|
on Central and Western Asia |
| By: | Baruah, Bipasha |
| Abstract: | This paper examines land tenure in informal urban settlements in India from a gender perspective through field research conducted in Ahmedabad in collaboration with the Self-Employed Women's Association (SEWA). The author describes the formal and informal |
| Keywords: | women, landed property, cities, India, South Asia |
| Date: | 2010 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:unu:wpaper:wp2010-56&r=cwa |
| By: | Das, Rituparna |
| Abstract: | This article analyzes the issues, unaddressed in the contemporary econometric literature on forecasting money supply in India, with the help of the relevant studies. In doing so there is an attempt to ascertain what could be the best fit model to forecast money supply in India. |
| Keywords: | Interest Rate; Forecast; Money Supply; Assets; Deregulation; Market |
| JEL: | E47 |
| Date: | 2010 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:pra:mprapa:22999&r=cwa |
| By: | Fenske, James; Bharadwaj, Prashant |
| Abstract: | Climate change is expected to displace millions of involuntary migrants in Bangladesh. We draw on history to show that these ``environmental refugees'' can play a positive role in the regions that receive them by looking at the partition of India. We use an instrumental variables (IV) strategy to show that the migrants played a major role in India's take-up of jute cultivation. Our estimates suggest that migrants fully explain post-Partition jute cultivation. Consistent with migrants bringing jute-specific skills with them, we find that migrants increased jute yields and did not increase the cultivation of other crops. |
| Keywords: | Jute; Partition; Migration; India |
| JEL: | N55 O13 |
| Date: | 2010–03 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:pra:mprapa:22979&r=cwa |
| By: | Parashar Kulkarni |
| Abstract: | This paper concentrates on two of the most contentious Non Tariff Barriers facing India and developing countries: Sanitary and Phytosanitary (SPS) measures and Technical Barriers to Trade (TBT). It examines the issue of NTBs against the , of notifications that India has submitted to the WTO. |
| Keywords: | Non Tariff, Barriers, Sanitary, Phytosanitary, Technical Barriers, background, notifications, submitted |
| Date: | 2010 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:ess:wpaper:id:2535&r=cwa |
| By: | Kathuria, Vinish; Natarajan, Rajesh Raj; Sen, Kunal |
| Abstract: | This paper examines the role of the external institutional environment captured by effective state-business relations on firm performance. By effective state-business relations, we mean a set of highly institutionalized, responsive and public interactions between the state and the business sector. We find that effective state-business relations have had a discernible positive impact on firm performance in Indian formal manufacturing for the years 2000-01 and 2004-05. We also find internal and external institutional factors are complementary to firm performance - smaller firms, firms in urban areas, older firms and firms in simpler organizational forms benefit more. |
| Keywords: | State business relations; firm productivity; manufacturing sector; India |
| JEL: | L25 O43 O53 |
| Date: | 2010–06–03 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:pra:mprapa:23053&r=cwa |
| By: | Bhattacharyya, Anushree; Chakraborty, Debashis |
| Abstract: | Since the early 1990s, the number of Regional Trade Agreements has increased considerably across continents. This is resulting into increasing regional integration with substantial importance being given to cross-border connectivity development. India, a late subscriber of active RTA strategy, is enthusiastically venturing into cross-border connectivity exercises to enhance its trade integration with the neighbouring countries in recent period. Developing cross-border connectivity is currently receiving salience in the regional forums like SAARC, though limited progress has been made so far. In contrast, ASEAN is the only forum in Asia where substantial progress in integration through cross-border infrastructure augmentation has been witnessed. India has recently entered into FTA with ASEAN and is involved in several infrastructure augmentation projects in several ASEAN member countries. Given this background, the current paper seeks to analyze the Indian infrastructure development initiatives in the immediate and Southeastern neighborhood. The discussion covers the SAARC and ASEAN initiatives towards building physical infrastructure, as well as the recent aid for trade initiatives being undertaken in South and Southeast Asia. The paper concludes by drawing the lessons for SAARC members from the ASEAN experience. |
| Keywords: | Economic Integration; Infrastructure |
| JEL: | F15 H54 |
| Date: | 2010–06–02 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:pra:mprapa:23030&r=cwa |
| By: | Rama Pal (Indira Gandhi Institute of Development Research) |
