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on Central and Western Asia |
| By: | Harsh Wardhan (Indian Council for Research on International Economic Relations (ICRIER)); Aishwarya Rohatgi (Indian Council for Research on International Economic Relations (ICRIER)); Ashok Gulati |
| Abstract: | With Western sanctions isolating Russia from traditional trade partners, ongoing disruptions in global agri-supply chains, and rising food demand in Central Asia, India has a timely opportunity to reposition itself as a credible, long-term supplier of agricultural and processed food products to the region. This report, developed under the APEDA-ICRIER Knowledge Partnership, draws from trade data, policy analysis, and field consultations with exporters and officials to offer a roadmap for unlocking India's agri-export potential to three key CIS markets Russia, Kazakhstan, and Uzbekistan. |
| Keywords: | agri-market, agri-supply chain, APEDA, icrier |
| Date: | 2026–01 |
| URL: | https://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:bdc:report:26-r-04 |
| By: | Nebiler, Metin; Park, Kyunglin |
| Abstract: | Digital skills are becoming increasingly more important in the labor market as demand for them is increasing in all sectors. This paper explores the determinants of digital skill acquisition and estimates the impact of digital skills on wages in developing countries by using the latest round of the Life in Transition Survey from 30 countries in the Europe and Central Asia region. The results show that acquisition of digital skills is correlated with individual characteristics including age, education, and gender but also with household characteristics such as household income, place of residence, and parents’ educational attainment. These disparities translate directly into labor market outcomes: individuals with advanced digital skills earn, on average, 18.9 percent higher wages than those without such skills, with substantial heterogeneity within and between regions. The wage premium for high digital skills is higher in Central Asia, the South Caucasus, Eastern Europe, and Central Europe. Moreover, the results show that larger firms offer significantly higher premiums for digital skills. |
| Date: | 2026–02–10 |
| URL: | https://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:wbk:wbrwps:11308 |
| By: | Aysun Hiziroglu Aygun (Istanbul Technical University) |
| Abstract: | We examine how a modest unconditional cash transfer policy affects child labor, schooling and health during periods of high inflation by studying Turkey's Family Support Program, launched in 2022. Using a regression discontinuity design based on the program's per capita income eligibility threshold, we analyze the program's short-term effects within six months of implementation. Despite the program's relatively modest transfer amounts—approximately one-third of the monthly minimum wage—we find significant reductions in children's participation in family businesses and agricultural work. Investigating the heterogeneous effects, we find that the program reduces non-market work for boys and domestic work for girls. Notably, these labor reductions occurred without corresponding increases in school enrollment or time spent on educational activities, with the exception of a suggestive rise in boys’ school hours. We also find improvements in children’s emotional well-being and daily protein consumption primarily for boys, and a reduction in unhealthy dietary habits among girls. Our findings suggest that even a modest transfer policy can enhance child welfare through multiple channels. |
| Date: | 2025–12–11 |
| URL: | https://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:erg:wpaper:1811 |