an article by Chong Siew Huay (Taylor’s University, Subang Jaya, Malaysia), Jonathan Winterton (University of Huddersfield, UK) and Yasmin Bani and Bolaji Tunde Matemilola (University Putra Malaysia, Serdang, Malaysia) published in International Journal of Social Economics Volume 45 Issue 10 (2019)
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to analyse the impact of remittances on human development in developing countries using panel data from 1980 to 2014 and to address the critical question of whether the increasing trend of remittances has any impact on human development in a broad range of developing countries.
Design/methodology/approach
Usual panel estimates, such as pooled OLS, fixed or random effects model, possess specification issues such as endogeneity, heterogeneity and measurement errors. In this paper, we, therefore, apply dynamic panel estimates – System generalised method of moment (Sys-GMM) developed by Arellano and Bond (1991) and Arellano and Bover (1995). This estimator is able to control for the endogeneity of all the explanatory variables, account for unobserved country-specific effects that cannot be done using country dummies due to the dynamic structure of the model (Azman-Saini et al., 2010).
Findings
The effect of remittances is statistically significant with positive coefficients in developing countries. The significant coefficient of remittances means that, holding other variables constant, a rise in remittance inflows is associated with improvements in human development. A 10 per cent increase in remittances will lead to an increase of approximately 0.016 per cent in human development. These findings are consistent with Üstubuci and Irdam (2012) and Adenutsi (2010), who found evidence that remittances are positively correlated with human development.
Practical implications
The paper considers implications for policymakers to justify the need for more effective approaches. Policymakers need to consider indicators of human development and to devise public policies that promote income, health and education, to enhance human development.
Originality/value
The question of whether remittances affect human development has rarely been subject to systematic empirical study. Extant research does not resolve the endogeneity problem, whereas the present study provides empirical evidence by utilising dynamic panel estimators such as Sys-GMM to tackle the specification issues of endogeneity, measurement errors and heterogeneity. The present study provides a benchmark for future research on the effect of remittances on human development.
Showing posts with label developing_countries. Show all posts
Showing posts with label developing_countries. Show all posts
Wednesday, 30 October 2019
Wednesday, 24 July 2019
Refugee skills and labour market needs: How matching can support lawful adult refugee mobility
Information about a cedefop project
Most refugees live in developing countries of asylum, struggling to prove themselves in economies which are unable to absorb and make full use of their labour market potential. As a result, their skills often remain unused and become obsolete over time. Key challenges for Europe include sharing the global responsibility for refugees fairly with major countries of asylum and meeting existing and future skill gaps and labour market needs.
The project seeks to contribute to these challenges by identifying and piloting a skills-based complementary pathway that allows lawful and safe pathways to protection of adult refugees by drawing on their human capital potential and labour market needs. The central element of this pathway is matching refugees’ skills and qualifications to the labour market needs of a potential host country; this will allow refugees to move from a major country of asylum to a new destination country based.
Downloads
Refugee skills and labour market needs
Most refugees live in developing countries of asylum, struggling to prove themselves in economies which are unable to absorb and make full use of their labour market potential. As a result, their skills often remain unused and become obsolete over time. Key challenges for Europe include sharing the global responsibility for refugees fairly with major countries of asylum and meeting existing and future skill gaps and labour market needs.
The project seeks to contribute to these challenges by identifying and piloting a skills-based complementary pathway that allows lawful and safe pathways to protection of adult refugees by drawing on their human capital potential and labour market needs. The central element of this pathway is matching refugees’ skills and qualifications to the labour market needs of a potential host country; this will allow refugees to move from a major country of asylum to a new destination country based.
Downloads
Refugee skills and labour market needs
Thursday, 20 June 2019
Human development in the age of globalisation
a column by Leandro de la Escosura for VOX: CEPR’s Policy Portal
The concept of human development views wellbeing as being affected by a wide range of factors including health and education.
This column examines worldwide long-term wellbeing from 1870-2015 with an augmented historical human development index (AHHDI) that combines new measures of achievements in health, education, material living standards, and political freedom. It shows that world human development has steadily improved over time, although advances have been unevenly distributed across world regions.
Continue reading
And if, like me, you enjoy reading social history you will really like this piece.
The concept of human development views wellbeing as being affected by a wide range of factors including health and education.
This column examines worldwide long-term wellbeing from 1870-2015 with an augmented historical human development index (AHHDI) that combines new measures of achievements in health, education, material living standards, and political freedom. It shows that world human development has steadily improved over time, although advances have been unevenly distributed across world regions.
Continue reading
And if, like me, you enjoy reading social history you will really like this piece.