| Abstract: | The present paper attempts to modify definition of catastrophic out-of-pocket health expenditure by characterising it based on consumption of necessities. In literature, catastrophic expenditure is defined as that level of OOP health expenditure which exceeds some fixed proportion of household income or household’s capacity to pay. In the present paper, catastrophic health expenditure is defined as one which reduces the non-health expenditure to a level where household is unable to maintain consumption of necessities. Based on this definition of catastrophic health expenditure, the paper examines determinants of catastrophic OOP health expenditure in India. Findings suggest that it is important to carefully revise the concept of catastrophic health care spending and the method developed in this paper can be considered as one of the possible alternatives. We find that education is one of the important policy instruments that can be used to reduce incidence of catastrophic spending in India. The findings also suggest that even after efforts to reduce differences among various social classes in India, socially deprived classes are still vulnerable as they are more likely to experience financial catastrophe due to illness. |
| Keywords: | Catastrophic health expenditure; Consumption of Necessities; India |
| JEL: | I12 I19 |
| Date: | 2010 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:eab:microe:2201&r=cwa |
| By: | Ranja Sengupta; Abhilash Gopinath |
| Abstract: | This paper discusses the conceptual and empirical linkages between trade liberalization and gender equality in the context of development; and the impact of the WTO and PTA/FTAs on gender. It then provides a cross section of recent results on this linkage in India. Providing an overview of the main issues from a Southern perspective with an indicative literature survey, this paper can be used as a , tool for CSOs, students, researchers and policy analysts. |
| Keywords: | conceptual, empirical, liberalization, perspective, reference, researchers, policy analysts |
| Date: | 2010 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:ess:wpaper:id:2510&r=cwa |
| By: | Katsushi S. Imai (Economics, School of Social Sciences, University of Manchester, UK and Research Institute for Economics & Business Administration (RIEB), Kobe University); Takahiro Sato (Research Institute for Economics and Business Administration, Kobe University) |
| Abstract: | This paper empirically investigates the determinants of fertility drawing upon large household data sets in India, namely NSS and NFHS over the period 1992-2006. Broadly similar and consistent results are found for the two surveys for different years. We have found a negative and significant association between the number of children and mother' s education. Both direct and indirect effects are observed for mother' s education which not just directly reduces fertility but also increases mother' s potential wages or opportunity costs which would deter her from having a baby. Father' s education became increasingly important in reducing fertility in the last two rounds. |
| Keywords: | Fertility, Parental Education, NSS (National Sample Survey), NFHS (National Family Health Survey), India, Asia |
| Date: | 2010–05 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:kob:dpaper:dp2010-17&r=cwa |
| By: | Ranja Sengupta; Abhilash Gopinath |
| Abstract: | This background paper discusses the conceptual and empirical linkages between trade liberalization and gender equality in the context of development; and the impact of the WTO and PTA/FTAs on gender. It then provides a cross section of recent results on this linkage in India. Providing an overview of the main issues from a Southern perspective with an indicative literature survey, this backgrounder can be used as a reference tool for CSOs, students, researchers and policy analysts.[Paper I] |
| Keywords: | conceptual, empirical, linkages, liberalization, gender equality, impact, Southern, perspective, reference, students, researchers, policy analysts |
| Date: | 2010 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:ess:wpaper:id:2536&r=cwa |
| By: | Samir Kumar Das |
| Abstract: | South Tyrol in Italy has been showcased as a model of shared sovereignty with the potential of being ‘exported’ to other parts of the world. The model essentially consists in (a) a realization that the population of South Tyrol is highly multinational comprising the Germans, the Italians and the Ladins – the latter mainly concentrated in the Ladin valley - and (b) they must be represented in the public offices exactly in terms of their respective percentages in the total population in the province and (c) the languages of these three groups will be recognized in education, in public services etc. Can the South Tyrol experience offer useful insights to India's problems in responding to the problem of minorities? |
| Keywords: | South Tyrol, ICSSR Conference, minoritie, North-east India, Political Science |
| Date: | 2010 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:ess:wpaper:id:2530&r=cwa |
