|
on South East Asia |
| By: | Pohn, Lukas; Schulze, Günther |
| JEL: | I25 O15 Q53 |
| Date: | 2025 |
| URL: | https://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:zbw:vfsc25:325384 |
| By: | Glauber, Joseph W.; Mamun, Abdullah |
| Abstract: | Rice is a major food crop supplying, on average, 516 kcal per capita per day or roughly 17.3% of total calories consumed globally in 2022. Rice production and consumption is concentrated in Asia though rice has grown as an important staple crop outside of Asia. Sub-Saharan Africa currently accounts for 7 percent of global rice consumption but account for over 28 percent of total rice imports. Rice is a thinly traded crop compared to other staples like wheat and maize. Rice imports account for about 10 percent of total consumption today but import penetration is expected to grow to about 11 percent by 2033. India is the world’s largest exporter accounting for about 40 percent of total exports in recent years. Pakistan, Thailand, Vietnam and the United States account for an additional 40 percent of world exports. Mid-range projections for the next 10 years suggest that trends in place will likely continue. Yields are assumed to keep pace with global consumption trends. Sub-Saharan Africa will account for a significant share of the overall growth in consumption. The US Department of Agriculture (USDA) forecasts that Sub-Saharan Africa will account for 27 percent of the growth in global rice consumption and 47 percent of the growth in global imports over the next 10 years. Climate and government distortions remain the single largest vulnerabilities to the rice market. Because of the large concentration of rice production in South and Southeast Asia, crop production is vulnerable to El Niño and other climatic events like the Indian Ocean Dipole which can bring hot and dry weather and disrupt the monsoon season. Since rice is so thinly traded, market restrictions imposed by one of more of the major exporting countries can cause large price impacts. In 2007/08, export bans affected as much as 80 percent of rice trade which caused global prices to almost triple. In July 2023, India imposed export restrictions fearing that domestic production would be harmed by a developing El Nino event. Global rice prices rose by 30 percent as a result. Importing countries bore much of the brunt of those increases, particularly poorer countries in the rice-importing areas of Sub-Saharan Africa. Other potential vulnerabilities include logistical issues, particularly bottlenecks in the major shipping lanes of Asia. |
| Keywords: | climate; rice; risk; trade; vulnerability |
| Date: | 2024–12–31 |
| URL: | https://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:fpr:ifprid:168523 |
| By: | Patteera Pantaratorn (" Rangsit University, Pathumthani, Thailand" Author-2-Name: Noppadol Dharawanij Author-2-Workplace-Name: " Rangsit University, Pathumthani, Thailand" Author-3-Name: Author-3-Workplace-Name: Author-4-Name: Author-4-Workplace-Name: Author-5-Name: Author-5-Workplace-Name: Author-6-Name: Author-6-Workplace-Name: Author-7-Name: Author-7-Workplace-Name: Author-8-Name: Author-8-Workplace-Name:) |
| Abstract: | " Objective - This study aims to explore the potential for developing sustainable creative tourism in Ban Khlong Bang Phai, Nonthaburi, by analyzing both supply and demand factors. The research adopts an empirical approach to assess the integration of local cultural and natural resources into tourism planning and the influence of tourist motivations on satisfaction. Methodology - A mixed-methods design was employed, combining qualitative interviews with 12 key community stakeholders and quantitative surveys of 169 tourists. Qualitative data identified local resources, cultural activities, and development opportunities, while quantitative data assessed tourist motivations, satisfaction, and decision-making factors using structured questionnaires, descriptive statistics, and multiple regression analysis. Findings - Ban Khlong Bang Phai possesses rich cultural and natural resources, including traditional arts, crafts, agricultural practices, and religious activities, which can serve as the basis for creative tourism. Tourists were primarily motivated by the uniqueness of the destination and the cultural activities it offered. High satisfaction was reported with cultural experiences, local hospitality, and destination authenticity, while infrastructure challenges such as transportation and signage were identified as areas for improvement. Significant correlations were found between tourist motivations and satisfaction. Novelty - The study offers an empirical framework linking community cultural resources with tourist motivations and satisfaction to guide sustainable creative tourism development. It provides actionable insights for planning tourism activities that preserve cultural authenticity while promoting local economic growth, addressing a research gap in community-based creative tourism in Thailand. Type of Paper - Empirical" |
| Keywords: | Sustainable tourism; Creative tourism; Tourist satisfaction; Cultural heritage; Community-based tourism; Thailand; Tourist motivation |
| JEL: | M14 M19 |
| Date: | 2025–09–30 |
| URL: | https://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:gtr:gatrjs:jber260 |
| By: | Nuur Rasyiqah Zainuddin (Faculty of Business and Economics, Universiti Malaya, 50603, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia Author-2-Name: Chen Chen Yong Author-2-Workplace-Name: Faculty of Business and Economics, Universiti Malaya, 50603, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia Author-3-Name: Author-3-Workplace-Name: Author-4-Name: Author-4-Workplace-Name: Author-5-Name: Author-5-Workplace-Name: Author-6-Name: Author-6-Workplace-Name: Author-7-Name: Author-7-Workplace-Name: Author-8-Name: Author-8-Workplace-Name:) |
| Abstract: | " Objective - This study aims to identify Malaysia's machinery and equipment (M&E) industry local supply chain, classify its key industries, and estimate the economic effects of changes in final demand within the industry. Methodology - This study employs a quantitative input–output analysis to assess both the strength and distance of linkages between the machinery and equipment (M&E) industry and other sectors in Malaysia. Industries are classified according to normalized backward and forward linkages, and multiplier analyses are used to evaluate the economic effects of changes in final demand for the M&E industry. Findings - Results indicate that the M&E industry in Malaysia is primarily a backward linkage-oriented sector, stimulating growth in upstream industries through its demand for inputs. The analysis further identifies five key industries, including M&E, within its supply chain. Scenario-based multiplier simulations reveal negative economic impacts from reduced export demand for the M&E industry, but positive impacts from investment in the M&E sector and its related industries. The results also indicate the M&E industry's reliance on external demand. Novelty - This study demonstrates the value of systems thinking by integrating scenario analysis with supply-chain linkages, industrial classifications, and multiplier effects to produce a more comprehensive economic assessment. The approach highlights potential policy insights for improving public resource allocation in Malaysia. Type of Paper - Empirical" |
| Keywords: | Machinery and Equipment Industry; Input-Output Analysis; Supply Chain |
| JEL: | C67 D57 L60 |
| Date: | 2025–09–30 |
| URL: | https://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:gtr:gatrjs:jber262 |
| By: | Ali Akram; Kannika Thampanishvong |
