The relationship between foreign aid and corruption: a case of selected Asian countries

2019 ◽  
Vol 26 (3) ◽  
pp. 692-704
Author(s):  
Muhammad Ali ◽  
Lubna Khan ◽  
Amna Sohail ◽  
Chin Hong Puah
Keyword(s):  
Least Squares ◽  
Foreign Aid ◽  
Negative Impact ◽  
Panel Cointegration ◽  
Ordinary Least Squares ◽  
Foreign Assistance ◽  
Asian Countries ◽  
Causality Test ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Long Run

Purpose The purpose of this study is to examine the effect of foreign aid (FA) on corruption in selected Asian countries (Pakistan, India, Srilanka and Bangladesh) using the panel data from 2000 to 2014. Design/methodology/approach The author used Levin-Lin-Chu and Im-Pesaran-Shin panel unit root tests to check the stationary properties of the variables. The Pedroni’s and Kao panel cointegration approach was applied to analyze the variable’s long-run relationship. The author used panel dynamic ordinary least squares (PDOLS) and fully modified ordinary least squares (FMOLS) framework to estimate the coefficients of cointegrating vectors. Additionally, the panel granger causality test was performed to check the causal relationship between the variables. Findings The results from PDOLS and FMOLS indicate that FA has a significant negative impact on the level of corruption. This infers that the foreign assistance decrease the level of corruption perception index, hence, more corruption in the country. Originality/value Overall, the study fulfills the need to understand the aid-corruption nexus, particularly in the case of the Asian region.

scholarly journals Aid effectiveness: when aid spurs investment

2021 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Felicitas Nowak-Lehmann ◽  
Elena Gross
Keyword(s):  
Middle East ◽  
Least Squares ◽  
Foreign Aid ◽  
Negative Impact ◽  
Institutional Quality ◽  
Sub Saharan Africa ◽  
Domestic Investment ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Long Run ◽  
Country Characteristics

Purpose This paper aims to analyze the effectiveness of aid in stimulating investment using different measures of aid and up-to-date panel time-series techniques. This study controls for endogeneity by using dynamic ordinary least squares (DOLS) and minimizes the risk of running a spurious long-run relationship by using series that are cointegrated. This paper finds evidence that aid promotes investment in countries with good institutional quality and gain interesting insights on the influence of country characteristics and the amount of aid received. Aid is ineffective in countries with unfavorable country characteristics such as a colonial past, being landlocked and with large distances to markets. Aid can boost investment in regions that receive high (above-median) amounts of aid such as Africa and the Middle East but not in regions that receive low amounts of aid. Investment-targeted aid is effective but non-investment-related aid can also enhance investment. Design/methodology/approach Regressions on the aid-investment nexus are based on either a rather simple (115 countries) or an extended/augmented investment model (91 countries). The data covers the period of 1973–2011 and 1985–2011 if the institutional quality is included. This study estimates the relationship between aid and investment by applying the DOLS/dynamic feasible generalized least squares technique which is based on a long-run relationship of the regression variables (cointegration). In this framework, this paper incorporates country-fixed effects, control for endogeneity, autocorrelation and take heteroscedasticity and cross-country correlation of the residuals into account. Findings This study finds empirical evidence that aid promotes investment in countries with good institutional quality and gain interesting insights on the role played by country characteristics and the amount of aid received. Aid is ineffective in countries with unfavorable country characteristics such as the colonial past, being landlocked, distant from markets. Aid can boost investment in regions that receive high (above-median) amounts of aid such as Africa and the Middle East. Investment-targeted aid is effective but non-investment-related aid also able to enhance investment. Research limitations/implications The study looks at the investment to gross domestic product (GDP) ratio (including domestic investment and foreign direct investment (FDI)) and, hence does not disentangle these factors. It looks at the net effect (positive and negative impact together) and, therefore does not allow to identify the direct crowding out the impact of aid. Of course, if this paper finds that aid has a negative impact on investment, it is clear that aid must have crowded out either domestic investment or FDI or both. Practical implications The authors think that it is relevant to have identified the circumstances and settings in which foreign aid can be particularly effective and in which foreign aid needs accompanying measures that improve the effectiveness of aid. Also, it is relevant that the relative amount of aid received (aid-to-GDP ratio) must be quite high so that aid can increase investment. Social implications This study sees that the least developed, low-income countries and (in terms of regions) the sub-Saharan Africa countries benefit from aid. This is very desirable. This paper further sees that higher relative amounts of aid do help more and that it is helpful to care about a better institutional quality in developing countries. Hence, this study provides some support for the desirability of aid. Originality/value The paper was done very diligently, and this study is very confident that the results are robust. This paper is also confident that this study has studied the long-run (which is of special importance) nexus between aid and investment. The estimation technique used is original, as it combines regular DOLS with corrections for autocorrelation and cross-section dependence.

