scholarly journals Comparing Costs of Living across World Cities

2019 ◽  
Vol 34 (Supplement_1) ◽  
pp. S79-S88
Author(s):  
Shohei Nakamura ◽  
Rawaa Harati ◽  
Somik V Lall ◽  
Yuri M Dikhanov ◽  
Nada Hamadeh ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Low Income ◽  
Purchasing Power Parity ◽  
National Level ◽  
Low Income Countries ◽  
Power Parity ◽  
Cost Of Living ◽  
World Cities ◽  
Price Data ◽  
Price Levels ◽  
The Cost

Abstract This paper compares costs of living across world cities. The International Comparison Program (ICP) reports price levels across world economies in its calculation of purchasing power parity through an extensive scale of price data collection and rigorous methodology. While the price levels are reported only at the national level, some modification makes it possible to compare the cost of living across a group of world cities. In addition, various agencies report costs of living rankings for world cities on a regular basis, and some of them, such as the Economist Intelligence Unit (EIU)’s World Cost of Living Survey, systematically collect a wide variety of items from a host of cities, even covering low-income countries. This article's application of the ICP method to the EIU price data yields an overall reasonable result: richer cities have higher price levels, and the rankings of cities based on their price levels are similar when using the ICP and EIU data. Nevertheless, the results based on the EIU data differ from the ICP data relatively widely in some nonfood items and among cities with low price levels. This result highlights important issues regarding the data and methodology required to measure costs of living for development purposes.

scholarly journals Pricing-to-Market and the Failure of Absolute PPP

2011 ◽  
Vol 3 (1) ◽  
pp. 91-127 ◽  
Author(s):  
George Alessandria ◽  
Joseph P Kaboski
Keyword(s):  
Low Income ◽  
Purchasing Power Parity ◽  
Consumer Search ◽  
Low Income Countries ◽  
Power Parity ◽  
Pricing To Market ◽  
Export Prices ◽  
The Us ◽  
International Price ◽  
Use Studies

We show that deviations from the law of one price in tradable goods are an important source of violations of absolute purchasing power parity. Using highly disaggregated export data, we document systematic international price discrimination: at the US dock, low-income countries pay lower prices. This pricing-to-market is about twice as important as local nontraded inputs for differences in tradable prices. We propose a model of consumer search and pricing-to-market in which consumers in low-income countries have a comparative advantage in nontraded, nonmarket search activities. Evidence from cross-country time-use studies and US export prices supports the model. (JEL E31, F14)

scholarly journals The economic cost of implementing maternal and neonatal death review in a district of Bangladesh

2016 ◽  
Vol 5 (3) ◽  
Author(s):  
Animesh Biswas ◽  
Abdul Halim ◽  
Fazlur Rahman ◽  
Charli Eriksson ◽  
Koustuv Dalal
Keyword(s):  
Low Income ◽  
Purchasing Power Parity ◽  
Neonatal Death ◽  
National Level ◽  
Power Parity ◽  
Programme Implementation ◽  
Implementation Framework ◽  
Government Health ◽  
Implementation Costs ◽  
Death Notification

<em>Introduction</em>: Maternal and neonatal death review (MNDR) introduced in Bangladesh and initially piloted in a district during 2010. MNDR is able to capture each of the maternal, neonatal deaths and stillbirths from the community and government facilities (hospitals). This study aimed to estimate the cost required to implement MNDR in a district of Bangladesh during 2010-2012. <br /><em>Materials and methods:</em> MNDR was implemented in Thakurgaon district in 2010 and later gradually extended until 2015. MNDR implementation framework, guidelines, tools and manual were developed at the national level with national level stakeholders including government health and family planning staff at different cadre for piloting at Thakurgaon. Programme implementation costs were calculated by year of costing and costing as per component of MNDR in 2013. The purchasing power parity conversion rate was 1 $INT = 24.46 BDT, as of 31st Dec 2012. <br /><em>Results:</em> Overall programme implementation costs required to run MNDR were 109,02,754 BDT (445,738 $INT $INT) in the first year (2010). In the following years cost reduced to 8,208,995 BDT (335,609 $INT, during 2011) and 6,622,166 BDT (270,735 $INT, during 2012). The average cost per activity required was 3070 BDT in 2010, 1887 BDT and 2207 BDT required in 2011 and 2012 respectively. Each death notification cost 4.09 $INT, verbal autopsy cost 8.18 $INT, and social autopsy cost 16.35 $INT. Facility death notification cost 2.04 $INT and facility death review meetings cost 20.44 $INT. One death saved by MNDR costs 53,654 BDT (2193 $INT).<br /><em>Conclusions</em>: Programmatic implementation cost of conducting MPDR give an idea on how much cost will be required to run a death review system for a low income country settings using government health system.

