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on Central and Western Asia |
| By: | Rajeev Mavani |
| Abstract: | The swine flu has come to India also. What measures have been taken by the government has taken to fight against the pandemic? |
| Keywords: | swine flu, government, United States, England, South Africa, New Zealand, Australia, Chile, Argentina, Brazil and South Africa, Mumbai, Indian, Indian government, pandemic, H1N1 Virus, WHO, influenza, India, |
| Date: | 2009 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:ess:wpaper:id:2170&r=cwa |
| By: | Pronab Sen |
| Abstract: | This paper argues that with the recent economic reforms, an efficient and active debt market, particularly in long-term private debt instruments, is essential for the country to realize the full benefits of the reform process and to achieve its potential. |
| Keywords: | economic reforms, debt, debt market, insurance, Credit Default Swaps CDS, India, Indian equity capital markets, equity markets, capital markets, investor, small investor, household sector, |
| Date: | 2009 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:ess:wpaper:id:2173&r=cwa |
| By: | Indrila Guha |
| Abstract: | The recreational demand for the Indian Sundarban, which is a World Heritage site and a complex mangrove ecosystem that borders India and Bangladesh is estimated. Two alternative methodologies exist for estimating the value of a recreational site. The Contingent Valuation Method (CVM), as a ‘stated preference’ valuation technique, circumvents the absence of markets for environmental goods. this method does not record visitors’ actual behaviour, literature on such techniques indicates that when there is a market for the service to be valued, CVM should be avoided. That is why the Travel Cost Method (TCM) is chosen. The study relied on a primary survey of a sample of visitors to the Indian Sundarban from November 2005 to March 2006. [SANDEE]. |
| Keywords: | world heritage, heritage, Indian Sundarban, mangrove ecosystem, ecosystem, India, Bangladesh, Contingent Valuation Method (CVM), Travel Cost Method (TCM), travel, sundarban, primary survey, market |
| Date: | 2009 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:ess:wpaper:id:2171&r=cwa |
| By: | Vinish Kathuria |
| Abstract: | The production of machine tools has long been associated with industrialisation besides a formidable factor of technical change and international competitiveness. This potent role of machine tool industry was amply recognised by several countries. As a consequence, they framed policies to influence the technical change and competitiveness of the industry. The present paper is an enquiry into the role of the state in India to see, whether the intervention led to generation of capabilities and an internationally competitive industry or not? [GIDR WP NO. 121]. |
| Keywords: | international competitiveness, industrialisation, Technical Change, Competitiveness, Industry, India, competitive indusstry, industrial development, economic system, machinery, Japan, Taiwan, technological level, developing countries, South Korea, |
| Date: | 2009 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:ess:wpaper:id:2157&r=cwa |
| By: | Sahu, Santosh; Narayanan, K |
| Abstract: | The demand for energy, particularly for commercial energy, has been growing rapidly with the growth of the economy, changes in the demographic structure, rising urbanization, socio-economic development. In this context the energy intensity is one of the key factors which impact the projections of future energy demand. The Indian manufacturing sector is among the largest consumer of commercial energy compared to the other industries in India. Energy consumption per unit of production in the manufacturing of steel, aluminum, cement, paper, textile, etc. is much higher in India, in comparison to other developing countries. The purpose of this study is to understand the factors that influence industrial energy intensity in Indian manufacturing. The analysis undertaken in this paper find a positive relationship between energy intensity and firm size and an inverted U’ shaped relationship between energy intensity and size of the firm. The analysis shows that the foreign owned firms are less energy intensive compared to the domestic firms. Capital intensive firms as well as firms spending more on repair and maintenance are found to be more energy intensive. Further the results shows that expenditure on the research and development contribute to reduce firm level energy intensity and there is a sizable difference between highly energy intensive firm and less energy intensive firms. |
| Keywords: | Energy Intensity, Commercial Energy Consumption, Indian Manufacturing Industries |
| JEL: | B23 Q4 |
| Date: | 2009–04–16 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:pra:mprapa:16606&r=cwa |
| By: | Yilmazkuday, Hakan |
