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on Central and Western Asia |
| By: | Agarwal Anurag K. |
| Abstract: | The Indian judicial system is marred by delays. Businesses suffer because disputes are not resolved in a reasonable time. Even with the use of methods of alternative dispute resolution a fair number of high value disputes end up in a court. Thus, courts hardly have any time for taking up disputes of lower value. Also, in a country of continental dimensions, every disputant cannot afford to travel and contest in a court of law. Online Dispute Resolution (ODR) has emerged as a new method which may be beneficial in a geographically large country and also where a large number of B2B or B2C disputes are significantly of low value. ODR is the best available method for resolving such business disputes. But there are a number of hurdles like access, technology, cultural and language issues, and above all trust with a new un-tested system. Of late, ODR has been successfully used by the National Internet Exchange of India (NIXI) and the judiciary has also shown perceptible shift towards use of new technology and methods in resolution of disputes. The paper examines the hurdles faced by ODR in India, discusses its future and makes a few suggestions for its success. |
| Keywords: | Online Dispute Resolution, India, Arbitration, Business Disputes |
| Date: | 2006–10–11 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:iim:iimawp:2006-10-03&r=cwa |
| By: | Romina Boarini (PREG - Pole de recherche en économie et gestion - [CNRS : UMR7176] - [Polytechnique - X]); Jean-Francois Laslier (PREG - Pole de recherche en économie et gestion - [CNRS : UMR7176] - [Polytechnique - X]); Stéphane Robin (GATE - Groupe d'analyse et de théorie économique - [CNRS : UMR5824] - [Université Lumière - Lyon II] - [Ecole Normale Supérieure Lettres et Sciences Humaines]) |
| Abstract: | This paper presents the experimental results of a “Transcontinental Ultimatum Game” implemented between India and France. The bargaining took the form of standard ultimatum games, but in one treatment Indian subjects made offers to French subjects and, in another treatment, French subjects made offers to Indian subjects. We observed that French→Indian bargaining mostly ended up with unequal splits of money in favour of French, while nearly equal splits were the most frequent outcome in Indian→French interactions. The experimental results are organized through a standard social reference model, modified for taking into account the different marginal value of money for bargainers. In our model bargaining is driven by relative standings comparisons between players, occurring in terms of real earnings (that is monetary earnings corrected for a purchasing power factor) obtained in the game. The norm of equity behind the equalization of real earnings is called local equity norm, and contrasted to a global equity norm which would encompass the wealth of players beyond the game. According to what we observed, no beyond-game concern seems to be relevantly endorsed by subjects. |
| Keywords: | Interpersonal Comparisons of Utility; Fairness; Bargaining experiment; Ultimatum Game |
| Date: | 2006–10–09 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:hal:papers:halshs-00104668_v1&r=cwa |
| By: | Gandhi Vasant P. |
| Abstract: | The paper examines the rural land and labour markets in the context of economic liberalization in India. Land and labour are the two fundamental resources available to the rural people for income generation. The access to land and to employment for labour become basic determinants of well-being for the rural households. Reforms are often seen as hostile to rural areas and the poor, although they should be beneficial not only for overall growth, but also rural growth and poverty alleviation. The study based on primary household data examines the land and labour markets in the reform period and the underlying linkages of these to different characteristics of the household. The study finds that over the reform period in India the land markets are leading to less landlessness rather than more, and growth in marginal and medium farm sizes rather than large. Lease markets are leading to operated land in more hands. Land purchase behaviour is related to less land, more education, greater crop diversification, and higher crop and livestock revenues. Leasing-in is also related to many of the same variables and is showing great diversity in lease agreements involving outputs, inputs and rent. Labour-employment is showing diversity of occupations but the primary dependence on agriculture is still about 80 percent. There has been some change in the occupational structure. Non-farm employment is associated with higher overall employment. Own-farm employment is strongly related to crop diversification and livestock activity; other farm employment to number of male and female family members and irrigation; and non-farm employment to education. Broadly, liberalization does not show adverse consequences but rather some positive impact on rural land and labour markets. |
| Date: | 2006–09–29 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:iim:iimawp:2006-09-02&r=cwa |
| By: | Gandhi Vasant P.; Namboodiri N.V. |
