|
on Central and Western Asia |
| By: | Deolalikar, Anil B.; Jamison, Dean T.; Laxminarayan, Ramanan (Resources for the Future) |
| Abstract: | In response to the challenge of sustaining the health gains achieved in the better-performing states and ensuring that the lagging states catch up with the rest of the country, the Indian government has launched the National Rural Health Mission. A central goal of the effort is to increase public spending on health from the current 1.1 percent of GDP to roughly 2–3 percent of GDP within the next five years. In this paper, we examine the current status of health financing in India, as well as alternatives for realizing maximal health gains for the incremental expenditures. |
| Keywords: | health financing, public spending, India, cost-effectiveness |
| JEL: | I10 I12 I18 |
| Date: | 2007–10–31 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:rff:dpaper:dp-07-48&r=cwa |
| By: | Chow, Jeffrey; Darley, Sarah R. (Resources for the Future); Laxminarayan, Ramanan |
| Abstract: | Health improvements in India, while significant, have not kept up with rapid economic growth rates. The poor in India face high out-of-pocket payments for health care, a significant burden of infectious diseases, and a rapidly increasing burden of non-communicable diseases. Against this backdrop, the central government has proposed doubling government expenditures on health over the next few years. Planned increases in public spending will involve making difficult decisions about the most effective and efficient health interventions if they are to translate into improved population health. To inform the selection of interventions that should be included in a universal health package, this study generated and reviewed cost-effectiveness information for interventions that address the major causes of disease burden in India. We find that India has great potential for improving the health of its people at relatively low cost. Devoting just one percent of GDP (approximately US$6 billion) to a well-designed health program nationwide could save as much as 480 million healthy years of life. |
| Keywords: | India, health expenditures, cost-effectiveness, public spending |
| JEL: | H51 H70 I10 I18 |
| Date: | 2007–12–13 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:rff:dpaper:dp-07-53&r=cwa |
| By: | Ramani, Shyama V. (Institut National de la Recherche Agronomique, Ecole Polytechnique Paris) |
| Abstract: | Sanitation is at the heart of not only environmental security but also food security and health. Today about 41% of the global population or about 2.6 billion people do not have access to toilets and about 42,000 people die every week due to drinking water polluted with faecal matter. The problem is most acute in India, China, many countries of Africa and a few countries of Latin America. Why is there such a crisis in the toilets market? How much of the present problem is due to a lack of supply and how much is it due to a lack of demand? What is the optimal role of the State, the firms and the NPOs? The present paper attempts to give some insight on the above questions through the case study of the market for toilets for the poor in India. It examines the toilet history and achievements of India, the innovations in the market for toilets targeting the group at the bottom of the income pyramid and the factors that influence the adoption and usage of toilets in an Indian coastal village, in order to infer answers to the above questions. |
| Keywords: | Toilets, Innovation, India, Health, Hygiene, Sanitation, BOP, Income Inequality, Empowerment, Entrepreneurship, Government Policy |
| JEL: | O31 H51 H75 O15 D31 L26 |
| Date: | 2008 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:dgr:unumer:2008012&r=cwa |
| By: | Tanika Chakraborty; Sukkoo Kim |
| Abstract: | This paper explores the relationship between kinship institutions and sex ratios in India at the turn of the twentieth century. Since kinship rules varied by caste, language, religion and region, we construct sex-ratios by these categories at the district-level using data from the 1901 Census of India for Punjab (North), Bengal (East) and Madras (South). We find that the female to male sex ratio varied inversely by caste-rank, rose as one moved from the North to the East and then to the South, was lower for Hindus than Muslims, and was lower for the northern Indo-Aryan rather than the southern Dravidian speaking peoples. We also find that the female deficit was greater in wheat growing regions and in areas with higher rainfall and alluvial soil. We argue that these systematic patterns in the data are largely explained by variations in the institution of family, kinship and inheritance. |
| JEL: | J12 N35 O17 |
| Date: | 2008–03 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:nbr:nberwo:13828&r=cwa |
| By: | Khan, haider |
| Abstract: | The paper uses a dualistic, compact and “generic” (macroeconomic) computable general equilibrium (CGE) model specially constructed for the purpose of investigating the implications of trade liberalization for poverty reduction in South Asia. The model is a stylized representation of economies with large populations including large numbers of both urban and rural poor as in India, Pakistan or Bangladesh. The current “generic” model uses CES production functions and Harris-Todaro type migration model together with representative data to generate economy wide results. It is found that a dualistic production structure with sufficient details on the labor markets and household side can capture some of the effects of trade liberalization on poverty reduction. The model’s general equilibrium results suggest that trade liberalization can complement other specific policy interventions for poverty reduction. |
| Keywords: | Poverty; Trade Liberalization; Dualism; CGE model; Agriculture Informal; Urban Informal sector. |
