nep-sea New Economics Papers
on South East Asia
Issue of 2025–11–17
thirty-six papers chosen by
Subash Sasidharan, Indian Institute of Technology


  1. Community Participation in the Conservation and Development of Coastal Mangrove Forests: Theoretical Perspectives and Implications for Vietnam By Loan, Le Thi Thanh
  2. Rabbit Farming in Zamboanga Peninsula Region Philippines: Viability, Adoption, and Industry Trends By Narita, Rovelito L.
  3. Bridging the Disconnect: A Systematized Review of Market-level Food Diversity and Household Dietary Diversity in Vietnam By Nguyen, Anh Tram; Napasintuwong, Orachos
  4. Nickel, Steel and Cars : Export Ban and Domestic Value-Added in Indonesia By Kee, Hiau Looi; Xie, Enze
  5. Migration Decisions Among Agricultural Households and Their Implications for Livelihood Vulnerability and Food System Resilience in Indonesia By Nugroho, Condro Puspo; Man, Norsida; Ramli, Nurul Nadia Binti; Repin, Muhamad Fadzil Bin
  6. The Impact of the Hukou System overhaul on Housing Prices in China By Keyu Xie; Wang Chongyu; Yumou Wang
  7. Resource Utilization and Sustainability Practices in The Pili Nut Value Chain in The Bicol Region, Philippines By Torres, Erwin E.; Vista, Arvin B.; Quicoy, Cesar B.; Carambas, Nora DM; Sanchez, Patricia Ann J.
  8. Developing a Highland community’s sustainable indicators under the operation of Royal Project Foundation, Thailand By Pradit, Oraphan; Suebpongsang, Pornsiri; Limnirunkul, Budsara; Kitchaicharoen, Jirawan
  9. treet Food and Urban Food Security in Thailand: Policy Alignment and Prospects By Samsiripong, Weerapak; Phulkerd, Sirinya
  10. A Systematic Literature Review of Good Agricultural Practices for Rice By Litonjuaa, Aileen C.; Reyes, Julieta A. Delos
  11. Digital Readiness of Vegetable Farmers and Community Development in Selected Areas in The City of Calamba, Laguna, Philippines: Exploring The Nexus By Romanillos, Vilma L.; Dizona, Josefina; Quimboa, Maria Ana T.; Pereza, John Erinorio M.; Flor, Benjamina Paula G.
  12. A Test for the Rockets and Feathers Effect and Double Marginalization: Market Power in the Philippine Rice Supply Chain By Bathan, Bates M.; Daloonpate, Apichart; Mahathanaset, Itthipong
  13. Why Do Contract Workers Earn Less? Evidence from India’s Auto Industry By Davide Luparello
  14. The Intention to Adopt Agriculture Digital Technology Among TKPM Farmers in Pahang, Malaysia By Man, Norsida; Rozahisham, Nurul Aqilah
  15. The Evolution of Local Participatory Democracy in Nepal By Bhusal, Thaneshwar; Breen, Michael G; Rao, Vijayendra
  16. Geospatial Analysis of Rice Productivity and Technical Inefficiency Assessment of Irrigated Rice Farms in Cabusao, Camarines Sur Province, Philippines By Albis, Anthony James C.; Reyes, Julieta A. Delos; Quilloy, Antonio Jesus A.; Reyes, Jaine C.
  17. Empowering Women through Community-Based Livelihood Intervention to Improved Household Food Security and Strengthen Social Capital: The Case of Kiharong Women’s Association in Maramag, Bukidnon, Philippines By Castor, Denise June A.; Quimbo, Maria Ana T.; Dizon, Josefina T.; Ella, Victoria Jean R.; Resuello, Rubiriza DC.
