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on South East Asia |
| By: | Supardi, Azizan; Adnan, Hamimah |
| Abstract: | In Malaysia, sub-contractors have to bear with the current structure of payment mechanisms in the standard forms of contract, which are payment upon certification, direct payment from the employer, and contingent or conditional payment. However, „direct payment‟ provision is applied for in most of the nominated sub-contracts and not to the domestic sub-contractors; thus the Construction Industry Payment and Adjudication (CIPA) Act is proposed. This paper, though, is to disclose the findings on legal cases and sub-contractors‟ perspective on direct payment, by preliminary analyzing the quantitative questionnaire survey to the first 81 from the identified 1,500 sub-contractors throughout the country. Before that, from 186 cases, only 5 selected cases are analysed that thoroughly addressed the judgment of direct payment. It is found out that the particularly small sized subcontractors are definitely need to enhance their knowledge of the so-called the „Security of Payment‟ Regime to benefits from the proposed Act. |
| Keywords: | Malaysia; Legal readiness; Sub-contractors; Security of payment; Construction industry |
| JEL: | K32 K12 L74 |
| Date: | 2011–08–26 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:pra:mprapa:34023&r=sea |
| By: | Supardi, Azizan; Adnan, Hamimah; Mohammad, Mohammad Fadhil |
| Abstract: | In Malaysia, the particularly small sized subcontractors are definitely benefited from payment provisions in the proposed Construction Industry Payment and Adjudication Act (CIPA Act). However, they need to enhance their knowledge of the so-called the ‘Security of Payment’ Regime to benefits from the Act. Due to this, this on-going research attempts to introduce payment framework to the sub-contractors, in giving the knowledge, to claim for payment. This paper, though, is to disclose the finding of the level of knowledge that the sub-contractors have to the proposed Act, by preliminary analyzing the quantitative questionnaire survey. It was found that the adequacy of security of payment framework to the particularly small sized sub-contractors needs to be produced, and the analysis on effectiveness of the various avenues incorporated in the construction contract or statutes in the other developed countries as well as the proposed Act needs to be done. However, as long as the regime remains in proposal, the sub-contractors have to bear with the current structure of payment mechanisms in the standard forms of contract, which are payment upon certification, direct payment from the employer, and contingent or conditional payment. |
| Keywords: | legal readiness; Malaysia; sub-contractors; security of payment; construction industry |
| JEL: | K32 K12 L74 |
| Date: | 2011–07–05 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:pra:mprapa:34013&r=sea |
| By: | Kisswani, Khalid/ M.; Nusair, Salah/ A. |
| Abstract: | We examine the dynamics of convergence of the ASEAN5 plus the big three for nominal interest rates, inflation rates, and real interest rates. We test for convergence relative to the U.S and Japan, using monthly data over the period January 1990 - December 2010, using non-linear unit root tests. The results show strong evidence of stationary inflation and real interest rate differentials in all but China’s inflation differential relative to the U.S., and stationary nominal interest differentials in most of the cases. We interpret these results as convergence in inflation rates and real interest rates in all cases, and as nominal interest convergence in most of the cases. Moreover, examining the impact of the Asian crisis shows less number of convergences before the crisis and more convergences after the crisis. This suggests that convergence has increased after the 1997/98 Asian crisis, and that the crisis has pulled the economies together. |
| Keywords: | interest rates convergence; inflation convergence; nonlinear unit root tests |
| JEL: | E43 E31 |
| Date: | 2011–07–12 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:pra:mprapa:34179&r=sea |
| By: | Supardi, Azizan; Adnan, Hamimah; Mohammad, Mohammad Fadhil |
| Abstract: | In Malaysia, the particularly small sized sub-contractors are definitely benefited from payment provisions in the proposed Construction Industry Payment and Adjudication Act (CIPA Act), but need to enhance their knowledge in order to improve their awareness of the benefits of the Act. Accordingly, this on-going research attempts to introduce proper guidelines to the sub-contractors, in giving the knowledge, to claim for payment. Firstly, the research explored the problems and legal issues relating to payment default in law cases and standard forms of contract. By downloading from the Malayan Law Journal, cases that indicated the issues of payment to the subcontractors, were analyzed. It is found that on its relevancy, the adjudicator shall be equipped enough with the knowledge on the issues to become a good and reliable adjudicator, as well as sub-contractors will need to enhance their knowledge on the issues of payment in order to be successful in benefitting the proposed CIPA Act. However, as long as the CIPA Act remains in proposal, the sub-contractors have to bear with the knowledge of the current structure of payment mechanisms in the standard forms of contract, which are payment upon certification, direct payment from the employer, and contingent or conditional payment. |
