South Asian Association For Regional Cooperation Research Articles

Cancer care and outreach in South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) countries: from epidemiology and the National Cancer Control Programme to screening, diagnosis, and treatment.

South Asian Association for Regional Collaboration (SAARC) countries, home to 24% of the world's population, are facing the double burden of disease (ie, where a population experiences both an increasing incidence of cancers typically associated with affluence and a sustained or rising burden of cancers linked to infections and poverty) with non-communicable diseases (NCDs) attributing to 47% of the global burden of disease and to about 60% of all deaths. In 2022, cancer in this region accounted for approximately 9·3% of incidence worldwide and 12% of global mortality. Cancer is one of the major NCDs affecting South Asia, accounting for a large proportion of disability-adjusted life-years lost in this region. The most common cancers are lung, head and neck, and gastrointestinal cancers in both sexes, and cervix and breast cancers in females. The cancer burden is high in SAARC countries, although there are differences among countries and within urban and rural regions of each country, depending on the level of available resources, development, and epidemiological shift. Here we discuss various cancer care issues and challenges throughout the cancer care continuum in the SAARC region. We make an urgent call for regional collaboration to develop, modify, and implement a holistic cancer control plan and formulate a systematic approach directed to address the growing burden of cancer in this region. It is crucial to establish strong political will and commitment to take forward the recommended actions outlined in this Series to overcome and address the cancer crisis in the SAARC region, aligning with Sustainable Development Goal 2030 targets.

Cancer research in South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) countries.

Cancer is a major global health threat, with 35 million new cases projected by 2050, predominantly in low-income and middle-income-countries. Within South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) countries, a notable gap in cancer research investment and output compared with high-income countries highlights the need to strengthen research capacity. The rising cancer incidence across SAARC countries is not being matched by local research, particularly in clinical trials in molecular biology, targeted therapy, immunotherapy, and cancer vaccines. This paucity of research is problematic as guidelines and therapies developed in high-income countries might not be directly applicable to low-income and middle-income countries due to distinct regional sociocultural, genetic, and environmental factors and are often impractical in these countries due to cost and implementation challenges. This Series paper examines the cancer research landscape within SAARC countries, focusing on Bangladesh, Nepal, Sri Lanka, India, Pakistan, Afghanistan, Bhutan, and Maldives. We analyse PubMed publication rates and examine available infrastructure, current research (including clinical trials), and limitations and disparities among SAARC countries in terms of cancer research. Key challenges include disparities in health-care access, cultural and economic barriers, and little funding and infrastructure. Strengthening cancer research in SAARC countries requires building collaborative networks, improving research facilities and training, focusing on local epidemiological studies, and developing affordable technologies and treatments. Effective policy and stakeholder engagement could greatly advance cancer care in the region.

Cancer care, education, and research in the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) countries.

Cancer care, education, and research in the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) countries.

Global Value Chain Spillovers and Economic Growth of SAARC Countries under the BRI Perspective

This study revisits the relationship between trade and growth, emphasizing the functions of the global value chain (GVC). This is a pioneer study to empirically evaluate the impact of GVC trade on the economic growth of the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) nations from the perspective of the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI). The objective of this article is to analyze the potential contribution of BRI in the development of these countries backward, forward and sectoral-level GVC participation. We employed second-generation econometric techniques for this empirical analysis over the period 1990–2022. To ensure the robustness of the results of cross-sectional autoregressive distributed lag (CS-ARDL), we used the augmented mean group (AMG) and common correlated effects mean group (CCEMG) models. The results indicate that forward and backward GVC involvement increases economic growth for SAARC countries. On the contrary, due to improper implementation of domestic policies, economic environment and inadequate absorptive capacity, GVC participation comes with a negative impact on the economic growth of the sample countries. The sectoral GVC trade in manufacturing industries is linked to a favourable impact on growth, while sectoral GVC trade-in service shows a negative association with gross domestic product (GDP). The results of our analysis demonstrate that GVCs are a driver of economic growth. Countries can unlock potential gains by implementing policies that promote participation in GVCs and by strengthening domestic fundamentals through regional collaborations within the BRI.

