Encouraging Private Sector Participation Research Articles

The impact of renewable and non-renewable energy consumption on aggregate output in Pakistan: robust evidence from the RALS cointegration test.

Over the past three decades, Pakistan's energy consumption has surged due to industrialization, population growth, and development activities. To meet the escalating energy demands, the country has primarily relied on thermal power projects, which are financially burdensome and environmentally detrimental, compared to hydropower projects. This reliance exposes Pakistan to global oil price shocks and environmental degradation. To address this dilemma, this empirical research investigates the impact of both non-energy factors (labour and capital) and energy-specific factors (renewable and non-renewable) on Pakistan's aggregate output, using annual time-series data from 1980 to 2021. The analysis employs the newly established Residual Augmented Least Square (RALS) cointegration test and the Autoregressive Distributed Lag (ARDL) methodology to estimate the long-term cointegrating relationship among the examined variables. The empirical findings demonstrate that both non-energy and energy-specific factors positively and significantly influence Pakistan's long-term aggregate output. However, petroleum consumption exerts a positive but insignificant influence on Pakistan's long-term aggregate output. The study recommends diversifying the energy supply mix to include more hydroelectricity, non-hydroelectric renewables (mainly solar and wind), and natural gas. Specifically, transitioning from imported, expensive, and more greenhouse gas (GHG)-generating petroleum products to domestically produced natural gas could potentially reduce Pakistan's trade deficit and its vulnerability to global oil price shocks. Besides the economic benefits, shifting from non-renewable energy sources (specifically oil) to renewable energy would enhance Pakistan's image and increase its geopolitical influence over neighboring countries. Additionally, the study emphasizes the need to encourage private sector participation in renewable energy projects and suggests implementing effective carbon tax policies to mitigate CO2 emissions and foster economic growth.

Private Sector Participation and the Development of University Education in the Nigeria’s Fourth Republic, 1999-2021: A Historical Analysis

The main thrust of this paper is to historicize the involvement of the private sector in the development of university education in Nigeria in the Fourth Republic. While the year 1999, marked the commencement of the birth of the second batch of private universities in Nigeria, the year 2021 was when the last batch of private universities were granted provisional licenses of operation by the Federal Government. History of educational development in Nigeria has its origin in the activities of the private sectors, that is, the Christian missions. Their involvement in the development of western education in the country between the late 19th and 20th centuries was mainly confined to the provision of primary and secondary education. Up to the birth of the Fourth Republic in 1999, the provision of university education in the country was exclusively the responsibility of both the Federal and the State governments. Although an attempt was made during the Second Republic, 1979-1983, to encourage private sector participation, this eventually failed. However, with the return to civil rule in 1999, the country witnessed the emergence of the second attempt towards private sector involvement in the development of university education. The paper argues that the active involvement of the non-state actors in the delivery of university education in Nigeria since 1999 has helped in improving efficiency in delivery, expanding service coverage as well as increasing manpower production. The methodology adopted for this work is historical, qualitative and quantitative, utilizing materials from both primary and secondary sources.

India's Odyssey to Sustainable Energy Triumph-Assessing the Impact of Access to Energy and Renewable Power in the Indian Electricity Sector

Purpose: The purpose of this paper is to comprehensively examine the challenges hindering India's sustainable energy development, focusing on access to electricity, competition within the energy market, and the pivotal role of technology transfer and energy storage in overcoming growth hurdles. Theoretical Reference: The theoretical framework revolves around the intersection of Indian legislation and energy access, emphasising the significance of competition law in fostering a fair and inclusive energy landscape. The paper also draws on the theoretical foundations of technology transfer and energy storage as catalysts for sustainable growth in the renewable energy sector. Method: The methodology involves an in-depth analysis of India's renewable energy sector, exploring the impact of monopolies, anti-competitive practices, and the rapid expansion of solar power facilities. The study considers the role of competition law, technology transfer, and energy storage as key components in navigating the challenges of sustainable energy development. Result and Conclusion: The results underscore the interconnected nature of technology, energy storage, and competition legislation in India's energy revolution. The conclusion highlights public policy imperatives, emphasising demand-side management, resolution of contractual disputes, and the imperative need for efficient and cost-effective energy storage systems. The paper concludes with a call for a policy framework encouraging private sector participation and capacity building in the power sector. Implication of Research: The implications of this research extend to shaping public policy imperatives in the electricity sector, emphasising the need for demand-side management, resolution of disputes, and a policy framework to promote private sector participation. The research highlights the significance of these imperatives in developing efficient and cost-effective energy storage systems and achieving 'Round the Clock' renewable power. Originality/Value: The originality and value of this research lie in its comprehensive examination of the interconnected challenges and solutions in India's renewable energy sector. The findings contribute to the discourse on public policy imperatives, technology transfer, and competition law, offering insights that can guide policymakers, regulators, and businesses in fostering a competitive, sustainable, and resilient energy system. The study provides valuable guidance for maximising the benefits of renewable energy, ultimately contributing to increased energy access, sustainability, and economic growth in India.