Monday, 25 March 2019
Taxing the rich: Compliance and fairness in community-based taxation – lessons from Paris in the middle ages
a column by Al Slivinski and Nathan Sussman for VOX: CEPR’s Policy Portal
The problem of tax compliance is as old as the levying of taxes. Innovations in tax administration that induce high compliance rates at reasonable cost are extremely important to governments.
This column demonstrates how the taille, a tax collection mechanism from medieval Paris, raised compliance by turning the social cost of tax evasion into a private one. It offers a tax collection model that is still relevant to governments today.
Continue reading
The problem of tax compliance is as old as the levying of taxes. Innovations in tax administration that induce high compliance rates at reasonable cost are extremely important to governments.
This column demonstrates how the taille, a tax collection mechanism from medieval Paris, raised compliance by turning the social cost of tax evasion into a private one. It offers a tax collection model that is still relevant to governments today.
Continue reading
Tuesday, 12 February 2019
Mental Illness Is The Most Neglected Health Problem In The Developing World
an article by Davide Banis for Forbes [via World of Psychology blog]
When we think of international aid, we usually picture packages of food, vaccines, and water sanitation systems. Evidently, these are all fundamental needs for a healthy society.
However, there’s another, equally fundamental, component that is too often overlooked: mental health.
Mental health is an underserved cause in international aid for the same reasons it is still a taboo topic in most countries.
First off, it has a stigma attached to it. If you suffer from a mental illness, the common conception is that there’s something wrong with you, as a person, as a human being.
While for more physical diseases, we separate the illness from the person, in case of mental disease it’s more difficult to do so. Since the disease affects the mind, this is understandable to a certain extent but, at the same time, it doesn’t make it less wrong.
Secondly, mental health is perceived as a luxury good. If you suffer from depression, it means you’re just a whiny person with all their basic needs satisfied. Doesn’t it? Obviously, there’s nothing more false than this statement, yet it’s worryingly common.
Moreover, in the case of international aid, mental health struggles to attract donations also because of a marketing issue.
Research has shown that people are likely to donate twice as much if they empathize with a picture, rather than being presented with bare stats. And it’s evident how it’s much easier to capture a physical disease or a material need in a photo, rather than a mental disease.
Continue reading
When we think of international aid, we usually picture packages of food, vaccines, and water sanitation systems. Evidently, these are all fundamental needs for a healthy society.
However, there’s another, equally fundamental, component that is too often overlooked: mental health.
Mental health is an underserved cause in international aid for the same reasons it is still a taboo topic in most countries.
First off, it has a stigma attached to it. If you suffer from a mental illness, the common conception is that there’s something wrong with you, as a person, as a human being.
While for more physical diseases, we separate the illness from the person, in case of mental disease it’s more difficult to do so. Since the disease affects the mind, this is understandable to a certain extent but, at the same time, it doesn’t make it less wrong.
Secondly, mental health is perceived as a luxury good. If you suffer from depression, it means you’re just a whiny person with all their basic needs satisfied. Doesn’t it? Obviously, there’s nothing more false than this statement, yet it’s worryingly common.
Moreover, in the case of international aid, mental health struggles to attract donations also because of a marketing issue.
Research has shown that people are likely to donate twice as much if they empathize with a picture, rather than being presented with bare stats. And it’s evident how it’s much easier to capture a physical disease or a material need in a photo, rather than a mental disease.
Continue reading
Tuesday, 3 July 2018
The declining share of manufacturing jobs
a column by Oya Celasun and Bertrand Gruss for VOX: CEPR’s Policy Portal
The manufacturing sector is believed to play a unique role as a catalyst for productivity growth and income convergence, and as a provider of well-paid jobs for less-skilled workers.
This column argues, however, that the declining share of manufacturing employment over the past decades need not hurt the income convergence prospects of developing economies and that the loss of manufacturing jobs can only explain a small fraction of the rise in inequality in advanced economies. That said, getting the policies right is key to help countries make the most out of structural transformation.
Continue reading
The manufacturing sector is believed to play a unique role as a catalyst for productivity growth and income convergence, and as a provider of well-paid jobs for less-skilled workers.
This column argues, however, that the declining share of manufacturing employment over the past decades need not hurt the income convergence prospects of developing economies and that the loss of manufacturing jobs can only explain a small fraction of the rise in inequality in advanced economies. That said, getting the policies right is key to help countries make the most out of structural transformation.
Continue reading
Tuesday, 1 May 2018
How income gains from globalisation are distributed
a column by Valentin Lang and Marina Mendes Tavares for VOX: CEPR’s Policy Portal
Globalisation stirs a diverse range of sentiments and views: some credit globalisation for boosting economic well-being while others blame it for worsening inequality. This column examines the effect of globalisation on income among and within countries, and shows that globalisation is associated with income convergence across countries and income divergence within countries. Targeted redistributive policies and investments in education are needed to ensure that the benefits of globalisation are enjoyed by all.