  18. Crop Diversification as a Response to Market and Climate Risks in Ilocos Norte, Philippines By Pammit, Maria Cristina P.; Reyes, Julieta A. Delos
  19. Farmers’ Participation in Rice Certified Seed Production in Myanmar: SWOT Analysis By Phyoe, Nyein Nyein; Myint, Theingi; Lynn, Honey Lynn; Htwe, Nyein Nyein
  20. The Distributional Impacts of Climatic Variability on Welfare in Thailand By Tiwari, Sailesh; Skoufias, Emmanuel; Kshirsagar, Varun Sridhar
  21. Organic Paddy Farmers’ Profile and Continuance Intention Determinants: A Preliminary Work in Central Java, Indonesia By Nurhayati, Azizatun; Nawi, Nolila Mohd; Kamarulzaman, Nitty Hirawaty; Izani, Ahmad Hanis; Hadi, Abdul; Irham, Irham
  22. Enhancing Halal Traceability in The ASEAN Beef Supply Chain: Challenges and Opportunities for Sustainable Food Systems By Rachmat, Salsabila Luqyana; Fajri, Aulia Irhamni; Azzahra N, Kayla; Awaliyah, Meylani
  23. Cost and Return Analysis of Sunflower Edible Oil Production in Yamethin Township, Mandalay Region, Myanmar By Khaing, Yin Moe Moh; Myint, Theingi; Yu Tun, Yu; Aung, Yee Mon; Khaing, Kay Thi
  24. Perceived risk of landmines and the welfare of Cambodian agricultural households By Tien Manh Vu; Hiroyuki Yamada
  25. Farmers’ Understanding and Adapting: Cabbage Production and Weather Variation in Southern Shan State of Myanmar By San, Myint Myint; San, Aye Moe; Myint, Theigi; Oo, Soe Paing
  26. Urban Food Environment, Consumer Spatial Behavior, and Their Implications for Household Diet Diversity in Mandalay City, Myanmar By Hnin, Chue Htet; Reyes, Julieta A. Delos; Bustos, Angelina R.; Lapiña, Geny F.
  27. An Exploration of Systemwide Flood Protection Standards for Coastal Polders in Bangladesh By Jongejan, Ruben; Van Ledden, Matheus; Lendering, Kasper; Verschuur, Jasper; Shuvra, Debashish Paul; Jafino, Bramka Arga; Kazi, Swarna
  28. Service-oriented Structural Transformation of Manufacturing Firms: An analysis using panel data for Japanese firms By Masayuki MORIKAWA
  29. Utilization of Poultry Manure as an Organic Amendment for Sustainable Soil Management in Brunei Darussalam By Azlan, Siti Hadhirah; Ahmed, Osumanu Haruna; Liew, Kathereen
  30. Women’s Mobility and Labor Supply : Experimental Evidence from Pakistan By Garlick, Robert; Field, Erica; Vyborny, Kate
  31. Clustering shrimp farms in Bangladesh: A novel effort with mixed outcomes By Kabir, Razin; Belton, Ben; Narayanan, Sudha; Sakil, Abdul Zabbar; Khan, Asraul Hoque; Hernandez, Ricardo
  32. Motherhood and Labour Market Outcomes: Penalty or Premium? By Banerjee, Souvik; Mukhopadhyay, Sankar; Jaiswal, Preeti
  33. Does Urban Local Governance Matter? Evidence from India By Saani Rawat
  34. From Asia, With Skills By Gaurav Khanna
  35. Institutionalization of the Livelihood Network Program (iLivePro): A Policy Option to Support Alternative Livelihoods for Fishers in Surigao del Norte, Philippines By Oco, Daniza Mae C.; Reyes, Julieta A. Delos; Quilloy, Antonio Jesus A.
  36. People versus Places: Elite Persistence after the Fall of the Ming By Carol H. Shiue; Wolfgang Keller

  1. By: Loan, Le Thi Thanh
    Keywords: Community/Rural/Urban Development
    Date: 2025–09–15
    URL: https://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:ags:asea25:373370
  2. By: Narita, Rovelito L.
    Keywords: Agribusiness
    Date: 2025–09–15
    URL: https://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:ags:asea25:373402
  3. By: Nguyen, Anh Tram; Napasintuwong, Orachos
    Keywords: Agricultural and Food Policy, Consumer/Household Economics, Sustainability
    Date: 2025–09–15
    URL: https://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:ags:asea25:373369
  4. By: Kee, Hiau Looi; Xie, Enze
    Abstract: Nickel is essential for producing iron and steel. Endowed with the world's largest reserve, Indonesia banned nickel exports in 2014 to promote industrialization. This paper studies the impacts of the export ban on downstream steel-using industries. A three-sector model shows that, while the export ban could raise the domestic value-added ratio (DVAR) in exports, the entry of smaller, inefficient firms led to aggregate efficiency losses downstream. Firm-level evidence confirms higher DVAR, smaller firm size, and larger entrant shares in downstream industries post the export ban. A field mission validated these results, while noting the continued heavy reliance on imported steel.
