Investment and Debt

Author(s):  
Layna Mosley

Abstract: This article examines the political determinants and economic consequences of financial openness in low- and middle-income countries, with emphasis on government autonomy rather than on other important outcomes such as economic growth and development. After sketching trends in financial openness in developing countries, the article illustrates how the effects of financial integration are intertwined with the type of capital flow (e.g., short-term versus long-term investment) and with a nation’s domestic interests and institutions. It then considers the possibility that BRICS countries (Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa) will emerge as alternative financial leaders at a regional or global level. It also assesses the impact of capital flows on government-policy decisions and outcomes before reflecting on the politics of investment and debt.

Field Methods ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 32 (1) ◽  
pp. 38-57
Author(s):  
Mufaro Kanyangarara ◽  
Laetitia Douillot ◽  
Gilles Pison ◽  
Cheikh Tidiane Ndiaye ◽  
Valerie Delaunay ◽  
...  

Migration of participants in demographic and epidemiological studies results in missing data. One approach to reduce resulting losses in statistical power and potential biases is to follow up migrants at their new residence. We describe the follow-up of migrants who were eligible for participation in a trial of a new questionnaire to measure adult mortality in Niakhar, Senegal. We conducted a short inquiry in the migrant’s last known household to obtain contact information and then attempted to contact and interview 661 migrants who resided in Dakar, Mbour, and rural areas close to Niakhar. About two-thirds of migrants were successfully enrolled in the study. Having a contact phone number and knowing the name of the head of compound at destination increased the likelihood of successful enrollment. Following up migrants in demographic studies is feasible in low- and middle-income countries, including long-term migrants who have not been contacted for extended periods of time.


2019 ◽  
Vol 75 (1) ◽  
pp. 14-29 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jane Mingjie Lim ◽  
Shweta Rajkumar Singh ◽  
Minh Cam Duong ◽  
Helena Legido-Quigley ◽  
Li Yang Hsu ◽  
...  

Abstract Background Global recognition of antimicrobial resistance (AMR) as an urgent public health problem has galvanized national and international efforts. Chief among these are interventions to curb the overuse and misuse of antibiotics. However, the impact of these initiatives is not fully understood, making it difficult to assess the expected effectiveness and sustainability of further policy interventions. We conducted a systematic review to summarize existing evidence for the impact of nationally enforced interventions to reduce inappropriate antibiotic use in humans. Methods We searched seven databases and examined reference lists of retrieved articles. To be included, articles had to evaluate the impact of national responsible use initiatives. We excluded studies that only described policy implementations. Results We identified 34 articles detailing interventions in 21 high- and upper-middle-income countries. Interventions addressing inappropriate antibiotic access included antibiotic committees, clinical guidelines and prescribing restrictions. There was consistent evidence that these were effective at reducing antibiotic consumption and prescription. Interventions targeting inappropriate antibiotic demand consisted of education campaigns for healthcare professionals and the general public. Evidence for this was mixed, with several studies showing no impact on overall antibiotic consumption. Conclusions National-level interventions to reduce inappropriate access to antibiotics can be effective. However, evidence is limited to high- and upper-middle-income countries, and more evidence is needed on the long-term sustained impact of interventions. There should also be a simultaneous push towards standardized outcome measures to enable comparisons of interventions in different settings.


Parasitology ◽  
2011 ◽  
Vol 138 (12) ◽  
pp. 1508-1518 ◽  
Author(s):  
YENNY DJUARDI ◽  
LINDA J. WAMMES ◽  
TANIAWATI SUPALI ◽  
ERLIYANI SARTONO ◽  
MARIA YAZDANBAKHSH

SUMMARYThe shaping of a child's immune system starts in utero, with possible long-term consequences in later life. This review highlights the studies conducted on the development of the immune system in early childhood up to school-age, discussing the impact that environmental factors may have. Emphasis has been put on studies conducted in geographical regions where exposure to micro-organisms and parasites are particularly high, and the effect that maternal exposures to these may have on an infant's immune responses to third-party antigens. In this respect we discuss the effect on responses to vaccines, co-infections and on the development of allergic disorders. In addition, studies of the impact that such environmental factors may have on slightly older (school) children are highlighted emphasizing the need for large studies in low to middle income countries, that are sufficiently powered and have longitudinal follow-up components to understand the immunological footprint of a child and the consequences throughout life.


