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on Investment |
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Issue of 2024‒05‒27
twenty-two papers chosen by |
| By: | Sophie Cottet |
| Abstract: | This paper uses administrative employer-employee data to uncover the effects of a large payroll tax reduction for minimum-wage workers in France. Exploiting the change in labor costs both at the job level and at the firm level, I find that the policy spurred an additional 13 percentage points increase in the number of minimum-wage jobs, and that these extra jobs stem exclusively from firms which had previously very few or no minimum-wage workers. On the other hand, firms which already employed workers at minimum-wage levels, and therefore benefit ex ante from a cash windfall, increase employment irrespective of wage levels. These firms grow by an additional 4 percent in the first two years following the reform. This effect is stronger in liquidity-constrained and credit-constrained firms. Overall, these results show that not all firms react to changes in relative labor costs and highlight the importance of alleviating liquidity constraints for firm growth. |
| Keywords: | payroll taxes, firm behaviour, rent sharing, minimum wage |
| JEL: | H22 H25 H32 J21 J23 |
| Date: | 2024 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:ces:ceswps:_11076&r=inv |
| By: | Biewen, Martin (University of Tuebingen); Erhardt, Pascal (University of Tübingen) |
| Abstract: | We evaluate the distributional effects of a minimum wage introduction based on a data set with a moderate sample size but a large number of potential covariates. Therefore, the selection of relevant control variables at each distributional threshold is crucial to test hypotheses about the impact of the treatment. To this end, we use the post-double selection logistic distribution regression approach proposed by Belloni et al. (2018a), which allows for uniformly valid inference about the target coefficients of our low-dimensional treatment variables across the entire outcome distribution. Our empirical results show that the minimum wage crowded out hourly wages below the minimum threshold, benefitted monthly wages in the lower middle but not the lowest part of the distribution, and did not significantly affect the distribution of hours worked. |
| Keywords: | wage structure, automatic specification search, double machine learning |
| JEL: | J31 C3 |
| Date: | 2024–03 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:iza:izadps:dp16894&r=inv |
| By: | Pedro Portugal; Hugo Reis; Paulo Guimarães; Ana Rute Cardoso |
| Abstract: | Do more educated workers earn higher wages partly because they have access to high-paying firms and occupations? We rely on linked employer-employee data on Portugal to combine the estimation of AKM models with the decomposition of the returns to schooling. We exploit exogenous variation in education driven by changes in compulsory education. We show that education provides access to better-paying workplaces and occupations: 30% of the overall return to education operates through the workplace channel and 12% through the occupationchannel. The remainder is associated exclusively with the individual. Match quality plays a modest role in the returns to education. |
| Date: | 2023 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:ptu:wpaper:w202322&r=inv |
| By: | Ruslan, Kadir; Prasetyo, Octavia Rizky |
| Abstract: | Most agricultural households in Indonesia are small-scale farmers making them prone to food insecurity. Until recently, no study has assessed the impact of farm size and sociodemographic characteristics on the food insecurity status of agricultural households using a nationwide agricultural household survey in Indonesia. Our study aims to address this gap by utilizing the results of the first Indonesian Agricultural Integrated Survey conducted by BPS in 2021. Applying the Rasch Model, Multinomial Logistic Regression, and Ordinary Least Squares Regression, we found that the farm size has a positive impact in lowering the likelihood of experiencing moderate or severe levels of food insecurity among agricultural households. Our study also found that agricultural households with a higher probability of being food insecure are characterized by having higher members of households, relying only on agricultural activities for their livelihood, lower education attainment of household heads, and being led by female farmers. |
| Keywords: | food security, FIES, AGRIS, small-scale food producers |
| JEL: | Q1 Q12 Q15 Q18 |
| Date: | 2023–10–10 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:pra:mprapa:120713&r=inv |
| By: | McLean, Sheldon; Harris, Rochelle |