Geopolitical Risks and Stock Market Volatility in the SAARC Region

Abstract This study examined the stock market volatility of the member states of the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) and geopolitical risk (GPR). The analysis period covered January 2014 to March 2024, and the time–frequency wavelet method was used to process the data. The time-varying parameter vector autoregression and spatial autoregressive models helped determine the dynamic connectedness of volatility in the analyzed states. The findings revealed similar stock market connections in Bangladesh and India. In addition, a comparative analysis of stocks in India and Pakistan led to the identification of common elements. The connection between geopolitical concerns and Sri Lankan stocks was the strongest and increased in intensity after 2019. GPR and Nepal’s stock market maintained a continuous but low-intensity relationship. The dynamic connectedness between member states’ stock markets was limited during the review period. The study results could encourage SAARC governments to bridge their political differences to ensure that South Asia becomes a strong partner in the global economy. Equally, our results can benefit investors, financial institutions, regulatory authorities, and governments.

SAARC: An Overview

The South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) is an intergovernmental organization established in 1985, comprising eight South Asian nations: India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Nepal, Bhutan, Maldives, Afghanistan. SAARC aims to promote regional cooperation and development across various sectors, including economics, agriculture, human resources, tourism, and culture. The organization facilitates dialogue and collaboration through regular summits, where leaders discuss common challenges and opportunities. Despite facing challenges related to geopolitical tensions and bilateral issues among member countries, SAARC continues to strive towards fostering regional integration and addressing shared concerns in the South Asian region.

Community-based economic romance and integration: assessing the feasibility of a currency union in South Asia

PurposeThis purpose of this study aims to critically evaluate the feasibility of establishing a single currency area within the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) by examining the economic integration of its member states. The analysis focuses on the extent to which the region meets the criteria of the optimum currency area (OCA) theory, particularly in terms of business cycle synchronization, labor mobility and capital flows.Design/methodology/approachUsing a vector autoregression (VAR) model within the aggregate demand-aggregate supply framework, this research investigates the symmetry of supply and demand shocks across SAARC economies. The study analyzes the synchronization of business cycles and the mobility of labor and capital to determine the readiness of SAARC for a unified currency.FindingsThe results indicate significant asymmetries in business cycles among SAARC countries, with substantial disparities in economic responses to shocks. These findings suggest that the region lacks the necessary economic synchronization required for a successful single currency area. Limited labor and capital mobility further complicate the potential for economic integration within SAARC.Research limitations/implicationsThe study is constrained by data inconsistencies and the limited range of economic indicators available for SAARC countries. Future research should expand the analysis to include a broader set of socioeconomic factors and more comprehensive data sets to better assess the region’s potential for monetary integration.Practical implicationsThe study highlights the challenges of forming a currency union in South Asia due to economic disparities and limited mobility. However, gradual steps toward deeper regional integration, improved financial infrastructure and enhanced cross-border collaboration could foster long-term economic stability, growth and social cohesion in the SAARC region.Social implicationsThe research highlights the potential social benefits of enhanced economic integration, such as increased community resilience and social cohesion, while also warning of the risks associated with premature monetary union in a region with significant economic disparities.Originality/valueThis study provides a detailed analysis linking the theoretical framework of the OCA to the practical realities of economic integration in South Asia. By focusing on the specific economic conditions of SAARC member states, the research offers valuable insights for policymakers considering regional monetary integration.

Impacts of Urbanization on Energy Consumption in the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation Zone

Energy resources play a vital role in the process of urbanization, and the high level of energy consumption has significantly created an alarming situation for environmental degradation. Increased demand for energy consumption in the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) zone is a core concern for decreasing the existing reserves of energy, especially nonrenewable energy, when the growth of urbanization is increasing also. This study investigates the impacts of urbanization on energy consumption in this region by identifying factors that influence energy use. We employed globally used econometric techniques to examine the relationship between energy use and urbanization. The results of the study indicate that all the independent variables used in the model (except urban population growth) were statistically significant with a 99% level of confidence. In addition, the findings of this study recognized three long-run causalities running from the GDP (gross domestic product) to energy consumption, energy consumption to GDP, and energy consumption to the industry’s share of the countries’ GDP. We recommend (i) taking the initiative to invest in renewable energy, (ii) implementing green energy-efficient technologies in the industrial sector, and (iii) raising public awareness of the negative effects of energy use on the environment through education.

Cancer burden across the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation in 2022

ObjectiveThe objective of this study is to present a cross-sectional analysis of cancer burden in the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) region and explain unique characteristics of its...

