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on South East Asia |
| By: | Mutita Ariyavutikul; Minchung Hsu; Trang Le; Trisukon Sawatrukkiat |
| Abstract: | This paper examines life-cycle patterns of earnings and consumption inequality in a developing economy, focusing on employment informality, risk sharing, and the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic. Using household survey data from Thailand, with robustness checks for Indonesia and Vietnam, we find that in Thailand both earnings and consumption inequality rise with age during prime working years, and earnings inequality continues to increase after retirement. Inequality patterns differ by employment status: formalworker- headed households show limited risk sharing at younger ages, while informal-worker-headed households display flatter consumption-inequality profiles, with consumption inequality generally below earnings inequality. During the COVID-19 period, overall inequality declined, but consumption inequality increased among younger households. Finally, a standard life-cycle model calibrated to match earnings inequality fails to replicate the observed age profile of consumption inequality, suggesting that key developing-economy features, such as informal insurance mechanisms, are not fully captured. |
| Keywords: | Life-cycle inequality; Risk sharing; Informal employment; Developing economy; COVID-19 crisis |
| JEL: | D31 E21 J46 O15 |
| Date: | 2026–05 |
| URL: | https://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:pui:dpaper:251 |
| By: | Mintrapan Chaeng-lum; Nuwat Nookhwun; Jettawat Pattararangrong |
| Abstract: | This paper examines factors behind the persistence of dominant currency pricing and the effectiveness of de-dollarization policies in the context of emerging market economies. Using a transaction-level customs dataset of Thailand spanning 2007–2024, we document the dominance of dollar invoicing in Thai export transactions, despite a gradual rise in baht invoicing. Such dollar dominance is largely explained by firm and industry characteristics, including imported input exposure, strategic complementarities and inertia in invoicing currency choice. Meanwhile, the introduction of the Local Currency Settlement Framework (LCSF) between Thailand and partner countries including Malaysia and Indonesia moderately reduces dollar reliance, with effects being heterogeneous across firms and industries. Notably, we find that dollar-denominated liabilities do not influence invoicing choice, suggesting some disconnection between operational and financial hedging. |
| Keywords: | Invoicing currency choice; Dollar dominance; Dollar-denominated debt; Local currency settlement framework; Firm-level trade; Thai exports |
| JEL: | F14 F3 |
| Date: | 2026–05 |
| URL: | https://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:pui:dpaper:250 |
| By: | Carlos, Jean Clarisse T.; Celero, Jocelyn O.; Katigbak-Montoya, Evangeline O. |
| Abstract: | The increasing prevalence of aging populations in the Asia-Pacific region has led to significant changes in the demand for labor in caregiving, domestic, and healthcare sectors, particularly in economies such as Singapore, Japan, and Australia. These structural-demographic shifts have intensified the reliance on migrant workers, with Filipina women emerging as a critical labor force within the region's global value chains (GVCs). Despite their critical role in addressing labor shortages, these workers face precarious employment conditions, gendered inequalities, and limited access to social protections. The sustainability of such care labor systems raises critical concerns as aging societies continue to deepen their dependence on migrant labor, highlighting the need for robust policy interventions, mapping of care and value chains, and regional cooperation. The study investigates how global value chains (GVCs) and global care chains (GCCs) intersect in shaping the roles, experiences, and challenges of Filipina migrant workers in aging societies in the Asia-Pacific region. Using qualitative and quantitative methods, it explores policy frameworks, labor conditions, and projections to understand how domestic and regional interventions can ensure sustainable, equitable, and technology-enabled labor systems within the caregiving and healthcare sectors of Singapore, Japan, and Australia. Findings reveal that the future of work in aging societies is deeply gendered, transnational, and dependent on care labor mobility. Across the Asia-Pacific, the Philippines remains a major supplier of women workers in caregiving, healthcare, and domestic work—sectors that sustain the social and economic well-being of aging populations in Australia, Japan, and Singapore. Data from the Philippine Labor Force Survey (2023) and TESDA records (2023–2024) illustrate that women constitute an overwhelming majority of the country's care labor force, where female participation rates in caregiving training programs exceed 85 percent. These structural patterns reinforce the Philippines' comparative advantage as a provider of skilled, English-speaking, and culturally adaptable caregivers. Comments to this paper are welcome within 60 days from the date of posting. Email publications@pids.gov.ph. |