Private Sector Participation and the Development of University Education in Nigeria’s Fourth Republic, 1999-2021: A Historical Analysis

The main thrust of this paper is to historicise the involvement of the private sector in the development of university education in Nigeria in the Fourth Republic. While the first set of private universities began during the Second Republic, the year 1999 marked the commencement of the birth of the second set of private universities in Nigeria. The year 2021 was when the last batch of private universities was granted provisional licences of operation by the Federal Government through the National Universities Commission. There is no doubt that the history of educational development in Nigeria has its origin in the activities of the private sector, that is, Christian missions. Their involvement in the development of western education in the country between the late 19th and 20th centuries was mainly confined to the provision of primary and secondary education. Up to the birth of the Fourth Republic in 1999, the provision of university education in the country was exclusively the responsibility of both the Federal and the State governments. Although an attempt was made during the Second Republic, 1979–1983, to encourage private sector participation, this eventually failed. The present paper argues that availability and accessibility to high-quality university education can be meaningfully achieved through public-private collaboration as seen in developed countries such as the United States, the United Kingdom and Western Europe. Active involvement of non-state actors would help the government to mobilize financial resources to meet more pressing public service needs. The methodology adopted for this work is historical, qualitative and quantitative, utilising materials from both primary and secondary sources.

The risks of private sector investment in affordable housing development: An Afrocentric perspective

The state delivery of affordable and sustainable housing continues to be a complicated challenge in Africa, and there is a need to encourage private sector participation. As a result, this study examines the risks associated with private sector participation in affordable housing and supporting infrastructure investment and the strategies towards mitigating the risks from an Afrocentric perspective. The evidence from a systematic literature review was coupled with the opinion of an international expert panel to address the paper’s aim and provide recommendations for developing improved housing and supporting infrastructure in Sub-Saharan Africa. The review outcomes and the qualitative data from the panel discussion were analysed using thematic analysis. The results revealed that market dynamics, land supply and acquisition constraints, cost of construction materials, unsupportive policies, and technical and financial factors constitute risks to affordable housing in the region. Mitigation strategies include leveraging joint efforts, strengths, and resource bases, increasing access to land and finance for private sector participation, developing a supportive government framework to promote an enabling environment for easy access to land acquisition and development finance, local production of building materials, research and technology adoption. In line with the United Nations (UN) Agenda 2030 targets and principles, reforms are required across the housing value chain, involving the private sector and community. Application of the study’s recommendations could minimise the risks of affordable housing delivery and enhance private sector participation.

Foreign Exchange Management and Economic Growth Nexus: The Role of Institutional Quality in Nigeria

The quality of governance depends largely on the role of government institutions through their regulatory and policy making functions; as it empowers private sector driven growth and macro managed domestic currency value. The study focused on Foreign Exchange Management and Economic Growth Nexus: the Role of Institutional Quality in Nigeria. Method of Fully Modified Ordinary Least Squares (FMOLS) was used to study the effect of Institutional quality to Nominal effective exchange rate on Economic growth from 1996 to 2021.Institutional quality functioned as the moderator. The finding showed a significant but inverse relationship between nominal effective exchange rate and economic growth due to decline in institutional quality. Also, the coefficient of interactive term suggests a complimentary effect exist between nominal effective exchange rate and institutional quality in building strong economy. Recommended that, regulatory authorities should work in synergy to develop strategies to regulate and encourage private sector participation in economic growth.