The determinants of banks' capital structure in SAARC economies

The capital structure determinants for South Asian banks are required to be exposed. This investigation attempts to address the existing gap by examining the capital structure determinants for the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) countries. To accomplish the main objective, the Panel Data of 52 banks is collected from the four main regional economies for the period starting from 2012 to 2022. The methodology is based on the estimation of constructed models by executing Static Panel Data analysis and Dynamic Panel Data analysis via the Generalized Method of Moments (GMM). The investigation discovered that tangibility, growth, profitability and non-performing loans have positive significant influences, whereas, liquidity and gross domestic products have negative significant impacts on the regional banks' capital structure. Also, the significant lagged variable and the presence of adjustment speed suggest the implementation of the Dynamic Trade-Off theory in the SAARC countries' banking sectors. The findings will help regulatory bodies develop a harmonization policy to enhance financial integration among SAARC economies via adopting identified capital structure determinants.

Cross-sectional analysis of socioeconomic drivers of PM2.5 pollution in emerging SAARC economies

Within the intricate interplay of socio-economic, natural and anthropogenic factors, haze pollution stands as a stark emblem of environmental degradation, particularly in the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) region. Despite significant efforts to mitigate greenhouse gas emissions, several SAARC nations consistently rank among the world’s most polluted. Addressing this critical research gap, this study employs robust econometric methodologies to elucidate the dynamics of haze pollution across SAARC countries from 1998 to 2020. These methodologies include the Pooled Mean Group (PMG) and Augmented Mean Group (AMG) estimator, Panel two-stage least squares (TSLS), Feasible Generalized Least Squares (FGLS) and Dumitrescu–Hurlin (D–H) causality test. The analysis reveals a statistically significant cointegrating relationship between PM2.5 and economic indicators, with economic development and consumption expenditure exhibiting positive associations and rainfall demonstrating a mitigating effect. Furthermore, a bidirectional causality is established between temperature and economic growth, both influencing PM2.5 concentrations. These findings emphasize the crucial role of evidence-based policy strategies in curbing air pollution. Based on these insights, recommendations focus on prioritizing green economic paradigms, intensifying forest conservation efforts, fostering the adoption of eco-friendly energy technologies in manufacturing and proactively implementing climate-sensitive policies. By embracing these recommendations, SAARC nations can formulate comprehensive and sustainable approaches to combat air pollution, paving the way for a healthier atmospheric environment for their citizens.

Climate-Induced Migration: Conflict Resolution and Legal Efforts in Pacific, Africa, and South Asia

Climate-induced migration involves people relocating caused by detrimental climate changes affecting their living environment. Pacific, Africa, and South Asia have experienced climate-induced migration resulting from extreme weather events, sea level rise, drought and desertification, and temperature extremes. The purpose of this research is to find out in terms of conflict resolution, what legal efforts have been made by the government of the affected regions to address climate-induced migration. This study uses descriptive qualitative method and case studies. Based on the results obtained from the data, it was found that the affected governments are pursuing various legal efforts to be able to tackle climate-induced migration. Several efforts made, namely “Migration with Dignity” policy, the Pacific Adaptation to Climate Change (PACC) Project, Great Green Wall initiative, the African Union’s Regional Economic Communities (RECs), Bangladesh’s Climate Change Strategy and Action Plan (BCCSAP), the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) Disaster Management Centre, and India’s National Action Plan on Climate Change (NAPCC). The regional initiatives mentioned earlier play pivotal roles in implementing these frameworks and fostering collaborative endeavors, whilst the innovative legal frameworks, guided by SMART (Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, and Time-bound) indicators, ensure that climate-induced migration is addressed effectively. To sum up, dealing with climate-induced migration requires a holistic approach involving regional collaboration and innovative legal frameworks.

SAARC super smart grid: Navigating the future - unleashing the power of an energy-efficient integration of renewable energy resources in the saarc region

