Labor Input Research Articles

“Human Beings Are Too Cheap in India”: Wages and Work Organization as Business Strategies in Bombay's Late Colonial Textile Industry

Abstract This article examines the business strategies employed by early twentieth-century Bombay mill owners in work organization and wage differentiation. The traditionally highly segmented and fluctuating domestic textile markets in India were further complicated by colonial free trade policies, making them highly competitive. This prompted Bombay mills to adopt various strategies, including maintaining a flexible workforce, product diversification, tailoring sales strategies to the Indian market, and increasing labour inputs, related to their heavy reliance on short-stapled Indian raw cotton. Using detailed and disaggregated data reported by textile mills in Bombay during the 1920s and 1930s, this article investigates how employers adopted these strategies in tandem with distinct wage-setting systems as management tools to depress the wage bill. By analysing the motivations behind the adoption of or resistance to these tools across different operations within the production process – such as weaving, spinning, reeling, and winding – the article reveals how gendered and social-class stratifications shaped these strategies and led to wage disparities across the industry. Ultimately, these labour-intensive strategies, conditioned by the broader colonial context in which India's textile industry developed, were at the root of the lower productivity of Indian workers, with long-run adverse consequences for India's general industrial development.

Emergy-based evaluation of production efficiency and sustainability of diversified multi-cropping systems in the Yangtze River Basin.

Excessive agricultural investment brought about by increased multiple-cropping index may compromise environmental sustainability. There are few studies on the sustainability of diversified multi-cropping systems in the Yangtze River Basin (YRB). Therefore, this study selected five representative locations in the YRB. According to the local climate characteristics and food demand, diversified multi-cropping systems were designed, and the main local winter crops were selected as the previous crops of the corn-soybean strip compound cropping system, with the local traditional double-cropping model as the control (CK). The emergy evaluation method was introduced to quantitatively compare the efficiency and sustainability of diversified multi-cropping systems in the YRB. The results showed that by incorporating soybean by intercropping with corn, compared with the CK, the total energy input, annual energy output, and annual economic output increased by 15.80%, 9.78%, and 33.12% on average, respectively. The unit emergy value (UEV) and unit non-renewable value (UNV) increased by 6.03% and 5.98%, respectively; the emergy yield ratio (EYR) and environmental loading ratio (ELR) decreased by 0.91% and 0.44%, respectively; the emergy sustainability index (ESI) was the same. In the third mature crop selection, compared with that of corn, the ELR of soybean decreased by 14.32%, and the ESI increased by 18.55%. In addition, the choice of winter crops plays a vital role in the system's efficiency and sustainability. Compared with those of other winter crops, the annual economic outputs of potato (upper reaches of the YRB), potato or forage rape (middle reaches of the YRB), and wheat (lower reaches of the YRB) increased by 51.02%, 32.27%, and 0.94%, respectively; their ESI increased by 71.21%, 47.72%, and 12.07%, respectively. Potato-corn/soybean or potato/corn/soybean (upper reaches of the YRB), forage rape-corn/soybean or potato/corn/soybean (middle reaches of the YRB), and wheat-corn/soybean (lower reaches of the YRB) were chosen to facilitate the coexistence of high economic benefits and environmental sustainability. Additionally, promoting mechanization and reducing labor input were essential to improve the efficiency and sustainability of multi-cropping systems. This study would provide a scientific basis and theoretical support for the development of efficient and sustainable multiple-cropping systems in the dryland of the YRB.

Inequality in agricultural greenhouse gas emissions intensity has risen in rural China from 1993 to 2020.

Reducing greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions in crop production while ensuring emission equity is crucial for sustainable agriculture in China, yet long-term large-scale data on GHG emissions intensity (GEI) are limited. Using an extensive dataset based on surveyed farm households (n > 430,000 households) from 1993 to 2020, we reveal that 2015 was a turning point for GEI levels, which dropped 16% in 2020, while inequality-measured as average GHG emissions per unit planted area-increased 13%. The key driving forces behind such trends included farmland input, all other inputs, agricultural labour input and total factor productivity but not capital input. Notably, farmland input and all other inputs contributed to 80% of the inequality, while contribution of total factor productivity gradually declined and was replaced by migration-induced agricultural labour input differences. Reducing GEI levels and guarding against widening inequality require optimizing production factor inputs.