scholarly journals THE EFFECT OF SAVING AND CAPITAL EXPANSION ON FINANCIAL AND TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENT IN GCC COUNTRIES

2021 ◽  
Vol 0 (0) ◽  
pp. 1-25
Author(s):  
Faris Alshubiri
Keyword(s):  
Least Squares ◽  
Financial Development ◽  
Technological Development ◽  
National Income ◽  
Ordinary Least Squares ◽  
Growth Strategy ◽  
Causality Test ◽  
Gcc Countries ◽  
Causal Direction ◽  
Long Run

This study examined the effect of the relationship between saving and capital expansion on financial and technological development in three GCC countries using panel data from 1990 to 2019. The study used panel least squares, feasible general least squares, dynamic ordinary least squares and fully modified ordinary least squares used in the study. The findings showed that there was a significant positive long-run relationship between capital expansion and financial development and was a positive and insignificant long-run relationship between saving and financial development. Conversely, the study showed that there was a significant positive long-run relationship between saving and technological development. Meanwhile, there was a negative long-run relationship between capital expansion and technological development. Pairwise Granger causality test results showed that there was bidirectional causality between saving and financial development, a single causal direction from Adjusted net national income and financial development and a single causal direction from technological development and saving and Inflation, consumer prices. The main conclusions of the study were saving tends to support technological development, while investment tends to improve financial development. Therefore, GCC countries should formulate a long-term growth strategy in all sectors to determine their development requirements in light of the available resources.

Mandatory CSR expenditure and stock return

2020 ◽  
Vol 28 (6) ◽  
pp. 951-975
Author(s):  
Asit Bhattacharyya ◽  
Md Lutfur Rahman
Keyword(s):  
Least Squares ◽  
Stock Returns ◽  
Least Squares Method ◽  
Negative Impact ◽  
Generalized Method Of Moments ◽  
Ordinary Least Squares ◽  
Reverse Causality ◽  
Endogeneity Bias ◽  
Content Type ◽  
The Impact

Purpose India has mandated corporate social responsibility (CSR) expenditure under Section 135 of the Indian Companies Act, 2013 – the first national jurisdiction to do so. The purpose of this paper is to examine the impact of mandated CSR expenditure on firms’ stock returns by using actual CSR spending data, whereas the previous studies mostly focus on voluntary CSR proxied by CSR scores. Design/methodology/approach The authors estimate their baseline regression by using ordinary least squares(OLS) method. Although the baseline regression involving CSR expenditure and stock returns using ordinary least squares method are estimated, endogeneity and reverse causality biases are addressed by using two-stage least squares and generalized method of moments approaches. These approaches contribute mitigating endogeneity bias and biases associated with unobserved heterogeneity and simultaneity. Findings The findings document that mandatory CSR expenditure has a negative impact on firms’ stock returns which supports the “shareholders” expense’ view. This result remain robust after controlling for endogeneity bias and the use of both standard and robust test statistics. The authors however observe that this result holds for the firms with actual CSR expenditure equal to the mandated amount but does not hold for the firms with actual CSR expenditure greater than the mandated amount. Therefore, the authors provide evidence that CSR expenditure’s impact on stock returns depends on whether firms simply comply the regulation or voluntarily chose an amount of CSR expenditure above the mandated amount. Originality/value The primary contribution is to present a valid and robust evidence of negative effect of mandated CSR spending on firms’ stock returns when the mandatory CSR spending rule is already in place. This study contributes by examining the impact of mandated CSR spending on stock during post-implementation period (2015-2017), whereas other studies by Dharampala and Khanna (2018); Kapoor and Dhamija (2017); and Mukherjee et al. (2018) mainly examined the impact of legislation on Indian CSR. The authors use mandated actual CSR expenditure, whereas previous studies mostly focus on voluntary CSR proxied by CSR scores.

