Semi-industrialized Countries Research Articles

Snapshot atmospheric parameters for the Istanbul metropolitan area during the course of two major wind regimes

At present scientific community is greatly concerned with extreme weather events due to their potential adverse effects that is associated with mesoscale weather events which can often be embedded in synoptic scale events that may be influenced by climatic variabilities. Extreme weather events can also change associated chemical compositions of the atmospheric parameters over metropolitan region. In this paper, we have used two major wind directions (N and SW) to characterize the upper and lower limits of atmospheric pollutants (PM10 and SO2) over Istanbul/Turkey rather than the wind or precipitation events that are associated with such events. In contrast to expectations, northerly air mass that originates from polar regions and traverses the industrialized or semi-industrialized countries and the Black Sea sets the lower limits for both PM10 and SO2 as 13 and 2.9 μg/m3, while southwesterly winds with its Saharan dust load set upper limits for PM10 as an average 300 μg/m3 reaching to 800 μg/m3 as peak hourly averages. SO2 levels during SW winds were also below 15 μg/m3. It has been further shown that the pristine northerly air mass can be used to delineate anthropogenic hot spots that can otherwise impossible to identify due to local perturbations.

Pattern of computerized tomography findings of the brain in cerebrovascular accidents

Introduction: Semi-industrialized countries like Nepal have high mortality and disability rates due to cerebrovascular accident, representing for more than 80% of all stroke deaths globally. Stroke is the most common neurological disorder requiring prolonged hospital stay. Aims of our study was to evaluate the role of computerized tomography in evaluation of cerebrovascular accident by differentiating ischemia from hemorrhage and proper identification of negative cases.
 Methods: A descriptive cross sectional study of total 155 patients, clinically diagnosed as stroke, referred to our department of radiology for computerised tomography evaluation during six month period, were enrolled into study. The clinical information, proper history, computerised tomography findings were properly documented and analysed in SPSS version 20 software.
 Results: Out of total 155 patients, 85 cases (55 %) were males and 70 cases (45 %) were females with male: female ratio of 1.2:1. The mean age of the patients was 63±15 years. There was significant correlation between clinical with neuroradiological findings as evidenced by p value of 0.000. Sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value, negative predictive value of clinical findings when correlated to CT in diagnosing ischemic infarction were 84.3%, 67.3%, 82.6%, 70%. Similarly, sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value, negative predictive value in diagnosing hemorrhagic infarction were 67.3%, 84.3%, 70%, 82.6% respectively.
 Conclusions: Computerised tomography is the first line reliable imaging modality for diagnosis, management of cerebrovascular accident and exclusion of stroke mimicker lesions. Education regarding prevention and control of modifiable risk factors can minimize the incidence of stroke.

The Role of Green Human Resource Management Practices on Environmental Management in Tanzanian Industries: Lessons from Mohammed Enterprises Tanzania Limited

In the last few years, global concerns have increased regarding environmental issues. These concerns generated more pressure and necessitated businesses and industries to develop and use green management by adopting green practices and products. Green HRM practices have emerged to be one of effective management initiatives in environmental management. Tanzania intends to be a semi-industrialized country and the government has been showing recommendable efforts to ensure that the goal is successfully achieved. In considering industrialization process in Tanzania there is a need to look for best practices in dealing with the side effects of industrialization to ensure that the process does not only benefit the economy but also protects the planet earth. This study used a case study design to learn how industries use Green HRM practices to ensure that their operations do not lead to environmental degradation. The study found that green recruitment and selection, green training, green performance management and green rewards management are essential in environmental management. The study recommends industries to formalize and adopt green human resource management practices in order to increase environmental management performance for successful industrialization of the Tanzania economy.