| Keywords: | Care labor, Philippines, Australia, Japan, Singapore, Global Value Chains (GVCs), Global Care Chains (GCCs), bilateral and regional cooperation |
| Date: | 2026 |
| URL: | https://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:phd:dpaper:dp_2026-12 |
| By: | Rivera, John Paolo R.; Miral, Ramona Maria L. |
| Abstract: | Provincial heterogeneity in the Philippines is examined by integrating climate, macroeconomic, and fiscal indicators within a unified framework. Moving beyond regression-based approaches, k-means clustering is applied to identify natural groupings of provinces based on combined climate-real-fiscal (CRF) characteristics. Utilizing satellite-derived climate data and administrative economic and fiscal datasets, the analysis reveals a clear core-periphery structure. Metropolitan Manila emerges as a highly urbanized, service-driven, and fiscally dominant outlier, while the rest of the country divides into (1) warmer, transitioning provinces with emerging diversification and (2) cooler, wetter, agriculture-dependent provinces with higher climate exposure and weaker fiscal capacity. The results highlight strong interlinkages between climate conditions, economic structure, and fiscal resilience, indicating a climate-macroeconomic trap in vulnerable regions. A policy-relevant typology is provided to support differentiated, place-based interventions for more efficient targeting of climate finance and development programs. Comments to this paper are welcome within 60 days from the date of posting. Email publications@pids.gov.ph. |
| Keywords: | climate change, cluster analysis, fiscal capacity, regional heterogeneity, Philippines |
| Date: | 2026 |
| URL: | https://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:phd:dpaper:dp_2026-11 |
| By: | Ballesteros, Marife M.; Ramos, Tatum P. |
| Abstract: | Among the expected benefits of e-Governance are improvements in local government unit operations and revenue generation; however, insufficient evidence supports such attainment in the Philippines. This study aims to determine the relevance of e-Governance in revenue generation by examining efforts related to the business permits and licensing system (BPLS) and assessing their effects on revenue generation in cities. The promotion of electronic transactions at all levels of government was institutionalized in 2000, yet only around 40 percent of cities had fully automated BPLS by 2024. Findings indicate that a fully automated BPLS is positively associated with growth in local business tax revenue and an increase in business registrations. However, limitations arise from challenges related to inputs, willingness, and functionality. The e-Governance Act can provide guidance and support in addressing these challenges through robust systems integration and streamlined efforts at both local and national levels. Comments to this paper are welcome within 60 days from the date of posting. Email publications@pids.gov.ph. |
| Keywords: | e-Governance, business permits, revenue, cities, digitalization |
| Date: | 2026 |
| URL: | https://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:phd:dpaper:dp_2026-09 |
| By: | Pinghan Liang (Sun Yat-sen University); Shu Tian (Asian Development Bank); Yichuan Zhang (Sun Yat-sen University) |
| Abstract: | This paper examines the effect of digital connectivity on income of women-headed households in Viet Nam. Using the Viet Nam Digital Economy Access Index and the Viet Nam Household Living Standards Survey, empirical evidence shows that increased digital connectivity significantly improves the income of women headed households. Disadvantaged groups, such as those with limited educational attainment and lower income levels, and living in rural areas, benefit more from having digital connectivity. We explore the mechanisms behind this relationship and find that digital connectivity is related to increased participation in the labor market, particularly in the services sector. This paper offers new insights into the inclusive effects of digital connectivity and provides policy recommendations for advancing digital infrastructure development. |
| Keywords: | digital connectivity;digital access;household income;women-headed household |
| JEL: | O33 O15 J16 O12 |
| Date: | 2026–05–26 |
| URL: | https://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:ris:adbewp:022585 |
| By: | Yeo Joon Yoon (Pusan National University); Wongi Kim (SUNGSHIN WOMEN'S UNIVERSITY) |
| Abstract: | We analyze how the size and composition of official development assistance (ODA) shape aggregate performance and informality in the Philippines using a small open-economy dynamic general equilibrium model with a formal and informal sector. Two main scenarios are considered: (i) an increase in total ODA and (ii) a higher share of tied aid, given a fixed amount of ODA. Both scenarios raise capital, output, and consumption in steady state, but through distinct mechanisms. The first scenario primarily increases demand and appreciates the relative price of informal goods, expanding informality. By contrast, the second scenario expands public capital, crowds in formal investment, lowers the relative price of informal good, and shifts resources toward the formal sector, despite short-run reallocation costs. |