| Abstract: | Climate change threatens agricultural sustainability, making the nexus of farm-level adaptation and economic performance a critical area of scientific inquiry. In Thailand, New Theory Agriculture (NTA) is a diversification strategy designed to enhance farmer resilience against climate and market risks. This study provides an experimental evaluation of the NTA's effectiveness, quantifying its impacts by comparing a treatment cohort of NTA adopters against a control group of non-adopters. The analysis reveals that NTA has a statistically significant positive effect on both farm diversification and profitability. Notably, participants in the NTA earned an average of $971 more in net farm revenue per growing season than their counterparts. This result contributes to the literature by empirically challenging the posited trade-off between resilience-oriented diversification and economic returns. Ultimately, the findings demonstrate that NTA represents an effective paradigm for concurrently achieving climate adaptation and economic sustainability in the Thai agricultural sector. |
| Keywords: | New Theory Agriculture; Thailand; Climate change adaptation; Agricultural diversification |
| JEL: | Q12 Q18 Q54 |
| Date: | 2025–09 |
| URL: | https://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:pui:dpaper:239 |
| By: | Jonas HJORT; Yukiko SAITO; Yasuka TATEISHI; Linda WU |
| Abstract: | Japanese firms have long benefited from foreign direct investment (FDI) in Asia, relocating labour-intensive production to lower-wage countries. In the past decades, however, wages in many Asian host countries have risen rapidly, while wages in Japan have remained stagnant, narrowing the wage gap and increasing the cost of offshore production. This study examines how these shifting cost dynamics affect investment decisions, drawing on 20 years of administrative data and an original survey of Japanese FDI firms conducted in November 2024. The data reveal a sharp narrowing of wage differentials alongside slower new investment and rising exits. Survey evidence indicates that most firms either take no action or, at most, make intensive-margin adjustments on increasing labour costs. While rising labour costs are not the dominant reason for withdrawal, subsidiary wage growth is positively associated with exit due to labour cost increases, suggesting that continued wage convergence may contribute to a future downturn in Japanese FDI in Asia. |
| Date: | 2025–09 |
| URL: | https://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:eti:dpaper:25090 |
| By: | Lee, Jong-Wha; SONG, Eunbi |
| Abstract: | This study examines the factors underlying the sharp decline in marriage and fertility rates by integrating microdata analysis with a structural macroeconomic model. Drawing on 25 years of individual-level panel data from the Korean Labor and Income Panel Study, it employs discrete-time survival models to examine how individual and regional factors influence the incidence of first marriage and childbirth. The findings show that rising educational and marriage-related expenses significantly reduce the likelihood of marriage, whereas increased female labor force participation and escalating child education costs are associated with lower probabilities of childbirth. These empirical patterns motivate a dynamic overlapping-generations model with endogenous family formation, human capital investment, and intra-household bargaining. The model incorporates gender-based differences in partner matching and household labor, which influence time allocation and marriage utility, particularly for college- educated women. Simulation results indicate that rising marriage and child-rearing costs have been the primary drivers of declining family formation since 1990, while increases in women's education have played a modest role. The findings further suggest that a package of targeted policies--such as childcare and education support, marriage-cost subsidies, and gender-equalizing reforms in households and the labor market--could raise the fertility rate from 0.75 to around 1.2, a level comparable to that of other low-fertility advanced countries. |
| Keywords: | growth, fertility, gender equality, human capital accumulation, marriage, Korea |
| JEL: | E24 J11 J12 J13 J71 O53 |
| Date: | 2025–09 |
| URL: | https://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:agi:wpaper:02000249 |
| By: | Rana, Abdul Wajid; Gill, Sitara |
| Abstract: | Pakistan is a case of double injustice contributing a minuscule share of global greenhouse gases, yet it is bearing the brunt of global climate change impacts. It ranks among the top 10 countries vulnerable to climate change (Eckstein et al., 2021). The 2022 IPCC Report underlines the heightened vulnerabilities because of global warming and climate change leading to more floods. The Asia-Pacific Disaster Report 20221, Pakistan could lose more than 9 percent of its annual GDP due to climate change. The Notre Dame- Gain Matrix2 ranks Pakistan 5th most impacted country by climate change shocks and is positioned as the 36th least-prepared nation to cope with climate changes (The World Bank Group, 2021). Besides, Pakistan scores worst on the indicator of Agriculture Capacity3 at 0.939. Pakistan is highly vulnerable to climate changes because of its arid to semi-arid environmental conditions (Nasim et al., 2018; Ullah et al., 2019, Ghaffar et al., 2022). Over the last two decades, the country has been facing the challenges of rising temperature, extreme heatwaves, drought, intense and erratic precipitation, water stress, glacial melting, recurring flash floods and super floods in 2010 and 2022. The combination of reduced crop yields, water scarcity, and changing agricultural practices can lead to severe food insecurity and economic challenges for marginalized communities and more importantly, for farmers. In July-August 2022, Pakistan faced unprecedented rainfall and riverine floods damaging cultivated crops, livestock and the infrastructure. Approximately 4.4 million acres of crops were damaged, and nearly 1 million animals perished. The total cost of damages and losses was estimated at $30.13 billion, with agriculture accounting for $12.9 billion (43 percent of the total) (Economic Survey of Pakistan, 2021-22). |
| Keywords: | agriculture; greenhouse gases; climate change; climate-smart agriculture; Pakistan; Southern Asia; Asia |
| Date: | 2024–01–24 |
| URL: | https://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:fpr:othbrf:138510 |
| By: | Meng ZHAO; Ting YIN |
| Abstract: | Beyond the natural cognitive decline that accompanies aging, a growing body of research suggests that social capital can influence this process, particularly after retirement. This study investigates the interplay among social capital, retirement, and cognitive function. Using longitudinal Japanese data from 2007, 2009 and 2011, we assess three cognitive domains - orientation to time and place, short-term memory, and calculation ability - and examine how they can be affected by working status and social capital, proxied by participation in social activities and the size of one’s friendship network. The major findings of this study are: (1) the cognitive effects of retirement appear to be complex and dynamic; and (2) social capital and employment interact with each other, with regular participation in social activities playing a protective role in cognitive aging. |
| Date: | 2025–09 |
| URL: | https://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:eti:dpaper:25094 |
| By: | Naiyue CUI; Minchung HSU; Yunfang HU |
| Abstract: | This study extends Hansen and Imrohoroglu (2016) by incorporating female labor supply and a home sector into a growth model to assess Japan’s fiscal sustainability and quantify the role of female labor in stabilizing government debt. The model is calibrated to the Japanese economy, which features a sizable gender productivity gap in the market sector, with female labor efficiency below 50% of the male level. Absent policy intervention, model simulations project the debt-to-output ratio to exceed 250% by 2035. Stabilizing debt at 60% of output using the consumption tax alone requires raising the tax rate to 40.9% starting in 2035, followed by a reduction to 24.4% once the target is achieved in 2089. We also find that reforming Japan’s current spousal tax treatment is critical. Removing the current spousal tax treatment together with the debt stabilization improves female labor supply and reduces the required consumption tax rate to 33.9% during 2035–2089 and to 18.2% at the target. Additional simulations likewise highlight the importance of gender equality for labor supply and long-run fiscal outcomes. |