Knowledge-Based Strategic Management of Engineering and Basic Sciences for Achieving the New Technologies

The knowledge-based management and strategy is involved in all human intellectual aspects and performance. The achievement of power, knowledge and innovation in new technologies directly depend on the appropriate strategic management and is along with the future study on the knowledge and sciences. Nowadays, it is impossible to have single access to modern technology and equipment because of the frequency and wide spread of information and increased different ranges of sciences. The governments have been successful in promoting their unique infrastructures of basic sciences and engineering until now according to their power and dominance in technology and industry; and prediction and empowerment of infrastructures for development in science and technology is dependent on the macro strategic management of government. Therefore, the international interactions and access to today's scientific information are essential to achieve the knowledge-based management of engineering and basic sciences. Therefore, the long-term objectives of knowledge production and access to new techniques are among the basics of innovation in the industry. To achieve a modern and industrial society, the appropriate management and foresight in producing and disseminating the knowledge have a major impact on the way of applying and guiding the efficient potential of human capital. The experts and policy makers in developed countries have deeply acknowledged that the potential for sustainable development in all scientific, social, economic, cultural and political aspects needs the knowledge-based strategic management. According to the way of dissemination and progress of sciences in developed countries, we find out that the specific strategies have been developed for sustainable development in technology and innovation. The authors in this paper have conducted an overview of new knowledge-based management structures and selected the appropriate strategic policies in sustainable science and technology development of developing and semi-industrial countries.

Exports, imports, government consumption and economic growth in upper-middle income countries

Esfahani ( 1991 ) shows that the statistically significant correlation between export promotion and economic growth in semi-industrialized countries (SICs) has been mainly attributable to the role of exports in reducing import ‘shortages’, which have impeded output growth in these countries. As a result, export-promotion policies as a superior development strategy in SICs play an important role in those that cannot secure sufficient foreign aid or investment. Esfahani ( 1991 ) also develops a simultaneous equations model to address the simultaneity bias between GDP and export growth rates. In this article we extend the model developed by Esfahani ( 1991 ) by incorporating the contribution of government consumption to output growth and test it using a sample of 27 upper-middle income economies.

Stroke profile in Afghanistan, Nepal, and India

Introduction.– Stroke is a major health issue in semi-industrialized countries (SIC). We reviewed stroke profile of three SICs: Afghanistan, Nepal, India. Methods.– We searched PUBMED,BVNA (http://www-ient.unilim.fr/), SCOPUS, www.ajol.info, WHO InfoBase, using several relevant keywords. Results.– For Afghanistan, no prevalence or incidence data was found. Age-standardised mortality and disability adjusted life years (DALY) (/100,000) is 118.6 and 908.0 respectively. Overweight/obesity (≥25 kg/m2) occurred in 1.8-11.5% stroke-free subjects (SFS) and ≥30 kg/m2 in 16.1% of SFS. Hypertension (>130/85 mmHg) occur in 11.2-14.3% in Kabul SFS. Tobacco use in SFS varied from 15.4% to 82.0% among males and 5.4-17.0% among Women. Hypercholesterolemia was reported in 44% in a hospital-based survey. Nepal does not have any incidence data. Hospital-based study showed 150 stroke occurrences (42% hemorrhagic) over one year (as young as 7 years age). Its mortality and DALY (/100,000) is 107.5 and 543.0 respectively. Hypertension among hospital-based cases varied from 40-60% cases and tobacco use among such cases varied from 40.6-61.0%. Alcoholism and atrial fibrilation (AF) among such cases was 41.4% and 12.5%, respectively. Diabetes occurred among 11.1% hospital cases, 4.1-9.5% in semi-urban SFS and 19.0% among urban SFS. For India, incidence (/100,000/yr) is 36-145 in urban and 13-124 in rural populations. Prevalence (/100,000) is 44-842 in urban and 52-165 in rural populations. Mortality and DALY (/100,000) are 60 and 597.6 respectively. Population-based data on SFS shows high prevalence of obesity (6-49%), hypertension (12-40%), tobacco use (46% men, 13% women), hypercholesterolemia (7-32%), alcoholism (22.5%), AF (7%), diabetes (3-12%). History of stroke provides highest attributable risk. Males have 7-times higher risk for stroke. Conclusions.– Stroke is inadequately studied in Afghanistan and Nepal. High mortality and DALY rates are seen and so is the prevalence of risk factors. Most risk factors are lifestyle related, therefore modifiable.

Country Growth Patterns: How Do Industrial and Emerging Market Nations Differ?

