Implications For India Research Articles

DEEPENING SINO-NEPAL RELATIONS: IMPLICATIONS FOR INDIA

Nepal is extremely susceptible to outside influence because of its geostrategic position. Being a small, landlocked nation crammed between China and India, two of the most powerful nations in Asia. Nepal is always the target of regional aspirations and conflicts. In order to protect its independence and national security, Nepal's foreign policy has focused on the difficult challenge of maintaining good relations with all parties. The paper discusses about the consequences of growing Nepalese affinity towards China on the long-time friend and neighbor state India from mid-20th century till today. Due to Nepal's difficult democratic transition, frail institutional foundation, and unfavorable civil-military relations, China seems to have several possibilities to develop significant influence inside the country's political and administrative system. Furthermore, the relationship between Kathmandu and New Delhi is severely impacted by Nepal-China collaboration, particularly in the areas of security and defence. In conclusion, China's increasing involvement in Nepal has significant security repercussions for New Delhi since it signals an entrance into the country's sphere of influence. The paper attempts to categorically analyze these developments, firstly the paper discusses the geopolitical relevance of Nepal between India and China, further it elaborates on the historical links and the political and diplomatic engagements between these states. It also discusses the change in dynamics between the cold war period and post-cold war period. In conclusion, the paper aims to discuss the contemporary policy changes and challenges for New Delhi. The paper concludes with an understanding that balancing is the most viable option that is present for the states involved.

Implications on Nepal’s Foreign Affairs of the Sino-Indian Rapprochement over Lipulekh

When China and India get closer, will Nepal be uncomfortable with losing its strategicspace? The available literature on Sino-Indian conflict and competition in the Himalayanregion do not divulge the impacts of Sino-Indian cooperation on Nepal. By examining theSino-Indian rapprochement over Nepal’s Lipulekh, this study elaborates the implications ofIndia’s and China’s neighborhood policies on Nepal’s foreign policy. In 2015, while Nepalwas concentrating on post-earthquake relief, rehabilitation, and reconstruction, China andIndia—the two Asian geopolitical rivals, decided to use Nepal’s Lipulekh as a trading corridor,without Nepal’s consent. The Sino-Indian agreement over Nepal’s Lipulekh not only stirredcontroversy in Nepal but also raised questions over the intention of Nepal’s two immediateneighbors. Although 2015 was not the first time that Nepal’s neighbors agreed upon the Lipulekhroute, the case of the Sino-Indian rapprochement in Lipulekh is studied and methodologicallyanalyzed under the framework of exploratory research design. By situating Nepal’s case in theconceptual framework of small states, first, this study surveys Nepal’s foreign policy behaviorin the context of Nepal’s Gulliverian neighborhood through deductive reasoning. Second, theimpacts of the multi-faceted Sino-Indian interactions on Nepal’s foreign policy are identifiedthrough inductive reasoning. Finally, the implications of the neighborhood policies of Chinaand India toward Nepal are discussed against the backdrop of the Sino-Indian rapprochementover Nepal’s Lipulekh.

Healthcare Costs Attributable to Secondhand Smoke Exposure Among Indian Adults.

In India, 38.7% of adults are exposed to SHS at home and 30.2% at work. This paper estimates the direct economic costs of diseases attributable to secondhand smoking (SHS) in India for persons aged 15 years and above. Nationally representative data on healthcare expenditures, healthcare utilization, and SHS prevalence were used to estimate economic costs attributable to SHS. A prevalence-based attributable risk approach was used for estimating the attributable direct costs. To estimate the SHS-attributable fraction, the excess utilization of healthcare among SHS exposed non-smokers compared to unexposed non-smokers was estimated using a method of propensity score matching (PSM). The annual direct economic costs attributable to SHS from all diseases in India in the year 2017 for persons aged more than 15 years amounted to INR 566.7 billion (USD 8.7 billion). This amounted to INR 705 per adult non-smoker. The SHS attributable costs were higher among the youngest age group 20 to 24, and women bear 71% of the direct medical costs attributable to SHS. The annual direct economic costs of SHS amount to approximately 0.33% of India's Gross Domestic Product (GDP), or 8.1% of total healthcare expenditures in India. It is also much larger than the total excise tax revenue from cigarettes and bidis. As bidi smoking is the most popular form of smoking in India and bidis are mostly consumed by the poor, a disproportionate burden of SHS is likely borne by poor households in India. In India, 38.7% of adults are exposed to SHS at home and 30.2% at work. However, there is no estimate of the economic burden of any kind from SHS exposure in India. This study used a prevalence-based attributable risk approach combined with a PSM technique to estimate excess healthcare utilization for SHS exposed non-smokers and the annual direct economic costs of SHS in India. Annual direct SHS-attributable costs in India is INR 566.7 billion (USD 8.7 billion) SHS costs constituted 0.33% of GDP and 8.1% of healthcare expenditures in India.

“Goldilocks” gender mix for maximal innovation likelihood at Indian firms

PurposeGender diversity is known to trigger creative and relationship conflicts alike, the former a boon for innovation and the latter a bane. This study aims to explore the possibility of a gender mix that is “just right” for balancing the intensities of varied forms of conflict to boost innovation in firms in India. Specifically, this paper investigated the presence of an optimal level of women as a percentage of the firm’s full-time permanent employees (Percent-Women) that maximized the firm’s likelihood of product innovation (Product–Innovation–Likelihood).Design/methodology/approachLogistic regression analyses of firm-level data of Indian establishments of varied sizes and industries from World Bank Enterprise Surveys 2014 was performed. Instrumental variable addressed the potential endogeneity of Percent-Women.FindingsThe analysis demonstrated an inverted U-shaped relationship between Product–Innovation–Likelihood and Percent-Women. Product–Innovation–Likelihood peaked when Percent-Women lay between 35% and 58%, i.e. when the firm was gender-balanced or close to it.Practical implicationsThe finding of an optimal level of female inclusion presents to firms a defined target of gender mix to be achieved, failing to which they may be limiting their innovation potential. It compels firms to view gender diversity as a business imperative with definite implications for their long-term performance.Social implicationsFor India, the demonstrated relationship between workplace gender diversity and innovation brings additional reason and urgency to public initiatives, such as female literacy, for boosting female economic engagement. Innovation can power the next stage of the Indian growth story by engaging the heretofore insufficiently tapped female worker.Originality/valueBy demonstrating an optimal degree of female inclusion at which innovation potential peaks, the study reconciled opposing theories of diversity-driven conflicts and went beyond the commonly observed simple linear relationship between female inclusion and innovation. Further, the paper focused on India, a major developing economy with a vast female populace and growing innovation ambitions but scarcely researched for gender diversity’s role in innovation.

Exploring psychological contract contents in India: the employee and employer perspective

PurposeThis paper aims to examine psychological contract contents, as perceived by two parties of the employment relationship, the employee and the employer.Design/methodology/approachThe study is conducted in two phases. Study 1 employs critical incidence technique (CIT) to elicit from individuals their perceptions regarding organization obligations. Study 2 is designed to corroborate the findings of the first study through a survey of 401 employees and 66 employer representatives (functional heads).FindingsThe results of the two studies are consonant with existing literature; nevertheless the role of culture on psychological contract contents is visible. The study reveals variation in employee and employer perspective regarding organizational obligations.Practical implicationsIn India, recruiters need to go far beyond the discussions on compensation and focus on building relational aspects of job such as the job content avenues for career growth as well as creating a supportive work culture.Originality/valueThe study contributes to existing literature by examining content of psychological contract, a relatively neglected area of research in a fast growing Asian economy, India.