Fast Economic Growth Research Articles

Socialist imprints and innovation strategies in a transition economy

ABSTRACT This paper contributes to research at the intersection of institutional theory and the emerging literature on institutional imprinting by studying how the persistence and decay of founding institutional imprints affect network-based innovation strategies in small firms during later stages of economic transition. In do so, we are able to investigate both the extent of imprints and the boundary conditions that serve to strengthen or weaken their persistence. We situate our study in a fast-growing but under-studied transition economy, Vietnam, applying multiple estimation methods on a multilevel panel sample of 2644 small entrepreneurs over 6 years. Our major findings are, firstly, that firms launched before transition are influenced by socialist imprints and rely more on small and concentrated informal social networks, while firms launched after transition rely more on newer formal market institutions to generate innovations, and, secondly, that management and industry experience strengthens network-based innovation strategies and, thus, amplifies the persistence of socialist imprinting in firms established prior to transition.

Accelerated demographic and economic transition calls for resolute socioeconomic policies

Population management seemed to have gotten underway quite well in 1970. But no sooner had the program gained traction than the Roman Catholic hierarchy and conservative groups voiced their strong opposition to family planning, which President Marcos, Sr. accommodated for political expediency. Thus, with a failed family planning program, declining fertility – a necessary condition for demographic transition towards faster economic growth, higher employment, and poverty reduction could not be achieved. A hugely missed opportunity graphically illustrated when comparing the Philippines and Thailand in particular, which had virtually identical key demographic-economic indicators in 1970 but drastically diverged by 2020. Apparently, the former ‘sowed the wind and is reaping the whirlwind’ – a cogent motivation moving forward for overcoming failures and balancing population and the economy better by adopting judiciously chosen policy options.

PERAN PEMERINTAH DAERAH DALAM PEMBANGUNAN INFRASTRUKTUR JALAN DI KOTA BATAM

As a government that has a very strategic authority and position related to its obligations as a "public service" to improve the welfare, prosperity, security and peace of society, regional governments have a very important role in regional development planning. Regional governments in this case must carry out their main tasks which of course must be adjusted to the vision, mission, goals and objectives that will be achieved later. Development is a complex process that requires significant changes in social structures, cultural values, and institutional frameworks to promote faster economic growth, reduce income disparities, and eradicate poverty. Apart from roads, trucks, cable cars and trains, roads are all road elements protected by land transportation infrastructure, including supporting buildings and traffic instruments that are above ground and above water. This scientific work was written using descriptive techniques. This approach can be described as a critical thinking methodology that involves reading articles or other items. In accordance with Law Number 23 of 2014, autonomous regional governments led by regional heads are organized by regional governments. One of the cities or districts in the Riau Islands Province that is still developing is Batam City. Regional governments are still concerned and monitoring infrastructure development. During the Covid-19 epidemic, environmental and meteorological conditions, obstacles and the process of road infrastructure development also occurred. However, considering the existing challenges and setbacks, this can be used as a basis for review and improvement in preparing for the next phase of regional government growth. Therefore, these difficulties do not become a challenge for local governments during the development process; instead, it can be taken into account later. Keywords: Local Government; Development; Infrastructure

Study on Lean Six Sigma methodology from the Indian context: an investigation of literature

