical and econometric tools. In 2019, he was granted the Habilitation for Supervising Doctoral Research by the University of Manouba, marking his qualification to mentor Ph.D. students. In 2021, he successfully passed the highly competitive Agrégation in Quantitative Methods, awarded by the Tunisian Ministry of Higher Education, distinguishing him as a top-ranking academic in his field. This educational foundation has paved the way for his current leadership in academic programs and research across multiple domains of economics and finance.
Experience
Dr. Hichem Saidi brings over a decade of rich academic experience. Since 2021, he has served as an Associate Professor of Quantitative Methods at the University of Manouba, Tunisia, and is currently affiliated with the Department of Economics, Imam Mohammad Ibn Saud Islamic University, Saudi Arabia. He previously held the position of Assistant Professor from 2015 to 2021 at the same Tunisian institution. From 2011 to 2015, he worked as a Research and Teaching Assistant at the University of Tunis El Manar and the University of Manouba. He is also the Head of M.Sc in Data Science and MBA in Risk and Insurance Management at ESCT, Tunisia, and the Research Cell Coordinator since 2015. His commitment to education is evident in his involvement with various graduate and undergraduate programs, curriculum development, and academic supervision, fostering innovation and excellence in economics and data science education.
Awards and Honors
Dr. Hichem Saidi has earned numerous academic accolades throughout his distinguished career. In 2021, he was the Laureate of the Agrégation in Quantitative Methods, one of the most prestigious academic competitive exams organized by the Tunisian Ministry of Higher Education. This honor highlights his superior competence in teaching and research in economics and quantitative disciplines. In 2019, he achieved his Habilitation from the University of Manouba, granting him the authority to supervise doctoral dissertations, a significant milestone in the academic hierarchy. His doctoral work received High Distinction, underscoring his early academic excellence. Additionally, Dr. Saidi’s extensive publications in ABDC and Q1/Q2 journals reflect global recognition of his research, making him a respected voice in financial, institutional, and energy economics. These distinctions attest to his scholarly influence, educational leadership, and commitment to advancing economic thought both in the MENA region and internationally.
Research Focus
Dr. Hichem Saidi’s research is rooted in quantitative and empirical economics, with an emphasis on financial economics, energy economics, and development finance. His work frequently explores the relationships between financial development, institutional quality, and economic growth, particularly in the MENA and GCC regions. He applies advanced econometric techniques such as panel cointegration, panel VAR, simultaneous equation models, and structural breaks to uncover nuanced policy-relevant insights. His studies address themes like financial inclusion, climate risk, corporate social responsibility, and natural resource rents, reflecting a strong intersection of sustainability and economic performance. Dr. Saidi also investigates the effects of technological advancement, renewable energy, and governance structures on macroeconomic outcomes. His research is often collaborative and published in peer-reviewed international journals, contributing significantly to the literature on emerging economies, financial stability, and sustainable development. He also supervises doctoral students in related themes.
Publication Top Notes
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📘 Exploring the Relationship Between Board Characteristics and Non-Performing Loans: A Comparative Analysis Across GCC and Non-GCC Countries – International Journal of Financial Studies (2025)
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📘 Climate Risk and Bank Performance: What Role does Corporate Social Responsibility Play? – International Journal of Energy Economics and Policy (2025)
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📘 Do Board Characteristics Promote Corporate Social Responsibility? An Empirical Analysis for European Companies – Journal of Risk and Financial Management (2025)
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📘 Does Financial Inclusion Affect Non-Performing Loans and Liquidity Risk in the MENA Region? – Economies (2025)
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📘 Natural Resources Rent and Bank Stability in the MENA Region: Does Institutional Quality Matter? – Risks (2025)
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📘 Do Financial Market Openness and Stock Market Returns Drive Economic Growth in GCC Countries? – International Journal of Financial Studies (2025)
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📘 On the Technology-Growth Relationship: Does the Institutional Quality Matter? – Journal of Knowledge Economics (2023)
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⚡ Financial Development, Electricity Consumption, and FDI in the GCC Countries: GMM Panel VAR Insights – Energy Sources, Part B (2022)
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📊 Threshold Effect of Institutions on Finance-Growth Nexus in MENA Region – Economics Bulletin (2020)
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🌱 Institutions in the Renewable Energy-Growth Nexus in the MENA Region – Environmental Modeling and Assessment (2020)
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📉 Instability of Tunisian Money Demand: Empirical Issues with Structural Breaks – Journal of Quantitative Economics (2019)
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🔁 Governance, Institutions, Financial Liberalization and Economic Growth using PSTR Model – Panoeconomicus (2017)
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💹 Capital Account Liberalization and Economic Growth with Structural Breaks – Economics Bulletin (2016)
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🌍 Democracy and Economic Growth in MENA Countries – Procedia-Social and Behavioral Sciences (2015)
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🌐 Capital Account Liberalization, Institutions and Economic Growth – Journal of Business Studies Quarterly (2014)
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🌎 FDI, Portfolio Investment, and Growth in Developing and Developed Economies – Interdisciplinary Journal of Research in Business (2011)
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🔓 Capital Account Liberalization and Economic Growth: GMM System Analysis – International Journal of Economics and Finance (2010)