| Abstract: | The paper presents preliminary results from a study of the economics and adoption of Bt cotton in India. Biotech crops, which made their appearance in the world about a decade ago, have gained substantial popularity and acceptance in many parts of the world including US, China, Australia, Mexico, Argentina and South Africa. However, their introduction in India has been relatively late and controversial and they still have considerable ground to cover in the country. Cotton is a major commercial crop in India but has substantial problems particularly from extensive pest damage and poor yields. Bt cotton offers a promising solution to these serious problems. Data from the survey, which covered the important cotton states of Gujarat, Maharashtra, Andhra Pradesh and Tamil Nadu, and 694 farmers, indicates that Bt cotton offers good resistance to bollworms as well as several other pests. The incidence of these pests is reported to be considerably lower in Bt cotton as compared to Non-Bt cotton. The yields of Bt cotton are found to be higher and the yield increase/ difference statistically significant in all the states under both irrigated and rain-fed conditions. As a result, given the good market acceptance of the product, the value of output per hectare is higher in all the states and conditions. The question of higher cost of cultivation exists, and is confirmed, mainly because of high seed cost and not commensurate reduction in pesticide cost. However, the profit is found to be higher in all the states to the estimated extent of about 80-90 percent on an average when the effects of associated inputs are included. The returns are highest in Maharashtra followed by Gujarat and then Andhra Pradesh. Subjective assessment indicates that farmers see advantage in Bt cotton in pest incidence, pesticide cost, cotton quality, yield and profit. Almost all farmers indicate that they plan to plant Bt cotton in the future. To increase the benefits from the technology, the farmers strongly urge reduction in the seed cost, greater field extension and demonstration work on the correct practices, and more Bt cotton varieties to suit the diverse agro-ecological settings. |
| Date: | 2006–09–29 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:iim:iimawp:2006-09-04&r=cwa |
| By: | Burak Serkan Yasar |
| Abstract: | This paper has two main objectives. First, we aim to discuss current developments in the field of AD and document the AD practices in the world. Second, we aim to assess the implications of possible future enlargement of the EU to include Turkey on the AD practices of both. We show that there is a proliferation of AD cases by the WTO Members until 2001 but the number of cases decreased since then. AD has been more used by developing countries than developed countries between 1995 and 2005. China has been the main target of AD practices and metal sector has been the main concern of AD practices by the WTO Members. We then show that, despite the larger number of cases by the EU, Turkey has been using AD instrument more intensively than the EU. Both the EU and Turkey mainly target Asian Countries regarding dumped imports, however, their priorities in terms of targeted sectors are not the same. Thus EU's possible future enlargement to include Turkey will be a real challenge for both of the parties regarding their AD practices. Despite the Customs Union between the EU and Turkey, both parties retain the right to impose AD duties on imports from the other. Once Turkey accedes to the Union, the AD measures between the parties will drop automatically, however, the abolition of such measures before Turkey’s accession is not very likely to occur. |
| Date: | 2006 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:lic:licosd:17406&r=cwa |
| By: | Deodhar Satish Y.; Pandey Vivek |
| Abstract: | The new competition policy of the Government of India seeks to promote competition to protect consumer interests and increase market efficiency. In fact, the degree of price transmission between farmers and final consumers also depends on the degree of competition in the processing sector. Moreover, policy of trade liberalization too is expected to have impact on domestic markets. It becomes imperative, therefore, that one knows the degree of competition in various domestic industries. Instant coffee market in India is a duopoly of Nestlé and Hindustan Lever for decades. They also differentiate their products through branding. At the same time, however, incumbents might have perceived potential competition from another firm, Tata Coffee. In fact, instant coffee can be considered as a part of a larger beverage market with numerous competing products. With trade liberalization, imports have also started trickling in. Thus, circumstantial evidence regarding degree of competition or the market power in the instant coffee market is rather mixed one. By econometrically estimating the perceived first-order supply relation and the demand function, we calculate the market power parameter. Results indicate that the market is not characterized by collusive behaviour. It is quite close to perfectly competitive behaviour although we cannot reject the Cournot-Nash behaviour as well. The econometric study may be complemented by in-depth case study on coffee procurement, processing, and pricing by leading producers. Similar estimations of market power and case studies may be undertaken for other industries as well. |
