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on Central and Western Asia |
| By: | Vladimir Popov; Anis Chowdhury |
| Abstract: | This paper discusses Uzbekistan’s recent experience with structural shifts and industrial policy and the larger implications for existing theories of industrial policy. The paper has a particular focus on various industry policy instruments. Two major hypotheses are discussed: (1) the hypothesis of Haussmann, Hwang and Rodrik (the more technologically sophisticated the export structure, the better for growth) and (2) the hypothesis of Justin Yifu Lin (export specialization should build on existing comparative advantages and not jump over the necessary technological stages). |
| Keywords: | Uzbekistan, economic growth, economic diversification, industrial policy, exchange rate policy, wages policy |
| JEL: | O14 O25 O4 O53 |
| Date: | 2016–02 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:une:wpaper:147&r=cwa |
| By: | Simone Tagliapietra (Fondazione Eni Enrico Mattei) |
| 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 |
| JEL: | Q41 Q43 Q48 |
| Date: | 2016–02 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:fem:femwpa:2016.11&r=cwa |
| By: | Barış Soybilgen (İstanbul Bilgi University); Ege Yazgan (İstanbul Bilgi University) |
| Abstract: | Expectations on the future state of the inflation play a critical part in the process of price level determination in the market. Therefore, central banks closely follow the developments in inflation expectations to able to pursue a successful monetary policy. In Turkey, the Central Bank of the Republic of Turkey (CBRT) asks experts and decision makers from ï¬ nancial and real sectors about their expectations/predictions on the current and the future state of inflation every month to obtain market expectations on inflation. This paper examines these predictions of inflation using techniques of forecasting literature. We analyze both point and sign accuracy of these predictions. Point predictions from CBRT surveys are compared with those obtained from AR models, and tested whether they are statistically different. Sign predictions are tested whether they are valuable to a user. We also test predictions for unbiasedness. |
| Keywords: | Inflation Expectations, Evaluation Procedures, Sign Forecast Accuracy |
| JEL: | E37 E31 |
| Date: | 2016–02 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:bli:wpaper:1601&r=cwa |
| By: | Schott, Johanna; Kalatas, Talin; Nercissians, Emilia; Barkmann, Jan; Shelia, Vakhtang |
| Abstract: | Nature conservation has a long tradition in the South Caucasus, a region with very high biodiversity. Alongside century old nature reserves (NR) in Azerbaijan and Georgia, two new transboundary national parks (NP) have recently been created in Armenia and Georgia. All of these protected areas exert an influence on the local populations, which use land located inside or in proximity to these areas. To investigate the impact of protected areas on the local populations, we conducted a qualitative study close to two neighbouring, historical NRs in Georgia (Lagodekhi) and Azerbaijan (Zaqatala), and close to the two new transboundary NPs in Armenia (Lake Arpi) and in Georgia (Javakheti). We collected the opinions of the local populations, local administrations, and environmental NGOs regarding the impact of protected areas on the livelihoods of the local populations and investigated whether the local populations developed strategies for dealing with these impacts. Results show that the land use restrictions entailed by protected areas cause conflicts of interests between the goals of conservation and those of the local populations on the one hand, and competition between different local groups with regard to scarce resources such as pastures on the other hand. These land use restrictions are due to the land use regulations of the protected areas and concern the use of pastures and forests. All sorts of tourism could provide a possible solution to settle conflicts and to increase incomes. |
| Abstract: | Naturschutz hat eine lange Tradition im Südkaukasus, einer Region, die sich durch eine hohe Biodiversität auszeichnet. Neben über hundert Jahre alten Naturschutzgebieten in Aserbaidschan und in Georgien wurden kürzlich zwei neue grenzübergreifende Nationalparks in Armenien und Georgien eingerichtet. Alle diese Schutzgebiete haben Auswirkungen auf die lokale Anrainerbevölkerung, welche Land innerhalb oder in der Nähe dieser Gebiete nutzt. Um die Auswirkungen von zwei benachbarten, historischen Schutzgebieten in Georgien (Lagodekhi) und in Aserbaidschan (Zaqatala) sowie von zwei neuen grenzübergreifenden Nationalparks in Armenien (Lake Arpi) und in Georgien (Javakheti) auf die lokale Bevölkerung zu untersuchen, führten wir eine qualitative Studie durch. Zentrale Fragestellungen der Studie betrafen zum einen die Ansichten der lokalen Bevölkerung, der lokalen Verwaltung und von Umwelt-Nichtregierungsorganisationen hinsichtlich der Auswirkungen von Schutzgebieten auf den Lebensunterhalt der Anrainerbevölkerung und zum anderen mögliche Strategien der Anrainerbevölkerung für den Umgang mit den Auswirkungen der Schutzgebiete. Die Ergebnisse zeigen, dass Landnutzungsbeschränkungen, die durch die Schutzgebiete hervorgerufen werden, einerseits Interessenkonflikte zwischen den Zielen des Naturschutzes und den Zielen der Anrainerbevölkerung hervorrufen können, und andererseits Rivalitäten zwischen verschiedenen lokalen Gruppen in Bezug auf knappe Ressourcen wie Weideland. Landnutzungsbeschränkungen sind eine Folge der Landnutzungsbestimmungen der Schutzge und betreffen den Zugang zu Weideland und Wäldern. Verschiedene Arten von Tourismus könnten eine mögliche Lösung darstellen, um bestehende Konflikte zu lösen und um die Einkommen der lokalen Bevölkerung zu verbessern. |