| Date: | 2025–09 |
| URL: | https://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:eti:dpaper:25095 |
| By: | Masayuki MORIKAWA |
| Abstract: | Using micro-level data on Japanese firms, this study analyzes the relationship between productivity and wages, as well as trends in the labor share, with a focus on comparing aggregate-level and firm-level figures. The main findings are as follows. First, at the macro level, productivity growth and real wage growth are diverging, but, at the firm level, there is a strong positive relationship between productivity growth and wage growth, indicating that productivity and wages have not decoupled. Second, a divergence exists between simple average and aggregate (i.e., weighted-average) wage trends, with aggregate real wages exhibiting a greater downward trend. Third, dynamic Olley-Pakes decomposition reveals that the covariance term contributes negatively to changes in real wages. In other words, the relationship between higher value-added share and higher wages is weakening. In contrast, in relation to productivity, the covariance term has a large positive effect at the aggregate level. These results suggest that while productivity growth is essential for raising real wages, policies that promote productivity through resource reallocation may conflict with those aimed at increasing labor’s share of value-added. |
| Date: | 2025–09 |
| URL: | https://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:eti:rdpsjp:25023 |
| By: | Rana, Abdul Wajid; Gill, Sitara; Akram, Iqra |
| Abstract: | Climate change is one of the most pressing challenges confronting our global system today. The scientific community has clearly established that global temperatures are rising and the consequences of climate change may swiftly transition from an environmental risk to an economic threat. Agriculture sector is particularly vulnerable to changes in weather and climatic condition. Over 60% of the yield variability is chalked up to to climate change; significantly affecting food production and farmer income. Changes in climate affect the onset and duration of crop growing cycle, and the extent and duration of heat and water stress impact agriculture production. Moreover, it may trigger pest and disease outbreaks causing significant production losses. Small-scale farmers in rain-fed areas of Pakistan face the severe susceptibility to the challenges brought about by climate change. This vulnerability stems from their heavy dependence on traditional farming methods and their limited ability to adapt, exacerbated by their limited access to advanced technologies and high levels of poverty. Worldwide, crop yields from rainfed farming are approximately 50 percent less than those achieved through irrigated methods. In the absence of adaptation measures to cope with climate change, a potential decline of around 50 percent in rain-fed agricultural yields could potentially occur within the next 30-35 years. Promoting climate smart agricultural practices appears to be a dependable strategy for addressing risks posed by climate change. |
| Keywords: | agriculture; climate change; crop rotation; rainfed farming; vulnerability; Pakistan; Southern Asia; Asia |
| Date: | 2024–02–16 |
| URL: | https://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:fpr:ifprwp:139502 |
| By: | Muhammad Younas (Department of Commerce and Management Sciences, University of Malakand, Pakistan.); Altaf Hussain Akhunkhel (Department of Commerce and Management Sciences, University of Malakand, Pakistan.); Saeed Ullah Khan (LIREM - Laboratoire de Recherche en Management - UPPA - Université de Pau et des Pays de l'Adour) |
| Abstract: | Purpose—The study aims to examine the influence of transformational leadership on employee work engagement. It analyzes whether trust in the leader mediates this relationship within the context of the telecom call center sector in Pakistan. Design/methodology/approach—A quantitative, survey-based research design was employed, and data were collected from 165 call center employees through a structured questionnaire. Hierarchical component modelling, a disjoint two-stage approach in Smart PLS 4, was employed. Reliability, validity, and common method bias were assessed to ensure methodological rigor. Findings—Transformational leadership significantly augments work engagement (β = 0.509***, p < 0.001) and strongly predicts trust in the leader (β = 0.668***, p < 0.001). Trust in the leader also shows a mediating effect VAF of more than 20%, indicating partial mediation between transformational leadership and work engagement. It offers transformational leaders the influence to engage employees both directly and indirectly by enabling trust. Research limitations/implications—Cross-sectional design, sample size, single-source data, and single-sector selection were the limitations of the study. Future research could examine designing a longitudinal design, a large sample size, different organizational settings, and various contexts to enhance generalizability. Practical Implications—HR departments should invest in transformational leadership development programs to strengthen trust in leaders, which can enhance employee engagement, reduce turnover, and improve organizational performance. Originality/value—The study adds to the leadership and engagement literature by validating hierarchical modeling components of both transformational leadership and work engagement and investigating the mediating role of trust in the South Asian telecom sector, a context where empirical evidence remains limited. |
| Abstract: | Objectif—L'étude cherche à analyser l'impact du leadership transformationnel sur l'engagement au travail des employés. Il examine si la confiance dans le leader médiatise cette relation dans le secteur des centres d'appels de télécommunications au Pakistan. Conception/méthodologie/approche— Une approche de recherche quantitative par enquête a été adoptée et des données ont été collectées auprès de 165 employés de centres d'appels à l'aide d'un questionnaire structuré. La modélisation hiérarchique des composantes, une approche disjointe en deux étapes dans Smart PLS 4, a été utilisée. La fiabilité, la validité et le biais de méthode commune ont été testés pour assurer la rigueur méthodologique. Résultats— Le leadership transformationnel améliore considérablement l'engagement au travail (β = 0, 509***, p < 0, 001) et prédit fortement la confiance au leader (β = 0, 668***, p < 0, 001). La confiance au leader présente aussi un effet médiateur VAF supérieur à 20% ce qui traduit une médiation partielle entre le leadership transformationnel et l'engagement au travail. Cela donne aux leaders transformationnels le pouvoir d'impliquer les employés directement et indirectement en créant la confiance. Limites/implications de la recherche— La conception transversale, la taille de l'échantillon, les données d'une seule source et le choix d'un seul secteur étaient les limites de l'étude. Les études futures pourraient explorer la conception d'une étude longitudinale, une grande taille d'échantillon, différents contextes organisationnels et différents contextes pour améliorer la généralisabilité. Implications pratiques—Les RH devraient investir dans des programmes de développement du leadership transformationnel pour renforcer la confiance envers les leaders, ce qui peut améliorer l'engagement des employés, réduire le turnover et améliorer la performance organisationnelle. Originalité/valeur—L'étude enrichit la littérature sur le leadership et l'engagement en confirmant les éléments de modélisation hiérarchique du leadership transformationnel et de l'engagement au travail et en testant le rôle médiateur de la confiance dans le secteur des télécommunications en Asie du Sud, où les preuves empiriques sont rares. |
