Purpose ─ This paper examines the determinants of private investment. The result can help the government determine which investment drivers to consider when formulating policies to stimulate private investment.Methodology ─ It uses a Nonlinear Autoregressive Distributed Lag (NARDL) estimation approach with time series data from 1965 to 2022. Findings ─ The results indicate that positive shocks in economic growth lead to an increase in private investment over the long term. Conversely, both positive and negative shocks in inflation are found to positively impact private investment in the long run. Additionally, domestic credit to the private sector has a negative impact in both the short and long term. Implications ─ The government should develop policies designed to create an environment conducive to private investment. These policies should focus on ensuring easy access to finance, enhancing the openness of the economy, and maintaining a low and stable inflation rate.Originality ─ Few studies have fully explored the important drivers of private investment, especially in South Africa. Moreover, the studies conducted in South Africa have used other cointegration techniques, which are relatively weak compared to the NARDL used in the current study.

Purpose ― This paper aims to empirically investigate the impact of currency swaps on international trade, given China's differential level of financial development and its currency swap partners. Methods ― The study employes an empirical structural gravity model using datasets encompassing financial development, trade, and intuitive gravity equation variables for 27 countries from 1980 to 2013. The level of financial development and swaps was captured by the interaction term of the disaggregated measure of financial development, such as access, depth, and efficiency, each interacting with currency swaps.Findings ― The findings suggest that currency swaps are essential for trade and exhibit a large trade effect, especially for countries with relatively low levels of financial development. The paper substantiates empirical evidence indicating disparities in financial development across countries, and such differences are important in determining trade patterns. Implication ― Strong financial systems promote trade in advanced economies, whereas the opposite holds true for developing countries. The examination of the influence of financial systems on trade through empirical tests remains important on the research agenda of policymakers and researchers, especially those looking at industry-level import and export data.Originality ― The study delves into the nexus between financial development and trade within the framework of the Central Bank bilateral currency swap network by highlighting the role of financial institutions and market size (depth), activity (access), and efficiency. In addition, it addresses the drawbacks of previous empirical research that largely focuses on the private credit-to-GDP ratio as a key proxy for financial development.

Purpose ─ This study examines the effects of economic growth, the use of renewable and non-renewable energy sources, and trade openness on carbon emissions in VISTA countries (Vietnam, Indonesia, South Africa, Turkiye, and Argentina)Method ─ In this work, empirical methods include the second-generation unit root and cointegration tests, as well as Panel AMG and Panel CCE estimators.Findings ─ The following are the key findings. First, the variables demonstrate a long-run relationship. Second, economic growth and the consumption of non-renewable energy sources contribute to an increase in carbon emissions over time, whereas the consumption of renewable energy sources lowers carbon emissions over time. Implication ─ To promote sustainable growth in VISTA countries, it is recommended to increase investments in renewable energy sources while enhanching public sector supports for the private sector.Originality ─ This is the first study to examine how economic growth, trade openness, and renewable and non-renewable energy sources affect carbon emissions in VISTA nations.

Purpose ─ This study aims to identify the role of the bank capital channel by investigating how monetary policy affects bank lending through its influence on bank equity capital, in the transmission of monetary policy.Method ─ The study employs panel vector autoregression (pVAR) to investigate the complex relationship between monetary policy shocks, bank capital, and lending behavior. Results ─ The main findings are as follows: 1) The study finds evidence of both the bank lending and bank capital channels in South Asia. The analysis reveals a Granger causality between changes in bank capital position and policy rate adjustments, indicating a dynamic interplay between these variables. 2) The findings suggest, although direct effects of capital position changes on bank lending appear negligible, a nuanced examination uncovers the moderating influence of capital position changes on the impact of policy rate fluctuations on lending behavior. 3) The study suggests that healthier banking systems weaken the bank lending channel in South Asia.Implications/Significance ─ The study is significant because it sheds light on the mechanism involved in the interplay between monetary policy, bank capital, and lending, providing valuable insights for policymakers and future research directions.

Purpose ─ This research examines the effects of Myanmar's domestic economic reform measures on its economic growth, highlighting the impact of public sector governance and human capital development. Methods ─ The Toda-Yamamoto test on Granger causality and the vector error correction model are employed to examine the impact of Myanmar's domestic economic reform measures on its economic growth.Finding ─ The results reveal that unidirectional causality existed, from public sector governance to economic growth and human capital development to economic growth. The vector error correction model revealed that public sector governance and human capital development had a long-term and positive relationship with economic growth from 2001 to 2019.Implication ─ The study confirms that Myanmar's domestic economic reform measures contributed to its economic growth from 2001- 2019. These findings underpin the importance of continuing domestic economic reform, such as public sector governance and promoting human capital development, to achieve economic growth in the long run. Originality ─ This paper contributes to existing literature by shedding light on the impact of public sector governance, human capital development, and public sector governance on Myanmar's economic growth.