GREEN FINANCING FOR SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT IN PAKISTAN

Green financing has emerged as a critical tool for promoting sustainable development and addressing environmental challenges. This study focuses on the state of green financing in Pakistan and the challenges and recommendations for promoting green financing in the country. The study finds that green financing has the potential to mobilize capital towards environmentally sustainable projects and reduce the country's carbon footprint. However, green financing in Pakistan faces a number of challenges, including a lack of awareness, limited private sector participation, insufficient financial support, and a lack of standardization. To address these challenges, the study recommends increasing awareness, encouraging private sector participation, providing financial support, and standardizing definitions and methodologies. The study concludes that with continued efforts and collaboration, it is possible to overcome the challenges facing green financing in Pakistan and to mobilize capital towards a more sustainable future.

MOTIVES FOR AND BARRIERS TO CONSUMERS’ BEHAVIOR TOWARDS ADOPTABILITY OF SOLAR ENERGY: A CASE STUDY OF DISTRICT PESHAWAR

This study seeks to analyze various factors that affect consumers’ behavior towards adaptability of solar energy in district Peshawar. For the purpose, utilizing the survey of 373 respondents from Peshawar, logistic regression model was employed to investigate which technical factors and regulatory & institutional factors act as barriers or drivers in adoptability behavior of consumers towards solar energy. In results, it is concluded that the technical factors including: lack of skillful technicians and complexity in usage of the solar system act as barriers which have adverse and statistically significant impacts on the adoptability behavior of consumers towards solar energy. Moreover, among various technical drivers, the technology of net-metering remains the most significant driver to motivate individuals towards solar adoption. In terms of regulatory and institutional factors, encouraging private sector participation and strengthening regulation and legal framework remains drivers in enhancing solar adoption. Although, lack of institutions and government support for financial support, in-adequate policy and bureaucratic processes of registration and installation of solar energy have been found as barriers which negatively affect adoption of photovoltaic systems. Based on the results, it is recommended that both regulatory reforms as well as technological innovations through research and development must be supported to promote eco-friendly and sustainable solar energy. Keywords: Classification: Consumers’ Behavior; Solar Energy; Regulations and Institutions

The Christian Missions and the Development of University Education in the Nigeria’s Fourth Republic, 1999-2021: A Historical Analysis

AbstractThe main thrust of this paper is to historicise the role of the Christian missions in the development of university education in Nigeria in the Fourth Republic. While the year 1999, marked the birth of the Fourth Republic as well as the second attempt towards the involvement of the private sectors (Christian missions inclusive), the year 2021 was when the last batch of private universities were granted provisional licences of operation by the Federal Government through the National Universities Commission. There is no doubt that the history of educational development in Nigeria has its origin in the activities of the private sectors, that is, the Christian missions. Meanwhile, their involvement in the development of western education in the country between the late 19th and 20th centuries was mainly confined to the provision of primary and secondary education. Up to the birth of the Fourth Republic in 1999, the provision of university education in the country was exclusively the responsibility of both the Federal and the State governments.Although an attempt was made during the Second Republic, 1979-1983, to encourage private sector participation, this eventuallyfailed. The paper argues that availability and accessibility to high-quality university education can be meaningfully achieved through public-private collaboration as seen in the developed countries such as the United States, United Kingdom and Western Europe.Active involvement of non-state actors would help the government to mobilize financial resources to meet more pressing publicservice needs. The methodology adopted for this work is historical, qualitative and quantitative, utilising materials from both primary and secondary sources.

Institutional Involvement and Collaboration in Disseminating Biogas Technology in Ghana

Globally, biogas technology has been touted by academics, international organizations, United Nations, and pressure groups, among others, as an effective tool for protecting the planet against degradation. As such, stakeholders in the biogas technology sector have made some policy recommendations toward that goal. These include a global campaign in support of energy for sustainable development, climate financing by the international community, all countries adopting appropriate national strategies, innovative financial mechanisms, and encouraging private-sector participation in achieving the goal. Clearly, for countries to promote accessibility and create favorable perceptions on the adoption of biogas technology requires institutional involvement and collaboration. That is, institutions need to participate and contribute in terms of ideas and expertise as well as work together to ensure the dissemination and uptake of biogas technology in Ghana. This study is aimed at assessing the level of institutional involvement and collaboration and barriers to biogas technology dissemination in Ghana. A qualitative method was employed, and data were collected from 101 respondents through interviewing. The results indicated that the involvement of government and financial institutions in disseminating biogas technology was low, while biogas service providers showed moderate involvement. With regard to collaboration, it was revealed that institutions moderately collaborate in awareness creation but had low collaborations for promotion, monitoring, and evaluation. Furthermore, the lack of a national biogas policy, low government commitment towards biogas technology, and low financial support were key barriers to effective institutional involvement and collaboration in disseminating biogas technology in Ghana. It is recommended that the government shows a high commitment by providing the needed resources for dissemination activities and task the Ghana Energy Commission to formulate a national biogas policy to facilitate dissemination and adoption. Finally, a national biogas steering committee composed of all relevant stakeholders, including the Finance Minister or a representative from the Finance Ministry would create a good platform to help champion the dissemination of biogas technology in Ghana.