| Abstract: | Using a disaggregated level CPI data, this paper compares bilateral convergence properties of Turkish regional inflation rates between pre-inflation-targeting and inflation-targeting periods. Rather than using an ad hoc date for the introduction of inflation-targeting regime, structural break dates are estimated for Turkish national inflation rate as well as the standard deviation of Turkish regional inflation rates. The first moment of Turkish national inflation rate has an estimated break at the beginning of explicit inflation-targeting regime in January 2002, and the second moment of Turkish regional inflation rates has an estimated break at the financial crisis in February 2001 after which Turkey adopted a flexible exchange rate. It is found that during the inflation-targeting period, Turkish regional inflation rates have converged to each other in terms of CPI groups with relatively non-tradable components, and they have diverged from each other in terms of CPI groups with relatively tradable components. |
| Keywords: | Inflation Targeting; Inflation Rate Convergence; Regional Analysis; Turkey |
| JEL: | E31 E52 E50 R12 |
| Date: | 2009 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:pra:mprapa:16770&r=cwa |
| By: | Deb Kusum Das |
| Abstract: | An attempt is made to compute the aggregate productivity growth using the Domar aggregation technique. Building up from the Total Factor Productivity Growth (TFPG) estimates for 3-digit industries, we have used Domar weights to computed total factor productivity (TFP) growth for selected 10, 2-digit industries for the period 1980-2000. [ICRIER WP no. 239]. |
| Keywords: | total factor productivity (TFP), TFP, Productivity growth, Domar aggregation, aggregate value added, productivity, industries, Indian manufacturing, industrial sector, Indian economy, manufacturing, Indian, manufacturing, |
| Date: | 2009 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:ess:wpaper:id:2169&r=cwa |
| By: | Massimiliano Cali; Carlo Menon |
| Abstract: | Although the high rate of urbanization and the high incidence of rural poverty are two distinct features of many developing countries, we still do not know the effects of the former on the latter. We address this issue by exploring the mechanisms through which urbanization may alleviate rural poverty, disentangling "first round" effects, due to migration of rural poor to cities, and "second round" effects, due to positive externalities of city growth on surrounding rural areas. We test our theoretical predictions on a sample of Indian districts in the period 1981-1999, and find that urbanization has a substantial and systematic poverty reducing effect in surrounding rural areas. This effect is largely attributable to positive spillovers from urbanisation rather than to the movement of the rural poor to urban areas per se. Results using IV estimation suggest that this effect is causal in nature (from urbanisation to rural poverty). |
| Keywords: | Rural Poverty, Urbanization, Indian districts, India |
| JEL: | O12 O18 O2 I3 |
| Date: | 2009–02 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:cep:sercdp:0014&r=cwa |
| By: | Jaya Prakash Pradhan |
| Abstract: | This study analyzes the factors leading to the emergence of these Indian IST firms as multinationals in the global market. Applying the theoretical framework of national innovation system (NIS), the study establishes that origin of Indian IST multinationals are critically linked to the overall policy environment and strategic government intervention in skill formation, development of supporting institutions, proactive role of Indian households in undertaking human capital investment and providing risk taking entrepreneurs , and also to the firm-level business strategies. |
| Keywords: | multinational, national innovation system (NIS), Indian, IST firms, economy, global market, |
| Date: | 2009 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:ess:wpaper:id:2159&r=cwa |
| By: | A. Ganesh Kumar |
| Abstract: | This paper examines the efficacy of the current system of public foodgrains management and policies in promoting food security in the country. It argues that the system has outlived its usefulness, and that continuing with the same only stifles growth in foodgrains, with very little welfare benefits to the poor. The paper then presents a series of suggestions for reforming and modernizing the foodgrains management system in the country that would be welfare improving and also efficient, saving vast amounts of resources that can be used to invest in augmenting agricultural, especially foodgrains output. [IGIDR WP NO 27]. |
| Keywords: | Food grains management, Food policy, Food security, food grains, welfare, poor, agricultural, food security, fertilizer, GDP, monopoly, price support, rice, Punjab, Andhra Pradesh, buffer stock, India |
| Date: | 2009 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:ess:wpaper:id:2172&r=cwa |
| By: | Mario Holzner (The Vienna Institute for International Economic Studies, wiiw); Sebastian Leitner (The Vienna Institute for International Economic Studies, wiiw); Josef Pöschl (The Vienna Institute for International Economic Studies, wiiw); Anton Mihailov; Waltraut Urban (The Vienna Institute for International Economic Studies, wiiw); Hermine Vidovic (The Vienna Institute for International Economic Studies, wiiw); Leon Podkaminer (The Vienna Institute for International Economic Studies, wiiw); Sándor Richter (The Vienna Institute for International Economic Studies, wiiw); Olga Pindyuk (The Vienna Institute for International Economic Studies, wiiw); Vladimir Gligorov (The Vienna Institute for International Economic Studies, wiiw); Gábor Hunya (The Vienna Institute for International Economic Studies, wiiw); Vasily Astrov (The Vienna Institute for International Economic Studies, wiiw); Peter Havlik (The Vienna Institute for International Economic Studies, wiiw); Zdenek Lukas (The Vienna Institute for International Economic Studies, wiiw) |