2021 ◽  
Vol 33 (S1) ◽  
pp. 33-33
Author(s):  
Clarissa Giebel ◽  
Bwire Ivan ◽  
Maria Isabel Zuluaga ◽  
Suresh Kumar ◽  
Mark Gabbay ◽  
...  

Background:The pandemic has put a huge strain on people’s mental health, with varying restrictions affecting people’s lives. Little is known how the pandemic affects older adults’ mental health, particularly those living in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) where restrictions are affecting people’s access to basic necessities. Thus, the aim of this 3-country study was to understand the long- term impacts of the pandemic on the mental well-being of older adults with and without dementia in LMICs.Methods:We are collecting 30 baseline and 15 follow-up interviews with older adults (aged 60+), people with dementia, and family carers in Colombia, India, and Uganda, as well as a baseline and follow-up focus group with health and social are professionals in each country. Interviews are conducted remotely over the phone due to pandemic restrictions, with data collection taking place between March and July 2021. Transcripts are translated into English before being analysed using thematic analysis.Results:To date, we have completed close to 90 baseline interviews and 3 focus groups with health and social care professionals. Analysis is ongoing, but findings are capturing the detrimental second wave in India and follow-up interviews will capture the longitudinal impacts on mental health.Conclusions:Whilst vaccines are starting to be rolled out in LMICs, albeit at different rates, the virus will likely take much longer to be somewhat managed in LMICs. This leaves more room for people’s physical as well as mental health to be impacted by the restrictions, and with often limited mental health service coverage, it is all the more important o understand the impact of the pandemic on older people’s mental health.


2021 ◽  
Vol 15 ◽  
Author(s):  
Peter Lloyd-Sherlock ◽  
João Bastos Freire ◽  
Meirelayne Duarte ◽  
Monica Frank ◽  
Karla Giacomin ◽  
...  

This paper presents a novel policy framework to support government responses to COVID-19 in long-term care facilities (LTCFs) in low and middle-income countries. It focuses on issues that are of specific relevance to Brazilian policy-settings, including examples of its local implementation. The CIAT Framework combines and summarizes broad elements for an emergency strategy to address the potential effects of COVID-19. The 4 steps of the Framework entail policies to coordinate, identify, assess, and target support. Those policies can be applied immediately to mitigate the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic in LTCFs. It is, however, essential to situate these responses within a more comprehensive and permanent strategy. Intersectoral collaboration must evolve into a fully institutionalized system.


2020 ◽  
Vol 5 (1) ◽  
pp. e001535
Author(s):  
Saurabh Saluja ◽  
Niclas Rudolfson ◽  
Benjamin Ballard Massenburg ◽  
John G Meara ◽  
Mark G Shrime

BackgroundThe WHO estimates a global shortage of 2.8 million physicians, with severe deficiencies especially in low and middle-income countries (LMIC). The unequitable distribution of physicians worldwide is further exacerbated by the migration of physicians from LMICs to high-income countries (HIC). This large-scale migration has numerous economic consequences which include increased mortality associated with inadequate physician supply in LMICs.MethodsWe estimate the economic cost for LMICs due to excess mortality associated with physician migration. To do so, we use the concept of a value of statistical life and marginal mortality benefit provided by physicians. Uncertainty of our estimates is evaluated with Monte Carlo analysis.ResultsWe estimate that LMICs lose US$15.86 billion (95% CI $3.4 to $38.2) annually due to physician migration to HICs. The greatest total costs are incurred by India, Nigeria, Pakistan and South Africa. When these costs are considered as a per cent of gross national income, the cost is greatest in the WHO African region and in low-income countries.ConclusionThe movement of physicians from lower to higher income settings has substantial economic consequences. These are not simply the result of the movement of human capital, but also due to excess mortality associated with loss of physicians. Valuing these costs can inform international and domestic policy discussions that are meant to address this issue.


