Transition and Developing Economies: Comparing the Quality of Governments

2003 ◽  
pp. 69-95 ◽  
Author(s):  
Gur Ofer
Keyword(s):  
Developing Economies

scholarly journals Development and application of a spectrophotometric method in quality evaluation of benzimidazole anthelminthics in Nairobi city county

2020 ◽  
Vol 6 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Johnson K. Murage ◽  
Beatrice K. Amugune ◽  
Peter Njogu ◽  
Stanley Ndwigah
Keyword(s):  
Spectrophotometric Method ◽  
High Performance ◽  
Neglected Tropical Diseases ◽  
Developing Economies ◽  
Raw Materials ◽  
Poor Quality ◽  
Prolonged Treatment ◽  
Good Precision ◽  
Market Surveillance

Abstract Background Neglected tropical diseases (NTDs) are a group of communicable diseases which are prevalent in the tropics affecting more than one billion people. Treatment and prevention of these infections is very costly to developing economies. Helminthiases are classified among NTDs. The communities afflicted are poor and have limited access to essential resources for their livelihood. Poor-quality drugs for NTDs may lead to death or prolonged treatment without achieving the desired results. The limited resources used in purchasing poor-quality drugs will therefore be wasted instead of being put to good use. Most of the methods available for the analysis of benzimidazole anthelminthics utilize high-performance liquid chromatography. They are therefore time consuming, require sophisticated and expensive equipment, utilize rare and expensive reagents and solvents, and call for skilled personnel. A simple, rapid, and inexpensive ultraviolet spectrophotometric method of analysis would therefore come in handy especially in the analysis of many samples as occurs during post-authorization market surveillance for quality. Results The suitable solvent for the spectroscopic analysis was established as 0.1 M methanolic HCl. The wavelength of analysis was set at 294 nm. Upon validation, the method was found to have good linearity. The range over which linearity was established was way beyond the 80 to 120% of the working concentration specified by the ICH. The method exhibited good precision. Out of 32 commercial samples analyzed, five (15.6%) did not comply with compendial specifications. Intra-brand batch variation was also observed. Out of three batches of product A002T analyzed, one did not comply with compendial specifications. Conclusion A major limitation in the analysis of benzimidazole anthelminthics is the lack of reliable, simple, rapid, and low-cost methods of analysis with high throughput. The developed method serves to fill this gap. It can be used in the analysis of raw materials and finished products. It can also be used in the establishment of the quality of products prior to registration. The method will prove very useful in post-market surveillance of quality of benzimidazole anthelminthics.

Can foreign aid motivate institutional reform? An evaluation of the HIPC Initiative

2017 ◽  
Vol 6 (2) ◽  
pp. 242-258 ◽  
Author(s):  
Minh Tam Schlosky ◽  
Andrew Young
Keyword(s):  
Foreign Aid ◽  
Developing Economies ◽  
Poor Country ◽  
Civil Liberties ◽  
Institutional Reform ◽  
Institutional Quality ◽  
Entrepreneurial Activity ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Hipc Initiative

Purpose A number of political economy concerns are associated with the provision of foreign aid to developing economies. These concerns suggest that foreign aid is likely to have harmful effects on a recipient’s institutional quality, and that attempts to give aid conditional on policy and institutional reforms are unlikely to succeed. Established in 1996, the Heavily Indebted Poor Country (HIPC) Initiative is a comprehensive, structured attempt to provide multilateral foreign aid conditional on reforms in recipient countries. The purpose of this paper is to evaluate its effectiveness at affecting institutional reform in participating countries. Design/methodology/approach The authors document how participating countries fared in terms of the quality of their policies and institutions. The authors employ the Fraser Institute’s Economic Freedom of the World index as a measure of economic institutions, and the Freedom House political rights (PR) and civil liberties indices as measures of PR and protections. Based on these measures, the authors report unconditional statistics (e.g. average changes) and also regressions of changes in the measures on HIPC Initiative aid allocations and other controls. Findings The authors find that most participating countries experienced either meager increases or outright decreases in institutional quality. The regression results provide no evidence that the Initiative affects meaningful reforms. Originality/value The potential for foreign aid to have deleterious effects on the institutional quality of recipient countries has been of increasing concern to students of economic development. Such effects can have important implications for entrepreneurial activity in these countries. The HIPC Initiative is specifically designed to acknowledge and, indeed, overcome these concerns, leading to actual increases in institutional quality of recipient countries. To the authors’ knowledge, this work is the first to assess whether the promise of the HIPC Initiative is being fulfilled.