PurposeIndia liberalized its economy in 1991, which resulted in intense global competition, quality-conscious and demanding customers. Additionally, significant technological advancements lead to enhancements in products and processes. These forced Indian organizations to adopt innovative business strategies in the past 30 years. Meanwhile, the Lean Six Sigma methodology has significantly grown with vast applicability during the past 30 years. Thus, the purpose of this study is to develop the learning on Lean Six Sigma methodology in the Indian context through investigation of literature.Design/methodology/approachA three-stage systematic literature review approach was adopted to investigate the literature during the present study. In total, 187 articles published in 62 journals/conference proceedings from 2005 to 2022 (18 years) were shortlisted. The first part of the article summarizes the significant milestones towards the quality journey in the Indian context, along with the evolution of the Lean Six Sigma methodology. The second part examines the shortlisted papers on Lean Six Sigma frameworks, their applicability in industrial sectors, performance metrics, outcomes realized, publication trends, authorship patterns and leading researchers from the Indian perspective.FindingsLean Six Sigma has emerged as a highly acclaimed and structured business improvement strategy worldwide. The Indian economy has seen remarkable growth in the past decade and is one of the fastest-growing economies in the 21st century. Lean Six Sigma implementation in India has significantly increased from 2014 onward. The study revealed that researchers have proposed several different frameworks for Lean Six Sigma implementation, the majority of which are conceptual. Furthermore, the balanced applicability of Lean Six Sigma in manufacturing and service sectors was observed with the highest implementation in the health-care sector. Additionally, the widely adopted tools, techniques along with performance metrics exploring case studies were reported along with a summary of eminent and leading researchers in the Indian context.Research limitations/implicationsThis study is confined to reviewed papers as per the research criteria with a significant focus on the Indian context and might have missed some papers due to the adopted papers selection strategy.Originality/valueThe present study is one of the initial attempts to investigate the literature published on Lean Six Sigma in the Indian context, including perspective on the Indian quality movement. Therefore, the present study will provide an understanding of Lean Six Sigma methodology in the Indian context to graduating students in engineering and management and entry-level executives. The analysis and findings on Lean Six Sigma frameworks, research approach, publications details, etc., will be helpful to potential research scholars and academia. Additionally, analysis of case studies on Lean Six Sigma implementation by Indian industries will assist the managers and professionals in decision making.

The rise and fall of armies

Abstract Over a thousand years, military employment rises, peaks, and then falls. I argue that rising military shares were driven by structural change out of agriculture, and the recent declines are driven by substitution from soldiers toward military goods. I document evidence for this substitution effect and introduce a model of growth and warfare that reproduces the time series patterns of military expenditure and employment. The model also correctly predicts the cross-sectional patterns, and that military employment and expenditure shares are decreasing in income during wars. Finally, I show that faster economic growth can reduce military expenditure in the long run.

Entrepreneurial Creative Thinking and Venture Performance: Reviewing the Influence of Psychomotor Education on the Profitability of Small and Medium Scale Firms in Port Harcourt Metropolis

The significance of small and medium enterprises to an economic development of a country cannot be overemphasized. The growth of a business depends on the development of abilities needed to execute a smooth running of day business activities. Research has established the fact that fast economic growth of regions lies on the extent of trade activities in the area. Given this established importance of enterprise, this present study aims at empirically developing the relationship between entrepreneurial creative thinking and venture performance with specific reference to small and medium scale firms in Port Harcourt metropolis. Descriptive survey design was adopted and primary data were used. The data collected were analyzed using mean, aggregate mean, and Spearman rank correlation with the aid of statistical package for social sciences, version 25. Findings shows that there is a significant and positive relationship between psychomotor education (our proxy for creative thinking) and profitability, as indicated by p-value of at 0.05 level of significance. We conclude that entrepreneurial creative thinking is an ingredient that managers of small and medium enterprises deploy to achieve maximum profit. Based on the empirical findings and conclusion, we recommend that there should be a need for policymakers to consider developing small and medium enterprises, not only through the provision of social amenities but also development of public agenda for the acknowledgement of creative thinking, skill development, and prioritization of skills improvement for both expert and non-expert business owners.

Investigating the quality of ethiopian steel reinforcing bars through comprehensive analysis

The fast economic growth, urbanization, and industrialization of Ethiopia led to the requirement for the establishment of various infrastructures and many residential building constructions consuming different types of materials. Reinforced steel bar is one of the most consumed construction materials in Ethiopia. The demand for reinforced steel bars in Ethiopia is satisfied by the local production and international market. However, most people lack trust to the use local products without justified reasons. This investigation work was done to evaluate the performance of the locally produced rebar concerning the Compulsory Ethiopian Standard (CES) to develop trust in contractors and consultants of different projects. A Compulsory Ethiopian Standard (CES) is an Ethiopian standard that has been prepared under the direction of the Technical Committee for Concrete and Concrete Products and published by the Ethiopian Standards Agency (ESA). Experimental works were done on rebar of grades B400BWR and B500BWR with different diameters collected from four different factories. The collected samples were investigated based on their yield strength, ultimate tensile strength, elongation, hardness, chemical composition, and microstructure formation of the product. The yield strength, ultimate tensile strength, and elongation of the rebar were analyzed based on the tension test results obtained from the 2000 KN Universal Testing Machine (UTM), and the chemical composition analysis was done using the Spark Emission Spectrometer Analyzer. The micro-hardness test was done using the Vickers Hardness Tester with 3kgf and 15-s dwell time at a 0.5 mm gap along the cross-section of the rebar. Microstructure analysis is done using EDX scanning electron microscope (SEM) and optical microscopy with different magnifications and resolutions on the cross-section of the rebar. From the tested samples one sample failed from B400BWR to achieve the minimum required yield strength of 400 MPa stated by CES 101, 2017. Samples of B500BWR satisfy all the requirements stated by the standard even if there is an increment up to 41 % beyond the minimum requirement.