2020 ◽  
pp. 158-182
Author(s):  
Juliana Martínez Franzoni ◽  
Diego Sánchez-Ancochea

Most middle-income countries have the financial and institutional resources to reduce poverty and inequality and improve social capabilities. But what is the right policy approach to secure these goals? We argue that to be effective and successful, social policies should be universal, providing the whole population with similar, generous transfers and services. To explore how universal policies can be implemented, we distinguish between the desired policy outputs (coverage, generosity, and equity) and the specific ways to secure them. We then introduce the concept of the policy architecture and analyze its influence on long-term trajectories. The chapter considers the impact of different trajectories on universalism in the long run, distinguishing between a bottom-up strategy that starts from the poor or other alternatives that involve the non-poor from the onset. We conclude the chapter with a call for more research on the interactions between policy design and political struggles.


2021 ◽  
Vol 6 (3) ◽  
pp. e004067
Author(s):  
Joshua Jeong ◽  
Helen O Pitchik ◽  
Günther Fink

IntroductionParenting interventions during early childhood are known to improve various child development outcomes immediately following programme implementation. However, less is known about whether these initial benefits are sustained over time.MethodsWe conducted a systematic literature review of parenting interventions in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) that were delivered during the first 3 years of life and had completed a follow-up evaluation of the intervention cohort at least 1 year after the primary postintervention endpoint. We summarized intervention effects over time by child-level and parent-level outcomes as well as by timing of follow-up rounds in the short-term (1–3 years after programme completion), medium-term (4–9 years), and long-term (10+ years). We also conducted exploratory meta-analyses to compare effects on children’s cognitive and behavioral development by these subgroups of follow-up rounds.ResultsWe identified 24 articles reporting on seven randomised controlled trials of parenting interventions delivered during early childhood that had at least one follow-up study in seven LMICs. The majority of follow-up studies were in the short-term. Three trials conducted a medium-term follow-up evaluation, and only two trials conducted a long-term follow-up evaluation. Although trials consistently supported wide-ranging benefits on early child development outcomes immediately after programme completion, results revealed a general fading of effects on children’s outcomes over time. Short-term effects were mixed, and medium-term and long-term effects were largely inconclusive. The exploratory meta-analysis on cognitive development found that pooled effects were significant at postintervention and in the short-term (albeit smaller in magnitude), but the effects were not significant in the medium-term and long-term. For behavioural development, the effects were consistently null over time.ConclusionsThere have been few longer-term follow-up studies of early parenting interventions in LMICs. Greater investments in longitudinal intervention cohorts are needed in order to gain a more comprehensive understanding of the effectiveness of parenting interventions over the life course and to improve the design of future interventions so they can have greater potential for achieving and sustaining programme benefits over time.


2021 ◽  
pp. 001946622110238
Author(s):  
Sukti Dasgupta ◽  
Mauricio Dierckxsens ◽  
Sher Verick

Coming on top of long-term employment challenges, the COVID-19 crisis has severely impacted economies around the world. Due to the nature of their labour markets, middle-income countries (MICs), including India, have experienced greater employment declines than advanced economies. Some sectors have been hit harder than others, while certain groups—including women, youth, migrants and those in the informal economy—have felt the brunt of the crisis even more strongly. The crisis has raised unemployment and, even more, has also pushed many out of the labour force, raising inactivity. Overall, the crisis has exacerbated existing inequalities in countries and across countries. The major challenge for MICs is to finance the continuing efforts to battle the crisis while shifting to a job-rich and inclusive recovery. Key lessons have already emerged, which are relevant for India and other developing countries, including the importance of building a more resilient and inclusive labour market through strong institutions and policies. JEL Codes: E24, E60, G01, J08, J60


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