| By: | Ishita Chakravarty (Centre for Economic and Social Studies) |
| Abstract: | Research on women's work has attempted to analyse how the interplay of market and patriarchy leads women and men to perform different economic roles in society. This segregation on the basis of gender or the sex-typing of work plays an important role both from the demand and supply sides in determining the work profiles of women and girl children. The present study attempts to see how a particular labour market, i.e. domestic service, a traditionally male domain, became segregated both by gender and age in post partition West Bengal (WB) and mainly in its capital city Calcutta. We have argued that the downward trend in industrial job opportunities in post independence WB accompanied by large scale immigration of women, men and children from the bordering East Pakistan, now Bangladesh, led to an unprecedented increase in labour force under conditions of stagnant investment. This in turn led to a decline in the wage rate. In such a situation poor refugee women in their frantic search for means of survival gradually drove out the males of the host population engaged in domestic service in urban WB by offering to work in return for a very low and often for no wage at all. Again, poor males from the neighboring states of Bihar, Orissa and UP constituted historically a substantial section of the Calcutta labour market and many of them were employed as domestics in a state known for its prevalence of domestic service in colonial India. The replacement of male domestics by females was further facilitated by the gradual decline in inter-state migration due to lack of employment opportunities in independent WB. The second stage in the changing profile of domestic service in urban WB was arguably set by the migrating girl children from the rural areas of the state to Calcutta city in search for employment between 1971 and 1981. |
| Keywords: | gender roles, labour supply, labour demand, India |
| JEL: | J00 J16 J20 |
| Date: | 2010 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:eab:laborw:2200&r=cwa |
| By: | Rupa Chanda |
| Abstract: | This paper analyzes the prospects for liberalizing financial services under the GATS, in view of India’s interests and concerns in this sector. The paper consists of seven sections. Section 2 discusses global trends in financial services and the internationalization of this sector. Section 3 discusses in detail the nature of India’s financial sector, its strengths and weaknesses, and its trade and investment prospects. Section 4 highlights the main external constraints to India’s trade and investment in financial services. Section 5 discusses the history of GATS negotiations on financial services, the resulting commitments with specific reference to the commitments made by India in this sector, and the latest developments in financial services under the request-offer process of the Doha Round negotiations in services (earlier known as the GATS 2000 negotiations). Section 6 highlights India’s negotiating strategy under the Doha Round, focusing on the offers India could make in financial services in keeping with its objective of modernizing and improving efficiency in this sector, while also safeguarding its interests on prudential and regulatory grounds. This section also discusses the scope for leveraging India’s offers in financial services to obtain more liberal commitments in other areas and modes that are of export interest to India. Section 7 discusses the domestic reform issues pertaining to India’s financial sector so as to make this sector globally competitive and efficient and to face the challenges and exploit the opportunities arising from multilateral liberalization.[Working Paper 152] |
| Keywords: | prospects, liberalizing, financial services, financial sector, strengths, weaknesses, investment prospects, commitments, multilateral liberalization, opportunities arising |
| Date: | 2010 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:ess:wpaper:id:2523&r=cwa |
| By: | Varma, Sumati |
| Abstract: | This paper examines the phenomenon of accelerated internationalization of firms from the Indian IT industry. It examines the emergence of the Born Global firm in the Indian context with a specific focus on firms which made an acquisition within five years of incorporation. It specifically addresses the issue of initiating factors which contribute to the emergence of the Born Global Acquirer using constructs from the Resource based view (RBV) and institutional theory. |
| Keywords: | Born Global Firms; international new ventures; Indian IT |
| JEL: | F23 F2 L8 L26 L86 |
| Date: | 2009–12–17 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:pra:mprapa:22832&r=cwa |
| By: | Mukherjee, Sacchidananda; Chakraborty, Debashis |