The Nexus between Oil Consumption, Economic Growth, and Crude Oil Prices in Saudi Arabia

The energy revolution in Saudi Arabia has accelerated significantly since 2016, driven by the National Vision 2030. Significant changes to energy subsidies took place, and the renewable energy sector has seen rapid growth. The paper presents an empirical analysis of the Saudi energy transition by emphasizing the drivers of fuel consumption in KSA. It primarily attempts to explore the long-run (LR) connection between oil consumption and several economic variables such as economic growth, crude oil prices, investment, and the labor force in Saudi Arabia (KSA) from 1991 up to 2021. The paper implemented the vector error correction model (VECM) and performed different diagnostic tests to provide more evidence about the validity and robustness of the tests. The empirical findings highlighted how important the labor force, savings, GDP, and crude oil price are in determining oil consumption for KSA. The law of demand is significantly present, which negatively affects oil consumption for KSA as an oil exporting country. The results also supported the existence of a long-term direct correlation between the variables and oil consumption. Furthermore, the short-term estimation highlighted that only saving has a negative impact on oil consumption for a single lagged period. Our findings provide governments and regulators with further incentive to slow the expansion in oil consumption, as a larger labor force is demanding more oil to attain the target, faster economic growth, and increased savings are all contributing factors. Our findings are significant because they can assist policymakers, investors, and regulators in generating more efficient oil substitutes and making them affordable for the economy.

Does Trade Reform Promote Economic Growth? A Review of Recent Evidence

Abstract Do trade reforms that significantly reduce import barriers lead to faster economic growth? In the twenty-five years since Rodríguez and Rodrik's (2000) critical survey of empirical work on this question, new research has tried to overcome the various methodological problems that have plagued previous attempts to provide a convincing answer. I examine three strands of recent work on this issue: cross-country regressions focusing on within-country growth, synthetic control methods on specific reform episodes, and empirical country studies looking at the channels through which lower trade barriers may increase productivity. A consistent finding is that trade reforms have had a positive impact on economic growth, on average, although the effect is heterogeneous across countries. Overall, these research findings should temper some of the previous agnosticism about the empirical link between trade reform and economic performance.

A rationale for the Right-to-Development climate policy stance?

We present a formal model that analyzes the trade-offs between environmental policy and economic growth in a developing economy. The adoption of restrictive environmental policies limits the use of abundant fossil energy resources, which may slow down economic development and thus violate the Right-to-Development. If faster economic growth allows a country to grow out of pollution sooner, less stringent policies are good for growth and even for the environment, having adopted a long-term horizon. Accounting for a ceiling on cumulative emissions can reinforce the argument by providing an additional rationale to phase out pollution. One assumption is crucial for the argument to hold: polluting fossil energy is an essential input over the early phase of economic development, but not in the later phases. Such a discontinuity could result from structural change. We provide empirical evidence for the plausibility of a discontinuity in the elasticity of carbon dioxide emissions with respect to aggregate output, using cross country data, even if it does not appear to be as strong as assumed in the model economy.