Perceived effects of covid-19 lockdown on take-off of farming activities in Enugu State, Nigeria

The outbreak of COVID-19 and the government policy measures like travel restrictions, lockdowns, and bans on economic and social activities, designed to stop the spread of coronavirus affected the take-off of farming activities in Nigeria. However, few studies have examined the effect of the COVID-19 epidemic on local agricultural production, with a focus on agricultural households. Using cross-sectional data collected from 74 farmers in Enugu State, Nigeria, the study examined the perceived effects of COVID-19 on the take-off of farming activities. Specifically, the paper elicits farmers’ perceptions and level of awareness of COVID-19, described the effects of COVID-19 on farming activities and the usage of labour and other inputs, identified interventions and support received by the farmers during the lockdown period. The data collected were analysed using descriptive statistics. Results show that many of the farmers perceived cough as a symptom of COVID-19 and that they could contact it while carrying out their farm work. The level of awareness of COVID-19 was high (96%) and a majority (77%) got information on COVID-19 from radio only. About 51% perceived that COVID-19 affected their farming activities through post-harvest loss. The farmers rarely (8.11%) received any intervention or support from the government during the COVID-19 period. It can be concluded that COVID 19 pandemic had significant effects on the take-off of farming activities by farmers and little was done by government to support the farmers. The study recommends that during any lockdown, government and other development partners like non-governmental organisations (NGOs) should provide input support and short-term credit to farmer to enable them carry out their farming activities.

Foreign direct investment inflow and the economic growth nexus in Tanzania

PurposeA shortage of investment capital is one of the main issues facing most developing economies, including Tanzania. Policymakers, economists, and governments in these countries have been debating how to overcome this obstacle and improve economic growth through foreign direct investments (FDI). The present study endeavors to examine the relationship between FDI and economic growth in Tanzania during the period of 1991–2021. The analysis considers financial development, capital formation, and labor force involvement as intermediation variables.Design/methodology/approachThe study uses time series data to estimate an autoregressive distributed lag (ARDL) model, as well as Granger causality tests to investigate the relationship between the variables under study.FindingsThe findings show a long-run co-integration between the studied variables. However, only FDI and labor input have a significant impact on gross domestic product (GDP) growth in both the short and long run. Bidirectional causality exists between FDI, labor input, and GDP growth in the short and long run.Practical implicationsThis study contributes to an understanding of the relationship between inbound FDI, labor input, and economic growth in Tanzania, as well as updating the government to improve its financial system to gain more from FDI inflows and hence boost growth-enhancing effects.Originality/valueThis study provides insight into the relationship between inbound FDI and economic growth in Tanzania, which is a critical policy concern in developing economies. Extant studies’ results remain controversial, and this is the first study in Tanzania to investigate the FDI-growth nexus, by considering financial development, capital formation, and labor input simultaneously.

Optimizing Eurasian Perch Production: Innovative Aquaculture in Earthen Ponds Using RAS and RAMPS-Economic Perspective.

Aquaculture in rural areas, carried out in accordance with current EU requirements, aims to contribute significantly to the conservation of the biodiversity of aquatic resources, the protection of which is a prerequisite for sustainable economic and social development. The objective of this study was to present the conceptual and technical framework and to analyze the costs and profitability of producing the consumer-attractive Eurasian perch (Perca fluviatilis L.) based on the untapped potential of hatchery infrastructure and dedicated earthen ponds for common carp (Cyprinus carpio L.) production. The experiments were conducted under Polish conditions, but the results/methods can be successfully applied in other countries, mainly in Central and Eastern Europe, where production in earthen ponds is the basis of aquaculture production. The analysis of the profitability of the venture shows that the cost structure was dominated by labor and feed inputs. Despite high variable costs, this type of production can be profitable and contribute to food security and economic development in line with the EU's Blue Growth Strategy. The article also analyzes the potential opportunities and risks of fish production based on the Recirculating Aquaculture System (RAS) and the Recirculating Aquaculture Multitrophic Pond System (RAMPS).