| Abstract: | Through a combination of primary and secondary research, this study sheds light on the effects of the pandemic on the tourism industries of the small island states of Antigua and Barbuda, Saint Lucia, and Saint Kitts and Nevis. Additionally, the study seeks to identify potential areas for niche market development to diversify the tourism sector in these destinations. Using a counterfactual analysis, visitor expenditure losses were estimated at over $7 billion over the period 2020 to 2022, among the three countries under review. The easing of restrictions on movement in 2021 and 2022 however allowed for a steady return of tourism, with the United States market performing particularly well. To this end, using criteria adopted from Dwyer and Kim’s (2003) integrative model for destination competitiveness and insight from stakeholder consultations, the study identified optimum areas for niche market development. These included integrative products such as cultural heritage tourism, wellness tourism, gastronomic and eco-tourism, and parallel products including sports tourism and education tourism. These areas present opportunities to enrich the visitor experience, diversify the tourism product, create value-added linkages with other sectors and build resilience in the tourism industry. In addition to the challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic, the study identified other factors impacting stakeholders in the tourism industry, many of which are longstanding issues. These include a mismatch between available skills and skills needed to fill current and future roles in the tourism industry; the scarcity of data for strategic planning, monitoring and evaluation; and sustainability. Demographic groups including women in the tourism industry also face peculiar challenges. To address these challenges, the study recommends strengthening strategic planning, improving data collection and analysis, investing in human resources, strengthening stakeholder participation in tourism planning, and improving the business environment among other recommendations. |
| Date: | 2024–04–29 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:ecr:col033:69187&r=inv |
| By: | Qiu, Sophia X.; Paul, Anju Mary (New York University Abu Dhabi) |
| Abstract: | At the federal level, the United States scored a 3.41 out of 10 for the GCPI, placing it in the middle of the “Emerging” band of the index. Its poor performance in both sub-indices makes it an outlier when compared with other high-income countries that tend to have stronger protections for both paid and unpaid care providers. The US is the only high-income country that does not provide paid maternity and paternity leave. It also lacks or has very limited federal regulations on flexible work arrangements and financial and employment protections protections during maternity leave. Other than social security, minimum wage, and overtime pay, domestic workers are not covered under most labor laws, and therefore are vulnerable to exploitation. |
| Date: | 2022–05–09 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:osf:socarx:y43gu&r=inv |
| By: | Li, Shuping; Meng, Jing; Hubacek, Klaus; Eskander, Shaikh M. S. U.; Li, Yuan; Chen, Peipei; Guan, Dabo |
| Abstract: | Many economies set climate mitigation targets for 2020 at the 2009 15th Conference of the Parties conference of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change in Copenhagen. Yet no retrospective review of the implementation and actual mitigation associated with these targets has materialized. Here we track the national CO2 emissions from both territory and consumption (trade adjusted) perspectives to assess socioeconomic factors affecting changes in emissions. Among the 34 countries analysed, 12 failed to meet their targets (among them Portugal, Spain and Japan) and 7 achieved the target for territorial emissions, albeit with carbon leakage through international trade to meet domestic demand while increasing emissions in other countries. Key factors in meeting targets were intensity reduction of energy and the improvement of the energy mix. However, many countries efforts fell short of their latest nationally determined contributions. Timely tracking and review of mitigation efforts are critical for meeting the Paris Agreement targets. |
| Keywords: | 72373081; 72250710169; 72140001; 101137905 (PANTHEON) |
| JEL: | N0 |
| Date: | 2024–04–16 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:ehl:lserod:122815&r=inv |
| By: | Hardman, Scott PhD; Chakraborty, Amrita PhD; Hoogland, Kelly; Sugihara, Claire |
| Abstract: | This project provides a literature review of research on zero emission vehicles (ZEVs) which includes fuel cell vehicles, battery electric vehicles, and plug-on hybrid electric vehicles, the latter are referred to as plug-in electric vehicles (PEV). In the review we focus on PEVs due to a lack of literature on fuel cell vehicles. We consider buyer and consumer perceptions of PEVs including perceived barriers to PEV adoption, consumer knowledge of PEVs, issues associated with incentives, and issues associated with infrastructure. The aim is to understand potential barriers to higher PEV sales and future research needs relating to PEV adoption. The PEV market shows many signs of becoming more robust. This includes PEV buyer demographics shifting toward the demographics of buyers of all types of new cars and improvements in PEV technology. Some challenges may remain, however. These include understanding the needs of households without home charging, engaging female car buyers in PEVs, engaging more of the general population in the PEV transition, substantially reducing PEV purchase prices, and incentive discontinuities potentially impacting adoption. Finally, disparities in rebate allocation, infrastructure deployment, and PEV sales indicate the transition is not yet equitable. This may require specific policy actions to address. |