FDI in India: Analyzing Financial Flows and Economic Impacts

Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) plays a crucial role in shaping the economic landscape of India, attracting significant attention from investors, policymakers, and economists alike. As one of the fastest-growing economies in the world, India has been successful in improving its attractiveness to foreign investors through various policy reforms and liberalization measures. The study finds important patterns and connections in the dynamics of FDI inflow by applying quantitative analytical techniques such a regression analysis and correlation analysis. The results of regression analysis highlight the impact of the GDP on FDI inflow, showing a robust positive connection between GDP and FDI inflow. In recent years, there has been a substantial increase in FDI inflows into India across different sectors, such as telecommunications, manufacturing, and services. This surge in FDI can be attributed to the country's large and growing market, skilled workforce, improving infrastructure, and stable political environment. Analyzing the financial flows of FDI into India reveals that a significant portion of inflows comes from countries such as the United States, Singapore, and Mauritius. This diversification of funding sources indicates the global interest in investing in India and leveraging its potential as a key market in the region. The economic impacts of FDI in India are multifaceted and go beyond simply bringing capital into the country. FDI inflows contribute to job creation, technology transfer, skill development, and overall economic growth. Foreign investors bring in expertise, best practices, and access to new markets, which can benefit local industries and enhance competitiveness. Moreover, FDI inflows can also lead to improvements in productivity, efficiency, and innovation within domestic firms through spillover effects. However, it is essential to recognize the challenges associated with FDI in India, such as regulatory complexity, infrastructure bottlenecks, bureaucratic inefficiencies, and socio-political factors. Addressing these challenges requires continuous efforts from the government to further streamline regulations, improve infrastructure, enhance the ease of doing business, and foster a more investor-friendly environment. Keywords: Foreign Direct Investment (FDI), Regression, Correlation, GDP, Telecommunications.

Tracing environmental Kuznets curves: unveiling the interplay of inequality, urbanization, GDP and emissions in BRICS nations

In light of environmental challenges, the BRICS countries have stepped to the forefront of economic progress versus environmental sustainability debate. Not only has energy consumption increased rapidly in these countries, but the economic progress and urbanization, mainly driven by intensive fossil fuel production, have also led to higher levels of income inequality. The dynamics of the interplay between economic growth, urbanization, and income inequality on the one hand and environmental sustainability on the other have yet to be fully understood in the BRICS context. This paper aims to contribute to the ongoing debate by assessing a combination of three Environmental Kuznets Curves (EKC) based on the GDPpc-emissions nexus, the income inequality- emissions nexus, and the urbanization-emissions nexus. Using the Autoregressive Distributed Lag (ADRL) and Panel Fully Modified Least Squares (FMOLS) models, we find an inverted U-shape EKC between GDP and carbon emissions, an inverted U-shaped EKC between income inequality and carbon emissions, and a U-shaped EKC between urbanization and carbon emissions. The inverted EKC between GDPpc and carbon emissions suggests that in the long run sustainable carbon reduction is possible alongside economic growth, but urbanization’s U-shaped impact on emissions might hinder this. Moreover, the inverted U-shaped relationship between income inequality and carbon emissions indicates a potential long-run trade-off between reducing both inequality and carbon emissions. Factors behind this relationship may vary significantly and include institutions- and country-specific factors, yet policymakers in the BRICS countries will do well attempting to better understand the dynamics behind urbanization and inequality as it will enable them to adopt more effective holistic policies aiming to improve energy efficiency, reduce fossil fuel dependence, and build economic systems contributing to faster economic growth, lower inequality and greater environmental sustainability.

Circular Economy Strategies in Densification and Refurbishment of Residential Buildings – State of Application and Future Directions

The fast population and economic growth put tremendous pressure on the planet’s resources. In this context, the building sector is recognized as one of the most significant contributors to greenhouse gas emissions and the use of raw materials. The Circular Economy (CE) is expected to contribute to a reduction of waste landfills, extraction of raw materials, and greenhouse gas emissions. This study aims to understand to what degree and how CE strategies can be applied to the refurbishment and densification of residential buildings. Using a qualitative approach, this study examines the application of CE strategies in the building sector through five semi-structured expert interviews. The literature identifies five CE principles for buildings: building in layers, designing-out waste, designing for adaptability and flexibility, designing for disassembly, and selecting materials. From the interviews, designing-out waste was the most common approach for refurbishment and densification of residential buildings. Nevertheless, the implementation of CE strategies within the building sector is still limited and challenging due to various barriers and little encouragement. More stimuli from governments through regulations and guidelines, increased collaboration between stakeholders, and technological advancements are expected to reduce the obstacles to implementing CE strategies in refurbishment and densification.