| Keywords: | Telecom sector, Work Engagement, Transformational leadership |
| Date: | 2025–03–30 |
| URL: | https://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:hal:journl:hal-05283627 |
| By: | Yantuan Yu (Guangdong University of Foreign Studies); Ning Zhang (Yonsei University) |
| Abstract: | While the critical roles of technology and finance in pollution abatement have been empirically ascertained, the synergistic effects of their integration on carbon mitigation and carbon marginal abatement costs (CMAC) of carbon remain underexplored in existing literature. In this paper, we first treat the scientific-technological and finance pilot policy (STFPP) as a quasi-experimental, and identify its effects on carbon emissions and CMAC using the staggered difference-in-differences strategy. Empirical findings show that the STFPP leads to a 5.2% decrease in carbon emissions alongside a reduction in CMAC by 1520 RMB per ton. It is also found that STFPP has a pronounced effect in reducing carbon emissions through three mechanisms: strengthening carbon reduction policy intensity, promoting green technological innovation, and facilitating integration of digital and real economies. This investigation not only constructs a theoretical scaffold but also provides empirical evidence that elucidates the specific mechanisms by which STFPP can effectively decrease both carbon emissions and CMAC. Our paper provides a practical basis for reinforcing the role of STFPP in environmental governance, equipping policymakers with valuable insights for strategic decision-making. |
| Keywords: | Scientific-Technological and Finance Pilot Policy; Low-Carbon Development; Difference-in-Differences; Carbon Marginal Abatement Costs; Technological Innovation |
| JEL: | O38 Q53 Q56 R51 |
| Date: | 2025–09 |
| URL: | https://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:yon:wpaper:2025rwp-259 |
| By: | Sharma, Kriti; Kumar, Anjani; Kumar, Nalini Ranjan |
| Abstract: | Potato remains a crucial crop for achieving India’s food security goals and generating income for small-scale farmers. But India, the largest potato producer after China, remains behind many of its peers in attaining high yield. A low varietal replacement rate could be one of the major reasons for low yield in India. This critical issue warrants investigation, yet empirical results remain limited in the Indian context. Drawing on data from a comprehensive field survey of 892 potato growing farmers conducted in 2018–19 across five major potato-producing states in India, we find the determinants of the average area-weighted age of potato varieties used, and their impact on potato yield. The instrumental variable regression analysis establishes a negative association between varietal age and yield of potato. It also underscores the importance of access to weather forecast and linkages with agricultural organizations to achieve higher yield. Furthermore, it shows that household size, links to political party, and information about new seeds from friends, progressive farmers and input dealers are associated with lower varietal age. These insights will be instrumental for policymakers and potato breeders in promoting sustainable agricultural practices and boosting food security in India amidst the impending demographic challenges. |
| Keywords: | crop yield; food security; policy innovation; potato harvesters; regression analysis; India; Asia; Southern Asia |
| Date: | 2024–09–27 |
| URL: | https://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:fpr:ifprid:152446 |
| By: | Katoch, Sonali; Kumar, Anjani; Kolady, Deepthi E.; Sharma, Kriti |
| Abstract: | This study examines the adoption of compliance with food safety measures (FSM) using cross-sectional data collected at the farm level in three key states of the Indo-Gangetic Plains, Bihar, Punjab, and Uttar Pradesh in 2023. A Food Safety Index (FSI) was developed to assess the intensity of adoption of food safety practices. Determinants of compliance with practices were assessed using multiple linear regression and an ordered logistic model. Generalized propensity score matching was used to evaluate the heterogenous impact of the adoption of FSM on farm-level performance indicators. The findings indicate that farmers are embracing a moderate level (0.48–0.58) of the food safety index at the farm level. The various socioeconomic and demographic factors influence compliance with FSM which include education, income, marketing channel, training exposure, awareness level, and infrastructure. The impact assessment reveals the direct relationship between FSM compliance and performance indicators. However, a lower level of compliance may not yield significant improvements. The study suggests incentivization through pricing reforms, improving infrastructure, and strengthening formal marketing channels. |
| Keywords: | dairy farming; data; food safety; impact assessment; smallholders; India; Asia; Southern Asia |
| Date: | 2024–09–30 |
| URL: | https://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:fpr:ifprid:152508 |
| By: | Ragasa, Catherine; Kyle, Jordan; Yasmin, Sabina; Pande, Harshita; Sharma, Aanshi; Basu, Sampurna; Najjar, Dina |
| Abstract: | Women’s equal participation and leadership in political and public life can boost a country’s long-term economic growth, foster social inclusion, and help countries reach the 2030 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Beyond these important outcomes, women’s inclusion in public life is a basic human right: Women deserve a role in making decisions, controlling resources, and shaping policies. Despite the importance of women’s voices and their empowerment in policy and decision-making processes, available metrics show that women’s policy and political empowerment remains low. Moreover, these metrics are inadequate in systematically tracking women’s voices and empowerment across different levels of decision-making. IFPRI developed an assessment framework—Women’s Empowerment in Agrifood Governance (WEAGov)—to assess women’s voices and empowerment in national policy processes in agrifood systems. This paper presents results from the pilot testing of WEAGov in India from January to March 2024. In this paper, we present how the WEAGov tool works in the Indian context, analyze trends in the data that we collected during the pilot, and provide an overview of the status of women’s voices and empowerment in the agrifood policy process as of March 2024. The pilot testing in India provides useful lessons on improving the measurement of these outcomes and offers valuable policy insights on critical entry points for increasing women’s voices and empowerment in the national agrifood policy process, design, implementation, and evaluation. |
| Keywords: | women's empowerment; gender; agrifood systems; governance; policies; measurement; India; Asia; Southern Asia |
| Date: | 2024–12–31 |
| URL: | https://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:fpr:ifprid:168968 |
| By: | Narayanan, Sudha; Raghunathan, Kalyani; Gautam, Aditi |
