{"title":"Male–Female Wage Gap and Informal Employment in Bangladesh: A Quantile Regression Approach","authors":"Mustafiz Rahman, Md. Al-Hasan","doi":"10.1177/1391561418824477","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1177/1391561418824477","url":null,"abstract":"This article undertakes an examination of Bangladesh’s latest available Quarterly Labour Force Survey 2015–2016 data to draw in-depth insights on gender wage gap and wage discrimination in Bangladesh labour market. The mean wage decomposition shows that on average a woman in Bangladesh earns 12.2 per cent lower wage than a man, and about half of the wage gap can be explained by labour market discrimination against women. Quantile counterfactual decomposition shows that women are subject to higher wage penalty at the lower deciles of the wage distribution with the wage gap varying between 8.3 per cent and 19.4 per cent at different deciles. We have found that at lower deciles, a significant part of the gender wage gap is on account of the relatively larger presence of informal employment. Conditional quantile estimates further reveal that formally employed female workers earn higher wage than their male counterparts at the first decile but suffer from wage penalty at the top deciles. JEL: C21, J31, J46, J70","PeriodicalId":39966,"journal":{"name":"South Asia Economic Journal","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2019-03-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"81360561","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Some Common Lessons from Uncommon FTAs","authors":"K. Gaurav, Nalin Bharti","doi":"10.1177/1391561418824479","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1177/1391561418824479","url":null,"abstract":"The present study endeavours to observe the trade creation and trade diversion effects of three free trade agreements (FTAs) in Asia, namely, India–Japan CEPA (IJCEPA), India–Sri Lanka FTA (ISFTA), and India–Bhutan FTA (IBFTA). The article aims to evaluate three uncommon FTAs that include developing–developed, developing–developing and developing–least developed countries. The objective is to evaluate the effects of these FTAs on exports and draw lessons for both the contracting parties and for other economies to commence FTAs that promote trade liberalization. This paper also aims to debunk the myth that FTAs between developing-least developed countries is not beneficial for the developing or least developed counterpart. The study applies augmented gravity model to capture the trade creation and trade diversion effects. The results confirm that ISFTA and IBFTA have trade creation effect, while in case of IJCEPA, there is trade diversion. These bilateral agreements can open the ways for multilateral trade liberalization in the long-run. JEL : F10, F13, F14","PeriodicalId":39966,"journal":{"name":"South Asia Economic Journal","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2019-03-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"86750961","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Trade Impacts of South Asian Free Trade Agreements in Sri Lanka","authors":"Hiroyuki Taguchi, Don Chalani Imasha Rubasinghe","doi":"10.1177/1391561418822203","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1177/1391561418822203","url":null,"abstract":"This article aims to examine the trade effects of the South Asian Free Trade Agreement (SAFTA) with a focus on Sri Lanka, by applying a gravity trade model. The study targets the following three FTAs: the SAFTA, the India–Sri Lanka Free Trade Agreement (ISFTA), and the Pakistan–Sri Lanka Free Trade Agreement (PSFTA). The outcomes of the gravity trade model estimation suggested that the trade creation effects were identified in the ISFTA, while those were not verified in the SAFTA and that the PSFTA had the trade creation effects only on the Sri Lankan imports. Those results seem to reflect the differentials in the preferential tariff rates. In particular, ISFTA could have the predominant positive effects on Sri Lankan trade flows due to its lowest preferential tariff rates, and thus the SAFTA effect might be crowded out at the current stage of Sri Lankan trade. JEL: F13, F14, O53","PeriodicalId":39966,"journal":{"name":"South Asia Economic Journal","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2019-03-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"88784039","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Book Review: Paras Kharel (ed.), South Asian Cooperation: Issues, Old and New","authors":"Sampa Kundu","doi":"10.1177/1391561419825551","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1177/1391561419825551","url":null,"abstract":"","PeriodicalId":39966,"journal":{"name":"South Asia Economic Journal","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2019-03-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"85033018","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"India–China Trade: Asymmetrical Developments and Future Prospects","authors":"Sunanda Ghosh, M. Agarwal, Adrita Banerjee","doi":"10.1177/1391561419840137","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1177/1391561419840137","url":null,"abstract":"This article seeks to provide an overview of the evolution and analyses the changing composition of trade between India and China over the period 1983–2017. We find that Chinese exports are almost completely concentrated in manufactures, especially finished equipment goods, whereas Indian exports consist of both agriculture and manufactures and over time have shifted predominantly to intermediate goods. Further, both the countries are exporting those commodities to each other in which they have a revealed comparative advantage, with China’s exports being more diversified. We employ vector error correction estimation and show that China’s exports to India are dependent on India’s household consumption expenditure, while India’ exports to China are correlated to Chinese manufacturing value added. Finally, we calculate the share of each country’s commodity-wise export to the partner in their respective total exports with a view to studying prospects for India–China trade. We conclude that for further trade expansion, diversification is extremely necessary, and Indian exports of inputs to Chinese industries need to change substantially to accommodate the changing nature of China’s industrial structure. JEL: F14, F15, O24","PeriodicalId":39966,"journal":{"name":"South Asia Economic Journal","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2019-03-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"86367027","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
N. Kumar, Arvind Shrivastava, Dayashankar Singh, Purnendu Kumar