| Abstract: | The paper attempts to analyse the relationship between economic growth and human development for 28 major Indian States during four time periods ranging over last two decades: 1983, 1993, 1999-00 and 2004-05. To construct Human Development Index for Indian States, we consider the National Human Development Report 2001 Methodology. The objective of this exercise to understand at what degree and extent the per capita income (as an indicator of economic growth) has influenced the human development across Indian States. To understand the rural – urban disparity in the achievement of human development, the Human Development Index is constructed for rural and urban areas separately for each of the States. The result shows that that per capita income is not translating into human well being. This perhaps in another way might signify the rising influence of other variables in determination of the HD achievements of a state. The result shows the need for further investigation to determine the underlying factors (other than per capita income) which influence HD achievements of a State. |
| Keywords: | Economic Growth; Human Development; Human Development Index Methodology; Economic Liberalisation; Indian States |
| JEL: | O47 H75 O15 E21 C01 |
| Date: | 2010–05–31 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:pra:mprapa:22997&r=cwa |
| By: | Katsushi S. Imai (Economics, School of Social Science, University of Manchester, UK); Thankom Arun (Institute of Development and Policy Management, School of Environment and Development, University of Manchester & Lancashire Business School, University of Central Lancashire, UK); Samuel Kobina Annim (Economics, School of Social Science, University of Manchester, UK) |
| Abstract: | The objective of the present study is to examine whether household access to microfinance reduces poverty. Using national household data from India, treatment effects model is employed to estimate the poverty-reducing effects of MFIs loans for productive purposes, such as investment in agriculture or non-farm businesses on household poverty levels. These models take into account the endogenous binary treatment effects and sample selection bias associated with access to MFIs. Despite some limitations, such as those arising from potential unobservable important determinants of access to MFIs, significant positive effect of MFI productive loans on multidimensional welfare indicator has been confirmed. The significance of treatment "effects" coefficients have been verified by both Tobit and Propensity Score Matching models. In addition, we found that loans for productive purposes were more important for poverty reduction in rural than in urban areas. However in urban areas, simple access to MFIs has larger average poverty-reducing effects than the access to loans from MFIs for productive purposes. This leads to exploring service delivery opportunities that provide an additional avenue to monitor the usage of loans to enhance the outreach. |
| Keywords: | Microfinance, Poverty, Evaluation, India, Propensity Score Matching |
| JEL: | C21 I30 I38 O16 R51 |
| Date: | 2010–04 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:kob:dpaper:dp2010-14&r=cwa |
| By: | Shaikh, Salman Ahmed |
| Abstract: | Since interest is prohibited in Islam, the government in an Islamic economy cannot issue interest based T-Bills, T-Bonds and/or obtain interest based sovereign debt. Based on the literature review, it is argued that neither Prophet Muhammad (P.B.U.H) nor the pious Caliphates (rta) levied any taxes other than Zakah. Accordingly, this study explores the sources of revenue for a government in an Islamic economy. In discussing sources of tax revenue, it is maintained that Zakah is the only tax the government in an Islamic economy can levy. Nevertheless, the government can charge service/performance based fees, duties, charges etc in providing public goods. Furthermore, the profitable operations of state owned enterprises form an important part of non-tax revenues. It is also analyzed that how the non-profitable public institutions like police and courts will be funded. This study also discusses that how the government can finance its deficit keeping in view that interest is prohibited in Islam and Zakah rates are very low and Zakah base is very narrow as per common understanding. The study also gives brief insights into how much Zakah can be collected in Pakistan. Finally, it suggests that the nominal GDP growth linked rate of return can be used to benchmark domestic and external loans including those from IMF, WB and IDA etc. |
| Keywords: | Public Finance; Taxation; Expenditure; Fiscsl Policy; Deficit Financing; Zakat; Redistribution. |
| JEL: | E62 H2 H3 |
| Date: | 2010–04–17 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:pra:mprapa:22998&r=cwa |
| By: | Sreelekha Nair; Marie Percot |
| Abstract: | This paper discusses the case of Indian nurses who take up their profession as part of a family strategy, where planning for education and migration are intrinsic to the whole process. In effect, they migrate in a step-by-step phased manner: first within Indian states, mainly to metropolises, then to countries in the Persian Gulf, and further towards the West. It is not a simple, linear course of migration for them nor is it unique in any extraordinary way: yet their stories offer a terrain that is hitherto unexplored. |