A Holistic Review on Impact of Demonetization on Animal Husbandry Sector

The impact created in the year 2016 by demonetization policy on India's animal husbandry industry analyse different effects which are critically analysed using different studies. The goal of demonetization, which invalidated ₹500 and ₹1000 banknotes, was to suppress corruption, burden the use of counterfeit money, and encourage online transactions [1,2]. Animal husbandry holds as strongest pillar of India's rural economy, and the current study of demonetization examines the short- and long-term effects on it. The short term effects like Price volatility, lack of liquidity, and decreased market demand particularly impacted small-scale livestock, dairy, and poultry producers [3]. The studies also suitably reveal that farmers faced many significant challenges, including loss of livelihood, disrupted supply chains, and restricted access to banking facilities, increased debt, and limited farm investments [4]. The Long-term effects included a rise in the use of formal banking, a move toward digital payments, and structural modifications to cooperatives. The present agriculture and allied industries scenario, which mainly depends on cash transactions, experienced significant disruptions in labor payments, input procurement, and livestock sales etc [2]. The report also assesses government actions, such as initiatives to promote digital payments, sector-specific relief programs, and financial inclusion The policy recommends the need for more efforts to raise digital literacy in rural communities, improved rural banking infrastructure in order to improve the sector's adaptability to future economic uncertainties [5,3].

Factors affecting amplang production in Samarinda City, East Kalimantan Province

This study uses several factors of production, namely capital, labor (HOK), and raw materials. The aims of this study were: (1) to determine the influence of production factors such as capital, labor (HOK) and raw materials; and (2) to find out what problems or obstacles are experienced during running a business. This research was conducted in Samarinda City, East Kalimantan Province. Primary data is obtained by observing and recording (observation) directly at the research location/object to be studied, as well as using direct interview techniques with respondents, namely business owners/employees. The sampling method for this research was carried out using a purposive sampling method, the samples selected based on these criteria were 30 businessmen processing amplangs/respondents. Methods of data analysis in this study used: (1) multiple linear regression analysis; (2) statistical test; (3) classic assumption test; and (4) descriptive analysis using computerized calculation tools such as Microsoft Excel Software and SPSS (Statistical Product And Service Solutions). The results showed that: Simultaneously (together), the capital input variable (X1), labor input (HOK) (X2) and raw material input (X3) had a significant effect on the amplang production variable (Yi), while partially, only labor input (HOK) (X2) and raw material input (X3) had a significant effect on the amplang production variable (Yi). The problems experienced by amplang processors were a decline in sales during the Covid-19 pandemic and a lack of availability of fish raw materials.

Digitalization and Agricultural Green Total Factor Productivity: Evidence from China

Based on panel data of 31 provinces (autonomous regions and municipalities) in China from 2011 to 2022, this paper empirically examines the impact of digitalization on the inputs and outputs of the agricultural production process, and thereby derives the effects and mechanisms by which digitalization empowers the growth of agricultural green total factor productivity. The study finds that agricultural and rural areas’ digitalization significantly improves agricultural green total factor productivity, and this promotion mainly comes from the improvement of technical efficiency. Further analysis shows that digitalization mainly reduces land input and labor input, increases expected output, and reduces undesired output during the agricultural production process to achieve an improvement in agricultural green total factor productivity, indicating that digitalization has altered the allocation of agricultural factors. Heterogeneity analysis finds that the effect of digitalization on the growth of agricultural green total factor productivity is more pronounced in the eastern regions, southern regions, and areas with higher levels of agricultural digitalization, indicating that the development of digitalization exacerbates the gap in agricultural green total factor productivity among regions.