    Date: 2025–11–10
    URL: https://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:wbk:wbrwps:11249
  5. By: Nugroho, Condro Puspo; Man, Norsida; Ramli, Nurul Nadia Binti; Repin, Muhamad Fadzil Bin
    Keywords: Agricultural and Food Policy
    Date: 2025–09–15
    URL: https://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:ags:asea25:373413
  6. By: Keyu Xie; Wang Chongyu; Yumou Wang
    Abstract: The hukou system overhaul started in 2014 has reduced barriers to household mobility in China. The overhaul has increased labor mobility from rural to urban areas and across cities, which results in differential impacts on different cities' urban housing prices (""housing prices""). The differences in the urban population control and talent attraction policies in different cities amplify the differential impact. This study investigates the impact of policy implementation in different cities on housing prices. In particular, the study aims to examine the differential impacts on housing prices in mega and non-mega cities. The former has stringent control on the urban population even after the overhaul, while the barriers to household mobility in the latter are significantly reduced. The household movement after the overhaul is also affected by competition for talent in cities. The study conjectures that the hukou system overhaul has positive housing prices due to the growth in the urban population in the urban area. The effect is expected to be faster and stronger in mega cities despite the stringent control in these cities due to more job and business opportunities and the ability of these cities to attract high-income and wealthy households. For the non-mega cities, the impact of the strategy on housing prices is expected to be weaker than those in mega cities since these non-mega cities are less attractive in terms of job and business opportunities. The effects of the hukou system overhaul in these cities are primarily the result of rural-to-urban migration. Therefore, within non-mage cities, an increase in housing demand is anticipated to result from rural-to-urban migration. The impact of these migration on housing prices is likely to be much bigger in mega-cities due to their stringent control of the urban population and the policy of attracting high-income and wealthy talents, most of which are from urban areas in other cities rather than from rural areas.
    Keywords: Housing Prices; Policy; population mobility; Urban
    JEL: R3
    Date: 2025–01–01
    URL: https://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:arz:wpaper:eres2025_258
  7. By: Torres, Erwin E.; Vista, Arvin B.; Quicoy, Cesar B.; Carambas, Nora DM; Sanchez, Patricia Ann J.
    Keywords: Sustainability
    Date: 2025–09–15
    URL: https://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:ags:asea25:373403
  8. By: Pradit, Oraphan; Suebpongsang, Pornsiri; Limnirunkul, Budsara; Kitchaicharoen, Jirawan
    Keywords: Community/Rural/Urban Development
    Date: 2025–09–15
    URL: https://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:ags:asea25:373376
  9. By: Samsiripong, Weerapak; Phulkerd, Sirinya
    Keywords: Food Security and Poverty
    Date: 2025–09–15
    URL: https://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:ags:asea25:373407
  10. By: Litonjuaa, Aileen C.; Reyes, Julieta A. Delos
    Abstract: In 2013, the Philippine Food Safety Act was enacted. In the same year, the Department of Agriculture (DA) released the implementing rules and regulations on the certification of Philippine Good Agricultural Practices (PhilGAP) for crops. Rice farmers are encouraged to undergo PhilGAP certification to help them establish a strong market linkage with institutional buyers who demand PhilGAP-certified products. However, only few rice farmers sought certification, although an uptick in number was observed in 2024. This study reviewed literatures related to Good Agricultural Practices (GAP) for rice to gather global evidence on GAP’s effects and how it was perceived or accepted by rice stakeholders. The rich information gathered could aid in identifying and designing research that could help direct GAP implementation in the Philippines. This paper used a systematic literature review using PRISMA checklist. Literatures were searched from Scopus, Web of Science, and ScienceDirect. A total of 93 materials passed the screening based on a set of criteria (i.e., research area, document type, language used). The list was reduced to 20 after checking for eligibility (i.e., rice and GAP-focused, assessment/adoption study, accessibility of full text). Many studies used descriptive, costs and returns, and regression analyses, reporting better yield, income, and input use efficiency for GAP-certified farms. GAP foster sustainable rice production but some of its aspects perceived as difficult to attain. Participation factors included sociodemographic, land-, labor-, and extension-related variables, financial resources, and market demand. Research on net benefits of PhilGAP for rice, marketing study on PhilGAP-certified rice, and policy analysis may be explored.