| Abstract: | Despite significant improvements in poverty and standard of living over the last two decades, India continues to face challenges, including slow improvements in health and nutrition indicators and in aspects of women’s empowerment and in generating opportunities for sustainable livelihoods. At the same time, climate-related events are increasing in frequency with associated risks. Women and other marginalized populations are often at greater risk from these events due to their relatively lower access to resources, lower mobility and greater dependence on common property resources. Social protection can be an effective instrument to promote resilience. One such large social protection program with significant potential is India’s Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act, or the MGNREGA, one of the largest public works programs in the world. This report provides insights from four case studies linked to the MGNREGA and implemented under the Indo-German Enhancing Rural Resilience through Appropriate Development Actions, or ERADA project. ERADA was implemented in 8 blocks of 4 large Indian states, Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Bihar and Jharkhand. The ERADA project had three broad objectives - of enhancing natural capital, green recovery through green enterprises, and convergence of resources and networks - and identified the MGNREGA as a critical social safety net on which to base its activities. While much has been written on the impact of the MGNREGA on “first-order” outcomes such as wages, employment, rural-urban distress migration and other household welfare outcomes, we know considerably less about the use of the assets created under the program, and even less about the potential of these assets to support and sustain value chain activities. |
| Keywords: | public works; sustainability; resilience; livelihoods; social protection; value chains; India; Asia; Southern Asia |
| Date: | 2024–12–31 |
| URL: | https://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:fpr:ifprid:169341 |
| By: | Kapoor, Shreya; Sma, Abdelkarim; Pathak, Himanshu; Pradhan, Mamata |
| Abstract: | Climate-smart agriculture (CSA) is pivotal in combating the impacts of climate change on global agriculture and food security. It has increasingly gained prominence as an adaptation strategy against the adverse impacts of climate change on agriculture, particularly in South Asia. However, scaling up the adoption of CSA interventions becomes critical, due to predominantly small and marginal nature of landholdings in the region, various institutional and policy constraints, and trade regulations and barriers. Another significant challenge lies in categorizing and prioritizing the multitude of technologies considered to be climate smart. Therefore, this study attempts to explore the different CSA technologies within the socio-economic context of six South Asian countries: Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Nepal, Pakistan, and Sri Lanka, with the main objective of proioritization and scaling-up of these methods. The study begins by compiling an inventory of existing technologies and subsequently prioritizing them by using the World Bank (WB) CSA Technology Index. Secondly, the study tries to address the key challenges and propose policy measures to upscale the adoption of CSA technologies in these countries using participatory research conducted with the key stakeholders in these countries. The participatory research provided valuable insights, revealing critical policy and institutional barriers, and providing a basis for framing strategies and policy solutions to facilitate wider adoption of CSA technologies in the region. |
| Keywords: | climate change; climate-smart agriculture; prioritization; scaling up; Bangladesh; Bhutan; India; Nepal; Pakistan; Sri Lanka; Asia; Southern Asia |
| Date: | 2024–10–08 |
| URL: | https://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:fpr:ifprid:155261 |
| By: | Pal, Barun Deb; Kapoor, Shreya; Rashid, Shahidur |
| Abstract: | Salt water intrusion and rising soil salnity are threatening food and livelihood security of paddy farmers in coastal Bangladesh. Visible manifestations of these challenges are degraded soils and chronic decline in tradtional farming, as it is becoming an increasingly infeasible means of livelihood. Promoting saline-tolerant paddy varieties (STRV) has been one of the major focuses of the Bangladesh Rice Research Institute (BRRI) and the attention to the problem has been intensified in recent years through a partnerhsip with a consortium of CGIAR centers. Howewer, robust empirical analysis has hitherto been limited. Using farm level data, this paper analyzes the determinants and impacts of the adopting these new varieties. We use a multi-variate logit model to identify the constraints to adoption, and Propensity Score Matching (PSM) and Endogeneous Switching Regression methods to assess the impacts on yeilds, and net income of the paddy farmers. Results show that adopting saline-tolerant rice varieties raises crop yield by an average of 1 to 2 tons per hectare, equivalent to a net income increase of about US$100 per hectare of cultivated land. Yet, adoption rates remain low due to several institutional constraints and perhaps a lack of nudging farmers in the scaling up strategies. Robustness of the results are tested, and the implications are discussed. |
| Keywords: | climate change adaptation; impact; livelihoods; saltwater intrusion; rice; seeds; soil; technology adoption; Bangladesh; Asia; Southern Asia |
| Date: | 2024–11–11 |
| URL: | https://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:fpr:ifprid:159540 |
| By: | Bin NI; Ayako OBASHI; Ting YIN |
| Abstract: | This paper empirically examines whether globally operating firms responded to institutional changes promoting women’s participation in the workplace by reducing gender wage disparities to a greater extent. We construct a dataset by linking the Basic Survey on Wage Structure (Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare) with the Basic Survey of Japanese Business Structure and Activities (Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry). Using a triple-differences approach, we estimate changes in gender wage gaps before and after the institutional change under the Act on Promotion of Women’s Participation and Advancement in the Workplace, taking into account the presence, scale, and geographic scope of foreign direct investment (FDI). The results indicate that firms engaging in FDI experienced a statistically significant narrowing of gender wage gaps compared with firms without FDI, and the effect was stronger in firms with larger numbers of foreign affiliates. These findings suggest that firms with greater global exposure were more responsive to the institutional change and more likely to undertake employment adjustments and reforms toward gender-equal work environments. In addition, the analysis reveals that firms with affiliates in countries or regions with larger time-zone differences from Japan exhibited relatively weaker effects, potentially disadvantaging female employees and minimizing the impact of the institutional change. |
| Date: | 2025–09 |
| URL: | https://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:eti:rdpsjp:25024 |
| By: | Ray, Soumyajit; Raghunathan, Kalyani; Bhanjdeo, Arundhita; Heckert, Jessica |
| Abstract: | Farmer Producer Organizations (FPOs)—farmer collectives, often legally registered - can mitigate some of the constraints smallholder farmers face by improving their access to extension, services, and markets, especially for women. We evaluate the effects of a set of interventions delivered through women-only FPOs in Jharkhand, India, using a panel of 1200 households and a difference-in-difference model with nearest neighbor matching. A complementary qualitative study in the same areas helps triangulate and interpret our findings. The interventions aimed to improve agricultural productivity by coordinating production and improving access to services, while also providing gender sensitization trainings to FPO leaders and members. We collect household data on asset ownership and agricultural outcomes and individual data on women’s and men’s empowerment using the project-level Women’s Empowerment in Agriculture Index for Market Inclusion (pro-WEAI+MI). Our results for asset ownership, land cultivated, cropping intensity, and per acre yields, revenues or costs are statistically insignificant. Effects on men’s and women's empowerment are mixed. While we see positive effects on women’s decisionmaking, asset ownership, control over income and attitudes towards intimate partner violence, the program is associated with an increase in workload and a reduction in active group membership for both men and women. Men appear to cede control over resources and decisionmaking to other household members. Additional analyses suggest that while some effects can occur in the short-term, others take time to accrue. FPO based interventions that aim to empower women or other marginalized groups likely require sustained investments over multiple years and will need to go beyond improving FPO functioning and increasing women’s participation to transforming social norms. |