| Keywords: | Transcaucasia,nature conservation,qualitative research,protected areas,rural livelihoods,Südkaukasus,Naturschutz,qualitative Forschung,Schutzgebiete,ländlicher Lebensunterhalt |
| JEL: | Q56 Z1 |
| Date: | 2016 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:zbw:iamodp:152&r=cwa |
| By: | Nurcan Turan (Anadolu University); Nuri Calik (Turgut Ozal University) |
| Abstract: | This survey intends to find out the consumers’ post-purchase behavior in terms of complaining, assertiveness, discontent and alienation. In May, 2014, a survey is applied to 537espondents selected via stratified sampling from Eskişehir, a city of Turkey with 700.000 inhabitants where 500 of the responses are found eligible... The respondents are required to answer 35 questions of which five are related to demographic characteristics of these respondents. The rest 30 are statements which are designed to reflect the behavior of these people. The study consists of five parts. The first part is an introduction where the scope and the purpose of the study are concisely stated. The second part relates to the theoretical background of the subject matter and the prior researches carried out so far. The third part deals with research methodology, basic premises and hypotheses attached to these premises. Research model and analyses take place in this section. Theoretical framework is built and a variable name is assigned to each of the question asked or proposition forwarded to the respondents of this survey. 30 statements or propositions given to the respondents are placed on a five-point Likert scale. The remaining five questions about demographic traits as age, gender, occupation, educational level and monthly income are placed either on a nominal or ratio scale with respect to the nature of the trait. Four research hypotheses are formulated in this section. The fourth part mainly deals with the results of the hypothesis tests and a factor analysis is applied to the data on hand. Here exploratory factor analysis reduces 30 variables to six basic components as: as: " Consumer discontent, ad disapproval, consumer alienation, consumer assertiveness and redress, propensity to complain, claim for apology or refund" Cronbach's Alpha for scale reliability is quite high (a = 0.788) and so is the sample adequacy ratio (KMO = 0.883) In addition non-parametric bivariate analysis in terms of Chi-Square is applied to test the hypotheses formulated in this respect. The fifth part is the conclusion where findings of this survey are listed. |
| Keywords: | Consumer discontent, ad disapproval, alienation, assertiveness, complaint, claims for refund. |
| JEL: | M31 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:sek:iefpro:3205696&r=cwa |
| By: | Armenak Antinyan; Luca Corazzini |
| Abstract: | This paper empirically investigates the relationship between households’ relative deprivation and the intentions of their members to temporarily migrate abroad in three transition economies of the South Caucasus: Armenia, Azerbaijan and Georgia. Controlling for households’ absolute income and other relevant subjective dimensions, we illustrate that households’ relative position vis-à-vis their reference groups plays an important role in determining the intentions of their members to migrate abroad. Particularly, individuals are more willing to engage in temporary emigration, if they perceive themselves to be poorer than the reference group. |
| Date: | 2016–03 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:liu:liucec:293&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: | The development and analysis of financial soundness indicators (FSIs) help policy makers identify the strengths and vulnerabilities in their countries’ financial systems and take preventive action to avert a crisis or at least minimize its effects. This publication presents the country-case studies for Bangladesh, Georgia, and Viet Nam focusing on the growing evidences in the development of financial soundness indicators to effectively monitor the financial performance of the country. With the support from Investment Climate Facilitation Fund under the Regional Cooperation and Integration Financing Facility, the tales of three countries shows the diverse financial vulnerabilities of each economy. For example, Georgia and Viet Nam have met capital adequacy standards but Bangladesh has faltered in this aspect for it requires an injection of capital into state owned commercial banks that is contingent upon improved governance. On the other hand, Georgia and Viet Nam could have been more susceptible to global economic crises than Bangladesh. A significant amount of public and private debt in Georgia is denominated in foreign currency while Viet Nam’s economic openness—largely because of rapid economic integration in East Asia—has made it vulnerable to global economic slowdowns. |
| Keywords: | financial sector, financial soundness indicators, asia, pacific, adb, investment climate, core indicators, encouraged indicators, deposit takers, financial corporations, nonfinancial sectors, bangladesh, georgia, viet nam, finance, financial institutions, financial markets |
| Date: | 2015–09 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:asd:wpaper:rpt157598-2&r=cwa |
| By: | Kuzucu, Narman |