| Keywords: | construction industry; Malaysia; readiness; security of payment; sub-contractors |
| JEL: | K32 K12 L74 |
| Date: | 2011 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:pra:mprapa:34025&r=sea |
| By: | Supardi, Azizan; Adnan, Hamimah; Mohammad, Mohammad Fadhil |
| Abstract: | In Malaysia, subcontractors are definitely benefited from payment provisions in the proposed Construction Industry Payment and Adjudication Act (CIPA Act). However, the particularly small sized sub-contractors need to enhance knowledge of the so-called the ‘Security of Payment’ Regime to improve their awareness of the benefits of the Act. Due to this, this on-going research attempts to introduce balance and proper guidelines to the sub-contractors, in giving the knowledge, to claim for payment and the main contractors able to make prompt payments. Before that, the research may first identify the payment provisions in the standard forms of contracts as well as in domestic sub-contracts especially on Contingent Payment, and exploring the problems and legal issues relating to payment default. Then, by determining the level of knowledge that the sub-contractors have to the proposed CIPA Act, and analysing the various avenues which improve the payment problem in the construction industry those have been incorporated in the construction contract or statutes in the other developed countries as well as the proposed CIPA Act, the aim may be achieved. The purpose of this paper, though, is to disclose the finding of the first objective of the on-going research. In the standard forms of construction contracts, currently, the payment structure to the sub-contractors are divided into three: payment upon certification, direct payment from the employer, and contingent payment or conditional payment. As long as the Malaysian ‘Security of Payment’ Regime remains in proposal, the sub-contractors have to bear with the current structure of payment mechanisms. |
| Keywords: | legal readiness; Malaysia; sub-contractors; security of payment; construction industry |
| JEL: | K32 K12 L74 |
| Date: | 2010–11–16 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:pra:mprapa:34010&r=sea |
| By: | Zsolt Darvas; Jean Pisani-Ferry |
| Abstract: | This Policy Contribution puts forward policy recommendations to move towards growth rebuilding in the EU, reducing the fragility of the European banking sector and restore the image of southern European countries as worthwhile places to invest. The European Union growth agenda has become even more pressing because growth is needed to support public and private sector deleveraging, reduce the fragility of the banking sector, counter the falling behind of southern European countries and prove that Europe is still a worthwhile place to invest. The crisis has a similar impact on most European countries and the US: a persistent drop in output level and a growth slowdown. This contrasts sharply with the experience of the emerging countries of Asia and Latin America. Productivity improvement was immediate in the US, but Europe hoarded labour and productivity improvements were in general delayed. Southern European countries have hardly adjusted so far. There is a negative feedback loop between the crisis and growth, and without effective solutions to overturn the crisis, growth is unlikely to resume. National and EU level policies should aim to foster reforms and adjustment and should not risk medium term objectives under the pressure of events. A more hands-on approach, including industrial policies, should be considered. Earlier versions of this Policy Contribution were presented at the Bruegel-PIIE conference on Transatlantic economic challenges in an era of growing multipolarity, Berlin, 27 September 2011, and at the BEPA-Polish Presidency conference on Sources of growth in Europe, Brussels, 6 October 2011. |
| Date: | 2011–10 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:bre:polcon:623&r=sea |
| By: | William Frey; Julie Park |
| Abstract: | This report seeks to evaluate selective migration processes of Hispanic and Asian nationality groups in the US from established settlement areas, using recent migration data from the American Community Survey. The underlying goal is to detect migration tendencies leading toward an increased dispersion of these groups associated with their migration processes. Using descriptive statistics, maps, and migration models, we assess how migration processes in the 2006-8 period are leading to the dispersal of Hispanic and Asian race ethnic groups across metropolitan areas, with special attention to the roles of co-ethnic communities and spatial assimilation. These analyses employ migration data available from the 3-year 2006-8 American Community Survey using restricted data from the US Census Bureau’s Research Data Centers. This use of the restricted ACS files permitted the first post 2000 analysis of inter-metropolitan migration for Hispanic groups (Mexicans, Puerto Ricans, Cubans, Salvadorans, Dominicans) and Asian groups (Chinese, Indians, Filipinos, Vietnamese, Koreans) using the detailed demographic and geographic