Continue reading
I have not studied this piece but from what I have seen it looks like another way of showing us that the rich get richer at the expense of the poor.
Globalisation stirs a diverse range of sentiments and views: some credit globalisation for boosting economic well-being while others blame it for worsening inequality. This column examines the effect of globalisation on income among and within countries, and shows that globalisation is associated with income convergence across countries and income divergence within countries. Targeted redistributive policies and investments in education are needed to ensure that the benefits of globalisation are enjoyed by all.
Continue reading
I have not studied this piece but from what I have seen it looks like another way of showing us that the rich get richer at the expense of the poor.
Friday, 17 July 2015
Investing in formal on-the-job training: are SMEs lagging much behind?
an article by Rita K Almeida and Reyes Aterido (The World Bank, Washington DC) published in IZA Journal of Labor & Development Volume 4 Number 1 (2015)
Abstract
In a modern economy, the investment in human capital by firms is crucial to foster technological adoption and foster productivity growth. This paper analyzes the correlation between firm size and the investment in job training by employers.
Using a large firm level data set across 99 developing countries, we show that a strong and positive correlation in the investment in job training and firm size is a robust statistical finding both within and across countries with very different institutions and levels of development. Even though we cannot fully disentangle correlation from causality, we show that the size-training gap is not fully explained by differences across firms in market imperfections or institutional failures impeding the development of smaller firms.
Our findings call for the urgency of collecting better panel data sets to understand how cost-effective are on-the-job training programs in fostering firm productivity and growth in developing countries.
JEL codes: J24, D24
Full text (HTML)
Abstract
In a modern economy, the investment in human capital by firms is crucial to foster technological adoption and foster productivity growth. This paper analyzes the correlation between firm size and the investment in job training by employers.
Using a large firm level data set across 99 developing countries, we show that a strong and positive correlation in the investment in job training and firm size is a robust statistical finding both within and across countries with very different institutions and levels of development. Even though we cannot fully disentangle correlation from causality, we show that the size-training gap is not fully explained by differences across firms in market imperfections or institutional failures impeding the development of smaller firms.
Our findings call for the urgency of collecting better panel data sets to understand how cost-effective are on-the-job training programs in fostering firm productivity and growth in developing countries.
JEL codes: J24, D24
Full text (HTML)
Thursday, 18 July 2013
Risk factors in e-justice information systems
an article by João Rosa, Cláudio Teixeira and Joaquim Sousa Pinto (Department of Electronics, Telecommunications and Informatics, University of Aveiro, Portugal) published in Government Information Quarterly Volume 30 Issue 3 (July 2013)
Highlights
• Conflicts among stakeholders may arise from the lack of knowledge on organized development
• Conflicts among stakeholders may arise from the lack of perspectives on the development
• Users involved acquired an ownership (almost paternity like) feeling towards the system
• The introduction of IT in the justice system must also be considered as a risk factor
• The knowledge gap between the design team and the users may impair the entire system
Abstract
With the increase of the communication systems’ bandwidth and with the dissemination of the information systems, the fields of information and communication technology application expanded in almost all directions. E-government in general and e-justice in particular are no exception and these areas suffered strong changes in the last decades. There is no democracy without a system of swift and transparent justice. Therefore, the introduction of information systems in the courts allows a decrease both in time and number of pending processes, boosting the efficiency of the services provided to citizens and to the society in general.
This paper analyses and discusses different worldwide e-justice experiences. Special emphasis is addressed on the risk factors on the design, development and implementation of such systems.
Finally, we present our own experience in the development of an e-justice information system in Cape Verde, an African development country. The scope of our system ranges from the design team until the training of the justice agents.
Full text (HTML) This is an Open Access article from Elsevier ScienceDirect
Highlights
• Conflicts among stakeholders may arise from the lack of knowledge on organized development
• Conflicts among stakeholders may arise from the lack of perspectives on the development
• Users involved acquired an ownership (almost paternity like) feeling towards the system
• The introduction of IT in the justice system must also be considered as a risk factor
• The knowledge gap between the design team and the users may impair the entire system
Abstract
With the increase of the communication systems’ bandwidth and with the dissemination of the information systems, the fields of information and communication technology application expanded in almost all directions. E-government in general and e-justice in particular are no exception and these areas suffered strong changes in the last decades. There is no democracy without a system of swift and transparent justice. Therefore, the introduction of information systems in the courts allows a decrease both in time and number of pending processes, boosting the efficiency of the services provided to citizens and to the society in general.