| Keywords: | Engineering, Zero emission vehicles, plug-in hybrid vehicles, incentives, consumer behavior, demographics, electric vehicle charging, automobile ownership |
| Date: | 2022–12–01 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:cdl:itsdav:qt8dt5b2q6&r=inv |
| By: | Tocchi, Giuliana; Del Cid, Eva B. Rivera; Lara-Arevalo, Jonathan; Gallucio, Giulia; Trozzo, Chiara; Espin, Océane; Antonelli, Marta |
| Abstract: | This report presents findings from a study funded by the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) through the Adaptation for Smallholder Agriculture Program (ASAP2). The study was conducted by AGT International and the Centro Euro-Mediterraneo per i Cambiamenti Climatici Foundation (CMCC Foundation), in collaboration with IFAD's Environment, Climate, Gender, and Social Inclusion Division team in Latin America and the Caribbean (LAC). Aligned with IFAD's Strategic Framework (2016-2025), the study focuses on enhancing nutrition and climate resilience to support rural inclusivity and the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development in the region. The goal of this study is to generate and disseminate knowledge derived from seven IFAD-selected projects in the LAC region. It emphasizes best practices and lessons learned in nutrition enhancement and climate change adaptation. Additionally, the study aims to provide recommendations for replicating and scaling up these best practices while ensuring the integration of cross-cutting themes such as environment, nutrition, gender, youth, and indigenous peoples. Methodologically, the study combines a review of primary and secondary sources with insights gathered from semi-structured interviews with key stakeholders. This is complemented by knowledge shared during a peer-to-peer meeting. Nine key lessons learned and best practices are outlined, offering both synthesized analyses across projects and specific examples of successful methodologies and activities. By analyzing the integration of nutrition and climate resilience in various projects across LAC, this study identifies strategies to strengthen the climate-nutrition nexus in upcoming interventions. These findings offer actionable insights and recommendations to inform future strategies aimed at transforming food systems in the region, contributing to sustainable development goals, and ensuring the well-being of communities in Latin America and the Caribbean. |
| Date: | 2023–05–01 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:osf:socarx:euva6&r=inv |
| By: | Pujol-Cols, Lucas J. |
| Abstract: | The purpose of this study was to develop and to, subsequently, validate a Spanish version of the Short Work-Family Enrichment Scale (SP-WFES-6). Using cross-sectional (N = 438) and multi-wave (N = 103) data from a sample of workers with different backgrounds, this paper conducted a thorough examination of the psychometric properties of the SP-WFES-6 in terms of its internal consistency, test-retest reliability, dimensionality, factor invariance, gender invariance, convergent validity, discriminant validity, and predictive validity. The results from the CFA revealed that the SP-WFES-6 comprised two factors and that this two-factor structure remained statistically invariant across gender and sample. Furthermore, both factors reported adequate levels of internal consistency, test-retest reliability, convergent validity, discriminant validity and predictive validity. Altogether, the findings of this study demonstrated that the SP-WFES-6 is a reliable and valid instrument to measure work-family enrichment in Argentina and, possibly, in other Spanish-speaking countries. |
| Keywords: | Satisfacción Laboral; Trabajo; Familia; Burnout; Argentina; |
| Date: | 2024 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:nmp:nuland:4073&r=inv |
| By: | López Cabrera, Jesús Antonio; González Mata, Enrique A.; Quiñonez Wu, Juan S. |
| Abstract: | En este estudio se analizan las medidas de política monetaria puestas en marcha durante la pandemia de COVID-19 en los países de Centroamérica y la República Dominicana (CARD), así como en el período de recuperación inmediata, y se examina su impacto en la actividad económica. Para ello, se realiza un análisis cualitativo y cuantitativo sobre las políticas monetarias puestas en marcha en el período 2020-2022. En el análisis cuantitativo se emplean técnicas econométricas de VAR y panel. Los resultados muestran que las diversas medidas implementadas tuvieron efectos reducidos sobre el agregado de la actividad económica. Es posible que otro tipo de políticas, como las fiscales, financieras y regulatorias, hayan contribuido a disminuir en mayor medida el impacto negativo de la pandemia de COVID-19 sobre la actividad económica. |
