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on Central and Western Asia |
| By: | Gani Aldashev; Catherine Guirkinger |
| Abstract: | This paper investigates how, under increasing land pressure during Russian settlement in Kazakh steppes in the late-XIXth century, family-based institutions and social structure of Kazakhs evolved to adapt to new economic conditions. Using a rich dataset constructed from Russian colonial expedition materials, we find that during the transition from nomadic pastoralism to a semi-sedentary pastoralist-agriculture system, the size of Kazakh extended families increased, those of communes and clans decreased, and that Kazakhs identified stronger with lower levels of genealogical clan system. Within families, property rights on land became more individualized, households became less likely to pool labor to farm, and wage labor contracts in agriculture became common. We discuss theoretical explanations for the observed patterns. |
| Date: | 2016–03 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:eca:wpaper:2013/228105&r=cwa |
| By: | Petrick, Martin; Djanibekov, Nodir |
| Abstract: | The dominance of cotton in the irrigated areas of Central Asia has long been criticized for its ecological effects on salinization and desertification. From an economic point of view, this monoculture ties producers to state procurement, has led to the recurrent mobilization of manual labour during harvest campaigns and makes farmers vulnerable to water availability and crop failure. Crop diversification and harvest mechanisation have been proposed as strategies to mitigate these effects, provide alternative income generation channels and increase farmers´ flexibility in dealing with reduced water availability. This contribution uses 2014 survey data from two districts in Uzbekistan, Jondor in Bukhara province and Zangiota in Tashkent province, to inform this debate by identifying real-world obstacles to these strategies. The first district is dominated by the conventional cotton and wheat rotation introduced after 1991. The second district is home to a wide range of high-value crops (HVC), in particular fruits and vegetables. The evidence shows how HVCs can be a profitable alternative to the state-mandated monocultures. Moreover, water productivity of HVCs is much higher. Even so, there is practically no hands-on experience of harvest mechanisation in the traditional cotton region so far. In addition to the state delivery targets, a lack of finance, absent connections to city markets, missing role models and the complete inexperience of farmers with alternative technologies will impede a further expansion of crop diversification and the mechanisation of harvest operations. |
| Abstract: | Die Verbreitung der Baumwolle in den Bewässerungsgebieten Zentralasiens wird seit langem für ihre ökologischen Effekte der Versalzung und Wüstenbildung kritisiert. Von einem wirtschaftlichen Standpunkt aus betrachtet bindet diese Monokultur die Erzeuger an staatliche Aufkaufstellen, sie erfordert die wiederkehrende Mobilisierung von Arbeitern während der Erntekampagne und sie bedeutet eine hohe Verwundbarkeit der Bauern gegenüber Wasserverfügbarkeit und Ernteausfall. Die Einführung diversifizierter Fruchtfolgen und die Mechanisierung der Baumwollernte sind als Strategien zur Milderung dieser Effekte vorgeschlagen worden. Sie schaffen Möglichkeiten der alternativen Einkommenserzielung und erhöhen die Flexibilität der Bauern im Umgang mit verringerter Wasserverfügbarkeit. In diesem Beitrag verwenden wir Daten einer Betriebsbefragung aus dem Jahr 2014 aus zwei Landkreisen Usbekistans, Jondor in der Provinz Buchara und Zangiota in der Provinz Taschkent, um realweltliche Hindernisse bei der Umsetzung dieser Strategien zu ermitteln. Der erste Landkreis ist durch die nach 1991 eingeführte, herkömmliche Baumwoll-Weizen Fruchtfolge geprägt. Im zweiten Landkreis werden vorwiegend Kulturen mit hoher Wertschöpfung (sog. High Value Crops, HVCs) angebaut, vor allem Obst und Gemüse. Die Daten zeigen, auf welche Weise HVCs 4 Martin Petrick, Nodir Djanibekov eine gewinnbringende Alternative zu den staatlich verordneten Monokulturen darstellen können. Auch ist die Wasserverwertung dieser Kulturen deutlich höher. In dem herkömmlichen Baumwollanbaugebiet liegen allerdings keinerlei praktische Erfahrungen mit der Erntemechanisierung vor. Die staatlichen Ablieferungsquoten, ein Mangel an geeigneten Finanzierungsquellen, fehlende Verbindungen zu städtischen Märkten, fehlende Rollenmodelle und die vollständige Unerfahrenheit der Bauern mit alternativen Anbautechniken werden die Ausweitung des Anbauspektrums und die Einführung mechanisierter Baumwollpflücker behindern. |
| Keywords: | cotton,high-value crops,crop diversification,harvest mechanisation,Uzbekistan,Baumwolle,high-value crops,Diversifizierung,Erntemechanisierung,Usbekistan |
| JEL: | O33 P28 Q12 Q15 |
| Date: | 2016 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:zbw:iamodp:153&r=cwa |
| By: | Asian Development Bank (ADB); Asian Development Bank (ADB) (Economic Research and Regional Cooperation Department, ADB); Asian Development Bank (ADB) (Economic Research and Regional Cooperation Department, ADB); Asian Development Bank (ADB) |
| Abstract: | Georgia is a country with one of the highest costs of finance in developing Europe and Central Asia, reflected in the large interest spreads and a high risk premium on private loans. With support from the Investment Climate Facilitation Fund under the Regional Cooperation and Integration Financing Facility, this report provides a broad and comprehensive overview of the Georgian financial sector’s health and the challenges facing the financial sector in Georgia. Over medium-term policy actions, the report recommends facilitating property registration, improving credit information-sharing mechanism, ensuring security of bank deposits, and legislating improvements in reporting standards for firms as means to increase domestic savings, reduce borrowing cost, and improve the credit risk. Over the long run, the government needs to pay particular attention to diversifying the industrial base of the country, setting clear development goals to encourage banks to finance innovation, and creating a solid legal base for developing capital markets as an alternative source of firms’ financing. |