| JEL: | F16 D31 C68 A10 D43 A11 |
| Date: | 2008–03 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:pra:mprapa:7609&r=cwa |
| By: | Chakraborty, Lekha S; Sinha, Darshy |
| Abstract: | According to the theory of efficient markets, economic agents use all available information to form rational expectations. Fiscal marksmanship, the accuracy of budgetary forecasting, can be one important piece of such information the rational agents must consider in forming expectations. Using Theil’s inequality coefficient (U) based on the mean square prediction error, the paper estimates the magnitude of errors in the budgetary forecasts in India for the period 1990-91 to 2003-04 and also decomposed the errors into biasedness, unequal variation and random components to analyze the source of error. The test of rational expectations revealed that neither revenue nor expenditure forecasts in India is rational. However, capital budget revealed more forecast errors than revenue budget. The results also revealed that degree of errors in forecasting of receipts was relatively higher than that of expenditure. However there is no specific trend in the forecasting errors, which reveals that budgetary estimates are made not based on adaptive expectations. The proportion of error due to random variation has been significantly higher (which is beyond the control of the forecaster), while the errors due to bias has been negligible. The analysis related to efficiency of forecasts also showed that no significant improvement in forecasts over time. |
| Keywords: | fiscal marksmanship; Theils’ inequality coefficient; rational expectations; budgetary forecast errors |
| JEL: | E62 H68 |
| Date: | 2008–01 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:pra:mprapa:7538&r=cwa |
| By: | Arulampalam, Wiji (University of Warwick); Dasgupta, Sugato (Jawaharlal Nehru University); Dhillon, Amrita (University of Warwick); Dutta, Bhaskar (University of Warwick) |
| Abstract: | We construct a model of redistributive politics where the central government is opportunistic and uses its discretion to make transfers to state governments on the basis of political considerations. These considerations are the alignment between the incumbent parties at the central and state levels and whether a state is a swing state or not. A testable prediction from the model is that a state that is both swing and aligned with the central government is especially likely to receive higher transfers. We test this prediction using Indian data for 14 states from 1974-75 to 1996-97. We find that a state which is both aligned and swing in the last state election is estimated to receive 16% higher transfers than a state which is unaligned and non-swing. |
| Keywords: | redistributive politics, alignment, swing, electoral competition |
| JEL: | C72 D72 |
| Date: | 2008–02 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:iza:izadps:dp3376&r=cwa |
| By: | Bhaumik, Sumon K. (Brunel University); Kumbhakar, Subal C. (Binghamton University, New York) |
| Abstract: | It is generally believed that the structural reforms that usher in competition and force companies to become more efficient were introduced later in India following the macroeconomic crisis in 1991. However, whether the post-1991 growth is an outcome of more efficient use of resources or greater use of factor inputs, especially capital, remains an open empirical question. In this paper, we use plant-level data from 1989-90 and 2000-01 to address this question. Our results indicate that while there was an increase in the productivity of factor inputs during the 1990s, most of the growth in value added is explained by growth in the use of factor inputs. We also find that median technical efficiency declined in all but one of the industries between the two years, and change in technical efficiency explains a very small proportion in the change in gross value added. |
| Keywords: | efficiency, growth decomposition, productivity, manufacturing |
| JEL: | C13 O12 |
| Date: | 2008–02 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:iza:izadps:dp3347&r=cwa |
| By: | Ayla Ogus (Department of Economics, Izmir University of Economics); Niloufer Sohrabji (Department of Economics, Simmons College) |
| Abstract: | In this paper we assess the present sustainability of Turkey’s current account position using the framework provided by Milesi-Ferretti and Razin (1996) based on the ability-to-pay and willingness-to-lend model. This framework allows us to assess the structural features and macroeconomic policy indicators. We extend this framework by considering global sustainability indicators as well. Using data for three periods, 1991-1993, 1998-2000 and 2004-2006 we evaluate the present sustainability in light of the prior two crises (1994, 2001). Based on our analysis of these factors in the extended framework, we conclude that Turkey’s internal structure and macroeconomic conditions (such as exports and the fiscal position) have improved that are allowing Turkey to continue having large and increasing current account deficits. However, there is vulnerability from global factors namely the impending U.S. recession and a potential global slowdown. This might require some adjustments in policy to continue accumulating large deficits. |
| Keywords: | Current account sustainability, predictors of crisis, Turkey |
| JEL: | F32 F41 |
| Date: | 2008–03 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:izm:wpaper:0803&r=cwa |
| By: | Dasgupta, Indraneel (University of Nottingham); Maitra, Pushkar (Monash University); Mukherjee, Diganta (affiliation not available) |