    Keywords: Agricultural and Food Policy
    Date: 2025–09–15
    URL: https://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:ags:asea25:373366
  11. By: Romanillos, Vilma L.; Dizona, Josefina; Quimboa, Maria Ana T.; Pereza, John Erinorio M.; Flor, Benjamina Paula G.
    Keywords: Community/Rural/Urban Development
    Date: 2025–09–15
    URL: https://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:ags:asea25:373377
  12. By: Bathan, Bates M.; Daloonpate, Apichart; Mahathanaset, Itthipong
    Keywords: Agribusiness, Agricultural and Food Policy
    Date: 2025–09–15
    URL: https://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:ags:asea25:373367
  13. By: Davide Luparello
    Abstract: Contract workers constitute half of employment in India’s automotive industry but earn substantially less than permanent workers. Using data from the Annual Survey of Industries (2002-2019), I develop an estimator of labor supply and demand schedules to explain this wage premium. The model features nested CES production with distinct worker types, discrete choice supply functions with worker type-specific wage sensitivity and differentiated market conduct—Nash-Bertrand competition for contract workers versus plant-level union bargaining for permanent workers. I find that the wage premium stems entirely from permanent workers’ higher productivity rather than differential monopsony power or unionization advantages.
    Keywords: Markdowns, Markups, Productivity, India
    JEL: L11 L13 L62
    Date: 2025
    URL: https://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:baf:cbafwp:cbafwp25258
  14. By: Man, Norsida; Rozahisham, Nurul Aqilah
    Keywords: Production Economics
    Date: 2025–09–15
    URL: https://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:ags:asea25:373408
  15. By: Bhusal, Thaneshwar; Breen, Michael G; Rao, Vijayendra
    Abstract: Nepal is, according to its constitution, among the world’s most decentralized countries, with a long and complex tradition of local-level public participation. This paper traces the evolution of Nepal’s modern participatory institutions, examining the extent to which they are “induced” by external interventions versus being “organically” rooted in indigenous practices. The paper identifies three broad phases: an initial focus on participation in project implementation; a subsequent phase that expanded citizen engagement; and a third phase of citizen empowerment, culminating in the 2015 federal constitution, which granted unprecedented local autonomy. The analysis yields five key findings. First, over the past 50 years, successive reforms have progressively expanded opportunities for citizens to influence local decision-making. Second, these reforms have integrated traditional participatory mechanisms into formal institutions of local government. Third, although central-level initiatives exist, most participatory platforms continue to operate at the local level. Fourth, the federal constitution has created a new landscape of local democracy, embedding autonomy and accountability. Fifth, although they are still valued in many ethnic and territorial communities, traditional participatory practices are gradually disappearing. The paper concludes by offering policy recommendations to help donor agencies and governments strengthen Nepal’s democratic trajectory. It argues that effective interventions should build on Nepal’s deep participatory traditions while recognizing the constitutional reality of far-reaching local autonomy.
    Date: 2025–11–05
    URL: https://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:wbk:wbrwps:11252
  16. By: Albis, Anthony James C.; Reyes, Julieta A. Delos; Quilloy, Antonio Jesus A.; Reyes, Jaine C.
    Keywords: Production Economics, Productivity Analysis
    Date: 2025–09–15
    URL: https://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:ags:asea25:373399