| Abstract: | This research paper examines the corporate dividend payout behaviours of non-financial firms from Istanbul Stock Exchange (Borsa Istanbul). Survey method is conducted to investigate managerial views on corporate dividend policy. The study investigates whether the evidence in Turkish stock market on dividend policy is similar to the European and the U.S. firms’ results which are reported earlier by other studies, and moreover in what extent Lintner’s (1956) findings on dividends is supported by today’s listed firms in an emerging market. The financial managers from 38 firms out of 216 non financial companies responded the survey. The results show that there is a significant positive relationship between cash dividends and earnings. Earnings are viewed as the most important factor in dividend decision like in European and the U.S. firms. Sustainable change in earnings, stability and level of future earnings, and the desire to distribute a proportion of earnings to shareholders are the common determinants of dividend policy. The majority of the respondents reports that they target dividends. Dividend yield is the most common measure for dividend targeting. Share repurchases are not viewed as alternative to dividend payouts unlike the U.S. firms. The study finds supporting evidences for bird-in the-hand and signalling hypotheses, and Lintner’s model. |
| Keywords: | dividend policy, share repurchase, Borsa Istanbul, managerial perspective |
| JEL: | G32 G35 |
| Date: | 2015–03–31 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:pra:mprapa:69801&r=cwa |
| By: | Cheryl Cashin; Lisa Fleisher; Tawab Hashemi |
| Abstract: | The Ministry of Public Health in Afghanistan implements a supply-side results-based financing (RBF) scheme to improve the provision of a standardized basic package of health services (BPHS) to its population. Contracting NGOs and “contracting-in” MOPH providers, this RBF program concentrates on high-priority maternal and child health services in the BPHS such as antenatal care (ANC), post-natal care (PNC), delivery care, nutrition, immunization coverage, tuberculosis (TB), as well as quality of care. It includes an intensive data verification method, focusing on both the quantity and the quality of delivered services, which was implemented between 2010 and 2013 by international third party organizations. This verification method was specifically used to ensure that providers reach performance thresholds and disburse performance payments. This case study describes the major characteristics of this RBF verification method. Taking stock of the experience of the MOPH, it aims at generating possible lessons for other RBF initiatives, thereby expanding knowledge and making RBF verification processes more efficient, sustainable and effective. This case study also responds to concerns about the future sustainability of RBF, particularly with regard to the intensive and external nature of verification. |
| Keywords: | health care providers, child health, communities, risks, data entry, e-mail, domains, health service delivery, reproductive health, supervision, equipment, villages, ... See More + uality of services, registries, financing, financial management, materials, antenatal care, income, under-five mortality, prevention, government funding, needs assessment, community health, information, services, monitoring, health care, privacy, copyright, incentives, health, partnership agreements, project, patient information, verification, information systems, health facilities, community participation, public health, life expectancy, quality of health, health sector, knowledge, health information systems, link, data, costs, training, immunization, patient, patients, performance indicators, intervention, health indicators, nurses, procurement process, access to health services, consultant, action plan, health workforce, material, tuberculosis, interview, mental health, mortality, capabilities, telephone, health information, design, transactions, project management, reliability, health specialist, procurement, inspection, contact information, financial transactions, patient satisfaction, results, description, knowledge base, participation, care, gender, health policy, homes, health outcomes, fax, household, decision making, institutional capacity, measurement, nutrition, confidentiality, quality control, queries, primary health care, internet, health results, health system, result, physicians, communicable diseases, pregnant women, children, security, privacy concerns, licenses, households, rural areas, health expenditure, performance, innovation, population, facilities, institution, personal safety, financial support, trainings, communication, community, strategy, registration, child health services, community involvement, database, hospitals, safety, health service, female, health services, implementation, pregnancy, target, service, health system strengthening, uses, user, financial reports |
| Date: | 2015–08 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:wbk:hnpdps:103694&r=cwa |
| By: | Laura Ansala (Aalto University); Ulla Hämäläinen (Ministry of Finance); Matti Sarvimäki (Aalto University and VATT) |
| Abstract: | We document large differences in educational attainment, criminal sentences and use of psychotropic medication between the children of immigrants and natives living in Finland. Among the offspring of immigrants from the OECD countries and the former Soviet Union, the disadvantage in education reverses and differences in criminal sentences disappear once we condition on parental income and location of residence. In contrast, large gaps remain for the children of immigrants from other regions, even conditional on background characteristics. Furthermore, the children of immigrants from all source areas are substantially less likely to use psychotropic medication than the offspring of natives despite their higher self-reported mental health problems. These results suggest that institutions designed to help disadvantaged natives do not fully reach the children of immigrants. |
| Keywords: | children of immigrants, second-generation immigrants, education, crime, health |
| JEL: | I14 I21 J15 |
| Date: | 2016–03 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:crm:wpaper:1606&r=cwa |