| Date: | 2024–04–08 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:ecr:col031:69129&r=inv |
| By: | Guido Ascari; Jakob Grazzini; Dominico Massaro |
| Abstract: | The Covid-19 shock caused a dramatic spike in the number of retirees – a phenomenon dubbed the “Great Retirement†– and a prolonged con- traction in the labor force. This paper investigates the impact of the Great Retirement on the post-pandemic surge of inflation, via the labor market. First, retirement is generally countercyclical, and the peculiarity of the pan- demic shock was just in its size: the “Great Layoff†in March and April 2020 triggered the Great Retirement. Hence, a transitory labor demand shock generated a persistent labor supply shock. Second, counties more exposed to the Great Layoff exhibit a relatively higher increase in wages. Finally, an estimated model with endogenous labor market participation quantitatively assesses the overall contribution of the Great Retirement to inflation from 2020:Q1 up to 2023:Q2 to be roughly equal to 3.7 percentage (cumulative) points. |
| Keywords: | Great Retirement; Labor Force; Wages; Inflation |
| JEL: | E30 E24 J21 |
| Date: | 2024–05 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:dnb:dnbwpp:812&r=inv |
| By: | António Rua; Fátima Cardoso |
| Abstract: | climate and environmental policies aimed at promoting sustainable development and human well-being. The importance of reducing the carbon footprint has long been acknowledged and the European countries have been paving the way in this respect. In particular, we focus on Portugal where a striking reduction of carbon emissions has been observed in just a few years. We perform a structural decomposition analysis over the last two decades allowing to unveil the main drivers underlying the evolution of carbon emissions. We find that the investment on renewable energy sources, namely wind, has been key for a successful transition to a cleaner economy. The impact has been felt both on the reduction of carbon intensity as well as on the increase of energy efficiency in power generation. We also find that such benign evolution was partly counterbalanced by the increase of the contribution of final demand to carbon emissions despite being attenuated with the COVID-19 pandemic. These findings highlight the importance of the adoption of renewable energy sources to support a further mitigation of the carbon footprint in a context of economic growth. |
| Date: | 2023 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:ptu:wpaper:w202312&r=inv |
| By: | Cory McCartan; Robin Fisher; Jacob Goldin; Daniel E. Ho; Kosuke Imai |
| Abstract: | The estimation of racial disparities in various fields is often hampered by the lack of individual-level racial information. In many cases, the law prohibits the collection of such information to prevent direct racial discrimination. As a result, analysts have frequently adopted Bayesian Improved Surname Geocoding (BISG) and its variants, which combine individual names and addresses with Census data to predict race. Unfortunately, the residuals of BISG are often correlated with the outcomes of interest, generally attenuating estimates of racial disparities. To correct this bias, we propose an alternative identification strategy under the assumption that surname is conditionally independent of the outcome given (unobserved) race, residence location, and other observed characteristics. We introduce a new class of models, Bayesian Instrumental Regression for Disparity Estimation (BIRDiE), that take BISG probabilities as inputs and produce racial disparity estimates by using surnames as an instrumental variable for race. Our estimation method is scalable, making it possible to analyze large-scale administrative data. We also show how to address potential violations of the key identification assumptions. A validation study based on the North Carolina voter file shows that BISG+BIRDiE reduces error by up to 84% when estimating racial differences in party registration. Finally, we apply the proposed methodology to estimate racial differences in who benefits from the home mortgage interest deduction using individual-level tax data from the U.S. Internal Revenue Service. Open-source software is available which implements the proposed methodology. |
| JEL: | C10 H22 |
| Date: | 2024–04 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:nbr:nberwo:32373&r=inv |
| By: | Silke Tober (Macroeconomic Policy Institute (IMK)) |