This paper analyses and discusses different worldwide e-justice experiences. Special emphasis is addressed on the risk factors on the design, development and implementation of such systems.
Finally, we present our own experience in the development of an e-justice information system in Cape Verde, an African development country. The scope of our system ranges from the design team until the training of the justice agents.
Full text (HTML) This is an Open Access article from Elsevier ScienceDirect
Wednesday, 26 June 2013
World of Work Report 2013: Repairing the economic and social fabric
Published by the International Institute for Labour Studies
Summary
The World of Work Report 2013 provides a comprehensive analysis of the current state of labour markets and social conditions around the world. It also projects employment trends and assesses the risk of social unrest.
The report points to an uneven employment picture, with emerging and developing economies performing better than the majority of advanced economies. Income inequalities continue to widen in advanced economies and although they have stabilised somewhat in large emerging and developing countries, they remain acute and progress in this area is still fragile.
The report analyses these trends and discusses the conditions necessary for putting job creation at the heart of policy making. It addresses the following questions:
Full text (PDF 133pp)
Summary
The World of Work Report 2013 provides a comprehensive analysis of the current state of labour markets and social conditions around the world. It also projects employment trends and assesses the risk of social unrest.
The report points to an uneven employment picture, with emerging and developing economies performing better than the majority of advanced economies. Income inequalities continue to widen in advanced economies and although they have stabilised somewhat in large emerging and developing countries, they remain acute and progress in this area is still fragile.
The report analyses these trends and discusses the conditions necessary for putting job creation at the heart of policy making. It addresses the following questions:
- What are the challenges associated with an uneven job recovery from the global financial crisis? How have income inequalities evolved and what impact has this had on the middle class?
- Can minimum wages promote social justice and stimulate aggregate demand without dampening employment in developing countries? What is the scope in these countries for counteracting a double dip in growth and employment in advanced economies?
- How can productive investment be stimulated in order to create more and better jobs? And what are the financial reforms and corporate governance changes that would help to reinvigorate private sector investment?
- What are the trends in executive pay, and how do these compare with the evolution of the average worker’s earnings?
- How to achieve a shift to job-friendly policies and what is the role of the ILO in this endeavour?
Full text (PDF 133pp)
Wednesday, 13 June 2012
A framework for assessing the impacts of community-based enterprises on household poverty
an article by Nuttamon Teerakul, Renato A. Villano, Fiona Q. Wood and Stuart W. Mounter, (School of Business, Economics and Public Policy, University of New England, Armidale, Australia) published in Journal of Enterprising Communities: People and Places in the Global Economy Volume 6 Issue 1 (2012)
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to describe a framework developed for assessing Community-based Enterprises’ (CBEs&rsquo') impacts on poverty reduction at the household level in northern Thailand, in the context of the UN Millennium Development Goals. The focus is on the use of principal component analysis to develop a context-specific definition of poverty.
Design/methodology/approach
The paper explains how business performance measurement, impact assessment of development projects and poverty measurement have been integrated into a single poverty impact assessment framework in relation to CBEs. This framework has two key steps: identification of poverty groups and poverty components; and impact assessment of CBEs and other factors on household poverty.
Findings
The framework captures a number of qualitative and quantitative aspects of poverty necessary for an accurate relative measure for differing geographical, economic and cultural contexts.
Originality/value
The novelty of this paper’s approach lies in the design of the framework used to assess poverty impacts of CBEs at the household level. The framework combines three well-known, but traditionally separately used, methodologies in order to better explore the economic dynamic of CBEs on households. The paper is expected to be of high relevance, both theoretically and methodologically, to researchers undertaking similar poverty, micro-enterprise and social entrepreneurship studies in other developing countries.
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to describe a framework developed for assessing Community-based Enterprises’ (CBEs&rsquo') impacts on poverty reduction at the household level in northern Thailand, in the context of the UN Millennium Development Goals. The focus is on the use of principal component analysis to develop a context-specific definition of poverty.
Design/methodology/approach
The paper explains how business performance measurement, impact assessment of development projects and poverty measurement have been integrated into a single poverty impact assessment framework in relation to CBEs. This framework has two key steps: identification of poverty groups and poverty components; and impact assessment of CBEs and other factors on household poverty.
Findings
The framework captures a number of qualitative and quantitative aspects of poverty necessary for an accurate relative measure for differing geographical, economic and cultural contexts.
Originality/value
The novelty of this paper’s approach lies in the design of the framework used to assess poverty impacts of CBEs at the household level. The framework combines three well-known, but traditionally separately used, methodologies in order to better explore the economic dynamic of CBEs on households. The paper is expected to be of high relevance, both theoretically and methodologically, to researchers undertaking similar poverty, micro-enterprise and social entrepreneurship studies in other developing countries.
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