| Keywords: | agriculture; farmers organizations; cooperatives; markets; prices; yields; empowerment; smallholders; women; gender; India; Asia |
| Date: | 2024–08–27 |
| URL: | https://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:fpr:ifprid:151877 |
| By: | Ahmed, Akhter; Bakhtiar, M. Mehrab; Hoddinott, John F.; Roy, Shalini |
| Abstract: | Evidence shows that cash and in-kind transfer programs increase food security while interventions are ongoing, including during or immediately after shocks. But less is known about whether receipt of these programs can have protective effects for household food security against shocks that occur several years after interventions end. We study the effects of a transfer program implemented as a cluster-randomized control trial in rural Bangladesh from 2012-2014 – the Transfer Modality Research Initiative (TMRI) – on food security in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic. We assess TMRI’s impacts at three post-program time points: before the shock (2018), amidst the shock (2021), and after the immediate effects of the shock (2022). We find that TMRI showed protective effects on household food security during and after the pandemic, but program design features “mattered”; positive impacts were only seen in the treatment arm that combined cash transfers with nutrition behavior change communication (Cash+BCC). Other treatment arms – cash only, and food only – showed no significant sustained effects on our household food security measures after the intervention ended, nor did they show protective effects during the pandemic. A plausible mechanism is that investments made by Cash+BCC households in productive assets – specifically livestock – increased their pre-shock resilience capacity. |
| Keywords: | COVID-19; resilience; shock; social protection; Bangladesh; Asia; Southern Asia |
| Date: | 2024–10–01 |
| URL: | https://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:fpr:ifprid:155053 |
| By: | Kosec, Katrina; Kyle, Jordan; Narayanan, Sudha; Raghunathan, Kalyani; Ray, Soumyajit |
| Abstract: | We explore the impacts of exposing women to female role models and providing skills training on outcomes related to women’s aspirations and engagement in demanding assets under India’s Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA)—the largest public works program in the world, which solicits citizen input on which assets to build and where. While the role model treatment exposes women to a video with stories of female role models from neighboring districts who successfully demanded assets, the skills training shows women how to identify individual and group needs for assets, frame their demands, and articulate them to public functionaries. In a randomized controlled trial spanning 94 villages and involving approximately 2, 600 women, we find that exposure to role models alone has limited impacts, but when combined with skills training, there are strong positive impacts on women’s aspirations and engagement in demanding assets. This reveals that even a light-touch training can significantly benefit women’s voice and agency in village decision-making. |
| Keywords: | civil society; decision making; gender; training; women's empowerment; India; Asia; Southern Asia |
| Date: | 2024–12–31 |
| URL: | https://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:fpr:ifprid:169023 |
| By: | Carias Escobar, Michelle (Department of Economics, University of Melbourne); Baranov, Victoria (Department of Economics, University of Melbourne); Maselko, Joanna (Department of Epidemiology, Gillings School of Global Public Health, University of North Carolina); Biroli, Piertro (Department of Economics, University of Bologna); Bhalotra, Sonia (Department of Economics, University of Warwick) |
| Abstract: | The COVID-19 pandemic was a health and economic shock with devastating effects, especially for low- and middle-income countries (LMICs), where a larger fraction of the population lives in precarious health and economic conditions. In addition to the increase in morbidity and mortality stemming from the disease, COVID-19 lockdowns prompted extensive earnings losses and economic uncertainty about the future. Together, illness, death, job loss and increasing economic uncertainty likely contributed to the widespread deterioration in mental health observed during the pandemic (Adams-Prassl et al. 2020; Biroli et al. 2021; Giuntella et al. 2021; Witteveen and Velthorst 2020; Bau et al. 2022; Baranov et al. 2022). Most of the current literature investigating the impacts of COVID-19 has focused on the impacts of experienced negative shocks. Yet, the anticipation of future shocks, has been shown to predict poor mental health outcomes in adults (Baranov, Bennett, and Kohler 2015), and the psychiatry literature suggests a strong link between economic uncertainty and mental health by increasing anxiety and depression symptoms, rates of PTSD, and reports of general distress (Di Quirico, 2023; Massazza et al., 2022). In this paper, we document how different dimensions of the COVID-19 pandemic impinged on women’s mental health in rural Pakistan. We consider four COVID-related stressors capturing both direct effects of experienced health and economic shocks as well as effects through the anticipation of future risks. Specifically, we investigate the association between a battery of mental health measures and (i) experienced morbidity and mortality due to COVID-19, (ii) worry about the disease risk, (iii) experienced economic shocks, and (iv) economic uncertainty about 2 the future induced by the pandemic. We find that an environment of heightened economic uncertainty might impact mental health, above and beyond the effects of realized shocks. |
| Date: | 2025 |
| URL: | https://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:wrk:warwec:1578 |
| By: | Kumar, Shalander; Kumar, G. Kishore; Roa, K.P.C. |