Some well-known two-sector models of industrial countries exhibit a crowding out effect between the main sectors of the economy. This is true of the Small Open Economy, traded-non-traded good model without nominal wage rigidity, and for the model of the Dutch Disease. In contrast, important models of semi-industrialized countries, or even emerging markets, such as the Bose Model, portray a complementary relation between the various sectors. This paper discusses a possible synthesis between these differing model specifications, and tests the applicability of these models for a large sample of industrial countries, emerging markets and developing economies by analyzing the inter-linkages in their sector growth patterns.

Gender Wage Inequality and Economic Growth: Is There Really a Puzzle?—A Comment

SummarySeguino (2000) shows that gender wage discrimination in export-oriented semi-industrialized countries might be fostering investment and growth in general. While the original analysis does not have internationally comparable wage discrimination data, we replicate the analysis using data from a meta-study on gender wage discrimination and do not find any evidence that more discrimination might further economic growth—on the contrary: if anything the impact of gender inequality is negative for growth. Standing up for more gender equality—also in terms of wages—is good for equity considerations and at least not negative for growth.

Challenges of Exporting Differentiated Products to Developed Countries: The Case of SME-Dominated Sectors in a Semi-Industrialized Country

This paper surveys four Argentinean industrieslight ships, television programs, wines, and wooden furniturethat have experienced substantial export growth in recent years, particularly to developed countries. The case studies first describe the structure of the industries, then characterize the emergence of export pioneers and the subsequent process of diffusion. Finally, they analyze the role played by public institutions. Across sectors, the appearance of a pioneer is largely explained by a knowledge advantage relative to other industry participants regarding foreign markets, which the pioneer acquired previously and independently of his decision to export. Diffusion occurs across as well as within sectors, as pioneers knowledge is relevant to other industries. Since diffusion does not necessarily hurt the pioneer, public policy has a potentially important role in fostering diffusion within and across sectors.

Financial Liberalization and Inflationary Dynamics: An Open Economy Analysis

This paper analyzes the effects of financial liberalization on inflation. We develop an open economy monetary endogenous growth general equilibrium model, with financial intermediaries subjected to obligatory ‘high’ reserve ratio, serving as the source of financial repression. When calibrated to four Southern European semi-industrialized countries, namely Greece, Italy, Spain and Portugal, which typically had high reserve requirements, the model indicates a positive inflation–financial repression relationship irrespective of the specification of preferences. But the strength of the relationship obtained from the model is found to be much smaller in size than the corresponding empirical estimates.

The fallacy of composition and contractionary devaluations: output effects of real exchange rate shocks in semi-industrialised countries

This paper studies whether intra-developing country price competition has significant effects on the short-run growth of output in developing countries that are specialised in manufactured exports. Regression estimates using the generalised method of moments applied to annual panel data for 17 semi-industrialised countries in 1983-2004 show that these countries exhibit a ‘fallacy of composition’, in the sense that a real depreciation relative to competing developing country exporters increases the home country's growth rate at the expense of its competitors' growth. The results also suggest that real depreciations for these developing countries relative to the industrialised countries are contractionary.

Two-Sector Models of Open Economies and Beyond: A Synthesis and an Empirical Application

Some well-known two-sector models of industrial countries exhibit a crowding-out effect or relationship between the main sectors of the economy. This is true of the small open economy, traded/non-traded good model without nominal wage rigidity, and for the model of the Dutch disease. In contrast, important models of semi-industrialized countries, or even emerging markets, such as the Bose model, portray a complementary relation between the various sectors. This paper discusses a possible synthesis between these differing model specifications, and tests the applicability of these models for a large sample of industrial countries, emerging markets and developing economies by analyzing the inter-linkages in their sector growth patterns.

On semi-industrialized countries and the acquisition of advanced technological capabilities

The last decades have witnessed a breaking down of the hitherto quasi-monopoly in industrial and technological development held by highly industrialized countries. Man-made changes in comparative advantage due to rapid accumulation of human capital, development of technical institutions and public policies in support of enterprise development and innovation, have led to the emergence of advanced technical capabilities in a number of semi-industrialized countries. Study of selected instances of their technological achievement shows that they cannot be adequately interpreted as necessarily requiring the working of a well-integrated national innovation system. They seem to be instead path, or process, dependent and determined by the circumstantial convergence of requisite skills, appropriate institutions and supportive public policies.