The major problems in the power system network of the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) region include the utilization of substantial fossil fuels, which leads to significant emissions of CO2. Moreover, due to the depletion of fossil fuels, it is very difficult to manage the demand requirement of the SAARC regions, which leads to significant power shortage issues. These problems would be resolved through the integration of the substantial amount of renewable energy resources (RERs) that are available in excess in the SAARC regions into the power system networks. This will provide a futuristic roadmap to a sustainable and green energy environment in the SAARC region. In this regard, the SAARC region has devised a new plan to transform its smart grid infrastructure into the super smart grid (SSG), which would connect the SAARC countries using the high voltage transmission lines utilizing each country's substantial RERs. To accelerate this ecofriendly effort, the key objective of this review study is to evaluate the potential of the SAARC SSG for demand management and emissions reduction. This study provides a comprehensive overview of SSG technology, covering its technical background, management, power flow improvement techniques, power stability techniques, simulation models, and future steps for development in the SAARC region. First, the regional conflicts, energy deficiency, and potential of the SAARC region have been discussed. Second, a potential architecture of the SAARC SSG has been simulated. Third, a novel Markov chain modeling has been presented for demand management in the SAARC regions. The results and discussions section presents findings from simulations and models. The paper also discusses CO2 reduction techniques, including methods for capturing, storing, and utilizing carbon in biofuel. The study also discusses futuristic optimization techniques in SSG, including blockchain, federated learning, reinforcement learning, the metaverse, digital twin technology, artificial intelligence, and cloud computing. The SSG challenges and limitations section summarizes the challenges and limitations faced by SSG. Finally, a roadmap to a sustainable and green energy environment for the SAARC power grids has been identified to support the implementation of the futuristic SAARC SSG. The results exhibited that there is a good potential for successful demand management and emissions reduction through the SAARC SSG.

Pioneers of Neurosurgery in the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) Region: A Historical Vignette and Beyond

South Asia, consisting of Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan, and Sri Lanka, spreads between the Himalayan base and the Indian Ocean and shares identical geophysical characteristics. With the inclusion of its newest member Afghanistan, these 8 member nations of the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) share more or less a homogenous geographical, political, and historical background and cultural heritage, with a significant role in shaping the world. This densely populated area is home to around a quarter of the world's total population. From the ancient ages, the neurosurgical practice has paced relentlessly and in the last 100years, it has reached its zenith. With modern advancements, neurosurgery has developed in its diagnostic and treatment modalities along with facilities for training and education. Despite falling behind owing to economic, educational, and geopolitical constraints, the pioneers of the SAARC region have established the fields of neurosurgery in their respective countries with command. No constraint could stop them from educating and training young physicians to make competent neurosurgeons to evolve the field of neurosurgery in their countries. Their firm determination and hard work paved the way to keep this field striving and thriving, to serve a substantial volume of the world population with their neurosurgical insight and skill. However, this region needs to go a long way as the number of neurosurgeons and facilities is still insufficient. This can be achieved with the guidance and collaboration among the neurosurgeons of the SAARC region as the youth here are talented and hardworking.

Protection of internally displaced people in South Asia: the role the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) could play in implementing a convention similar to the Kampala Convention

Protection of internally displaced people in South Asia: the role the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) could play in implementing a convention similar to the Kampala Convention

Determinants of Carbon Emission- A Study in South Asian Countries

The rapid economic growth of South Asian countries, coupled with rising populations, has led to an increasing demand for energy, thereby posing significant challenges for sustainable development. This paper explores the importance of sustainable energy development in South Asia, highlighting its critical role in ensuring economic stability, environmental protection, and social equity. The United Nations has underscored this through its UNFCCC 2016 targets, transitioning from the Millennium Development Goals to the broader Sustainable Development Goals, with a heightened focus on mitigating climate change. In this context sustainable energy development is very important. This study focuses on the sustainable energy development status of South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) countries—Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan, and Sri Lanka. Utilizing 23 years of data (2000-2022), we employed Panel Data Analysis to investigate the determinants influencing carbon intensity in these nations. Our findings reveal that energy intensity, per capita renewable energy consumption and access to electricity significantly increase carbon intensity. Conversely, higher per capita income, a greater share of renewable energy in total consumption and increased per capita energy generation from fossil fuels correlate with a significant reduction in carbon intensity. The results suggest that enhanced collective efforts among SAARC countries are imperative for advancing sustainable renewable energy development.

A composite indicator-based method to assess the energy security of Nepal and prospects of cross-border electricity sharing in South Asia