  17. By: Castor, Denise June A.; Quimbo, Maria Ana T.; Dizon, Josefina T.; Ella, Victoria Jean R.; Resuello, Rubiriza DC.
    Keywords: Community/Rural/Urban Development, Food Security and Poverty
    Date: 2025–09–15
    URL: https://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:ags:asea25:373378
  18. By: Pammit, Maria Cristina P.; Reyes, Julieta A. Delos
    Keywords: Farm Management, Production Economics
    Date: 2025–09–15
    URL: https://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:ags:asea25:373375
  19. By: Phyoe, Nyein Nyein; Myint, Theingi; Lynn, Honey Lynn; Htwe, Nyein Nyein
    Keywords: Agribusiness
    Date: 2025–09–15
    URL: https://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:ags:asea25:373381
  20. By: Tiwari, Sailesh; Skoufias, Emmanuel; Kshirsagar, Varun Sridhar
    Abstract: This paper uses cross-sectional surveys of households over 2007–21 from Thailand’s Socio-Economic Expenditure Survey to conduct one of the first investigations of the impacts of climatic variability on two key statistics characterizing the distribution of welfare in Thailand: the mean and the variance (or inequality). It shows that historically higher rainfall is positively associated with the mean level of welfare, as measured by household consumption expenditures per capita, and negatively associated with poverty and a variety of measures of inequality in the country. These results validate concerns about the impacts of increased climatic variability and more frequent and intense weather extremes associated with the process of climate change. More frequent and more intense shortages of rainfall will decrease welfare and increase inequality at the national level and in both urban and rural areas. There is considerable variation in the extent to which access to social assistance and credit programs in their current configuration mitigates the negative impacts of rainfall shortages on welfare and prevents increases in inequality. Investing in irrigation infrastructure and strengthening the insurance components of social protection and credit support programs, such as the Village Funds program, through increasing the identification, targeting, and coverage of those vulnerable to poverty from exposure to such shocks, provide promising options for mitigating the impacts of climatic variability on welfare, poverty, and overall inequality in Thailand.
    Date: 2025–11–10
    URL: https://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:wbk:wbrwps:11253
  21. By: Nurhayati, Azizatun; Nawi, Nolila Mohd; Kamarulzaman, Nitty Hirawaty; Izani, Ahmad Hanis; Hadi, Abdul; Irham, Irham
    Keywords: Production Economics
    Date: 2025–09–15
    URL: https://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:ags:asea25:373414
  22. By: Rachmat, Salsabila Luqyana; Fajri, Aulia Irhamni; Azzahra N, Kayla; Awaliyah, Meylani
    Keywords: Agricultural and Food Policy, Supply Chain
    Date: 2025–09–15
    URL: https://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:ags:asea25:373379
  23. By: Khaing, Yin Moe Moh; Myint, Theingi; Yu Tun, Yu; Aung, Yee Mon; Khaing, Kay Thi
    Keywords: Agricultural and Food Policy, Farm Management
    Date: 2025–09–15
    URL: https://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:ags:asea25:373374
  24. By: Tien Manh Vu (Faculty of Global Management, Chuo University); Hiroyuki Yamada (Faculty of Economics, Keio University)
    Abstract: We examine the impacts of perceived landmine risk on the welfare of agricultural villagers more than two decades after the end of civil conflict in Cambodia, which lasted from 1970 to 1998, using Cambodian censuses. Using an instrumental variable approach, we find that the perceived risk of landmines has some long-lasting effects despite significant efforts toward demining. Perceived landmine risk is associated with lower crop productivity, higher crop diversity, and higher labor rates among children aged 5–14 years. However, we do not find any significant transition away from agricultural production due to perceived landmine risk or effects on school attendance among the 5–9-year cohort or on child marriage among the 13–14-year cohort.
    Keywords: Landmines, Agriculture, Welfare, Household, Children, Cambodia
    JEL: N45 O13 O15 O14
    Date: 2025–11–10
    URL: https://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:keo:dpaper:dp2025-026
  25. By: San, Myint Myint; San, Aye Moe; Myint, Theigi; Oo, Soe Paing
    Keywords: Crop Production/Industries
    Date: 2025–09–15
    URL: https://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:ags:asea25:373382
  26. By: Hnin, Chue Htet; Reyes, Julieta A. Delos; Bustos, Angelina R.; Lapiña, Geny F.
    Keywords: Food Consumption/Nutrition/Food Safety
    Date: 2025–09–15
    URL: https://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:ags:asea25:373410
  27. By: Jongejan, Ruben; Van Ledden, Matheus; Lendering, Kasper; Verschuur, Jasper; Shuvra, Debashish Paul; Jafino, Bramka Arga; Kazi, Swarna
    Abstract: Bangladesh has demonstrated how investment in coastal flood protection saves lives, reduces economic losses, and protects development gains. Yet, its cost effectiveness depends on the design standards, which are currently selected on a project-by-project basis. This is because at present, there is no law, policy, or agency guidance to guide or inform decisions on design standards for coastal polders in the country. To inform the discussion on appropriate flood protection standards for Bangladesh’s coastal polders, this paper investigates what these standards would look like if they were based on cost-benefit analyses. The analysis finds that implementing differentiated flood protection standards across the coastal polders can be a cost-effective strategy for further suppressing flood risks, reducing up to 27.5 percent of the total cost and flood risks (from US$23.4 billion investment cost + US$11 billion flood risk to US$18.6 billion investment cost + US$6.7 billion flood risk). This includes the substantial investment in bank protection needed (~US$5 billion), irrespective of the flood protection standards, to maintain the alignment of the present embankments around the coastal polders. Although the absolute values of the economically optimal protection levels are subject to considerable uncertainty, a sensitivity analysis confirms the robustness of the finding that there is considerable value in flood protection level differentiation. Flood protection standards are rarely based on economic considerations alone. They could also be informed by the desire to reduce life safety risk or combat poverty. It is recommended that the implications of applying different perspectives on the tolerability of risks to determine differentiated flood protection standards be carefully explored in consultation with stakeholders.