Investigation of Socioeconomic Determinants on Child Death in South Asian Countries: A Panel Cointegration Analysis

2020 ◽  
pp. 003022282091502
Author(s):  
Shazia Kousar ◽  
Aiza Shabbir ◽  
Rukia Shafqat
Keyword(s):  
Income Inequality ◽  
Socioeconomic Factors ◽  
Least Squares ◽  
Child Mortality ◽  
South Asian ◽  
Health Expenditure ◽  
Ordinary Least Squares ◽  
Asian Countries ◽  
Long Run ◽  
The Relationship

This article is aimed to examine the relationship between socioeconomic factors and child mortality in South Asia because the relationship between child mortality and socioeconomic factors cannot be overlooked for better progress. Panel data were obtained from (World Development Indicators) and (Human Development Index) for the period 1990–2017. The data were quantitative. Levin, Lin, and Chu and I’m, Pesaran, and Shin test were used to check the stationarity of data. A cointegration test was applied to check the long-run association. Granger causality test was used to determine the direction of the relationship. Fully modified ordinary least squares and dynamic ordinary least squares techniques were used to examine the long-run and short-run impact of socioeconomic determinants on child mortality. The findings from this study showed the significant impact of education, unemployment, and health expenditure, access to improved water and sanitation facilities, and income inequality on child mortality. Overall results showed that there is a negative association between education and child mortality, access to improved water and access to sanitation facilities and child mortality, and health expenditure and child mortality, but there is a positive association between unemployment and income inequality with child mortality. The rate of child mortality is still very alarming in South Asian countries.

Financial development, FDI and economic growth: evidence from Sudan

2018 ◽  
Vol 45 (8) ◽  
pp. 1236-1249 ◽  
Author(s):  
Abdalla Sirag ◽  
Samira SidAhmed ◽  
Hamisu Sadi Ali
Keyword(s):  
Economic Growth ◽  
Least Squares ◽  
Financial Development ◽  
Unit Root ◽  
Structural Break ◽  
Ordinary Least Squares ◽  
Series Data ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Long Run ◽  
Cointegration Tests

Purpose The effect of foreign direct investment (FDI) on economic growth is widely believed to be contingent on the development of the financial sector. Nevertheless, as the possibility that the effect of financial development on growth being contingent on FDI has been neglected in existing literature, the authors have investigated it in this paper. In general, the purpose of this paper is to examine the effect of financial development and FDI on economic growth in Sudan using annual data from 1970 to 2014. Design/methodology/approach Since most of the macroeconomic variables are subject to unit root problem, the time series data are assessed using unit root and cointegration tests with/without structural break. Moreover, the study uses the fully modified ordinary least squares and the dynamic ordinary least squares techniques to estimate the long-run model. Findings The results of the cointegration tests provide evidence that a long-run relationship exists among variables even after accounting for the structural break. The results show that financial development and FDI are positive and significant in explaining economic growth in Sudan. Financial development is found to be more beneficial to economic growth than FDI. Moreover, the findings reveal that FDI leads to better economic performance through financial development. Interestingly, the findings of the study show that the effect of financial development on economic growth is further enhanced by the inflows of FDI. Research limitations/implications The government should focus on promoting FDI in more productive sectors. In addition, further cooperation with multinational enterprises is needed to increase FDI in the country. Originality/value This is the first paper that empirically examines both the interlinked impact of FDI on growth through financial development and the impact of financial development on economic growth through FDI in Sudan using appropriate econometric methods.

scholarly journals Investigating the ppp theory and long-run estimates for five Asian countries

2018 ◽  
Vol 7 (4.28) ◽  
pp. 26
Author(s):  
Niri Martha Choji ◽  
Siok Kun Sek
Keyword(s):  
Least Squares ◽  
Purchasing Power Parity ◽  
Unit Root ◽  
Ordinary Least Squares ◽  
Nominal Exchange Rate ◽  
Purchasing Power ◽  
Asian Countries ◽  
Power Parity ◽  
Panel Unit Root ◽  
Long Run