Scholars recommend country (or region) specific energy security indices capable of adequately considering local specificities in the absence of a ‘universal’ index. Such an index is not available for Nepal. Hence, this study is the first to develop the Energy Security Composite Index of Nepal (ESCOIN), applying a comprehensive indicator-based approach to quantify energy security (ES) of Nepal. We build upon the notion that a country is able to trade energy when it is energy secure. We quantify Nepal's energy security and qualitatively assess the prospect for regional power trade in South Asia. A long list of 77 indicators is compiled from an extensive review of international literature. Based on the context, applicability to Nepal, data availability and conditions of multi-collinearity, this list of indicators is narrowed down to 21. Principal Component Analysis is then applied to evaluate the importance of the components for ESCOIN. Our results show that Nepal has consistently held a boundary position between “moderate” to “high” classes of ES in the last decade. We identify key reasons for this. First, the country's domestic sector is over-reliant on traditional fuels (dry-dung, firewood and agricultural residues). Second, Nepal faces a problem of suppressed demand in the absence of energy-intensive development activities in all productive sectors of the economy. Third, the growth in the energy demand is met only marginally by domestic hydropower and other renewables, and largely by increasing imports. Hence, we surmise a ‘pseudo energy secure’ state for Nepal. Although efforts are underway, electricity trade with China, Bangladesh and other South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) countries is economically difficult and technically challenging. Hence, cross-border electricity trading, particularly with India, can be seen as an opportunity for Nepal provided considerable infrastructural development occurs, institutional capacity is strengthened, and genuine political commitment and trust are sustained. Moreover, Nepal should focus on achieving self-sufficiency in energy through domestic hydropower and renewable sources and aim to stabilize energy consumption rather than being overly ambitious of exports, at least in the near future.

Performance analysis of PVSyst based grid connected photovoltaic systems in Pakistan compared to SAARC countries

Electricity demand increasing day by day with the passage of time, fossil fuels and traditional electricity sources are becoming obsolete. The possibility of dealing with a power deficit and importing oil and gas for electricity generation exists for developing nations like Pakistan. One of the most accessible and affordable sources of renewable energy in the world is solar power generating. Photovoltaic (PV) cell performance is influenced by the environment and the technology used to capture the available energy. The Islamabad region of Pakistan is blessed with an average of 300 days of sunshine a year due to its location in the solar band at 33.7215°N latitude and 73.0433°E longitude. The current study compares and contrasts how Pakistan and South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) countries generate electricity using solar systems. Choosing one geographical place from all SAARC nations, PVSyst software is used to develop and estimate the performance study for solar model cell Panasonic 320Wp, 48V and 1.5 kW Inverter Fronius for a 9.6 kWp load. Energy supplied into the grid is studied together with various losses that occur in the system, with the choice of PV arrays and other factors remaining the same for comparison study of all SAARC countries. The approach to minimize losses through the utilization of an adjustable tilt angle has been implemented. This study will be useful in estimating and planning the solar energy output in all SAARC nations for the same photovoltaic system, and it will be simple to trade all PV system components in the region.

DYNAMIC LINKAGES BETWEEN ECONOMIC POLICY UNCERTAINTY AND STOCK MARKET INTEGRATION: EMPIRICAL EVIDENCE FROM SAARC REGION

This study attempts to empirically test whether the economic policy uncertainty (EPU) in developed economies affects stock market integration across developed and developing countries. We find that the correlations appear to be time-varying and are being influenced by financial crises. The EPU of the developed economies has a negative impact on their stock market interdependence with Pakistan, but a positive impact on stock market correlations between India and the US, India and the UK, Bangladesh and the EU, Sri Lanka and the EU, and no impact on correlations between India and the EU, Bangladesh, and the US. Additional robustness tests reveal that the global financial crisis (GFC) has a substantial influence on all stock market correlation pairs, apart from any pairs with India, whereas the Asian financial crisis (AFC) only has a significant impact on the Sri Lanka–EU relationship. Finally, the study suggests that the EPU in the US, UK and EU has a great influence on the interdependence of the stock markets between South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) and developed nations.

Energy Consumption, Financial Development and Environmental Degradation: An Empirical Evidence from SAARC Countries

This study examines the correlation between environmental degradation, financial development, and energy consumption in the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) region. Data covering the period of 1980 to 2022 have been utilized. For empirical estimation, the study applies the Hausman test and the Fixed Effect Model (FEM). The country-specific effects of energy consumption (EC) and financial development (FD) on total greenhouse gases (TGHG) have been checked. The dependent variable is environmental deterioration. TGHGs are used to illustrate ecological degradation. Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) and economic growth have been control variables. FEM results show that EC, Gross Domestic Product (GDP), and FDI all have a significant effect on environmental deterioration. In contrast, the link between FD and TGHG emissions is inverse, implying that FD reduces ecological damage. However, the Environmental Kuznets Curve (EKC) idea has been confirmed since, as GDP grows, pollution begins to drop in an inverted "U-shape." The Pollution Haven Hypothesis (PHH) has also been verified in certain SAARC countries. The findings have significance for governments in encouraging industries to participate in renewable energy projects and for financial institutions in determining how much to subsidize loans for such investment projects to reduce TGHG emissions, resulting in a slightly cleaner environment.