Status of Child Nutrition in India: A Comparative Study of Assam and West Bengal

Undernutrition represents a distressing health issue among children in developing countries. It has been recognized as a significant factor contributing to child mortality worldwide, with approximately half of child deaths attributed to it. Despite India initiating the largest number of anti-malnutrition programs and boasting one of the fastest-growing economies globally, the situation regarding child malnutrition remains dire compared to other developing nations. Thus, utilizing data from the National Family Health Survey (NFHS) fifth and fourth rounds, this study aims to evaluate the nutritional status of children under 5 in Assam and West Bengal. The findings of the study reveal that West Bengal slightly outperforms Assam across all nutritional indicators. The prevalence rates of stunting (height-for-age), wasting (weight-for-height), and underweight (weight-for-age) are higher in both states, with noticeable increases over time as evidenced by various NFHS rounds. Furthermore, significant regional disparities exist within both states. While Assam exhibits significant results for wasting and underweight, West Bengal only displays significance for underweight. Despite robust economic growth in both states, they lag behind the Indian average concerning child nutrition.

Estimated Taxation Method in the Saudi Income Tax Law

The thesis delves into the complex realm of the Estimated Taxation Method within the Saudi Income Tax Law, offering a comprehensive analysis of this crucial aspect of taxation. The study aims to fill a significant gap in the existing literature by providing a detailed examination of the legal framework surrounding estimated taxation and the challenges faced by taxpayers in Saudi Arabia. Through a meticulous review of primary and secondary sources, including law review articles and academic documents, the thesis employs deductive reasoning to scrutinize the regulatory framework governing estimated taxation. By focusing on the specific context of Saudi Arabia, the research sheds light on the uncertainties and ambiguities introduced by the expansive discretion granted to the tax authority in imposing estimated taxation. The significance of this study extends beyond academic discourse, as it aims to provide valuable insights for foreign investors considering investments in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. It gives a preamble to foreigners seeking to invest in the fast-growing economy of Saudi Arabia. In other words, the research seeks to enhance clarity, consistency, and adequacy in the regulatory framework governing taxation. It achieves this by offering a nuanced understanding of the Estimated Taxation Method and its implications for taxpayers. Overall, this thesis contributes to the ongoing dialogue on tax laws and income tax, emphasizing the need for a well-defined regulatory framework that balances the interests of taxpayers and the tax authority. In sum, by addressing a novel aspect of taxation not previously explored in published research, this study enriches the understanding of tax policies and their impact on economic activities in Saudi Arabia.

Comparative Study of the Crushing Strengths of Recycled Coarse Aggregates Concretes and Natural Aggregates Concretes

Recycled Coarse Aggregate (RCA) is a recycled concrete material from construction sites, which is being reused for fresh concrete production. The use of this material reduces quarrying of Natural Coarse Aggregate (NCA). Properties of RCA are variable depending on the properties of parent concrete. In a fast-growing economy, the generation of construction waste has increased considerably, and social and environmental concerns on recycling the waste have accordingly increased. Construction Engineers have resorted to recycling these demolition wastes to maintain a friendly green environment. This study compared the crushing strengths of Recycled Coarse Aggregate concrete with Natural Aggregate concretes. The RCA was obtained from demolished drains and culverts while the Natural Coarse Granite Aggregate was from Akamkpa, Cross River State, Nigeria. Using RCA and NCA of maximum size 20mm, concrete cubes were prepared for compressive strength tests. Other properties of the aggregates were determined. Three mix proportions of 1:1½:3, 1:2:4 and 1:3:6 at water cement ratio of 0.6 were utilized and the specimens were tested at curing ages of 7, 14, 21 and 28 days. Results indicated that RCA produced concretes with strengths lower than those using NCA. RCA concretes also had slumps lower than those of NCA concretes.