Les nouveaux pays industrialisés : Stratégies de développement industriel – le cas de la Corée du Sud et du Brésil

In the introductory remarks of this article the authors examine the birth of the newly industrialized countries and the emergence of a new international division of labor. After stressing the two modes of the industrial strategy followed by these countries, the authors look at two newly industrialized countries (Brazil and South Korea). These specific countries due to the interplay of both, objective factors (natural resources, location, manpower...) and policy choices have followed divergent development strategies. The authors conclude that it is not so much the classical policy dilemma import substitution vs expert promotion that will determine the future of these semi-industrialized countries, than their ability to master the technological know-how that sustains their industrial development. The new technological trends in robotics and telematics constitute powerful factors of relocation which may threaten the long run growth prospects of the semi-industrialized countries.

A Case Study of Cleaner Production Opportunities in Small and Medium Enterprises on the Island of Mauritius

Small Islands Developing States provide a special case in development, largely due to special characteristics of their natural, economic and social environment. Understanding and implementing strategies for sustainable development become critical issues for islanders. The island of Mauritius has evolved from an agricultural to a semi-industrialized country over the past three decades. Small- and Medium-scale Enterprises (SMEs) play a vital role in the economic development of the island but they also contribute significantly towards overall industrial pollution. Large-scale industries produce more pollution than SMEs but because of their preferential access to capital investment and to new technologies, it is comparatively easier and more economical for them to control their pollution. In the case of SMEs a number of factors hinder them from the planning and implementation of pollution control actions. These factors include: lack of access to resources allowing for investments in pollution control, low level of technology, lack of space, non-availability of trained personnel, and the unwillingness of management to invest in environmental protection. The environmental management approach adopted by large-scale industries and SMEs differ considerably. The aim of this research was to highlight these differences through case studies of a large-scale industry (brewery) and a small-scale industry (tannery). The author carried out waste audits to identify cleaner production opportunities. Emissions could be effectively controlled by a combination of Cleaner Production (CP) and pollution control options. Most of the opportunities are not pursued by the factories because of a lack of skills on how to build cleaner production projects, lack of top management commitment, lack of time, and lack of allocation of responsibilities for project conception and engineering. This article concludes with recommendations for a national strategy for the implementation of the Cleaner Production concept in SMEs. The island of Mauritius lies in the Indian Ocean at about 800 km to the east of Madagascar (see Map 1). It is 1865 km2 in area and volcanic in origin. As of December 2001, the population was estimated at 1.2 million. Mauritius is the sixth most densely populated country in the world, and it has one of the lowest cropland per capita ratios. In less than three decades, Mauritius has changed from a poor developing country with uncontrolled population growth, high infant mortality, and declining or stagnant growth per capita income, to a rapidly industrializing country. Small islands like Mauritius provide a special case in development, largely due to the special characteristics of their natural, economic, and social environment. Understanding and implementing strategies for sustainable development become critical issues for islanders. Over the past 15 years, Mauritius has achieved an 5-6% annual growth in the economy and steady growth in per capita income. During this time the economy has diversified from being dominated by sugarcane to a mixture of industry, agriculture, tourism, and financial services. This change is associated with a greater demand for resources, greater consumption of products, and increased volume of wastes. It is estimated that there are approximately 5,000 industrial enterprises in Mauritius (National Environmental Strategies, 1999). Of these, some 900 employ 10 or more persons and are referred to as large-scale, employing a total of over 100,000 people. The small and medium scale manufacturing establishments employ somewhere between 14,000-15,000 people. Most of the large industries in Mauritius are well organised and structured and are sometimes backed up by internationally reputable mother companies. On the other hand, SMEs in Mauritius are mostly family owned or owned by a small group of shareholders. The environmental management approaches adopted by these two types of industries differ considerably. …

Rentier Incomes and Financial Crises: An Empirical Examination of Trends and Cycles in Some OECD Countries

We present new estimates of the rentier share of national income for OECD countries for the years between 1960 and 2000. For most countries, the rentier share of income significantly increased during the last several decades, starting in the early 1980's and coinciding with the shift to neo-liberal monetary and financial policies initiated by Margaret Thatcher and Paul Volcker. There is no evidence of a negative correlation between rentier shares and non-financial corporate shares of income. However, rentier shares do decline in those semi-industrialized countries that experienced financial crises. These findings are consistent with the view that financial liberalization has been associated with the increased power of an international rentier class, whose interests are aligned with those of non-financial corporations in the richer countries, but whose interests conflict with rentiers in developing countries that experience financial crises.