| Abstract: | We model the consequences of parental control over choice of wives for sons, for parental incentives to educate daughters, when the marriage market exhibits competitive dowry payments and altruistic but paternalistic parents benefit from having married sons live with them. By choosing uneducated brides, some parents can prevent costly household partition. Paternalistic self-interest consequently generates low levels of female schooling in the steady state equilibrium. State payments to parents for educating daughters fail to raise female schooling levels. Policies (such as housing subsidies) that promote nuclear families, interventions against early marriages, and state support to couples who marry against parental wishes, are however all likely to improve female schooling. We offer evidence from India consistent with our theoretical analysis. |
| Keywords: | arranged marriage, dowry, bride price, female literacy, marriage markets, stable marriage allocation |
| JEL: | D10 D91 J12 J16 |
| Date: | 2008–02 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:iza:izadps:dp3336&r=cwa |
| By: | Pramanik, Alok Kumar; Shil, Nikhil Chandra; Das, Bhagaban |
| Abstract: | In recent years, environmental pollution becomes so acute and the stakeholders’ awareness to the issue becomes so serious that environmental accounting has become a strong branch of accounting. Still, attention towards the style and recognition of environmental accounting is not a generalized one. Legal authorities, standard setting bodies and other regulators cannot come to a consensus regarding the conceptual framework of environmental accounting and its disclosure. Thus, such disclosure is not mandatory rather voluntary that has no specific style or format. With the passage of time, more guidelines are coming in customized format that may lead us to reach a common format for recognizing environment related data and disclosure thereof through financial statements. Still, such disclosure is guided by the social responsibility and commitment on the part of the entities that work as strong agents for polluting the environment. In this paper, the theoretical foundation of environmental accounting and reporting is discussed with special reference to India. More emphasis is given on environmental accounting and awareness for that as this is supposed to be the need of today. |
| Keywords: | Environmental Accounting, Environmental Accounting and Reporting, Green Accounts. |
| JEL: | Q56 |
| Date: | 2007–12–31 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:pra:mprapa:7666&r=cwa |
| By: | Turk, Mehmet; Ozun, Alper |
| Abstract: | High and sudden volatility in the financial markets might cause unexpected losses. Increasing volatility in the prices of financial securities follows regime shifts in the markets. In general, there exist two regimes in the financial markets, namely, “stable” and “volatile” regimes. Therefore, estimating regime shifts in financial time series is crucial for the efficient risk management. From that perspective, the regime switching probabilities in emerging stock markets are examined with one of the regime switching models called Two State MSH(2)-AR, Autoregressive Markov Switching Heteroscedasticity Model. In the empirical analysis, we use daily time series data between 09/01/2004 and 13/09/2007 from i) emerging markets including Turkey, Russia, Ukraine, Brazil and Lebanon; ii) an advanced market, namely Dow Jones Industrial Average, iii) a world stock index, MSCI (Morgan Stanley Composite Index). Using data from different markets gives us to chance of evaluating the model’s performance with different time series. In addition, finding different regimes in the indexes within the same time period means that the investor have chance to diversify their portfolios. |
| Keywords: | Emerging markets; Regime switches; Markov chains; Volatility ; stock exchanges |
| JEL: | E32 G15 F21 F36 |
| Date: | 2008 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:pra:mprapa:7673&r=cwa |
| By: | Turk, Mehmet; Ozun, Alper |
| Abstract: | Volatility in financial markets should be correctly estimated for an efficient risk management. In emerging markets, due to relatively low trade volume, economic and political instability, and regulatory changes, higher volatility persists in financial asset prices as compared to those in advanced markets. In highly volatile markets, unexpected shifts in financial asset prices can be predicted by using flexible models enabling data filtering. In this research article, we use logarithmic normal stochastic volatility with Kalman filter and two regime switching stochastic volatility with Hamilton filter to estimate volatilities of exchange rates. In a comparative way, we examine the success of the two models in volatility estimation using time series from the Turkish markets. By employing daily USD/TRY exchange rates from 01/01/2004 to 25/07/2007, we empirically examine if the models are successful in predicting exchange rates in short-term and long-term. The article has originality in being first research article, as much as the authors know, which examines stochastic volatility models in a comparative perspective using data from Turkish exchange rate markets. |
| Keywords: | Regime Switching models; stochastic volatility; Hamilton filters; Kalman filters; exchange rate; Turkish lira |
| JEL: | G14 C14 F31 |
| Date: | 2008 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:pra:mprapa:7670&r=cwa |
| By: | Salahuddin Ahmed (HB Consultants Ltd.) |
| Abstract: | The purpose of writing this paper is to discuss the economic condition of Bangladesh and the challenges Bangladesh face to keep pace in global economy. This paper explains what challenges restrain Bangladesh to accelerate its trade and business globally. Also mentioned in this paper some prospects of this country’s economy, in which investment and business can be accelerated with foreign countries. This paper also examines some basic obstacles of Bangladesh economy and it also describes some recommendations of how to solve these obstacles to build a sturdy economy for Bangladesh. |
| Date: | 2008–02 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:aiu:abewps:36&r=cwa |