| Keywords: | Indian nurses, family strategy, planning, education, migration, phased manner, Persian Gulf, West, extraordinary, hitherto unexplored |
| Date: | 2010 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:ess:wpaper:id:2521&r=cwa |
| By: | Indranil Bose (Centre for Economic and Social Studies) |
| Abstract: | While there is a clear policy shift towards large-scale industrialization in the state of West Bengal (WB) during the early 1990s, not much improvement can be discerned in the performance of the manufacturing output. Moreover, contrary to the Indian experience, more than half of the manufacturing output is still produced by small initiatives in the unorganized sector. We argue that it is the peculiarity of institutional behaviour that determines the policy outcomes in the state. The rigidities in the political as well as the economic institutions in the state are prompting us to look at WB as a classic case of "institutional stickiness" leading to "path dependency". Clearly the right institutions for creating a more enabling environment for industry do not seem to exist. Not only do they not exist, but also their growth or emergence is frustrated by an overarching institution - 'the party' which seems to keep encroaching upon every sphere. All this results in a veritable decline of organized manufacturing alongside a corresponding growth of the unorganized sector in the state. Apart from secondary sources this paper is based on information collected from some selected stakeholders: business associations, firms, trade unions and bureaucrats. |
| Keywords: | formal and informal institutions, institutional stickiness, path dependency, India, West Bengal |
| JEL: | L00 L60 L20 |
| Date: | 2010 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:eab:govern:2198&r=cwa |
| By: | Bascavusoglu-Moreau, Elif |
| Abstract: | Although very dynamic and flexible, Turkish SMEs are less innovative than their European counterparts. The analysis undertaken in this paper allows to assess whether this low level of innovative activities is related to a lack of entrepreneurial behaviour |
| Keywords: | entrepreneurship, national systems of innovation, SMEs, innovative capabilities, |
| Date: | 2010 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:unu:wpaper:wp2010-54&r=cwa |
| By: | Dileep V. Mavalankar |
| Abstract: | The paper is based on study of policies, research reports and experience of working in the area of maternal health over last several years. The paper describes how policies restrict basic doctors*from performing obstetric surgical procedures including caesarean section even in remote areas where there is no specialist obstetrician available. The Para-medical staffs, such as the Auxiliary Nurse Midwives are also not allowed to manage or even stabilize obstetric emergencies in rural areas. The policy also does not allow nurses or basic doctors to give anaesthesia. Paper suggests key actions needed to remove the policy barriers to emergency obstetric care.[Working Paper No. 5] |
| Keywords: | policies, research reports, maternal health, obstetric, surgical procedures, caesarean, obstetrician, anaesthesia, policy barriers, emergency obstetric care |
| Date: | 2010 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:ess:wpaper:id:2537&r=cwa |
| By: | T.R. Dilip |
| Abstract: | This paper examines the trends and differentials in school educational attainment in Kerala, the State that ranks right on top in terms of human development in India. The trend analysis is based on a cohort-level comparison of educational attainment while the differential analysis is done using life table techniques. The analysis is based on data on educational attainment of the household population in the National Family Health Survey (2005-06). The unique features of this paper are that it provides comparable time-series data on entry to different stages of the schooling system, right from the time the State was formed in 1956, and that it analyses the probabilities of continuing from the first standard to the higher secondary level across different sub-groups of the population.[Working Paper 429] |
| Keywords: | schooling, continuity, inequality, social divide, educational attainment, Kerala |
| Date: | 2010 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:ess:wpaper:id:2516&r=cwa |
| By: | Sturgeon, Timothy J.; Van Biesebroeck, Johannes |