| Abstract: | The report analyses recent economic developments and short- and medium-term prospects of the countries of Central and Eastern Europe, Southeast Europe including Turkey, as well as Kazakhstan, Russia, Ukraine and China. Separate chapters present an overview of developments in the European Union's new member states and in the future EU member states of Southeast Europe, and deal with the changing role of the IMF in the region and the latest developments in foreign trade. |
| Keywords: | Central and East European, new EU member states, Southeast Europe, future EU member states, Balkans, former Soviet Union, China, Turkey, economic forecasts, GDP growth, exchange rates, inflation, EU integration, foreign trade, financial markets, fiscal policy, financial crisis |
| JEL: | G18 O52 O57 P24 P27 P33 P52 |
| Date: | 2009–07 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:wii:fpaper:fc:4&r=cwa |
| By: | Ines Buono (Bank of Italy, Economics and International Relations) |
| Abstract: | I analyse the effects of a reduction in the tariffs of a trading partner on the exports of domestic firms. More precisely, I focus on how cross-industry differences in factor intensities and within-industry differences in firm productivities shape the response of the extensive (decision to export) and the intensive (exported volumes per firm) margins of exports. I examine the response of French firms to the reduction of Turkish import tariffs that followed the entry of Turkey into the European Customs Union in 1996. A reduction in tariffs increases the probability to export and, surprisingly, the effect is stronger in comparatively disadvantaged sectors. I provide a possible explanation using a partial equilibrium model which includes firm-level heterogeneity and sector-level comparative advantage. In this model, as trade partner tariffs fall, the productivity threshold separating exporters from non-exporters decreases more in comparatively disadvantaged sectors. This occurs because, even if the productivity threshold to enter the export market falls in the same proportion as tariffs in all sectors, its level was initially higher in comparatively disadvantaged ones. |
| Keywords: | heterogeneous firms, Custom Union, intensive and extensive margins |
| JEL: | F12 F13 F15 |
| Date: | 2009–06 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:bdi:wptemi:td_715_09&r=cwa |
| By: | Harvie, Charles (University of Wollongong); Cox, Grant M (University of Wollongong) |
| Abstract: | Increased global demand for energy and other resources, particularly from the rapidly developing economies of China and India and the opening up of global resource markets to global investors and speculative activity, has resulted in considerable recent turbulence in resource prices. The recent magnitude of change in resource prices, both positive and negative, and their macroeconomic implications is of considerable contemporary importance to both resource importing and exporting economies. For a resource exporting economy, such as that of Australia, the recent resource price boom has resulted in: increased government taxation revenue, increased employment and wages in the resource and resource related sectors, increased spending in the domestic economy that contributed to buoyant economic growth, increased resource exports to the booming economies of China and India and contributed to a stronger domestic currency with beneficial effects upon inflation. On the other hand these developments have had adverse effects on the non resource sector by: subjecting it to more intense competition for limited resources, contributing to a loss of international competitiveness and reduced exports arising from a stronger exchange rate, reducing employment in the relatively more labour intensive non resource sector, and contributing to an eventual slow down in the overall economy. These positive and negative effects, and the overall impact of a resource price boom, require a fundamentally closer analysis of the structure of the economy under scrutiny. In this context the policy response by government is likely to be pivotal in determining the overall macroeconomic outcomes from a resource price boom. The aim of this paper is to develop a generic analytical framework to appraise economic outcomes in the wake of a resource price boom for a resource producing and exporting economy. To this end a dynamic long run macroeconomic model is developed, emphasising the important role and contribution of government fiscal policy in influencing subsequent macroeconomic outcomes. The adjustment process in the model arising from a resource price shock emphasises a spending (or wealth) effect, an income effect, a revenue effect, a current account effect and an exchange rate effect, which facilitate a robust analysis of subsequent macroeconomic outcomes from such a shock as well as related policy responses. |
| Keywords: | Resource price shock, dynamic macroeconomic model, simulation analysis, macroeconomic adjustment, policy analysis |
| JEL: | E27 E60 E62 Q48 |
| Date: | 2009 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:uow:depec1:wp09-06&r=cwa |
| By: | Karmakar K G |