| Keywords: | Foreign Aid;Official Development Aid;Informal Sector;Philippines;APEC |
| JEL: | E26 O17 O53 |
| Date: | 2025–12–05 |
| URL: | https://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:ris:kiepas:022540 |
| By: | Rivera, John Paolo R.; Ocbina, John Joseph S. |
| Abstract: | This study examines the impact of rainfall variability on weekly hours worked among Filipino workers, utilizing nationally representative Labor Force Survey (LFS) data merged with regional rainfall records from the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA). While existing research has primarily focused on weather shocks and their effects on agricultural output, income, and employment status, less attention has been directed toward short-term adjustments in actual working hours. By analyzing weekly hours worked, this work provides a more detailed assessment of how climate variability influences labor supply behavior. Using high-dimensional fixed-effects (FE) models, the analysis estimates the association between rainfall intensity and weekly working hours while controlling for demographic characteristics, employment arrangements, and time effects. Results indicate that higher rainfall is linked to modest, statistically significant reductions in weekly hours worked. The effects exhibit considerable heterogeneity, with workers in day-to-day and short-term employment arrangements experiencing significantly larger reductions than permanent workers, highlighting the vulnerability of precarious employment. Significant negative impacts are also observed in weather-exposed occupations and selected manufacturing subsectors, suggesting that rainfall affects labor supply not only through direct exposure but also through disruptions to mobility, production processes, and supply chains. Regional patterns reveal stronger sensitivity to rainfall in typhoon-prone and agriculturally intensive areas. Overall, rainfall variability acts as a segmented labor market shock, emphasizing the necessity for climate-responsive labor and social protection policies. Comments to this paper are welcome within 60 days from the date of posting. Email publications@pids.gov.ph. |
| Keywords: | rainfall impact, productivity, working hours, labor supply |
| Date: | 2026 |
| URL: | https://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:phd:dpaper:dp_2026-10 |
| By: | Ahmed, Syed Azfar; Siddiqui, Danish Ahmed |
| Abstract: | The research analyzes factors that drive Pakistani Islamic banking customers to adopt Sharia compliant credit cards. The research analyzes how Islamic financial knowledge and perceived usefulness interact with loyalty, religiosity, and management knowledge through the Theory of Planned Behavior and the Technology Acceptance Model to affect consumer attitudes and behavioral intentions. A structured questionnaire yielded data from 267 participants through convenience sampling. Analysis of collected data used Partial Least Squares Structural Equation Modeling (PLS-SEM) through SmartPLS. Knowledge of Islamic financial principles alongside effective knowledge management positively influences customer attitudes as well as their intentions to use Islamic credit cards. The statistical analysis confirmed perceived usefulness together with customer loyalty status as essential factors leading to positive attitudes. Religious preferences showed the opposite influence because they strengthened both customer loyalty and useful perception but reduced adoption intent. Perception of Islamic financial practices showed no direct relationship to adoption intention even though researchers expected it would have an influence. This indicates customers have been prioritizing functionality and trust-based factors above religious aspects. The research findings deliver concrete recommendations for Islamic financial institutions to improve product adoption by educating consumers along with clear product disclosure and individualized support. The study advances theoretical elements through a combination of behavioral and ethical finance approaches that question religious sentiment as the sole factor driving Islamic finance product acceptance. The study supports extensive goals that promote financial inclusion and ethical banking practices for Muslim-majority societies by encouraging institutions to meet changing consumer demands. |
| Keywords: | Intention to Adopt Islamic Finance, Attitude Towards Islamic Finance, Knowledge Management, Loyalty, Loyalty, Perceived Usefulness, Religious Preferences, Knowledge Of Islamic Financial System, Perception of Shariah Compliance |
| Date: | 2026 |
| URL: | https://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:zbw:esprep:341010 |