The theory of purchasing power parity (PPP) theory posits that the conversion rate between two currencies ought to be the same as the ratio of the total price levels between two currencies. Using monthly recent panel data for five Asian countries, from the period 1996M01-2016M08, the paper examined the PPP theory by utilizing robust methods of panel unit root and cointegration (Pesaran and Westerlund) tests that put into consideration cross-sectional dependence. The panel unit root test results show that all the variables considered are not stationary at levels but stationary at first difference (all variables are I(1)), because of that, the cointegration test was carried out. Results showed the presence of long-run relationship among the variables implying that the purchasing power parity theory exists in the long-run. Furthermore, the long-run relationships were estimated using the dynamic ordinary least squares (DOLS), fully modified ordinary least squares (FMOLS) and the mean group (MG) estimators. Surprisingly, all these estimators gave similar results, they showed that the domestic prices cause depreciation while the foreign prices cause appreciation of the nominal exchange rates in the five Asian countries. Generally, the effect of nominal exchange rate appreciation is more than depreciation in the five Asian countries.

The role of ICT infrastructure, innovation and globalization on economic growth in OECD countries, 1996-2017

2020 ◽  
Vol 11 (2) ◽  
pp. 193-215 ◽  
Author(s):  
Meta Ayu Kurniawati
Keyword(s):  
Economic Growth ◽  
Least Squares ◽  
Forecast Error ◽  
Rapid Development ◽  
Oecd Countries ◽  
Ordinary Least Squares ◽  
Infrastructure Development ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Long Run ◽  
Ict Infrastructure

Purpose The rapid development of information and communication technology (ICT) over the past decade has enabled heterogeneous economic sectors to be more integrated, leading to a significant effect on nation’s growth across OECD countries. The objective of this study is to estimate the short run and long run inter-linkages among ICT, innovation technology, globalization, and economic growth for the period 1996-2017 in OECD countries. Design/methodology/approach This research provides some sophisticated methodologies by using principal component analysis to construct ICT and innovation indices and follow up by employing the panel cointegration test, pooled mean group regression, fully modified ordinary least squares and dynamic ordinary least squares as sophisticated estimation techniques, panel Granger causality and forecast error variance decomposition to examine the robustness of the causal association in the findings. Findings The empirical results herein suggest that ICT, innovation and globalization positively contribute to economic growth, while the causality findings reveal strong endogenous relationships among both ICT mobile and internet use, innovation development, globalization and economic growth in both short and long run. The findings further imply that OECD countries have yet to promote economic growth from ICT infrastructure expansion, the enlargement of technology innovation and the spread of globalization. Practical implications The particular policy recommendation is to reinforce the investment and establishment of a reliable ICT infrastructure as well as innovation technology to create sustained economic growth in this progressively interconnected world. Originality/value This study is valuable from policy and decision-makers’ perspective, as it highlights the significance of ICT infrastructure development, innovation enlargement and globalization to elevate the economic growth in OECD countries.

Financial inclusion and economic growth linkage: some cross country evidence

2018 ◽  
Vol 10 (3) ◽  
pp. 369-385 ◽  
Author(s):  
Dinabandhu Sethi ◽  
Debashis Acharya
Keyword(s):  
Economic Growth ◽  
Random Effect ◽  
Panel Cointegration ◽  
Fixed Effect ◽  
Financial Inclusion ◽  
Causality Test ◽  
Panel Causality ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Long Run ◽  
The World