A Descriptive Analysis of Therapeutic Drug Monitoring In India

Therapeutic drug monitoring (TDM) has evolved into therapeutic drug management throughout the past three to four decades, becoming a crucial facet of precision medicine. Even though India has one of the fastest-growing economies in the world, TDM is not widely used there. At the moment, it is restricted to a small number of teaching hospitals and academic medical institutes. Other therapeutic domains, such anticancer, antifungal, antibacterial, and antitubercular medications, have shown considerable promise to enhance patient outcomes in Indian settings, aside from immunosuppressive pharmaceuticals. The population of this subcontinent is unique in terms of the importance of TDM due to factors like the higher prevalence of nutritional deficiencies, tropical diseases, the widespread adoption of alternative medicines, unlike pharmacogenomics, and the scarcity of population-specific data on the therapeutic ranges of multiple drugs.TDM has not gotten the interest it merits in India, despite its vast applicability and influence on clinical science. This study aims to present a SWOT (strength, weakness, opportunity, and threats) analysis of TDM in India so that suitable measures for promoting TDM growth can be envisaged. Forming a collaborative group with all the stakeholders—including TDM experts, physicians, and the government—and coming up with a National Action Plan to support TDM are urgent needs. To determine the country's TDM focus areas, nodal TDM facilities should be formed, and pilot programmes should be launched. Capacity development and awareness rising are also important steps towards integrating TDM into traditional clinical practice.

Do gender disparities in socioeconomic status affect Teff productivity? A comparative analysis in Ethiopia

Ethiopia is one of Africa’s fastest-growing economies, and the recent political and economic reforms recognize the importance of empowering women and increasing their labour force participation. The Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia (FDRE) constitution of 1995 recognized women’s right to equality and provides intervened to enable women to compete and participate in all spheres of life and to exercise their rights on equal grounds with men. Gender empowerment and gender equality are given national priority and positioned at the centre of all policy, legal, and institutional frameworks. Research suggests that women remain overrepresented in lower-skilled jobs, while carrying out the bulk of unpaid care work. Women also face multiple forms of deprivation, gender-based discrimination, lack of access to productive resources, intimate partner violence, lack of education and training, and employment. Persistent inequalities in ownership and control over assets, such as land, houses, and oxen negatively affect their productivity and livelihoods. This paper aims at answering the question “Do gender disparities in socioeconomic status affect Teff productivity in Ethiopia?” Using mixed methods, the study conducted a cross-sectional household survey. Purposive sampling was used to select top Teff-producing regions, districts, Kebeles, key informants and FGD participants while a random sampling method was used to select the survey respondents. Results suggest that, although women were fully engaged in Teff production activities, due to a low level of ownership of productive resources such as land, labour, and oxen, there is a statistically significant difference in Teff production between female and male-headed households which needs the attention of the government and stakeholders. The paper contributes to understanding how gender-based disparities in socioeconomic status affect Teff production.

The Effects of Economic Growth on the Aid–Conflict Nexus

Can foreign aid reduce violence in recipient countries? Empirical studies on the aid–conflict nexus have had mixed results. This paper argues that foreign aid can alleviate political violence in the recipient country, especially when it contributes to economic growth. To test this hypothesis, I collected data on aid-receiving countries in Asia from 1980 to 2010 and empirically examined the relationships among development aid, winning coalition size, economic growth, civil wars, and domestic terrorism using a moderated mediation model. I find that the impact of foreign aid on economic growth depends on the size of the winning coalition. Countries with larger winning coalitions tend to have faster economic growth. And consequently, these countries are less susceptible to civil wars and domestic terrorist attacks.

Global food loss and waste estimates show increasing nutritional and environmental pressures.

Accurate global food losses and waste (FLW) quantification remains challenging owing to limited harmonized global estimates, a lack of comprehensive quantification approaches and an absence of frameworks for addressing FLW challenges. Here we compile a country-level database that assesses FLW across global value chains and quantifies the nutritional and environmental impact of FLW for 121 countries and 20 composite regions. Between 2004 and 2014, FLW increased by a quarter, especially in sub-Saharan Africa and Southeast Asia, where increasing nutritional losses of ~550 cal per capita per day impact food security. Growing food imports in high-income countries and fast-growing economies worsened FLW and related environmental footprints in exporting low-income regions. Reducing overconsumption and FLW in high-income countries may have positive effects in middle- and low-income countries, where food exports largely drive farm-level losses. Policies should focus on promoting the profitable reuse of unavoidable FLW while enhancing agricultural production efficiency to improve water use and nutritional security.