| Abstract: | This paper applies global value chain analysis to study recent trends in the global automotive industry. The authors pay special attention to the effects of the recent economic crisis on the industry in developing countries. The principal finding is that the crisis has accelerated pre-crisis trends toward greater importance of the industry in the South. More rapid growth of car ownership is the impetus, but the co-location and close interaction of suppliers and lead firms in this industry is an important catalyst. Opportunities to move up in the value chain for suppliers in emerging economies have proliferated and are likely to become even stronger now that an increasing number of new models are developed specifically for markets in developing countries. The co-location of assembly and parts plants in national and regional production systems has largely confined the impact of sales declines during the crisis to each country/region. In addition, the different development strategies followed by countries like Mexico, China, and India are slowly converging as their industries gain size and independence. |
| Keywords: | Markets and Market Access,Microfinance,Labor Policies,Economic Theory&Research,Debt Markets |
| Date: | 2010–06–01 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:wbk:wbrwps:5330&r=cwa |
| By: | Shaikh, Salman Ahmed |
| Abstract: | This book provides a holistic socio-economic framework working in conformity with the Islamic principles. Chapter 2 builds the ground for the proposed framework by discussing the foundations of the ethical precepts of Islam. It discusses the thesis of religion, answers some of the questions in the comparative study of religion and tries to resolve few of the misconceptions about the faith of Islam. Chapter 3 outlines the economic teachings of Islam with regard to earning and spending. It discusses at length the ideals Islam set before its adherents in the ethical sphere of life. The ethical principles are discussed based on the study of relevant Quranic text and the narrations of Prophet Muhammad (PBUH). Chapter 4 studies the comparative economic systems. It analyzes Capitalism, Socialism, Mixed Economy and Islamic economic system. Chapter 5 introduces the salient features of the proposed economic framework with special focus on fiscal reforms. It discusses the potential of the institution of Zakat to meet fiscal needs of the government and to assist it in doing away with deficit financing, fiscal bleeding, crowding out private sector and reducing deadweight loss by parting the way with private sector so as to ensure market economy operating on its own as far as possible and playing an active regulatory role. Chapter 6 introduces the monetary reforms. It discusses how savings would feature despite discontinuation of interest, how inflation will be checked with central banks not having at their disposal conventional OMO, how liquidity will be managed in banking sector when a central bank wants to inject liquidity or mop up funds. How and to what extent the institution of Zakat would enable the government to meet its fiscal targets and does not crowd out private sector with public borrowing. How balance of payments and exchange rate stability can be managed in an interest free economy. If in the short term, the government or central bank needs alternative source of revenue other than Zakat, they can issue GDP linked bonds. This could replace T-bill and provide a base instrument for OMO and liquidity management in the banking and financial sector. Chapter 7 introduces the currently practiced Islamic Banking and Finance. Since Islamic economic principles have more prominently been used in banking and finance, much of the discussion centers on Islamic banking and finance in lieu of analyzing the existing practices and then in the next chapter, preferable alternatives in areas where shortcoming is observed and need for improvement is felt are suggested. Chapter 8 discusses the financial system in the proposed framework with the role of institutions and the discussion on comprehensive need fulfillment mechanisms to serve every major need of a sophisticated contemporary financial system. Some important novel changes are recommended, such as introduction of options in mortgage financing, which will allow the bank to separate the tenancy and sale contract in a distinctive way. This will still ensure that it locks the sale with the borrower or with the third party without making both contracts dependent on each other. It will benefit the bank as well as the borrower, who will have an option but not an obligation to buy the asset at maturity. The modified role of bank entering in a Mudarabah contract as a “Rabb-ul-maal” (investor) will ensure that the bank takes on operational risk. It will enable the resources to go into productive avenues rather than in financial instruments. This modification will generate employment and productive activities in the economy in a more direct manner. The division of Mudarabah corporate and Mudarabah consumer will target two very distinct markets and will result in channeling of funds from saving surplus units to saving-deficient units. Reforms in equity markets and alternatives for insurance are also suggested. Chapter 9 introduces feasibility and structure of Micro credit as an alternative for interest based micro finance. It discusses how the potential obstacles in the form of lack of trust, funding commitment, lack of collateral arrangement, lack of documentation etc would be handled. |