    Date: 2025–11–05
    URL: https://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:wbk:wbrwps:11250
  28. By: Masayuki MORIKAWA
    Abstract: This study uses Japanese firm panel data to examine trends in manufacturing firms’ shift toward service-oriented businesses—referred to as “Manufacturing X.†A distinguishing feature of this study is that it analyzes not only overall non-manufacturing businesses but also narrowly defined service businesses. We find that manufacturing firms’ share of non-manufacturing sales has been steadily increasing. If the current trend continues, the share of non-manufacturing sales among these firms is projected to reach 16.5% by 2040. Both the proportion of firms engaged in and sales share of narrowly defined services such as machine repair, professional services, and business services are rising, indicating a gradual shift in manufacturers’ service businesses. Expanding narrowly defined service sales is positively associated with sales growth and profitability.
    Date: 2025–11
    URL: https://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:eti:dpaper:25103
  29. By: Azlan, Siti Hadhirah; Ahmed, Osumanu Haruna; Liew, Kathereen
    Keywords: Agribusiness
    Date: 2025–09–15
    URL: https://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:ags:asea25:373411
  30. By: Garlick, Robert; Field, Erica; Vyborny, Kate
    Abstract: This paper studies whether commuting barriers constrain women’s labor supply in urban Pakistan. This study randomized offers of gender-segregated or mixed-gender commuting services at varying prices. Women-only transport more than doubled job application rates, while mixed-gender transport had minimal effects on men’s and women’s application rates. Women valued the women-only service more than large price discounts for the mixed-gender service. The results are similar for baseline labor force participants and non-participants, suggesting there are many “latent jobseekers’’ close to the margin of participation. These findings highlight the importance of safety and propriety concerns in women’s labor decisions.
    Date: 2025–11–10
    URL: https://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:wbk:wbrwps:11256
  31. By: Kabir, Razin; Belton, Ben; Narayanan, Sudha; Sakil, Abdul Zabbar; Khan, Asraul Hoque; Hernandez, Ricardo
    Abstract: Organizing smallholder farmers in clusters has been widely promoted as a way to boost agricultural productivity, streamline delivery of extension services, and improve access to markets. In Bangladesh, where shrimp is an important export crop produced largely by smallholders, government and industry view clustering as key to preventing Bangladesh being left behind in an increasingly competitive global market. Bangladesh’s shrimp exports are highly dependent on the hotel, restaurant, and catering (HoReCa) sector in Europe—a small and relatively low value market segment. Gaining access to the much larger and potentially more lucrative retail market segment in Europe and North America requires high quality, traceable, and - increasingly - certified, shrimp, posing a challenging for Bangladesh.
    Keywords: smallholders; agricultural productivity; markets; extension systems; shrimp culture; exports; Bangladesh; Asia; Southern Asia
    Date: 2025–05–21
    URL: https://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:fpr:othbrf:174761
  32. By: Banerjee, Souvik; Mukhopadhyay, Sankar (University of Nevada, Reno); Jaiswal, Preeti
    Abstract: Using nationally representative longitudinal data from the Consumer Pyramids Household Survey, we examine the effect of childbirth on female labour market outcomes in India. Contrary to findings from similar studies in developed countries, we do not observe any motherhood penalty in earnings, employment or work hours post-childbirth, after accounting for unobserved individual heterogeneity. Interestingly, we find that the birth of a child leads to a 27.4% and 32.6% increase in women’s average earnings in urban and rural regions, respectively, relative to non-mothers. This motherhood premium seems to arise partly due to higher employment after childbirth. Further, we find that the increase in the likelihood of employment is predominantly observed among women from lower caste, Hindu religion, lower income quartiles, those with primary education, and higher order births in urban regions. In rural regions, the effect is restricted to women from the lowest income quartiles. We find that the presence of older siblings in the household increases the likelihood of women’s employment by 3.7 percentage points. These findings underscore the role of socio-economic factors in shaping the labour market outcomes of women in India.