Effects of Different Nitrogen Application Measures on N2O Emissions in Wheat-maize Rotation System

To investigate the response of N2O emissions from farmland soil to different nitrogen application measures and the factors affecting it in the wheat and jade rotation system in North China, we analyzed the results of the one-time application of fertilizer in the following six treatments： without fertilization （CK）, conventional nitrogen application （urea, one instance of follow-up fertilization, U1）, optimized nitrogen application （20% nitrogen reduction, one instance of follow-up fertilization, U2）, one-time fertilization of controlled-release doped fertilizers （50% urea + controlled-release urea 50%, nitrogen reduction 20%, SRU1）, controlled-release fertilizer one-time fertilization （nitrogen reduction 20%, SRU2）, and inhibitor-type controlled-release fertilizer one-time fertilization （nitrogen reduction 20%, ISRU）, and the differences in N2O emission fluxes and soil physicochemical properties were determined. The results showed that soil N2O emission fluxes were dynamic during the wheat and jade crop rotation, and the N2O emission peaks of the CK, U1, and U2 treatments appeared in the corn season at 4-7d of basal fertilizer and 6-10d of fertilizer, and out of the wheat season its emission peaks appeared in the basal fertilizer at 4-8 d and 6-9 d of fertilizer. The emission peaks of SRU1, SRU2, and ISRU appeared in the basal fertilizer at 10-21 d, 12-20 d, and 12-20 d of fertilizer, respectively, in the corn season and the wheat season. At 21 d and 12-20 d, the application of controlled-release fertilizer significantly reduced the peak and frequency of N2O emission. Compared with those in U1, the N2O emission fluxes of the U2, SRU1, SRU2, and ISRU treatments were significantly reduced by 8.5%, 20.0%, 33.8%, and 43.6%, respectively, and the N2O emission fluxes were higher in the corn season than in the wheat season, which accounted for 58.1%-65.1% of the whole crop rotation cycle. Yield was reduced by 5.9% and 1.9% for the U2 and SRU1 treatments and increased by 1.7% and 7.0% for the SRU2 and ISRU treatments, respectively, compared to that in U1. In the maize season, the ISRU yield increased by 14.6%, the environmental benefit was $581, and the net economic benefit increased by up to 18.6% compared to that in U1, whereas the wheat season showed a decrease in yield and net economic benefit, which resulted in a one-time application of the inhibitor controlled-release fertilizers being more suitable for the maize season. Correlation analysis of N2O emission fluxes with the physicochemical indices of soil properties revealed that N2O was correlated with moisture, ammonium N, nitrate N, and microbial carbon and nitrate N and nitrogen. N2O and moisture, ammonium N, nitrate N, and microbial amount of carbon and nitrogen were significantly positively correlated. Thus, the one-time application of inhibitor-type controlled-release fertilizers played a positive role in reducing labor inputs and environmental benefits, and it could be an effective method of N fertilizer management for maize cultivation in North China.

Spatial connection strength and endogenous and exogenous interactive driving factors of carbon efficiency in China's metropolitan areas with higher energy consumption

Spatial connection strength and endogenous and exogenous interactive driving factors of carbon efficiency in China's metropolitan areas with higher energy consumption

The Impact of Global Supply Chain Pressures on Industrial Productivity: The Korean Experience

The purpose of this study is to analyze the impact of global supply chain pressures on industrial productivity in South Korea, using quarterly data from 2000 to 2023. To conduct the empirical analysis, the research model was established based on the basic theory of the Cobb-Douglas production function. Before the empirical analysis, a unit root test was performed to verify the stationarity of the data. The results of the unit root test revealed that the industrial production index, the global supply chain pressure index, and labor input were I(1), while capital input was I(0). Subsequently, a cointegration test on the level variables showed that there was no long-term equilibrium relationship between the variables. Therefore, in this study, the I(1) variables were used after first-differencing, while the I(0) variable was used without differencing in the empirical analysis. The results of the empirical analysis indicated that capital input and labor input were statistically significant at the 1% level, with positive signs. On the other hand, while the expected sign for the global supply chain pressure index was observed, it was not statistically significant.