Purpose ― This study investigates the factors affecting the learning outcomes of Asian students. Methods ─ The effects of both educational inputs and economic and socioeconomic variables on the PISA scores of 10 Asian countries (Hong Kong, Indonesia, Japan, Singapore, Macau, Korea, Turkey, Israel, Qatar, and Thailand) for the years 2006, 2009, 2012 and 2015 were examined using unbalanced panel data. Findings ─ The results show that country-level economic factors strongly affect academic achievement. Furthermore, country-level economic factors dominate the other explanatory factors in the numerical and statistical sense. Implication ─ The findings provide valuable information for educators, policymakers, and researchers aiming to develop efficient educational strategies to improve educational quality. Furthermore, the results offer policy suggestions for addressing factors that impact the quality of education both at the national and international levels.Originality ─ This research enhances the current body of knowledge by investigating how economic and socioeconomic variables affect students' math, science, and reading performance, particularly emphasizing Asian countries.

Purpose ― This study examines the impacts of the Unemployment Benefit Program (Jaminan Kehilangan Pekerjaan, JKP) on the duration of job search in Indonesia using internal data sourced from the Employment Social Security Administering Agency (Badan Penyelenggara Jaminan Sosial Tenaga Kerja, BPJS TK).Method ― The study employs the Regression Kinked Design (RKD) model and Ordinary Least Square (OLS) estimation method to analyze the data on laid-off workers who have received the JKP benefits.Findings ― The study finds that, on average, the JKP beneficiaries have a longer duration of job search than laid-off workers who do not receive benefits. An increase in the replacement rate of the JKP benefits is associated with an increased duration of both job search and benefit claims. The RKD plot indicates that a replacement rate lower than 45% may decrease the duration of benefit claims and job searches. Implication ― The study recommends that the government should consider two potential options: (1) maintaining the current level of monetary benefits that leads to a longer job search duration; in other words, the program management must continue providing benefits for the maximum duration offered (up to 6 months), or, (2) reducing the monetary benefits, if BPJS TK aims to reduce the job duration. The results may change if a more robust labor market information system is available.Originality ― This study represents the first attempt to investigate the impact of the Unemployment Benefit Program (JKP) on job search duration in Indonesia. It might also be important to enrich the existing literature on the impact of similar programs in developing countries and countries with large populations.

Purpose – Central banks’ foreign reserve stocks in emerging markets have increased substantially in recent decades. Foreign reserves accumulation has been widely believed as a shock absorber to prevent financial crises. Meanwhile, accelerating foreign reserves might be contradictory to the monetary policy objectives. This research aims to investigate the impact of foreign reserves on the inflation dynamics.Method – We apply the inflation-expectation augmented Phillips curve on the monthly data over the period of 2005(7) to 2020(12) in the case of Indonesia. Findings – We show that stockpiling foreign exchange reserves indeed has an inflationary pressure impact. The central bank's intervention in the foreign exchange market is more significant in selling rather than purchasing foreign exchange. However, the non-monetary factors also play an important role in determining inflation. Implications – Considering channels through which foreign reserves might affect inflation, our findings suggest the monetary authority should be concerned with inflationary expectations in the short term as one of the major policy-driven goals to maintain price stability in the long run.Originality – This paper contributes to the literature on monetary policy in developing countries. Unlike other empirical studies, this research employs the inflation-expectation augmented Phillips curve and accommodates the issue of asymmetric effects of the change in foreign reserves.

Purpose ― This study aims to investigate the impact of FDI inflows on Trade in Azerbaijan from 1993 to 2021. Method ― This study uses the datasets from the World Bank Database. It employs the Augmented Dickey and Fuller (ADF), Phillips and Perron (PP), Zivot and Andrews (ZA), ARDL bounds testing approach, and the Granger Causality tests for the empirical part of the study.Findings ― The bound test shows the presence of cointegration between FDI and Export. The estimated long-run equation suggests a positive and significant relationship, whereas the estimated short-run equation indicates a positive but insignificant relationship between FDI and export. Additionally, the results of Granger causality test show a unidirectional causality running from FDI to export. Implications ― Since the FDI inflows show a positive effect on the export of Azerbaijan, most foreign investments come into the oil and gas sector. Accordingly, oil and gas products and services account for a significant share of exports in Azerbaijan. Policymakers might need new regulations to attract more attention from foreign investors to non-oil sectors.Originality/value ― There were vast studies about FDI and trade relationships in different countries with different techniques. This study is unique because it employs a new methodology and the latest dataset in which Azerbaijan was a focused area for the first time.

Purpose ― This research investigates the relationship between ASEAN's industrialization, renewable energy, and CO2 emissions. The primary objectives are to assess the existence of the Environmental Kuznets Curve (EKC) in ASEAN and to explore the potential mediating effect of renewable energy in the relationship between industrialization and CO2 emissions.Methods ― The study utilizes the PMG-ARDL estimation method in nine ASEAN countries from 1990 to 2019, providing short- and long-term analyses of the variables involved.Findings ― The finding reveals the presence of the EKC in ASEAN in the short term for most member states. It also finds that renewable energy mediates the relationship between industrial value-added and CO2 emissions, with renewable energy adoption altering the turning point of per capita CO2 emissions during industrialization in several ASEAN nations.Implication ― The findings suggest that transitioning to renewable energy can help mitigate the environmental impact of ASEAN’s industrial development. Thus, member states committed to energy targets should prioritize deploying renewable energy in their industrial sectors to achieve environmental benefits.Originality ― This research contributes to the existing literature by specifically examining the interplay between industrialization, renewable energy, and CO2 emissions in ASEAN. The use of the PMG-ARDL estimation method and the focus on the mediating role of renewable energy add originality to the study.