Localizing the Human Right to Water in Lagos State, Nigeria

Nigeria’s water sector is characterised by abysmal network coverage despite significant natural water resources potential. Most of the water sector reforms across the country encourage private sector participation in service delivery, to improve quality and efficiency. Early attempts at water privatization in Lagos State, a pioneer for water sector reforms in Nigeria, have met with stiff opposition from local water justice advocates, mostly on human rights grounds. Similar opposition has followed water reforms and privatization efforts in other parts of the country as well. Hence, this paper uses Lagos State as a case study to examine the prospects for the localisation of the human right to water within the context of private sector participation in the water sector. The findings suggest that: (a) private sector participation solely cannot account for the failure to localize the human right to water and the legal framework regulating the water sector plays an important role in determining the outcome; (b) the extant water sector law in Lagos State entrenches various forms of inequality in water access for personal and domestic uses; and (c) there is need for further legal reforms to elevate access to safe drinking water services beyond the contractual obligation on consumers to pay for services to a human right.

Analysing the determinants, constraints and opportunities of smallholder farmers’ access to input markets: evidence from northern Ghana

Smallholder farmers face multiple constraints in accessing input markets. This study seeks to understand the dynamics that influence input markets in northern Ghana and the opportunities that exist for smallholder farmers to increase their productivity and welfare. Using a random sample of 448 households, the study applied the probit and non-parametric methods in identifying the factors that influence farmers’ access to input markets and the key constraints faced by them. The results show that access to extension services, access to finance, distance to the nearest input market, and input source are significant factors that would be likely to influence farmers’ access to input markets. Lack of finance, poor road network, and low prices of output are the main critically ranked constraints limiting farmers’ access to input markets. Policy initiatives should be geared toward strengthening extension service delivery, farmer education on inputs, improving feeder roads, and encouraging private sector participation in input markets. Available opportunities to leverage on and improve farmers’ access to input markets include the governments’ input subsidy programmes, existing large-scale agricultural projects, private agricultural companies with contract farming models, and extensive network of input dealers and aggregators in the communities. These findings are relevant for farmers, input dealers and policy makers working to improve farmers’ access to input markets.

Role of Inflow of Resources on Economic Growth of Nepal

This study attempts to examine the role of the inflow of resources on the economic growth of Nepal incorporating annual time-series data sets of 45 years from 1975 to 2019. The autoregressive distributed lag approach to cointegration is used to identify the long-run as well as the short-run relationship between the variables. The empirical finding indicates that there is a positive relationship between the inflow of resources and economic growth. Quantitatively, gross national saving, domestic loans, foreign loans, and export earnings have a positive impact on the economic growth in both the long-run as well as short-run for the Nepalese economy. Policies encouraging private sector participation, enlarging efficiency, and effectiveness of public sector projects, and expanding export base must be implemented.

Japanese infrastructure investment in Southeast Asia

Japan’s investment in the domestic construction industry has fallen to less than half its peak in 1992. Given the country’s declining population, Japanese construction companies must go global to remain profitable. To what extent the Japanese government and Japanese companies can contribute to meeting the growing infrastructure needs in the region is unclear as Japanese companies have long been operating primarily in Japan. The Japanese government has in recent years passed a series of new laws that encourage private sector participation in financing, building and operating public infrastructure. Through involvement in such public projects, Japanese companies have developed the skills and technologies to build a variety of infrastructures that are resilient to natural disasters and adaptable to various geographical conditions and social and economic development. But the major challenge for Japanese companies is to transform their business model drastically from one that relies on the domestic market to one that contributes to the social and economic development of third countries.