| Date: | 2006–10–10 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:iim:iimawp:2006-10-02&r=cwa |
| By: | Gandhi Vasant P.; Koshy Abraham |
| Abstract: | The study examines the marketing of wheat in India, focusing on the private marketing system, the marketing efficiency and quality. Wheat is now a major food staple in India, crucial to India’s food economy and security. With production reaching 70 to 75 million tons and a large demand, India’s wheat economy is the second largest in the world. The efficiency of marketing is crucial to farmer incomes, consumer welfare, as well as government budgets and the economy. Substantial changes are taking place in the marketing of wheat. The study finds that the farmers now almost invariably sell in the nearby primary markets rather than to village traders. The farmer choice of varieties is now becoming market oriented with quality and market acceptance becoming as important as yield. The typically market intermediary provides hardly any special, value adding or developmental services in return for the commissions and margins. The farmers see considerable scope for improvement in the marketing system. The consumer demand for wheat varies considerably across the country. But wheat has made inroads into food consumption in the east and the south. The retailers are increasingly conscious of consumer demand and quality, and keep a varietiy of wheat and wheat products. Direct buying of wheat grain, storing, and own recourse to processing are common in the north and the west, whereas direct purchase of wheat products such as flour is the norm in the east and the south. The trend is towards direct purchase of processed wheat products, and within this from loose to packaged branded wheat products. The estimated average total marketing cost of wheat is found to be of the order of Rs. 266 per quintal, and in this transport has the largest share of 40 percent, commission and taxes make up 25 percent, and wastage another 15 percent. When compared to the consumer-farmer price spread, the marketing costs account for 74 percent of the spread, leaving 26 percent for margins – this is fairly efficient but there is significant scope for improvement. On an average, the farmers receive 66 percent of what the consumer pays. The government channel marketing cost is reported to be Rs. 309 per quintal, but this does not cover the whole chain and is not strictly comparable. Examination of the question of market integration for wheat is difficult due to data and quality difference problems. Co-integration analysis using monthly price data for eight markets for the period April 1997 to June 2004 indicates that nationally the markets are integrated but the LOP (Law of One Price) does not hold, and the presence of six common stochastic trends implies the absence of full pair-wise co-integration. |
| Date: | 2006–09–29 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:iim:iimawp:2006-09-03&r=cwa |
| By: | Kaul Subhashini |
| Abstract: | Store loyalty is the most initial variable of interest to retailers. This paper reviews existing retail literature to identify the dimensions of store loyalty; with specific focus on its antecedents such as store image. The paper also discusses methodological issues in measuring store loyalty and image in the current Indian context. |
| Date: | 2006–10–13 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:iim:iimawp:2006-10-06&r=cwa |
| By: | Jain, Varinder |
| Abstract: | The electricity subsidy distribution pattern needs to be scrutinised to assess whether the policy benefits small producers, a normative argument often made while granting any input subsidy. In Punjab, this policy is found to ignore equity considerations while granting non-discriminatory electricity subsidies to the agricultural sector. This study highlights the existence of disparities in the flow of electricity subsidy between the advanced and backward regions. While the medium and large farmers reap the major benefits of the subsidy, the poor small farmers, especially in the backward areas, remain excluded due to their non-possession of electricity connections. In a nutshell, this paper questions the justification for introducing such a policy and puts forward the case for user charges based on open access to electricity. |
| Keywords: | Political economy; Electricity Subsidy; Agriculture |
| JEL: | P26 H23 |
| Date: | 2006–09–23 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:pra:mprapa:240&r=cwa |
| By: | Hsiao Chink Tang |
| Abstract: | This paper investigates the relative strength of four monetary policy transmission channels (exchange rate, asset price, interest rate and credit) in Malaysia using a 12-variable open economy VAR model. By comparing the baseline impulse response with the constrained impulse response where a particular channel is being switched off, the interest rate channel is found to be the most important in influencing output and inflation in the horizon of about two years, and the credit channel beyond that. The asset price channel is also relevant in the shorter-horizon, more so than the exchange rate channel, particularly in influencing output. For inflation, the exchange rate channel is more relevant than the asset price channel. |
| Date: | 2006–08 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:pas:camaaa:2006-23&r=cwa |