| Keywords: | financial sector, financial soundness indicators, asia, pacific, investment climate, core indicators, encouraged indicators, nonfinancial sectors, capital adequacy, georgia finance, banking, financial institutions, georgia financial markets, adb |
| Date: | 2015–09 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:asd:wpaper:rpt157600-2&r=cwa |
| By: | Turhan, Ibrahim M.; Gumus, Nihat |
| Abstract: | The main objective of this study is to provide additional evidence on the operation and relative importance of monetary transmission channels in Turkey. The results of the VAR analysis conducted using monthly data between January 2004 and November 2013 suggest that the traditional channels of interest rates, exchange rates, and credit do work in Turkish economy. However, the most striking finding of the study is the relative importance of exchange rate channel in the transmission of monetary policy decision into real economy. Variance decomposition analysis shows that the explained variance by real effective exchange rates is higher for all variables as compared to the variance explained by interest rates. However, interest rates seem to be still a useful tool to manage monetary policy given its role in controlling the changes in exchange rates. The granger causality analysis points into the fact that while interest rates have a role in leading the volatility of exchange rates, exchange rates have an impact on foreign debt holdings of banks and credit growth. On the other hand, foreign debt positions of banks and other sector firms together with credit growth granger causes industrial production. The study has some remarkable ramifications in terms of monetary policy design. |
| Keywords: | Monetary transmission mechanism, monetary policy, interest rate channel, exchange rate channel |
| JEL: | E52 E58 G18 |
| Date: | 2014–05–12 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:pra:mprapa:69827&r=cwa |
| By: | Tagliapietra, Simone |
| Abstract: | Energy efficiency is one of the key crossroads between energy, climate and economic issues. In fact, it represents one of the most cost effective ways to enhance security of energy supply, to reduce emissions of greenhouse gases and to enhance economic competitiveness at one fell swoop. This paper explores the potential for energy efficiency gains in Turkey, a country characterized by a strong growth in energy demand and by a strong need of better security of supply, emissions reduction and economic competitiveness. |
| Keywords: | Energy Efficiency, Turkey, Sustainability, Resource /Energy Economics and Policy, Q41, Q43, Q48, |
| Date: | 2016–03–01 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:ags:feemes:232217&r=cwa |
| By: | Fabian Cataldo; Karina Kielmann |
| Abstract: | This Discussion Paper presents the approach, findings, and recommendations from a desk review of the qualitative research conducted within Results-Based Financing programmes (RBF) under the Health Results Innovations Trust Fund (HRITF). The review included 17 studies conducted in Benin, Burundi, Cameroon, DRC, Ethiopia, Haiti, Kenya, Kyrgyzstan, Nigeria, Rwanda, Tajikistan, Tanzania, Zambia, and Zimbabwe. The studies reveal a body of high quality work that is consistent with the conceptual framework of RBF schemes, supported by political will, resources, and research capacity. Strengthening the added value of qualitative inquiry in on-going and future qualitative studies may be enabled by small shifts in thinking and practice, in line with a qualitative research paradigm. First, in order to better ground research in an existing country and system specific context, some interrogation of constructs and posited relationships in the existing conceptual framework for intervention/evaluation may be required. Second, to enable more in-depth and richer data that documents working practices and relations under RBF schemes, training of local researchers should place stronger emphasis on entry to the field, gaining trust, building rapport, and sustaining a dialogue with key informants. Third, smaller, more intensive and focused studies targeting fewer sites and smaller samples - but addressing a wider range of methods and informants within the health system - are likely to yield richer data that can support the understanding of how health workers and managers are responding to schemes, and what impact schemes have on service volumes and outputs. |
| Keywords: | skills, waste, good practice, discussion, communication protocols, communities, risks, focus group, workforce, awareness, informed consent, personality, units of analysis ... See More + feedback, time, knowledge transfer, psychology, traits, data collection, community health, citation, information, health research, health care, contents, adaptive systems, research capacity, effects, health, researcher, holistic approach, thinking, leading, cultural norms, research institutions, qualitative data, collaboration, knowledge, community members, archives, complexity, data, techniques, space, methodologies, identity, document, partnerships, patient, patients, research methodology, intervention, probability, relationships, site, experts, observation, cases, documents, competencies, learning, indicators, research, standards, process, data analysis, methods study, interview, practice, insights, testing, publishing, methods, users, hierarchies, interviews, workers, research policy, fatigue, science, validity, description, boundaries, health outcomes, quantitative data, processes, hygiene, researchers, protocols, social science, decision-making, samples, logic, complex adaptive systems, measurement, nutrition, conceptual framework, workshops, assumptions, quality control, research projects, research methodologies, case, internet, concept, understanding, theory, raw’ data, evaluation, human resources, sampling, isolation, integration, innovation, sites, protocol, organizational change, communication, strategy, epidemiology, child health services, concepts, variety, database, methodology, questionnaires, research strategies, health interventions, research techniques, health services, implementation, entry, innovations, nursing, storage |
| Date: | 2016–08 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:wbk:hnpdps:103670&r=cwa |