An Empirical Analysis of the Factors that Influence Infrastructure Project Financing by Banks in Select Asian Economies

A recent Asian Development Bank publication estimates the large infrastructure financing requirement in Asia for the period 2016–2030, which establishes the strong need to encourage private sector participation to meet investment requirements. This paper analyzes a critical aspect of expanding private finance to infrastructure by examining the role of bank lending to public–private partnership (PPP) projects through the project finance modality. The key empirical results suggest that project financing by banks to infrastructure PPP projects is still in its infancy in several Asian markets, and banks are guided more by macroeconomic factors and by the strength of their balance sheets. The key policy implications to unlock bank finance for infrastructure PPP projects lie in reducing macroeconomic risk factors and having well-capitalized banks. The latter assumes significance, given the higher capital requirements that banks are expected to fulfill, following the adoption of Basel III capital standards.

Introduction: Challenges to Africa's Agricultural Transformation

Introduction: Challenges to Africa's Agricultural Transformation

Is the distribution of public open space in Hong Kong equitable, why not?

This study evaluates the underlying logic of urban planning behind the inequitable geographical distribution of public open space in Hong Kong. Existing open spaces and areas zoned as open spaces are found to have distinct patterns of distribution. Fewer than half of Hong Kong’s 1737 public parks and recreation grounds were zoned as ‘Open Space’ in town plans. Three typical land-use zoning configurations adjoining the 1177 ‘Open Space’ zones are identified. A large proportion of Hong Kong’s ‘Open Space’ zones, particularly those with waterfront access, were located close to upmarket, low-density housing areas and mixed commercial-business zones, rather than to high-density mass housing zones. An historical review elucidates the influence of colonial politics, racial harmony, public hygiene and democratisation on open space planning and development in Hong Kong. Recreation is not the only social function of open space. The government’s latest planning and development strategies − expanding a network of new open spaces at strategic waterfront locations and near commercial/business zones, and encouraging private-sector participation in place promotion and urban marketing − may exacerbate the inequitable distribution of open space, encourage its commodification and deprive underprivileged communities of the right to conveniently access public space.

Innovative Tool for New and Change Government of India: E- Governance

In 21st century, E-Governance is becoming ruling king as it may reduce corruption, cut red tapism and reach directly to citizens providing political support focused administrative leadership, reengineering process. In the Present Scenario, Information and communication technology is gaining its importance day by day. IT is becoming Government’s driving force by providing services. IT has discovered new ways for improving the Government’s strategies and policies also rules and regulations for providing services to the public. It introduced electronic modes for government for changes and renewal in its processes and policies. This mode becomes the key word for the government in improving its processes. E-governance plays a role of catalyst and channel for E- business in business community. As far as E-governance projects are concerned, government is changing its role from an ‘Implementer’ to a ‘Faciliatator’ and ‘Regulator’. Government will encourage private sector participation in E-governance projects and more projects based on public private participation (PPP) model should came in near future to achieve long term sustainability and the future for Egovernance looks. In this paper, an attempt has been made to study the E-governance in India and initiatives made by the government for implementing the e-governance projects in India and also examined the challenges faced by government in implementing e-governance projects in India. Keywords: Government, Governance, E-Government, E-Governance, E-Governance projects, challenges.

Transforming the Nigerian power sector for sustainable development

Nigeria has been plagued with acute power shortages due to poor performance of its power sector. Several policies and reforms have been implemented by the government to address the poor performance of the power generation, transmission and distribution sectors of the electricity industry. Also various strategies were employed by the government which includes encouraging private sector participation, diversification of the energy generation sources and promoting energy efficiency for sustainable development. In addition the government has spent billions of dollars since 2001 in the construction of new power generation facilities, transmission lines and distribution centers to boost the power supply. It has deregulated the generation and distribution sectors to encourage private sector participation and empowers the Energy Commission of Nigeria to embark on programs and strategies that can boost energy generation from renewable sources. This paper examined the country's energy sources and the power sector reforms adopted by the government. The paper also outlined some recommendations based on reforms implemented by other countries with similar resources to Nigeria which yielded positive results.

Management of Healthcare in the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries with special reference to Saudi Arabia

The Gulf Cooperation Council's (GCC) countries healthcare service sector is likely to witness a major transition in the quality of services provided, and in competitiveness on a global basis. The region’s attempts to setting up integrated healthcare facilities in the form of healthcare cities and medical hubs, along with continuous improvement in technology and infrastructure, will significantly improve the availability and quality of healthcare provision in the region. However, an efficient institutional framework and effective regulatory environment need to be prioritized to encourage private sector participation in the sector. This paper presents a comparative analysis of the main indicators of the GCC healthcare systems, mostly using secondary data from the World Health Organization, and Saudi Ministry of Health database, and attempts to provide some recommendations for healthcare policy makers.