| Abstract: | Smallholder agriculture, especially in the global South, is highly vulnerable to climate variability and change; hence, the aim of the Digital Innovation initiative was to equip farmers with actionable weather-based agro advisories to improve farm management and mitigate climate risks. This working paper explores the delivery of contextualized climate information to farmers in Rayagada and Gajapati districts of Odisha. The region is characterized by predominantly rainfed agriculture and high vulnerability to climate variability. The objective was to enhance farmers' resilience by providing tailored climate advisories and understand the dynamics of their decision-making across various farming stages while using agro advisories. A mixed-methods approach was employed, involving surveys with 200 farmers across four blocks of two districts and focus group discussions to gather comprehensive insights into their decision-making processes. The study found that 79% of farmers were male, while 21% were female, highlighting the need for gender-sensitive advisories. Decision-making was influenced by a complex interplay of traditional knowledge, market dynamics, climate advisories, and social influences. Digital climate services, such as those offered by ISAT, have shown to be valuable, with 82% of farmers accessing these advisories. Adoption rates varied significantly across different farming activities, with 67% adoption for supporting crop sowing decisions and 69% for crop protection, compared to lower uptake in land preparation (29%) and irrigation (24%). For decisions on crop and cultivar choice, farmers didn’t intend to use the weather-based agro-advisories yet. Probably, advisories based on the seasonal climate forecast needed for decisions on crop and cultivar choices in the past either were not available or less reliable, resulting in the reluctance of farmers to use such advisories. The findings suggest that climate advisory services should be more localized, culturally sensitive, and integrated with traditional practices to address farmers' diverse needs effectively. By bridging the gap between modern advisory systems and traditional wisdom, these integrated services have the potential to enhance farm-level resilience and contribute meaningfully to the livelihoods of smallholder farmers in Odisha. |
| Keywords: | digital innovation; Information and Communication Technologies; crop management; India |
| Date: | 2024–11–20 |
| URL: | https://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:fpr:cgiarp:163043 |
| By: | Lucie Giorgi (Aix-Marseille Univ., CNRS, AMSE, Marseille, France); Eva Raiber (Aix-Marseille Univ., CNRS, AMSE, Marseille, France) |
| Abstract: | We examine how the 2015 relaxation of China's one-child policy affected marriage outcomes. Before the reform, some groups were already permitted to have two children. In China, where the sex ratio is heavily skewed toward men, being exempt from the one-child constraint may have been a desirable characteristic for marriage, increasing men's marriage odds. Using detailed policy data on exemptions and individual data from 2010-2018, we find that after the relaxation, men previously allowed a second child are less likely to marry compared to those not allowed. There is no effect for women. The results suggest that differential fertility constraints distorted who got married by advantaging certain men when there was a demand for a second child and strong marriage competition. Furthermore, suggestive evidence shows that the relaxation increased matching by education when exemptions were moderately widespread, indicating that fertility constraints also shaped who married whom. |
| Keywords: | fertility, Family planning, marriage, China |
| JEL: | J12 J13 J18 O53 |
| Date: | 2025–09 |
| URL: | https://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:aim:wpaimx:2512 |
| By: | Chaudhary, Latika (Naval Postgraduate School); Dupraz, Yannick (Paris Dauphine University, PSL University, LEDA, CNRS, IRD); Fenske, James (University of Warwick and CAGE) |
| Abstract: | Combining detailed data on language and migration across colonial Indian districts in 1901 with a gravity model, we find origin and destination districts separated by more dissimilar languages saw less migration. We control for the physical distance between origin-destination pairs, several measures of dissimilarity in geographic characteristics, as well as origin and destination fixed effects. The results are robust to a regression discontinuity design that exploits spatial boundaries across language groups. We also find linguistic differences predict lower migration in 2001. Cultural channels are a small part of the link from linguistic diversity to lower migration. Rather, the evidence suggests communication and information channels are more important. |
| Keywords: | Migration, Linguistic Diversity, India JEL Classification: N35, O15, Z13 |
| Date: | 2025 |
| URL: | https://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:cge:wacage:774 |
| By: | Chang Ma; Alessandro Rebucci; Sili Zhou |
| Abstract: | Chinese private portfolio equity outflows, though small compared to other Chinese outflows, are growing rapidly because of capital account liberalization and capital flight. Using granular stock-holding data on Qualified Domestic Institutional Investor (QDII) mutual funds, we identify a nascent financial channel of international transmission of Chinese monetary policy to world stocks. Event study analysis around monetary policy announcement days reveals that monetary policy tightening depresses returns of country equity indexes and individual U.S. stocks with QDII fund exposure relative to non-exposed stocks. The results are robust to controlling for the real transmission channel of Chinese monetary policy and other confounders. The effect is driven by smaller and less liquid firms, but not by China-concept stocks or those highly exposed to China's macroeconomic shocks. We also find that the results are driven by household portfolio rebalancing from more to less risky assets following the announcement. |
| JEL: | F30 G10 |
| Date: | 2025–09 |
| URL: | https://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:nbr:nberwo:34291 |
| By: | Kramer, Berber; Pattnaik, Subhransu; Ward, Patrick S.; Xu, Yingchen |
| Abstract: | Smallholder farmers often lack documented land rights to serve as collateral for formal loans, with livelihoods inextricably linked to weather conditions. Resulting credit and risk constraints prevent them from investing in their farms. We implemented a randomized evaluation of KhetScore, an innovative credit scoring approach that uses remote sensing to unlock credit and insurance for smallholders including landless farmers in Odisha, a state in eastern India. In our treatment group, where we offered KhetScore loans and insurance, farmers - and especially women - were more likely to be insured and borrow from formal sources without substituting formal for informal loans. Despite increased borrowing, treated households faced less difficulty in repaying loans, suggesting that insured KhetScore loans transferred risk and eased the burden of repayment. Moreover, the treatment enhanced agricultural profitability by increasing revenues during the monsoon season and reducing costs in the dry season. Positive and significant effects are found among both farmers with unconstrained baseline credit access, and quantity rationed farmers, suggesting that KhetScore helps address supply-side credit constraints. Finally, the treatment significantly enhanced women’s empowerment and mental health. In conclusion, remote sensing-enabled financial products can substantially improve landless farmers’ access to agricultural credit, risk management, resilience, and well-being. |
| Keywords: | smallholders; land rights; loans; livelihoods; weather; credit; remote sensing; access to finance; gender; impact assessment; insurance; India; Asia |
| Date: | 2024–10–31 |
| URL: | https://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:fpr:ifprid:162767 |
| By: | Meera Mahadevan |
| Abstract: | Electricity sectors in many developing countries are stuck in a vicious cycle of low prices, financial insolvency, and unreliable service. India’s state-owned utilities are emblematic of this problem, costing the government billions in bailouts while delivering poor electricity reliability. This paper leverages a large-scale reform in India’s power sector to show that raising electricity prices—while seemingly counterintuitive—can help propel the sector out of this cycle. Using state-level variation in the implementation of the reforms, I find that manufacturing firms in states where electricity reliability improved increased their consumption of grid electricity by 19%, despite a 3% rise in average prices. Firms also increased worker hours and output, highlighting that previously, unreliable electricity was a binding constraint on production. These results suggest that raising prices, when coupled with improved service quality, is a viable strategy for breaking the cycle of low investment and poor utility performance in the developing world. |