| Abstract: | Die Inflationsrate lag im Februar 2023 mit 8, 7 % ebenso hoch wie im Monat zuvor. Dabei gab es allerdings einige Verschiebungen zwischen den Preissteigerungsraten der einzelnen Gütergruppen. Während die Nahrungsmittelpreise im Februar 2023 mehr zur Inflation beitrugen als im Januar 2023, nahm der Beitrag von Energie (Haushaltsenergie und Kraftstoffe) sogar etwas stärker ab, so dass die Kerninflation ohne Nahrungsmittel und Energie mit 5, 7 % leicht höher ausfiel als im Vormonat (5, 6 %). Eine entscheidende Rolle spielte dabei der stärkere Preisanstieg bei Bekleidung und Schuhen (4, 3 % nach 2, 8 % im Januar 2023). Haushaltsenergie verzeichnete erneut die höchste Teuerungsrate (32, 2 % nach 36, 5 % im Januar 2023), gefolgt von Nahrungsmitteln und alkoholfreien Getränken (20, 7 % nach 19, 2 % im Januar 2023). Da der Anteil von Nahrungsmitteln und Haushaltsenergie an den Konsumausgaben stark einkommensabhängig ist, bleibt die Spanne zwischen den haushaltsspezifischen Teuerungsraten mit 2, 5 Prozentpunkten hoch, wenn auch etwas niedriger als im Januar 2023 (2, 6 Prozentpunkte). Die höchste Inflationsrate hatten erneut einkommensschwache Haushalte (9, 9 %), die niedrigste einkommensstarke Alleinlebende mit 7, 4 %. Besonders ausgeprägt ist weiterhin der Unterschied bei der kombinierten Belastung durch die Preise von Nahrungsmitteln und Haushaltsenergie. Er lag mit 4, 3 Prozentpunkten ebenso hoch wie im Januar 2023, wobei diese Güterarten bei einkommensschwachen Alleinlebenden einen Inflationsbeitrag von 7, 1 Prozentpunkten lieferten (Januar 2023: 7, 2 Prozentpunkte), verglichen mit 2, 8 Prozentpunkten im Falle von einkommensstarken Alleinlebenden (Januar 2023: 2, 9 Prozentpunkte). Die auf Grundlage des harmonisierten Verbraucherpreisindex (HVPI) berechnete Inflationsrate, die insbesondere für die Geldpolitik eine bedeutende Rolle spielt, lag mit 9, 3 % um 0, 6 Prozentpunkte über der hierzulande üblichen Inflationsrate auf Basis des Verbraucherpreisindex. Dabei spielte das höhere Gewicht von Nahrungsmitteln und Haushaltsenergie im HVPI eine entscheidende Rolle, aber auch die jährliche Neuanpassung der Gewichte, mit denen die einzelnen Güter in den HVPI-Index eingehen. |
| Date: | 2023 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:imk:pbrief:147-2023&r=inv |
| By: | Menzie D. Chinn; Jeffrey A. Frankel; Hiro Ito |
| Abstract: | We begin by examining determinants of aggregate foreign exchange reserve holdings by central banks (size of issuing country’s economy and financial markets, ability of the currency to hold value, and inertia). But understanding the determination of reserve holdings probably requires going beyond the aggregate numbers, instead observing individual central bank behavior, including characteristics of the holding country (bilateral trade with the issuing country, bilateral currency peg, and proxies for bilateral exposure to sanctions), in addition to the characteristics of the reserve currency issuer. On a currency-by-currency basis, US dollar holdings are somewhat well explained by several issuer characteristics; but the other currencies are less successfully explained. It may be that the results from currency-by-currency estimation are impaired by insufficient sample size. This consideration offers a motivation for pooling the data across the major currencies and imposing the constraints that reserve holdings are determined in the same way for each currency. In this setting, most economic determinants enter with significance: economic size as measured by GDP, size of financial markets as measured by foreign exchange turnover, bilateral currency peg, and bilateral trade share. However, geopolitical variables (bilateral alliance, bilateral sanctions) usually do not enter with significance. |
| JEL: | F33 |
| Date: | 2024–04 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:nbr:nberwo:32387&r=inv |
| By: | Lupu, Noam |
| JEL: | N0 |
| Date: | 2024–04–01 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:ehl:lserod:122759&r=inv |
| By: | Sampson, Thomas |
| Abstract: | Global value chains create opportunities for North-South technology diffusion. This paper studies technology transfer in value chains when contracts are incomplete and input production technologies are imperfectly excludable. It introduces a new taxonomy of value chains based on whether the headquarters firm benefits from imitation of its supplier's technology. In inclusive value chains, where imitation is beneficial, the headquarters firm promotes technology diffusion. But in exclusive value chains headquarters seeks to limit supplier imitation. The paper analyzes how this distinction affects the returns to offshoring, the welfare effects of technical change and the social efficiency of knowledge sharing. |
| JEL: | G30 O10 |
| Date: | 2024–05–01 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:ehl:lserod:119640&r=inv |
| By: | Nassiri, Somayeh PhD; Butt, Ali Azhar PhD; Zarei, Ali; Kim, Changmo PhD; Wu, Rongzong PhD; Lea, Jeremy David; Erdahl, Jessica |
| Abstract: | Between 2017 and 2018, California experienced four devastating fires, including the Camp and Carr Fires. After fires, road infrastructure is crucial for safe removal of hazardous materials and waste to landfills and recycling facilities. Despite the critical role of pavements in this process, there has been little quantitative evaluation of the potential damage to pavements from truck traffic for debris removal. To address this knowledge gap, data on truck trip numbers and debris tonnage following the Camp and Carr Fires were used to calculate changes in equivalent single axle loads and traffic index over the pavement’s design life (the age at which reconstruction would be considered). Simulations were conducted on existing pavement structures to assess potential additional damage based on increased traffic indices. Pavement structural design simulations showed that out of the nine studied highways, one exhibited a reduction in cracking life of about two years from debris removal operations. However, fatigue cracking was significantly accelerated for Skyway, the major road in the Town of Paradise, failing 14.3 years before its design life. A methodology similar to the one presented in this study can be adopted in debris management planning to strategically avoid vulnerable pavements and minimize damage to the highway network. |