Research on the Impact of Agricultural Production Outsourcing on Farmers’ Fertilizer Application Intensity: An Inverse U-Shaped Relationship

Agricultural production outsourcing services encourage a shift in the way crops are grown in developing countries and make it easier for small farmers to join the social division of labor in agriculture. This makes production more efficient and has a big effect on the inputs used in agriculture, especially fertilizer. This paper empirically tests the impact of production outsourcing on farmers’ fertilizer intensity using the instrumental variables method with non-planar panel data from the 2020–2022 China Land Economy Survey (CLES) of farm plots. The results showed that there was a significant inverted U-shaped relationship between the degree of agricultural production outsourcing and the intensity of fertilization on farmers’ plots. Mechanistic analysis shows that agricultural production outsourcing affects the fertilizer intensity by changing the labor allocation of farmers. Especially as the degree of agricultural production outsourcing increases, the intensity of farm labor inputs by farmers gradually decreases, and the impact of fertilizer intensity on the plots showed a tendency to be promoted first and then suppressed. The moderating effect showed that plot size was a major moderating factor. This means that the bigger the plot, the flatter the inverted U-shaped curve became, and the same level of outsourcing could lead to less fertilizer application. This happened by moving the inflection point of the inverted U-shaped curve to the left, which stopped the fertilizer application at a lower level of outsourcing. Heterogeneity analysis showed that participation in technology-intensive production outsourcing was beneficial in terms of reducing fertilizer intensity, and that an increased degree of agriculture production outsourcing was beneficial for farmers with large plot sizes and younger heads of household.

Does corporate digitalization promote labor investment efficiency? Evidence from Chinese listed companies

This study examines whether and how corporate digitalization affects labor investment practices. Using a sample of Chinese listed companies from 2007 to 2023, we find that corporate digital development is positively associated with labor investment efficiency. Mechanism tests show that corporate digitalization can facilitate precise judgment of labor input scales, accelerate employment adjustment responsiveness, recruit high-quality potential workforce, and improve management oversight, thus contributing to making efficient labor investment decisions. Cross-sectional tests indicate that the positive impact of corporate digital development is more prominent for firms located in regions with stronger labor protection systems, industries with higher competition levels and those non-state-owned enterprises. Moreover, corporate digitalization can curb both over- and underinvestment in labor resources, and this effect is primarily manifested in firm’s hiring practices. Our findings contribute to the literature on the determinants of corporate labor investment efficiency and provide practice insight into the role of corporate digitalization in firm’s decision-making.

Between Public and Private: A Study of the Rural Fertilization System during the Collectivization Period (1949–1963) – With a Focus on Shanxi Province

Abstract Manure is a critical productive resource for agricultural development. With the advancement of the collectivization movement, household manure accumulation became a key source of fertilizer for collective agricultural operations. However, the process of farmers contributing fertilizer to the collective faced setbacks due to factors such as unreasonable compensation. In response, various localities gradually developed fertilization systems centered around tasks, compensation, and rewards and penalties. The essence of these systems was an economic balance between collective fertilizer use and increased farmer income, generally characterized by considerations for both public and private interests, but prioritizing the public over the private. In the dynamic restructuring of the relationship between labor input and income distribution, political norms and economic measures adjusted to one another. The economic rationality of the peasants interacted with the “egalitarianism” culture in rural areas, reflecting the complex interplay between public and private interests during the collectivization period in rural society.