Developing Right Graduate Attributes through Project-Based Teaching

2012 ◽  
pp. 64-79 ◽  
Author(s):  
Neeta Baporikar
Keyword(s):  
Natural Resources ◽  
Engineering Education ◽  
Driving Force ◽  
Developing Economies ◽  
Mutual Recognition ◽  
Graduate Attributes ◽  
The World ◽  
Education Needs ◽  
The Right

Engineering education all over the world is of paramount importance as it is this education which provides economies with opportunities for development and growth. Engineering education is important for both developed and developing economies—for the former to maintain their lead position and for the latter to ensure decent livelihood and utilization of natural resources. In such a situation, engineering education needs to continuously upgrade itself to meet the ever changing needs of the economy, society, and mankind. Hence, understanding engineering education and reviewing the methods and standards are important if all stakeholders have to be satisfied. With the driving force of the globalization of the engineering profession, adopting project-based teaching methods have mutual recognition across the world, and also help to develop the right graduate attributes while continuing to assure the standards and quality of engineering education.

Public Financial Management and Systems of Accountability in Sub-National Governance in Developing Economies

2017 ◽  
pp. 193-217
Author(s):  
Christopher Boachie
Keyword(s):  
Financial Management ◽  
Public Services ◽  
Developing Economies ◽  
Local Institutions ◽  
Fiscal Management ◽  
Accountability System ◽  
Public Financial Management ◽  
Subnational Government ◽  
International Donors

There is an increasing focus worldwide on improving the quality of public financial management, with many countries in both the developed and the developing world making important and impressive achievements in strengthening public financial management and governance. This chapter explores how subnational government financial management can be improved and capacity strengthened in developing economies. Using Ghana's subnational financial management and accountability system as illustration, this study shows that improving public financial management leads to better quality of public services. The subnational government landscape is rapidly changing, with increasing emphasis on fiscal management and discipline, prioritization of expenditure, and value for money. It is even more important that international donors, governments, and national and local institutions, including regulators and professional accountancy bodies, work together in partnership to achieve long-lasting improvements, transparency, and accountability in public financial management.

Academic Strategies for Distance Education

2012 ◽  
Vol 3 (3) ◽  
pp. 32-44 ◽  
Author(s):  
Neeta Baporikar
Keyword(s):  
Distance Education ◽  
Natural Resources ◽  
Developing Economies ◽  
Mutual Recognition ◽  
Holistic Development ◽  
Lead Position ◽  
The World ◽  
Education Needs ◽  
Globalization Of Education

Education all over the world is of paramount importance as it provides economies with opportunities for development and growth. Education is important for both – developed and developing economies – for the former to maintain their lead position and for the latter to ensure decent livelihood and utilization of natural resources. In such a situation, education needs to continuously upgrade itself to meet the ever changing needs of the economy, society and mankind. Hence, understanding education reviewing the developments, methods and standards are important if all stakeholders have to be satisfied. With globalization of education and the bent towards professional courses, Distance Education (DE) is established and is being more and more sought after. However, adopting academic strategies which will have mutual recognition across the world ensure holistic development and aid to maintain standards and quality of DE, is crucial need of the hour. The proposed paper aims to address these issues.

Web Content Management in Institutions of Higher Learning in Emerging Economies

2018 ◽  
pp. 63-97
Author(s):  
Gregory Wabuke Wanyembi
Keyword(s):  
Life Cycle ◽  
Best Practice ◽  
Developing Economies ◽  
Content Management ◽  
Higher Learning ◽  
Web Content ◽  
Management Tools ◽  
Institutions Of Higher Learning ◽  
Content Management Systems

This chapter aims at examining the concept of content management (CM) and the need to identify it as a global best practice in light of its emergence in modern organizations, and specifically so in the context of institutions of higher learning in developing economies. The chapter also examines a number of models and approaches used in the adaptation of web content management systems (CMS), which provide a guide to the separation of digital content that is relevant to an institution of higher learning and also point out relevant management issues. The merits and demerits of these approaches are discussed. The stages in Content Life Cycle (CLC), information architecture and infostructure, quality of good online content, types of content suitable for a website, and are discussed. Content management tools and system have also been covered in some detail, which offers an institution part of the solution that they require to effectively manage and maintain their content. The chapter concludes with a set of recommendations and points at possible areas for further research.

Financial Globalization and the Quality of Institutions

2010 ◽  
pp. 39-52 ◽  
Author(s):  
E. Rustamov
Keyword(s):  
Capital Flows ◽  
Financial Liberalization ◽  
Institutional Environment ◽  
Developing Economies ◽  
Institutional Quality ◽  
Factor Productivity ◽  
Important Conclusion ◽  
Positive Effects ◽  
Widespread View

The paper examines effects of financial liberalization, observed over the last decades. Contrary to the widespread view, it results in capital flows from developing economies and emerging markets to advanced countries. Positive effects of liberalization are related primarily to the improvement of institutional environment. They are revealed rather in higher total factor productivity than in increased investment. The important conclusion is that financial liberalization should be implemented when the country is prepared for it, as positive consequences overweigh risks only if institutional quality exceeds a certain threshold.