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to assess the dynamic impact of financial inclusion on economic growth for a large number of developed and developing countries. Design/methodology/approach This study uses some panel data models such as country-fixed effect, random effect and time fixed effect regressions, panel cointegration, and panel causality tests to examine the linkage between financial inclusion and economic growth. Panel cointegration is being used to test the long run association between financial inclusion and economic growth, whereas panel causality test is used to find the direction of causality between financial inclusion and economic growth. The data on financial inclusion are taken from Sarma (2012) for the period 2004-2010. Findings The empirical findings reveal that there is a positive and long run relationship between financial inclusion and economic growth across 31 countries in the world. Further, panel causality test shows a bi-directional causality between financial inclusion and economic growth Thus, the study confirms that financial inclusion is one of the main drivers of economic growth. Research limitations/implications This study has two limitations. First, this study considers only banking institutions in the analysis. Second, the period tested for the long run relationship is not long enough. Practical implications This study empirically measures the quantitative impact of financial inclusion policies pursued across the world. The study also suggests that policies emphasizing financial sector reforms in general and promoting financial inclusion in particular shall result in higher economic growth in the long run. Originality/value This study attempts to assess the long run relationship between financial inclusion and economic growth with the help of a multidimensional index of financial inclusion. Therefore, this can be a valuable contribution to the banks and policymakers.

Organized labor, corporate governance, and stock price crash risk

2017 ◽  
Vol 16 (4) ◽  
pp. 424-443 ◽  
Author(s):  
Qunfeng Liao ◽  
Bo Ouyang
Keyword(s):  
Corporate Governance ◽  
Least Squares ◽  
Labor Unions ◽  
Stock Price ◽  
Negative Impact ◽  
Labor Union ◽  
Ordinary Least Squares ◽  
Crash Risk ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Managerial Opportunism

Purpose The aim of the paper is to investigate the effect of labor strength on stock price crash risk and related moderating mechanisms. Design/methodology/approach To examine the relationship between labor unions and stock price crash risk and, more importantly, whether corporate governance moderates this relationship. Ordinary least squares (OLS), two-stage least squares, cross-sectional analyses, industry-level regressions and firm-level regressions are conducted. Findings The results suggest a negative impact of labor union strength on stock price crash risk. Further analysis suggests strong corporate governance mechanisms may mitigate the increased stock price crash risk in less-unionized firms. Originality/value Labor unions have a long-term horizon in the firm and have strong incentives to monitor managerial opportunism. However, labor unions may also increase financial reporting opacity and collude with managers to gain bargaining power in labor negotiations. The authors’ finding suggests that labor union strength is negatively associated with stock price crash risk. This finding is consistent with the notion that labor unions curb managerial opportunism in information disclosure, resulting in reduced crash risk. More importantly, the authors find corporate governance mitigates the negative impact of reduced unionization on crash risk, providing empirical support for recent regulatory efforts to strengthen corporate governance to prevent stock market crash.

scholarly journals The nexus between external debt, corruption and economic growth: evidence from five SSA countries

2018 ◽  
Vol 9 (3) ◽  
pp. 319-334 ◽  
Author(s):  
Waliu Olawale Shittu ◽  
Sallahuddin Hassan ◽  
Muhammad Atif Nawaz
Keyword(s):  
Economic Growth ◽  
External Debt ◽  
Negative Relationship ◽  
Panel Cointegration ◽  
Causality Test ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Long Run ◽  
Cointegration Tests ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Ssa Countries

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to examine the impact of external debt and corruption on economic growth in the selected five Sub-Saharan African (SSA) countries, from 1990 to 2015. Design/methodology/approach Panel unit root and panel cointegration tests are employed to test for stationarity of the series and the long-run relationship, respectively. Fully modified OLS and dynamic OLS techniques are also employed to examine the long-run coefficients of the variables of the model, as well as panel Granger causality test, in order to examine the direction of causality among the variables. Findings The results indicate that there is a negative relationship between external debt and economic growth, as well as a bi-directional causality between the two variables. The findings also indicate a positive relationship between corruption and economic growth, as well as a uni-directional causality running from economic growth through corruption. Research limitations/implications The study recommends that the governments of the selected countries should address the menace of rising external debt through the adoption of other sources of capital for investment. Such include more openness of the economy for more capital, by easing restrictions on genuine imports and exports of valuable goods and services. It also suggests that the issue of corruption be tackled head-on, by such penalties that tend to make corruption less attractive. Originality/value While the relationship between economic growth and external debt, on the one hand, and corruption and economic growth, on the other hand, have received considerable attentions, the trio of external debt, corruption and economic growth have not been found combined in a model, to the best of the authors’ knowledge. Also, the countries under consideration, who jointly account for about 47 percent of the entire SSA countries’ stock of external debt, have not been jointly found in any recent panel studies involving the selected variables.

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