The impact of fiscal expenditure fluctuation on cost asymmetry: Evidence from China

Abstract This study investigates the relationship between district government fiscal expenditure fluctuation and asymmetric cost behaviour in China. Using the unique manual data sets of Chinese A‐listed firms during the period 2003–2018, we find that cost stickiness is a pervasive phenomenon and that fiscal expenditure fluctuation positively affects cost stickiness. The results also demonstrate this effect is more pronounced when labour input is high and the size of the population is large. In addition, our further analysis indicates that higher social welfare incomes and the higher administrative level of a city can influence these results.

Productivity and vulnerability of microcredit borrowers in microfinance: an approach using non-separability models

The aim of this paper is to find a better match between the supply of and demand for solidarity microcredit with a view to reducing the level of precariousness and vulnerability of micro-entrepreneurs. If microcredit can constitute a necessary production factor for the activity of micro-entrepreneurs, then the deployment of MFIs in developing countries to facilitate access to microfinance services for low-income agents is desirable. However, the effectiveness of such a factor requires a good analysis of the cash flow needs of micro-entrepreneurs (households) in precarious situations, which would enable financial products to be adapted. Two main lessons can be drawn from a theoretical model: (1) demand for microcredit depends not only on the cost of the service, but also on the price of the micro-entrepreneur's output, the price of labour input and the size of the business. And, although they have this labour input, micro-entrepreneurs suffer from a lack of financial means to exploit it in order to benefit from it and improve their living conditions. (2) solidarity microcredit can have a positive impact on household cash flow, improve the smoothing of their consumption and, to a certain extent, strengthen their resistance to economic shocks.

Optimization Of The Use Of Input In Turmeric Farming In Ibru Village, Mestong District, Muaro District, Jambi

This research was conducted in Ibru Village, Mestong District, Muaro Jambi Regency, focusing on turmeric farmers as respondents. The study aimed to achieve three primary objectives: (1) to analyze the production function associated with turmeric farming, (2) to evaluate the level of optimization and economic efficiency in the utilization of production factors, and (3) to determine the optimal use of production inputs in turmeric cultivation. A census approach was employed, encompassing all 26 turmeric farmers in Ibru Village as the study’s respondents. The methodological framework utilized the Cobb-Douglas production function analysis, followed by optimization calculations to assess economic efficiency. The results of the study indicated several key findings: (1) land and labor inputs were found to significantly impact the increase in turmeric production per hectare annually, while the inputs of seeds and compost fertilizers did not show a significant effect on production levels; (2) the current use of land and labor in turmeric farming was identified as economically inefficient; and (3) optimization analysis suggested that there is potential for expanding turmeric farming to 1,925 hectares, with a corresponding increase in labor utilization to 31,213 labor days (HOK). These findings provide valuable insights into the efficiency of production practices in turmeric farming and offer guidance for potential improvements and expansion in the sector.

Quantitation of trace polyfunctional thiols in wine by liquid chromatography quadrupole Orbitrap high-resolution mass spectrometry in parallel reaction monitoring

Quantitation of trace polyfunctional thiols in wine by liquid chromatography quadrupole Orbitrap high-resolution mass spectrometry in parallel reaction monitoring

Green growth and net zero policy in the UK: Some conceptual and measurement issues

This paper examines how the likelihood of a transition to net zero could play out on the UK's total factor productivity growth over the longer term. It does this in the context of a potential trade-off between net zero goals and productivity growth. We begin by discussing the concept of green growth and a green industrial revolution, and then relate the green economy to the circular economy, as well as GDP measurement and how this relates to productivity growth under climate policies. We use a simulation method for the projected growth under net zero of the electricity sector in Great Britain to provide a context on the consequences of increasing input growth as output growth declines, and the result shows that the 2020s are challenging decades as productivity declines by −3.24 % p.a. in the electricity sector due to the combination of high input and low output growth. However, our findings reveal that the 2030s and 2040s look more promising, with productivity growth of 3 % p.a. and 1.6 % p.a. respectively as electrification increases and fossil fuel and labour inputs decline. Overall, the analysis offers a glimpse of just how challenging raising even maintaining the level of TFP will be in that sector in the earlier years out to 2050.