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on Central and Western Asia |
| By: | Lal, Kaushalesh (United Nations University, Institute for New Technologies) |
| Abstract: | The study identifies and analyses the factors that influenced the adoption of new technologies in SMEs. Information and communication technologies (ICTs) have been used as proxy of new technologies. The findings of the study suggest that industry-specific characteristics such as skill- and export-intensiveness have bearings on the type of ICT adoption. The size of operation measured in terms of sales turnover influenced the adoption of new technologies. The results also suggest that there are marginal differences in the labour productivity and profitability of firms that adopted varying degree of ICTs. In view of the fact that that MFA provisions are no more available to garments sector firms since January 1, 2005, the government needs to embark on providing technological, physical, and communication infrastructure at a globally competitive rate so that SMEs can withstand onslaught posed by large domestic firms and MNCs. |
| Keywords: | small and medium enterprises, SMEs, technological change, information and communication technologies, ICT, India, competitiveness, technology policy, industrial policy |
| Date: | 2005 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:dgr:unuint:200506&r=cwa |
| By: | Dr. A.P. Pandey (Deptt of Economics Banaras Hindu University Varanasi, India) |
| Abstract: | The problem of unemployment that exist in India today is the cumulative result of number of factors, namely Lopsided inadequate industrial development before independence, the rapid growth of population after 1921, the decay of small scale and cottage industries leading to greater pressure on land , the low level of investment resulting I lack of in expansion of the secondary and tertiary sectors of the Economy etc. Unemployment can be removed by raising level of investment in the Indian Economy and accelerating the process of industrialization planning should also be employment oriented. Over and above without controlling the population the unemployment will continue. The key to job guarantee legislation lies in the world guarantee;. India abounds in scheme for the poor- all two often instruments for the state to display its munificence whenever political expediency demands it. |
| Keywords: | unemployemnt,job guarantee |
| JEL: | A |
| Date: | 2005–11–04 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:wpa:wuwpgt:0511003&r=cwa |
| By: | Agarwal Anurag K |
| Abstract: | Peace is the sine qua non for development. Disputes and conflicts dissipate valuable time, effort and money of the society. It is of utmost importance that there should not be any conflict in the society. But, in a realistic sense, this is not possible. So, the next best solution is that any conflict which raises its head is nipped in the bud. With the judicial system in most of the countries being burdened with cases, any new case takes a long time to be decided. And, till the time the final decision comes, there is a state of uncertainty, which makes any activity almost impossible. Commerce, business, development work, administration, etc., all suffer because of long time taken in resolving disputes through litigation. To get out of this maze of litigation, courts and lawyers’ chambers; most of the countries encourage alternative methods of dispute resolution. India has a long tradition and history of such methods being practiced in the society at grass roots level. These are called panchayat and in the legal terminology, these are called arbitration. These are widely used in India for resolution of disputes – both commercial and non-commercial. Other alternative methods being used are Lok Adalat (People’s Court), where justice is dispensed summarily without too much emphasis on legal technicalities. Methods like negotiation, mediation and conciliation are being increasingly used to resolve disputes instead of going for litigation. There have been recent amendments in the procedural law of India to incorporate these methods so that people get justice in a speedy manner and there is lesser conflict in the society. This paper examines the role of methods of alternative dispute resolution, particularly Lok Adalat in making inexpensive, efficacious and speedy justice accessible to the public. The Constitution of India guarantees ‘Right to Constitutional Remedies’ as a fundamental right. The government provides free legal aid to the needy. However, in a country of continental dimensions and with population more than a billion, it becomes very difficult to provide free legal aid to everyone. The National Legal Services Authority (NALSA) is trying to spread ‘legal literacy’ which is a step more than ‘literacy’. People care about their rights much more when they are aware and are ‘legal literate’. Efforts are also being done at provincial level. The paper particularly examines the role of NALSA and other State Legal Services Authority which are the key institutions in bridging the gap between public and judicial system. The author has personal experiences regarding the same. All these efforts seem to be a small drop in the ocean, but small drops make mighty oceans. How can these be replicated in other parts of India and similar models developed and adopted in Asia-Pacific countries is a good research area. Such models shall curb conflicts and bring more peace in society – not only in domestic sense but also internationally. |
| Keywords: | Arbitration, Conciliation, Dispute resolution, Legal Aid, Lok Adalat (People’s Court) |
| Date: | 2005–11–03 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:iim:iimawp:2005-11-01&r=cwa |
| By: | John W. Dawson; Amit Sen |
| Abstract: | This paper updates and extends the time-series evidence on the convergence of international incomes using a set of 29 countries over the period 1900-2001. Time-series tests for stochastic convergence are supplemented with tests which provide evidence on the notion of "Beta-convergence" predicted by the Solow model. The evidence indicates that the relative income series of 21 countries are consistent with stochastic convergence, and that Beta-convergence has occurred in at least 17 countries at some point over the 1900-2001 period. Further examination of the properties of the Beta- convergence test provides anecdotal evidence of conditional convergence during the post-war period in seven countries for which the convergence hypothesis was initially rejected. Analysis of the cross-country dispersion of incomes over time also suggests that convergence has occurred over the 1900-2001 period, with structural breaks associated with World War II in many countries causing a break in the convergence process. |
| Date: | 2005 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:apl:wpaper:05-22&r=cwa |