    Keywords: earnings, employment, motherhood penalty, female labour market, childbirth, event study, India
    JEL: J13 J21 J31
    Date: 2025–11
    URL: https://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:iza:izadps:dp18246
  33. By: Saani Rawat
    Abstract: This paper examines the causal effect of urban local governance on public goods provision in India. We exploit quasi-random variation in multi-threshold criteria utilized for classifying Census Towns (CTs) and focus on settlements near the thresholds that are likely to obtain statutory recognition. Using a fuzzy regression discontinuity design, we instrument for urban local governance to identify the Local Average Treatment Effect (LATE). We document a strong first stage relationship between meeting CT thresholds and statutory recognition. Our results show that obtaining an Urban Local Body (ULB) increases local public good provision: government schools increase by approximately 14 (primary), 8 (middle), and 5 (secondary), healthcare infrastructure expands by 2 hospitals and 3 family welfare centers, and financial access deepens with 15 private banks, 2 cooperative banks, and 2 agricultural credit societies. Community amenities improve modestly with an additional public library, reading room, and cinema hall. Sports infrastructure declines by 5 facilities, consistent with our understanding of reallocation of urban space and investments. Our findings suggest that timely municipalization of emerging urban areas can expand provision of certain public goods, which may improve living standards and economic opportunities in urbanizing economies.
    Date: 2025–11
    URL: https://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:arx:papers:2511.06562
  34. By: Gaurav Khanna
    Abstract: This paper examines the rise of high-skill migration from Asia to the United States over the past three decades and its consequences for both sending and receiving economies. Between 1990 and 2019, migrants from five Asian countries—India, China, South Korea, Japan, and the Philippines—accounted for over one-third of the growth in US software developers and a quarter of the increase in scientists, engineers, and physicians. Drawing on census microdata, visa records, and administrative sources, I show how US demand for talent in information technology, higher education, and healthcare interacted with Asia’s demographic and educational transformations to generate this migration boom. Policy reforms (notably the H-1B, F-1, and J-1 visa programs) and sectoral shifts—such as the internet revolution, declining public support for universities, and aging-related healthcare demand—created persistent needs for foreign students and workers. Asian economies were uniquely positioned to meet this demand through rapid tertiary expansion, strong STEM institutions, English proficiency, and diaspora networks. These inflows boosted US innovation, entrepreneurship, and service-sector productivity while fostering “brain gain” and “brain circulation” in Asia. Together, these trends reveal how talent flows from Asia have become central to the structure and growth of the modern US economy.
    JEL: J24 J60 O34
    Date: 2025–11
    URL: https://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:nbr:nberwo:34449
  35. By: Oco, Daniza Mae C.; Reyes, Julieta A. Delos; Quilloy, Antonio Jesus A.
    Keywords: Resource/Energy Economics and Policy
    Date: 2025–09–15
    URL: https://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:ags:asea25:373400
  36. By: Carol H. Shiue; Wolfgang Keller
    Abstract: We study how elite power persisted through the Ming–Qing transition in Central China. Using genealogical microdata on married couples and their descendants, linked to measures of local elite influence, we estimate the effects of the Ming collapse (1368–1644) on families (people) and on regions (places). A family line-level treatment and control approach shows that elites experienced an immediate loss of influence, but their descendants recovered and consolidated elite status under the Qing (1644–1911). In contrast, a region-level design indicates that areas more heavily exposed to Ming-collapse destruction suffered persistent adverse outcomes. Evidence on career choice is consistent with a trauma-induced shift toward civil service examination careers, with stronger intergenerational transmission of exam-oriented norms in families more exposed to destruction. The results document adaptive persistence of elite families despite regime change, alongside lasting regional scarring, and highlight the role of cultural transmission in the persistence of elite status.
    JEL: N95
    Date: 2025–11
    URL: https://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:nbr:nberwo:34451

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