Factors influencing quality corporate governance in Sub Saharan Africa: an empirical study

2014 ◽  
Vol 14 (4) ◽  
pp. 555-574 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nelson Waweru
Keyword(s):  
Corporate Governance ◽  
Firm Size ◽  
Audit Quality ◽  
Developing Economies ◽  
Sub Saharan Africa ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Factors Influencing ◽  
Investment Opportunities ◽  
Sub Saharan

Purpose – This study aims to examine the factors influencing the quality of corporate governance in South Africa (SA). Firm-level variables including performance, firm size, leverage, investment opportunities and audit quality were identified from the corporate governance literature. Design/methodology/approach – The study used ordinary least squares regression on firm-specific and corporate governance variables obtained from panel data of 247-firm years obtained from the annual reports of the 50 largest companies listed on the Johannesburg Stock Exchange (JSE) Securities Exchange of SA. Findings – This study found leverage, firm size and investment opportunities as the main factors influencing the quality of corporate governance in SA. Research limitations/implications – The research findings should be interpreted in the light of the following limitations. First, the study sample consists of the 50 largest firms listed in the JSE of SA. Because these are large companies, the results may not be generalized to other smaller firms operating in SA. Second, this study is constrained to SA. Firms in other developing countries may differ from their SA counterparts. Originality/value – The results of this study are important to the King Committee and other corporate governance regulators in Sub-Saharan Africa, in their effort to improve corporate governance practices and probably minimize corporate failure and protect the well-being of the minority shareholders. Furthermore, the study contributes to our understanding of the variables affecting the quality of corporate governance in developing economies of Africa.

The moderating effect of bureaucratic quality on the pricing of policy instability

2015 ◽  
Vol 5 (3) ◽  
pp. 303-334 ◽  
Author(s):  
Swee-Sum Lam ◽  
Weina Zhang
Keyword(s):  
Interest Rate ◽  
Interest Rates ◽  
Risk Premium ◽  
Developing Economies ◽  
Moderating Effect ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Chinese Policy ◽  
Policy Risk ◽  
Quality Policy

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to examine how policy instability is priced in interest rates. Policy instability refers to the likelihood that the current policy will be changed in the future in the absence of political power shifts. Design/methodology/approach – Chinese government’s experimental policy-making approach provides an ideal set of frequent policy flip-flops which allows us to identify the effect of policy changes. Findings – Conditional on the bureaucratic quality of policymaking, a good-quality policy reversal is related to reductions in interest rate term spread and volatility; a bad-quality policy reversal is related to increases in the spread and volatility. The bureaucratic quality is multi-dimensional and the moderating effect is stronger on interest rates when it is measured more precisely. Originality/value – First, we can use the interest rate dynamics to infer the policy risk premium, which is a more objective market indicator of the bureaucratic quality of the policy change. Second, the study is among the first that documents the pricing of policy instability can be moderated by the bureaucratic quality. The results indicate that it is important for a government to be responsive and consistent in liberalizing the financial market. It will lead to reduced cost of capital and volatility for investors and firms in the economy. Third, given that the bureaucratic quality is multi-dimensional and produces stronger impact jointly, a country shall continue to improve on different aspects of the bureaucratic quality. Although the study is based on the empirical evidence from Chinese policy environment, the results can be broadly applied to any developing economies that intend to liberalize the market to spur economic growth.

scholarly journals Political entrepreneurship: entrepreneurship ecosystem perspective

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Maksim Belitski ◽  
Ana-Maria Grigore ◽  
Anca Bratu
Keyword(s):  
Transition Economy ◽  
Developing Economies ◽  
Holistic Approach ◽  
Entrepreneurial Ecosystem ◽  
Institutional Reforms ◽  
Entrepreneurial Ecosystems ◽  
Weak Institutions ◽  
Political Entrepreneurship ◽  
Political Entrepreneurs

AbstractWe use the entrepreneurial ecosystem perspective to study political entrepreneurship as a form of alignment between disruptive and unproductive entrepreneurs with authorities aiming to get privileged access to resources. Political entrepreneurship (PE) has emerged as a phenomenon in transition and developing economies and may compromise the entrepreneurial ecosystem (EE) objectives. Combining interview and survey data, this study provides an in-depth assessment of entrepreneurial ecosystems in a transition economy and the role that political entrepreneurs play in moderating the effect of resources on the quality of entrepreneurship. Our findings are generalizable to other transition and developing economies as we demonstrate what various configurations of factors increase stakeholders’ perception about EE and directly affect its quality. Our findings reveal that stakeholders appreciate the evolution trends towards mature and productive entrepreneurship, but the progress is slow, nonlinear, with setbacks, still seriously threatened by corruption, lack of competence, and the interference of the political factor as well as regional differences. This study offers implications on how to adopt a place-based and holistic approach to institutional reforms when policymakers aim at creating productive entrepreneurial ecosystems. This study implications are in the adoption of a place-based and holistic approach to institutional reforms when policymakers aim at creating productive entrepreneurial ecosystems. While political entrepreneurship may significantly distort an ecosystem, this study offers recommendations to managers and policymakers who plan to start a business in an environment with weak institutions and the rule of law.

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