| Keywords: | electricity, energy sector reform, manufacturing firms, public utilities, India |
| JEL: | O13 O14 O38 L94 Q48 |
| Date: | 2025 |
| URL: | https://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:ces:ceswps:_12168 |
| By: | Melesse, Mequanint B.; Duche, Vishwambhar; Guvvalavenkata, Anupama; Kumar, Dron; Sanil, Richu; Falk, Thomas; Meinzen-Dick, Ruth S. |
| Abstract: | Water is a vital resource for agricultural production, sustaining ecosystem services, and supporting livelihoods of communities. However, population growth and climate change coupled with unsustainable water use and management are increasingly pushing the limits of water resources. In many parts of India, water scarcity is already posing a threat to agricultural systems and livelihoods due to prolonged droughts and climate variability. Water scarcity is more pronounced in semi-arid and arid dryland regions of India, where the majority of these regions are characterized as high to extreme water stress areas. Effective management and governance of water resources is crucial to sustain productivity of dryland agricultural systems and livelihoods in these regions. |
| Keywords: | capacity building; water; water management; surface water; India; Asia; Southern Asia |
| Date: | 2024–12–31 |
| URL: | https://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:fpr:othbrf:168925 |
| By: | Agarwal, Vikas; Ghosh, Pulak; Prabhala, Nagpurnanand R.; Zhao, Haibei |
| Abstract: | We analyze a market-wide panel dataset on retail options trading from India, a market with an 80% share in option contracts traded worldwide. Retail traders both concentrated in and dominate index options trading. They exhibit short-term speculative behavior with significant day trading, short- duration directional bets especially as options converge to 0DTE and make significant losses. Three natural experiments indicate that financial constraints and lottery-like preferences likely shape investor behavior. An exogenous increase in the supply of short-maturity options induces trading. Lot-size increases and delivery margins trying to curb speculation are offset by shifts to small ticket-size, riskier options. While financial market participation increases welfare in canonical household finance models, it can also entrench speculative behavior that is difficult to undo. |
| Keywords: | Options, Retail Options Trading, Speculation, Skewness, Lotteries, Gambling, Addiction, Financial Inclusion, Stock Market Participation |
| JEL: | D14 D18 G14 G15 G18 G50 G53 O16 |
| Date: | 2025 |
| URL: | https://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:zbw:cfrwps:327125 |
| By: | Ritam Chaurey; Gaurav Nayyar; Siddharth Sharma; Eric Verhoogen |
| Abstract: | Knowledge spillovers among firms are widely viewed as a key driver of agglomeration and growth, but are difficult to estimate cleanly. We randomly allocated an energy-efficient motor --- a “servo'” motor --- among leather-goods firms in Dhaka, Bangladesh, and tracked adoption, information flows, beliefs about energy savings, and other variables. We use the difference between actual exposure and expected exposure (from simulated randomization draws) to identify the effect of exposure. We find a robust positive effect of exposure to treated neighbors within a small geographic area (500 meters in our baseline specification) on information flows and adoption. A marginal value of public funds (MVPF) calculation taking learning spillovers into account yields a significantly larger value than one considering only treated firms and suggests that adoption subsidies would be a cost-effective policy intervention. |
| JEL: | L23 L67 O12 O14 R11 |
| Date: | 2025–09 |
| URL: | https://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:nbr:nberwo:34296 |
| By: | Kazuyuki MOTOHASHI; Naotoshi TSUKADA; Kenta IKEUCHI |
| Abstract: | Corporate scientists that are involved in scientific activities, often leading to research paper publications, are important for corporate innovation, since science-based innovation tends to be transformative, spanning the boundaries of existing R&D pipelines. Such scientists can also play a role as a bridge between academic researchers, injecting scientific knowledge from outside the firm. However, the publication of internal corporate scientific activities could benefit competitor firms, providing them with input towards their own transformative innovation. In this study, we analyze this trade-off using a linked dataset of research papers and patents (disambiguated by paper author and patent inventor information and patent citation in research papers) of Japanese firms. Specifically, we analyzed two aspects, (1) contribution of corporate scientist research papers to in-house innovation (patent) and (2) capacity of corporate scientists to absorb scientific findings from outside their firms to obtain high quality patents. Our findings indicate that corporate scientists contribute to both aspects of innovation in their firms. |
| Date: | 2025–09 |
| URL: | https://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:eti:dpaper:25089 |
| By: | Deepak Saraswat; Shwetlena Sabarwal; Lindsey Lacey; Natasha Jha; Nishith Prakash; Rachel Cohen |
| Abstract: | Nearly 200 million children under five in low- and middle-income countries face developmental deficits, even as access to early childhood services expands. We present evidence from a large-scale randomized controlled trial (N=3, 131 children in 201 schools) in Nepal’s government system testing three models of combining classroom quality with parental engagement. All teachers completed a 15-day training on pedagogy, national standards, and caregiver engagement, after which schools were randomly assigned to models varying whether caregiver sessions were led by teachers alone, by teachers supported with in-class helpers, or by external facilitators. The intervention increased children’s developmental outcomes by 0.10–0.20 standard deviations and improved caregiver engagement by similar magnitudes. Effects were most consistent when teachers received support that sustained classroom quality while engaging families, underscoring the critical role of workload management. Impacts were concentrated among disadvantaged households—those with lower baseline engagement, higher stress, and less education—highlighting the potential to reduce early childhood inequalities. Mechanism analysis shows the program shifted home and school inputs from substitutes to complements, creating mutually reinforcing pathways for child development. These findings demonstrate that modest, system-embedded reforms can generate scalable improvements in early childhood human capital formation. |
| Keywords: | early childhood development, cognitive skills, non-cognitive skills, Ages and Stages Questionnaire (ASQ), Nepal |
| JEL: | J13 J24 I21 I24 O15 |
| Date: | 2025 |
| URL: | https://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:ces:ceswps:_12160 |
| By: | Urban Jermann; Bin Wei; Vivian Yue |
| Abstract: | This paper develops an asset-pricing model to evaluate the credibility of Hong Kong’s Linked Exchange Rate System (LERS). Allowing for imperfect peg credibility, we derive closed-form solutions for exchange rates and option prices under potential regime shifts. Using HKD option data, we estimate market-implied probabilities of peg survival and the fundamental value of the HKD. Our results show that credibility fluctuates with U.S. interest rate hikes, local liquidity conditions, and Chinese currency dynamics. Compared with more standard Black-Scholes-based models, our approach provides more realistic assessments of peg sustainability. |
| JEL: | F3 F31 G13 G15 |
| Date: | 2025–09 |
| URL: | https://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:nbr:nberwo:34300 |