| Keywords: | Engineering, Wildfires, pavements, disaster resilience, mechanistic-empirical pavement design, debris removal, traffic loads, fatigue cracking, rutting, case studies |
| Date: | 2023–12–01 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:cdl:itsdav:qt9w05v56t&r=inv |
| By: | Hibiki Ichiue (Faculty of Economics, Keio University) |
| Abstract: | The Bank of Japan (BoJ) purchased equity index exchange-traded funds (ETFs), including Nikkei 225 ETFs, for over a decade and has not sold any ETFs it purchased. On March 31, 2021, the BoJ’s ETF holdings were more than 10% of the free float of the First Section of the Tokyo Stock Exchange. Primarily because the Nikkei index is price-weighted, the BoJ’s indirect holdings as a percentage of the market capitalization vary widely among individual stocks. To identify the effects of the uneven demand shocks, this paper runs instrumental-variable cross-sectional regressions of cumulative returns between September 30, 2010, a few days before the first announcement of ETF purchases, and March 31, 2021, when the BoJ terminated Nikkei 225 ETF purchases. The results suggest that the price multiplier is around 6 to 9; a 1 percentage point higher BoJ share in a stock’s market capitalization is associated with a roughly 6 to 9 percentage point higher return. The estimated multiplier is much higher than a typical estimate of 1 based on U.S. data. There is no evidence of a return reversal in the 9 months after Nikkei 225 ETF purchases ended. Various analyses, including monthly return regressions, support the analysis of cumulative returns and provide additional insights. |
| Keywords: | Asset pricing; Unconventional monetary policy; Exchange-traded funds |
| JEL: | E52 E58 G12 |
| Date: | 2024–04 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:upd:utmpwp:049&r=inv |
| By: | Chandra, Sonal; Chong, Terence Tai Leung |
| Abstract: | India has enacted several affirmative action policies since the 1990s to benefit the lower castes. This paper investigates if caste still affect an individual’s income in India today. Previous studies in this field have focused on specific regions or castes, and there is a dearth of pan-India empirical studies using panel data to investigate the relationship between caste and income. There is also a lack of studies that highlight the factors that help accentuate or ameliorate the caste-based income disparity in India. This paper addresses these gaps. The sample used for this paper is composed of respondents from all across India. Using the Indian Human Development Survey (IHDS) panel data, it is found that although the impact of caste on income has reduced, lower caste individuals’ income is still lower than that of their upper caste counterparts. The paper also finds evidence that the effects of caste on income are ameliorated in rural areas and that higher state-level GDP per capita and attainment of at least high school-level qualifications also contribute to reducing the impact of caste on income. Finally, this paper finds that the lower the caste, the stronger the ameliorating effect of attaining a high school-level qualification and state-level GDP per capita. |
| Keywords: | Caste; Income Disparity; India |
| JEL: | D31 J71 O15 |
| Date: | 2024–04–08 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:pra:mprapa:120639&r=inv |
| By: | Jennings, Colin; Sanchez-Pages, Santiago |
| Abstract: | Why is a peace agreement acceptable at some point in time but not earlier? We argue that the commitment problem combined with the nature of rebel Financing can help explain this. Crucial to our argument is that the composition of financing between donations and self-generated funds through organised crime and local governance determine the size of anticipated shifts in the future power of rebel groups. When donations are the main source of funds, shifts in rebel strength will more likely be large and be preempted through conflict by the state. When rebels obtain mainly self-generated funds, shifts in power will more likely be small and allow for peace. We apply this theory to the Northern Ireland conflict and analyse why the 1998 Belfast Agreement was credible, but the very similar failed Sunningdale Agreement in 1973 was not. Our paper contributes to the literature on the boundary between political violence and organised crime. |
| Date: | 2024–04–18 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:osf:socarx:38r2h&r=inv |