attributes available with these files. The data and analysis presented here provide a benchmark for further research of this kind with the American Community Survey in light of the fact that migration data will no longer be available from the US decennial census. The study examines migration from these groups’ major settlement areas to other metropolitan area destinations as they are affected by the attraction of co-ethnic communities and by a migrant selectivity pattern consistent with the perspective of spatial assimilation. The migration processes themselves were evaluated in terms of two components: the out--migration rates of residents, and the destination selection of movers. From the perspective of co-ethnic community attraction, it was hypothesized that the outmigration rates from high co-ethnic settlement areas would be lower than those from areas where the group had a smaller overall presence and that the destination selections of out-migrants would be positively affected by the presence of high co-ethnic population shares in destination areas. From the spatial assimilation perspective, it was hypothesized that out-migration from high coethnic areas would least likely occur for group members with lowest education, poor facility with English, and recently arrived in the US; whereas the selection of destinations with large coethnic population shares would be most likely to occur for these same population categories. The results strongly confirm that co-ethnic community attraction continues to reduce outmigration of groups from major settlement origins and positively influences their destination selections. A series of multivariate migrant destination selection models confirm a consistent draw of ethnically similar destinations across individual Hispanic and Asian groups when other economic, demographic and structural metropolitan attributes are taken into account. In contrast, results regarding spatial assimilation are typically mixed or nonexistent in characterizing both out-migration and mover destination selectivity patterns. In fact, we find contrary evidence for some Asian groups for whom it is the most educated, and native born migrants who show a penchant for selecting destinations with greater co-ethnic population shares. Among the greatest destinations for Indians, for example, are Philadelphia, Seattle, Dallas, Boston and Atlanta- areas with higher than average Indian population shares, and areas that also house knowledge-based industries. The selection of co-ethnic destinations among Hispanic group migrants appears somewhat impervious to education attainment and Hispanic and Mexican group movers, who are foreign born and who arrived since 2000, are least, rather than most, prone to select co-ethnic destinations. The mover destination models make plain that employment growth at destination provides a strong draw for all Hispanic groups. This suggests that recent growth in low skilled jobs in parts of the country with small Hispanic populations are nonetheless attracting newly arrived, and less skilled Mexicans and other Hispanics who might have previously been especially lured to destinations with large co-ethnic population shares. |
| Date: | 2011–10 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:cen:wpaper:11-33&r=sea |
| By: | Lionel Fontagné (EEP-PSE - Ecole d'Économie de Paris - Paris School of Economics - Ecole d'Économie de Paris, CEPII - Centre d'Etudes Prospectives et d'Informations Internationales - Centre d'analyse stratégique, CES - Centre d'économie de la Sorbonne - CNRS : UMR8174 - Université Panthéon-Sorbonne - Paris I); Michela Limardi (EEP-PSE - Ecole d'Économie de Paris - Paris School of Economics - Ecole d'Économie de Paris, PSE - Paris-Jourdan Sciences Economiques - CNRS : UMR8545 - Ecole des Hautes Etudes en Sciences Sociales (EHESS) - Ecole des Ponts ParisTech - Ecole Normale Supérieure de Paris - ENS Paris - INRA) |
| Abstract: | Many Developing Countries ratified ILO Fundamental Conventions and authorized local labour unions. Multinational companies producing in these countries pay more when NGOs campaigns take place and reputation counts. However, whether this external pressure from NGOs benefit local workers outside MNEs affiliates in host countries remains an open issue. Segmented and weak local labour unions often rely on external funding from the North and technical assistance by labour NGOs. They need to increase their visibility in the labour intensive sectors targeted by Northern donations and activism. To address these issues we develop a bargaining model adapted to peculiarities of labour market institutions in developing countries, i.e. external funding and the complementarity with labour NGOs. This model is estimated on data on Indonesian manufacturing firms, before and after the authorisation of labour unions, in sensitive and non sensitive sectors. We find that, in sectors with visibility for labour unions, the net outcome on wages of the presence of NGOs is negative. The external fundings imply a distortion in the objective of labour unions, confronted with the constraint of increasing the employment in the formal sector. |
| Keywords: | Labour standards ; NGOs ; Wage determination |
| Date: | 2011–10 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:hal:psewpa:halshs-00630096&r=sea |