| By: | Asim, Amna; Siddiqui, Danish Ahmed |
| Abstract: | This study investigates the impact of supply chain finance (SCF) on firm performance in Pakistan's non-financial sector, with a focus on the moderating roles of industry competition and credit risk. Leveraging panel data from 126 firms listed on the Pakistan Stock Exchange (2010-2023), by employing Ordinary Least Square (OLS) regression analysis to examine how SCF component Days Inventory Outstanding (DIO), Days Receivable Outstanding (DRO), and Days Payable Outstanding (DPO) that interact with industry concentration (Herfindahl Hirschman Index) and credit risk (Altman's Z-score) to influence key performance metrics: Return on Assets (ROA), Return on Equity (ROE), Tobin-Q, and Net Profit Margin (NPM). Results reveal that efficient inventory management (DIO) consistently enhances profitability and market valuation, while extended payables (DPO) negatively affect investor confidence, signaling liquidity risks. Industry competition amplifies the benefits of strategic inventory practices but diminishes the efficacy of payables strategies, underscoring the need for context specific SCF approaches. Credit risk moderates these relationships asymmetrically: high-risk firms benefit from optimized receivables but face amplified inefficiencies in concentrated markets. Notably, a three-way interaction between SCF, competition, and credit risk highlights that firms in highly competitive industries with low credit risk achieve optimal performance, while high-risk firms in concentrated sectors struggle. The study advances contingency theory by demonstrating that SCF's effectiveness hinges on alignment with market dynamics and financial health. Practical implications urge managers to prioritize inventory precision, cautiously manage payables, and tailor strategies to competitive and credit conditions. Policymakers are called to bolster financial ecosystems supporting SMEs and enhance SCF transparency. Limitations, including omitted macroeconomic variables and pandemic-induced structural shifts, suggest future research directions, such as cross-country comparisons and ESG-integrated SCF frameworks. |
| Keywords: | Supply chain finance, DIO, credit risk, Resource Dependence theory, industry competition, working capital management, firm performance, emerging markets, HHI, Contingency theory |
| Date: | 2026 |
| URL: | https://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:zbw:esprep:341082 |
| By: | Kumar, Anjani; Singh, Dhiraj K.; Kumar, Nalini Ranjan |
| Abstract: | This paper provides a nationally representative assessment of changes in women’s work in livestock rearing in rural India using unit-level data from the Time Use Surveys (TUS) 2019 and 2024. By situating the analysis within debates on the feminization of agriculture, the study examines shifts in participation and time allocation in livestock rearing among rural working-age individuals (15–59 years). While women’s participation in economic work increased modestly between 2019 and 2024, this expansion continues to coexist with a persistently high burden of unpaid domestic and caregiving services. Within agriculture, livestock emerges as a relatively more dynamic and gendered domain of work. Using the 2016 International Classification of Activities for Time-Use Statistics (ICATUS), livestock activities are disaggregated into own use and market-oriented livestock activities. Descriptive evidence shows that women’s participation in livestock activities increased from 11 percent in 2019 to 15 percent in 2024, with a particularly notable rise in market-oriented livestock activities across several states and agroecological zones. Although crop husbandry continues to dominate agricultural employment, both incidence and intensity of participation of women in livestock rearing has visibly increased. Regression results indicate a positive and significant year effect for total livestock and livestock activities, but not for livestock own-use activities, suggesting that the observed increase is primarily associated with market-oriented engagement rather than subsistence expansion. Education exhibits a strong negative association with livestock time use, especially for women, indicating that livestock remains a fallback activity under constrained employment options. Gelbach decomposition further shows that changes in age composition and educational attainment account for a substantial share of the explained variation, while monthly per capita consumption expenditure has a stronger and more consistently significant association with women’s livestock time use than men’s. Overall, the findings point to incremental change within a persistently gendered structure of rural time allocation. |
| Keywords: | gender; rural women; women farmers; livestock; livestock production; livestock-raising; feminization; time use patterns; working hours; agricultural practices; India; Southern Asia |
| Date: | 2026–05–22 |
| URL: | https://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:fpr:ifprid:183033 |