scholarly journals Measuring GDP and Economic Growth: An Economic Barometer

2019 ◽  
Vol 2 (1) ◽  
pp. 42-58
Author(s):  
Alpa Tarun Mohanty
Keyword(s):  
Purchasing Power Parity ◽  
Market Value ◽  
Living Standards ◽  
Power Parity ◽  
Cost Of Living ◽  
Goods And Services ◽  
Inflation Rates ◽  
Per Capita ◽  
The Cost ◽  
8Th Edition

This essay based on Michaele Parkin, Macroeconomics, 8th edition. Gross domestic product (GDP) is a monetary measure of the market value of all the final goods and services produced in a period of time, often annually. GDP (nominal) per capita does not, however, reflect differences in the cost of living and the inflation rates of the countries; therefore, using a basis of GDP per capita at purchasing power parity (PPP) is arguably more useful when comparing differences in living standards between nations.

scholarly journals Low-income countries are more immune to COVID-19: A misconception

2020 ◽  
Vol 72 ◽  
pp. 5-7 ◽  
Author(s):  
Soumya Roy
Keyword(s):  
Low Income ◽  
Purchasing Power Parity ◽  
Case Fatality ◽  
Low Income Countries ◽  
Medical Attention ◽  
Power Parity ◽  
Poor Countries ◽  
Financial Condition ◽  
The Usa ◽  
Great Force

Objective: The COVID-19 pandemic has hit countries such as Italy, Spain, France, UK, and the USA with great force, whereas the number of cases in countries such as India and most parts of Africa is comparatively lower. Such observation has made many people believe that the low-income countries may be more immune to COVID-19. Theories such as warm climate, weaker strain of the virus, and cross-protection by malaria have been popularly put forward. One such interesting theory is that since the general people of the low- income countries are mostly habituated to dwell in lesser hygienic condition and with lesser medical attention throughout their lifetime; hence, they have naturally acquired better immunity and more resilience against many infective diseases. Materials and Methods: We sought to investigate the above claim by comparing the case fatality rate (CFR) as well as number of cases per million population versus the gross domestic product at purchasing power parity per capita of different countries. Results: We found that while the number of cases showed a slight decline in the lower-income countries, the CFR was independent of the financial condition of the country. Conclusion: We conclude that the theory of better immunity in economically poor countries is a misconception. We suggest that people must come out of these misconceptions and resort to strict home isolation.

scholarly journals Therapies Out of Reach: Anticancer Drugs and Global Trade Regimes

2018 ◽  
Vol 23 (3) ◽  
pp. 371-387
Author(s):  
Dwaipayan Banerjee ◽  
James Sargent
Keyword(s):  
Anticancer Drugs ◽  
Low Income ◽  
Low Income Countries ◽  
High Price ◽  
Global Trade ◽  
Trade Regimes ◽  
History Of ◽  
Policy Analysts ◽  
The Cost ◽  
New Generation

Medical policy analysts and oncologists have cautioned against the high price of anticancer drugs. They argue that the current drug development model that relies on patents and short-term shareholder value is proving unsustainable, since the cost of the new generation of drugs puts many of them out of reach for the average consumer. The high price of cancer drugs is especially troubling in the context of middle- and low-income countries, where the burden of cancer carries disproportionate impact. To analyse the pricing of anticancer drugs, we examined legal controversies, regulatory treaties and documents, as well as the history of pricing data in India. We also conducted interviews with policy consultants and surveyed financial data filings of major global and Indian pharmaceutical corporations. Our research revealed that global trade agreements have become key barriers to lowering anticancer drug prices. This article argues that in the shadow of the World Trade Organization (WTO) and with Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) imminent, serious policy changes are necessary to ensure the survival of generic production in the market for anticancer drugs.

scholarly journals Financial Impact of Complex Cancer Surgery in India: A Study of Pancreatic Cancer

2018 ◽  
pp. 1-9
Author(s):  
Guruchanna Basavaiah ◽  
Priyanka D. Rent ◽  
Eugene G. Rent ◽  
Richard Sullivan ◽  
Margaret Towne ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Purchasing Power Parity ◽  
Insurance Coverage ◽  
Government Expenditure ◽  
Time Frame ◽  
Cancer Surgery ◽  
Cancer Center ◽  
Power Parity ◽  
Catastrophic Expenditure ◽  
Public And Private ◽  
The Cost