Policy alternatives in reforming energy utilities in developing countries

This paper examines the policy alternatives faced by developing countries in their endeavor to preserve and develop their electricity and gas systems, two service-oriented industries which—along with oil—provide the bulk of energy supply both in developed and in developing countries. Even in very poor countries, industrially generated energy is indispensable for carrying out most economic activities. Therefore, governments traditionally recognize that the supply of gas and electricity entails a fundamental public service dimension. The Introduction presents the case for reforming of energy utilities, discusses in general terms the pros and cons of privatization, and attempts to locate the reforms in a broader historical framework in which developing countries’ governments faced characterized by increasing financial hardship. Section 2 constitutes the core of the paper. It reviews the main features of gas and power sector reforms in the developing world and analyzes specifically the cases of five semi-industrialized countries in Latin America and Asia. Section 3 (Concluding remarks) briefly evaluates the country experiences reviewed above and indicates a few policy lessons which can be learnt from them. The main conclusion is that, in a long-run development perspective, full-scale privatization of gas and power sectors in developing countries entails significant risks, and therefore a flexible policy approach is preferable to a rigid commitment to extensive liberalization.

Rentier Incomes and Financial Crises: An Empirical Examination of Trends and Cycles in Some OECD Countries

We present new estimates of the rentier share of national income for OECD countries for the years between 1960 and 2000. For most countries, the rentier share of income increased significantly during the last several decades, starting in the early 1980s and coinciding with the shift to neo-liberal monetary and financial policies initiated by Margaret Thatcher and Paul Volcker. There is no evidence of a negative correlation between rentier shares and non-financial corporate shares of income. However, rentier shares do decline in those semi-industrialized countries that experienced financial crises. These findings are consistent with the view that financial liberalization has been associated with the increased power of an international rentier class, whose interests are aligned with those of non-financial corporations in the richer countries, but whose interests conflict with rentiers in developing countries that experience financial crises.

Recasting labour studies in the new millennium

Abstract The paper examines the sociological study of labour and argues that in the past it has tended to be Eurocentric, ignoring the innovative labour movements that emerged in the semi-industrialized countries in the seventies and eighties. These new unions are more like social movements anchored in the community. Northern labour movements have a lot to learn from these new unions as they rethink their role under the impact of neo-liberal globalization. The paper suggests that globalization has opened up opportunities for new forms of labour internationalism as well as the possibilities of a revitalization of the northern labour movement. We conclude by suggesting that the restructuring of work has profoundly changed the context in which the self activity of workers takes place. This has implications for the research agenda of sociologists that forces us to cross new boundaries between those who study the new social movements and those who focus on the sociology of work. In a nutshell, there is a need to broaden and deepen the study of labour movements in the new millennium.

How Could Developing Countries Participate in Climate Change Prevention: The Clean Develoment Mechanism and Beyond

An Agreement on CDM rules in important both for industrialised and developing countries. As a flexibility mechanism, it will allow industrialised countries to benefit from low cost emission reductions but the CDM, as a main goal, should stimulate a more sustainable economic development in DCs. The CDM is the sole instrument, with GEF, proposed for DCs' participation in climate change prevention. This situation satisfies a majority of DCs, but CDM may not offer sufficient perspectives for some countries with rapid industrialisation given the huge economic stakes linked to the creation of a carbon credits market between Annex I countries. The operationality of the CDM is not yet established and important questions, such as environmental additionality, are still unresolved. Here we first examine the rules in order to validate project additionality and its possible consequences on the effectiveness and the scope of the mechanism. The different reactions of major DCs groups on the structure of the mechanism will then be analysed. This will lead us to examine the possibilities to enlarge participation of DCs in climate change prevention according to the apparent wish of semi-industrialised countries.