| Abstract: | The article describes the constitution and functions of Village Development Boards (VDBs) in NAGALAND where VDBs are considered as “Financial Intermediaries” or “Non-Banking Financial Intermediaries”. They are integrating the ever important credit mechanism in the rural areas for fostering the economic development process. |
| Keywords: | village Development, Boards, VDBs, financial intermediaries, non-Banking, financial internediaries, rural areas, economic development, constitution, functions, Nagaland, literacy ratio, Governance Systems, Indian Constitution, resources, Micro-Financing Activities, Constitution, |
| Date: | 2009 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:ess:wpaper:id:2154&r=cwa |
| By: | Ahmed, Vaqar; O'Donoghue, Cathal |
| Abstract: | This paper studies the redistribution effect of personal income tax in Pakistan. We decompose the overall tax system in order to evaluate the contribution of rate, allowances, deductions, exemptions and credits. The structure given in Income Tax Ordinance, 2001, is applied to gross household incomes in 2002 (low growth year) and 2005 (high growth year). Our findings reveal that the reforms laid down in this Ordinance resulted in a greater redistribution of incomes. The redistributive effect increases as we move from 2002 to 2005 tax assessment. Deductions for salaried tax payers contribute the most towards progressivity. This is different from countries with advanced taxation systems relying mainly on allowances followed by tax rate and exemptions. |
| Keywords: | Income Taxation; Microsimulation; Redistribution; Inequality |
| JEL: | D3 D6 H2 |
| Date: | 2009–07–03 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:pra:mprapa:16700&r=cwa |
| By: | Vimala Ramachandran |
| Abstract: | This study tried to bring together the experiences of different approaches to incentives followed by six NGOs in the states of Rajasthan, Maharashtra, Orissa, Andhra Pradesh and Karnataka. Issues dealing with incentives and the hidden cost of education have been explored with a view to gaining some insights and exploring some possible ways forward in such a diverse and challenging situation. |
| Keywords: | Malnutrition, anaemia, education, educational programmes, DPEP, teachers, learning, school system, Dropout rates, SC, ST, boys, girls, NFHS, adult women, women, Muslim communities, marriage, illiterate, incentives, NGOs, Rajasthan, incentives, elementary education, Maharashtra, Orissa, Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka |
| Date: | 2009 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:ess:wpaper:id:2164&r=cwa |
| By: | Shamim Ahmed |
| Abstract: | To explore the relationship between government and BRAC in the implementation of Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) programme this qualitative research was undertaken. This involved purposive sampling of programme sites for conducting semi-structured focus group discussions. The government and BRAC staff were interviewed at different locations to find out different dimensions of relationship. [BRAC-RED WP No. 2] |
| Keywords: | BRAC, WASH, water, sanitation, hygiene, focus group discussions, relationship, qualitative research, safe water,underprivileged groups, Bangladesh, |
| Date: | 2009 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:ess:wpaper:id:2156&r=cwa |
| By: | Agnes Quisumbing |
| Abstract: | This paper applies Carter and Barrett’s theory of assets poverty traps to a unique longitudinal survey from rural Bangladesh. Non-parametric and parametric methods are used to examine the shape of the dynamic asset frontier, the number of equilibria, and whether land and nonland assets stock converge to such equilibria. [CPRC Working Paper 143]. |
| Keywords: | Asset dynamics, poverty traps, Bangladesh, land, non land asests, stock, non-parametric, parametric methods, longitudinal survey, Rural Bangladesh, Bangladesh, asset |
| Date: | 2009 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:ess:wpaper:id:2158&r=cwa |
| By: | Danne, Christian |
| Abstract: | This paper studies the institutional reform process in Central Asia from a choice perspective. We compare institutional reform processes of Central Asian countries from 1995 to 2006 to those conducted in their neighbouring countries in Central and (South) Eastern Europe, Russia, and the Middle East. Firstly, the paper identifies contemporaneous factors responsible for the persistence of poor institutional arrangements. Secondly, we identify factors that can act as commitment devices through which institutional change can be achieved and sustained. Based on the findings, it is argued that deficiencies in the education system and preferences of individuals and politicians are responsible for the persistence of poor institutional arrangements. External factors such as real and financial openness, fixed exchange rates and non-trade related international agreements, however, provide strong commitment devices for policy makers to improve institutional arrangements in Central Asia despite poor initial conditions. Moreover, large external shocks may help to shift preferences towards more reliable institutional settings. |
| Keywords: | Economic Institutions; Reforms; Central Asia |
| JEL: | O10 H11 P20 |
| Date: | 2009–08 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:pra:mprapa:16597&r=cwa |