{"title":"Determinants of Financial Stress of Indian Banks","authors":"N. Kumar, Arvind Shrivastava, Dayashankar Singh, Purnendu Kumar","doi":"10.1177/1391561418794695","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1177/1391561418794695","url":null,"abstract":"The study examines factors influencing non-performing loans (NPLs) for Indian banks. The analysis contributes by including restructured advances also in addition to standard measures of asset quality that provides comprehensive picture of pressure on banks’ balance sheet. Moreover, Bayesian technique with multivariate t-distributed prior is applied for robust estimation. Utilizing quarterly dataset from 2005 to 2015, strong persistence of bad assets is clearly evident. Bank-specific characteristics such as growth of advances, profitability and net interest margin are significant determinants. Among macro-factors, high growth rate is having retarding impact on bad assets. Moreover, ownership effect is having differential behaviour with state-owned banks being most vulnerable. JEL: G21, C11, C23","PeriodicalId":39966,"journal":{"name":"South Asia Economic Journal","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2018-09-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"80923207","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Book Review: Export-Import Bank of India, Act East: Enhancing India’s Trade with Bangladesh and Myanmar across Border","authors":"K. Biswal","doi":"10.1177/1391561418800512","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1177/1391561418800512","url":null,"abstract":"which can then be modelled for forecasting different disasters, for example, ideal transboundary flood forecasting system. The authors suggest conducting a postdisaster needs assessment in order to assess full extent of a disaster’s impact for developing a recovery strategy. There have been considerable international efforts for disaster risk reduction worldwide. Yokohama Strategy for a Safer World: guidelines for natural disaster prevention, preparedness and mitigation and its plan of action (1994) was one of the first guidance to address disaster risk reduction globally. The gaps in Yokohama Strategy led to the adoption of the Hyogo Framework for Action 2005–2015, building the resilience of nations and communities to disasters. Subsequently, Sendai Framework (post-2015) was adopted in the third UN World conference on Disaster Risk Reduction held in Sendai in 2015. It is an international framework to reduce disaster risk within the context of sustainable development. The priorities of Sendai Framework are to understand disaster risk, strengthen disaster risk governance, increase resilience and enhance disaster preparedness. In Asia, countries have developed the Asian Regional Plan for implementation of the Sendai Framework that helps to facilitate cooperation and collaboration in view of building risk resilience in Asia. Summarizing, the book is an interesting mix of chapters which can be used both as a text book as well as for research in disaster management. It illustrates the basic concepts of disaster management in an easily understandable language. Though the context of the book is based in Asia, the concepts are universal and can be applied all over the world. Overall, the book focuses on disaster management than natural hazards per se, simultaneously, the authors utilize various case studies to illustrate the concepts and principles. The inclusion of best practices in disaster response would have added more substance to the book. The examples cited could have been presented with more well researched insights on the management of disasters to provide a holistic picture. The structure and content of this book encourages a multi-sectoral and multidisciplinary approach towards disaster management. By examining science and technology as well as disaster governance, the authors try to balance the scientific and social approach to disaster management.","PeriodicalId":39966,"journal":{"name":"South Asia Economic Journal","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2018-09-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"82930267","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Does Improvement in Trade Openness Facilitate Renewable Energy Transition? Evidence from Selected South Asian Economies","authors":"Muntasir Murshed","doi":"10.1177/1391561418794691","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1177/1391561418794691","url":null,"abstract":"The aim of this article is to empirically shed light on the impacts of trade openness (TO) on facilitation of renewable energy transition (RET) across Bangladesh, India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka and Nepal. Against this backdrop, this article incorporated annual time series data stemming from 2000 to 2017 and employed the two-stage least squares (2SLS) panel data estimation methodology. In addition, the panel Granger causality test was also applied to distinguish the possible long-run causal associations between the variables considered in the regression models. In the light of the estimated results, it is found that an improvement in TO triggers renewable energy consumption, improves the primary energy-use efficiency and elevates the access to clean cooking fuel technology within the selected South Asian economies. However, the results also led to the concerning conclusion regarding the ineffectiveness of the trade liberalization policies in curbing the relative consumption of non-renewable energy resources, thereby marginalizing the prospects of overall RET within these economies. JEL: O13, P2, Q42, D12, F35","PeriodicalId":39966,"journal":{"name":"South Asia Economic Journal","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2018-09-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"82875558","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Book Review: Indrajit Paul and Tuhin Ghosh, Natural Hazards Management in Asia","authors":"Swati Sulagna","doi":"10.1177/1391561418798895","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1177/1391561418798895","url":null,"abstract":"Natural disasters are one of the major challenges of modern day society. Management of the same requires convergence of different disciplines and active participation of policymakers, engineers and citizens alike. The book titled Natural Hazards Management in Asia by Indrajit Paul and Tuhin Ghosh, tries to balance the need for information of all these key players involved in preventing natural hazards from becoming a disaster. Covering the wide range of concepts in disaster management can be challenging. The book discusses basic disaster management concepts before moving on to the application side of science and technology and policy interventions for disaster recovery and rehabilitation. The book consists of ten chapters, while the first five chapters focus on introducing different concepts of disaster management, the following chapters present research methods, science and technology and governance regarding disaster management. Natural hazards are natural processes occurring on earth required to sustain it. However, these processes may affect human settlements causing widespread destruction and casualties. The Disaster Management Act, 2005, defines disaster as","PeriodicalId":39966,"journal":{"name":"South Asia Economic Journal","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2018-09-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"80109176","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}