Purpose The rapidly increasing burden of cancer in India has profound impacts on health care costs for patients and their families. High out-of-pocket (OOP) expenditure, lack of insurance, and low government expenditure create a vicious cycle, leading to household impoverishment. Complex cancer surgery is now increasingly important for emerging countries; however, little is understood about the macro- and microeconomics of these procedures. After the Lancet Oncology Commission on Global Cancer Surgery, we evaluated the OOP expenditure for patients undergoing pancreatico-duodenectomy (PD) at a government tertiary cancer center in India. Methods Prospective data from 98 patients who underwent PD between January 2014 and June 2015 were collected and analyzed. The time frame for consideration of expenses, including all preoperative investigations, was from the first hospital visit to the day of discharge. Catastrophic expenditure was calculated by assessing the percentage of households in which OOP health payments exceeded 10% of the total household income. Results The mean expenditure for PD by patients was Rs.295,679.57 (US$74,420, purchasing power parity corrected). This amount was significantly higher among those admitted to a private ward and those with complications. Only 29.6% of the patients had insurance coverage. A total of 76.5% of the sample incurred catastrophic expenditure, and 38% of those with insurance underwent financial catastrophe compared with 93% of those without insurance. The percentage of patients facing catastrophic impact was highest among those in semiprivate wards, at 86.7%, followed by those in public and private wards. Conclusion The cost of PD is high and is often unaffordable for a majority of India’s population. A review of insurance coverage policies for better coverage must be considered.

scholarly journals Factors that influence the scale up of new interventions in low-income settings: a qualitative case study of the introduction of chlorhexidine cleansing of the umbilical cord in Bangladesh

2020 ◽  
Vol 35 (4) ◽  
pp. 440-451
Author(s):  
Jennifer A Callaghan-Koru ◽  
Munia Islam ◽  
Marufa Khan ◽  
Ardy Sowe ◽  
Jahrul Islam ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
Health Systems ◽  
Umbilical Cord ◽  
Low Income ◽  
Qualitative Case Study ◽  
National Level ◽  
Scale Up ◽  
New Drugs ◽  
Low Income Countries

Abstract There is a well-recognized need for empirical study of processes and factors that influence scale up of evidence-based interventions in low-income countries to address the ‘know-do’ gap. We undertook a qualitative case study of the scale up of chlorhexidine cleansing of the umbilical cord (CHX) in Bangladesh to identify and compare facilitators and barriers for the institutionalization and expansion stages of scale up. Data collection and analysis for this case study were informed by the Consolidated Framework for Implementation Research (CFIR) and the WHO/ExpandNet model of scale up. At the national level, we interviewed 20 stakeholders involved in CHX policy or implementation. At the district level, we conducted interviews with 31 facility-based healthcare providers in five districts and focus group discussions (FGDs) with eight community-based providers and eight programme managers. At the community level, we conducted 7 FGDs with 53 mothers who had a baby within the past year. Expanded interview notes were thematically coded and analysed following an adapted Framework approach. National stakeholders identified external policy and incentives, and the engagement of stakeholders in policy development through the National Technical Working Committee for Newborn Health, as key facilitators for policy and health systems changes. Stakeholders, providers and families perceived the intervention to be simple, safe and effective, and more consistent with family preferences than the prior policy of dry cord care. The major barriers that delayed or decreased the public health impact of the scale up of CHX in Bangladesh’s public health system related to commodity production, procurement and distribution. Bangladesh’s experience scaling up CHX suggests that scale up should involve early needs assessments and planning for institutionalizing new drugs and commodities into the supply chain. While the five CFIR domains were useful for categorizing barriers and facilitators, additional constructs are needed for common health systems barriers in low-income settings.

scholarly journals The Distributional Consequences of Large Devaluations

2017 ◽  
Vol 107 (11) ◽  
pp. 3477-3509 ◽  
Author(s):  
Javier Cravino ◽  
Andrei A. Levchenko
Keyword(s):  
Exchange Rate ◽  
Low Income ◽  
Relative Price ◽  
Cost Of Living ◽  
Product Categories ◽  
Poor Households ◽  
Distributional Consequences ◽  
The Cost ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Income Decile

We study the impact of large exchange rate devaluations on the cost of living at different points on the income distribution. Poor households spend relatively more on tradeable product categories and consume lower-priced varieties within categories. Changes in the relative price of tradeables and of lower-priced varieties affect the cost of living of low-income relative to high-income households. We quantify these effects following the 1994 Mexican devaluation and show that they can have large distributional consequences. Two years post-devaluation, the cost of living for the bottom income decile rose 1.48 to 1.62 times more than for the top income decile. (JEL D12, D31, E31, F31, O12, O19, O24)

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