| Keywords: | Interest Free Economy; Islamic Economy; Islamic Economic System; Islamic Monetary Policy; Islamic Fiscal Policy; Interest; Zakat; Riba; Usury; Development; Redistribution; Economic Systems; Financial System; Financial Intermediation; Saving; Investment. |
| JEL: | E0 A1 H2 G0 B5 |
| Date: | 2010–04–17 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:pra:mprapa:23000&r=cwa |
| By: | Pramod K. Nayar |
| Abstract: | The current knowledge economy in terms of their human rights component, the author argues, offers a space where demands and claims can be articulated. Websites, databases, documentation and archives about Rwanda, Bosnia or Indian dalits are ‘archives of suffering’. And this databasing of atrocity, deprivation and suffering is a counter-knowledge, an alternate view of both knowledge-work and globalization itself. Using critical theorists in new media and cyberculture studies, I explore the new domain of knowledge that online databases offer exploring a human rights website Witness (www.witness.org) and its poetics. |
| Keywords: | cyberculture, knowledge work, archives, witness, knowledge economy, Witness, critical theory |
| Date: | 2010 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:ess:wpaper:id:2532&r=cwa |
| By: | Azza El-Shinnawy (Microsoft Education, Dubai) |
| Abstract: | In this paper, trends in total factor productivity (TFP) growth in 13 of Egypt's largest and oldest pharmaceutical generics firms are examined. The paper relies on data envelopment analysis (DEA) the non-parametric frontier methodology to obtain the Malmquist productivity index for the sample firms, which account for 50% of Egypt's generics market. The study period ranges from 1993 to 2005. Best-practice firms and laggard firms in the three aspects of efficiency change, technical change and TFP change are identified. Empirical results indicate the best-practice firm in terms of TFP change belongs to the private sector, while the laggard firm belongs to the state-owned public business sector. No differences of significance exist between the performance of private sector and state-owned generics companies. Additionally, state-owned companies which have been subject to partial privatization did not exhibit higher levels of TFP change than those which remained under full state-ownership. Empirical results also indicated that mean TFP change for the sample firms throughout the study period (1.01) exceeded the mean TFP change for all Egyptian industries (0.75), and that there was evident disassociation, or weak correlation at best, between productivity growth/regress and the degree of export orientation. |
| Date: | 2010–05 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:erg:wpaper:524&r=cwa |
| By: | Stelios Michalopoulos; Alireza Naghavi; Giovanni Prarolo |
| Abstract: | This research examines the economic origins of Islam and uncovers two empirical regularities. First, Muslim countries, virtual countries and ethnic groups, exhibit highly unequal regional agricultural endowments. Second, Muslim adherence is systematically larger along the pre-Islamic trade routes in the Old World. The theory argues that this particular type of geography (i) determined the economic aspects of the religious doctrine upon which Islam was formed, and (ii) shaped its subsequent economic performance. It suggests that the unequal distribution of land endowments conferred differential gains from trade across regions, fostering predatory behavior from the poorly endowed ones. In such an environment it was mutually beneficial to institute a system of income redistribution. However, a higher propensity to save by the rich would exacerbate wealth inequality rendering redistribution unsustainable, leading to the demise of the Islamic unity. Consequently, income inequality had to remain within limits for Islam to persist. This was instituted via restrictions on physical capital accumulation. Such rules rendered the investments on public goods, through religious endowments, increasingly attractive. As a result, capital accumulation remained low and wealth inequality bounded. Geography and trade shaped the set of economically relevant religious principles of Islam affecting its economic trajectory in the preindustrial world. |
| Keywords: | Religion; Physical Capital; Human Capital; Land Inequality; Wealth Inequality |
| JEL: | O10 O13 O16 O17 O18 F10 Z12 |
| Date: | 2010 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:cca:wpaper:145&r=cwa |
| By: | Rachna Williams |
| Abstract: | This paper is about the research study of health practices and health-seeking behaviour of the Female Sex Workers for their reproductive health needs in terms of pregnancy and postpartum care, contraception, abortion, menstrual hygiene and gynecological morbidity.[Working Paper No.12] |
| Keywords: | Female, Sex Workers, reproductive health, pregnancy, postpartum care, contraception, abortion, menstrual hygiene, gynecological, Rameshwaram, Tirunelveli, vaginal discharge, urinary tract infections, |
| Date: | 2010 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:ess:wpaper:id:2525&r=cwa |