HOW HAS THE CORONAVIRUS OUTBREAK AFFECTED ECONOMIC POVERTY IN DIFFERENT ASIAN REGIONS?

2021 ◽  
pp. 1-23
Author(s):  
LINHAI ZHAO ◽  
EHSAN RASOULINEZHAD
Keyword(s):  
Panel Data ◽  
United Nations ◽  
South Asia ◽  
Policy Implication ◽  
Global Economy ◽  
Asian Countries ◽  
Quarterly Data ◽  
Developed Economies ◽  
Data Framework ◽  
Western Asia

It is widely believed that the global economy is experiencing unprecedented challenges by the Covid-19. The main purpose of this research is to explore how the Covid-19 outbreak affected poverty in different Asian regions classified by the United Nations geoscheme, namely South Asia, Southeastern Asia, Central Asia, East Asia and Western Asia. To estimate the coefficients of variables, the panel data framework based on quarterly data over 2010Q1–2020Q2 is employed. Results revealed that the Covid-19 pandemic is a serious challenge for poverty in these regions. The impacts of the pandemic on poverty are smaller for larger or developed economies in Asia than smaller or less-developed economies. Regulating and making a timeline for managing post-coronavirus period is a major policy implication. Another policy implication is that due to the similar findings for Asian countries, they can exchange experiences in controlling the pandemic impacts.

scholarly journals Effects of Foreign Aid and Remittances Flows on Saving and Investment in Developing South Asia: Panel Data Study

2021 ◽  
pp. 21-27
Author(s):  
Md. Ahasan Ul Haque ◽  
Md. Golam Kibria ◽  
Md. Muhaiminul Islam Selim
Keyword(s):  
Panel Data ◽  
Foreign Aid ◽  
South Asia ◽  
South Asian ◽  
Positive Impact ◽  
Threshold Level ◽  
Foreign Assistance ◽  
Asian Countries ◽  
Minimum Threshold ◽  
The Impact

In this study, we investigate the impact of remittances and foreign aid (official foreign assistance) on investment and saving in South Asian countries. We also analyze the comparative influence of remittances and foreign aid in stimulating saving and investment. We use a sample of five South Asian countries over the period 1985-2018 and employ OLS and 2SLS methods to estimate the effect of remittance and foreign aid on saving and investment. The result reveals that remittance has a positive impact on saving but has no significant effect on investment and shows that foreign aid has no significant impact on saving but negatively influences investment. In line with our results, a rise in 10 percent of remittances in South Asia raises savings by 1.6 percent in the OLS estimates and by 1.7 percent when we use 2SLS. At the same time for a 10% increase in foreign aid decreases saving by 4.3% and 3.3%, respectively, in two methods. For the second regression, an increase in 10% remittances hamper investment by 1.3% and 1% for OLS and 2SLS, respectively. And for the analogous 10% increase in foreign aid decrease investment by 5.4% and 5.2%, respectively. However, if foreign aid is efficiently used, it can be an important complement to remittances by permitting households to overcome the minimum threshold level and they can use a bigger portion of their remittances for savings and investment motive.

scholarly journals Socio-Economic Implications of COVID-19 Pandemic in South Asia: Emerging Risks and Growing Challenges

2021 ◽  
Vol 6 ◽  
Author(s):  
Golam Rasul ◽  
Apsara Karki Nepal ◽  
Abid Hussain ◽  
Amina Maharjan ◽  
Surendra Joshi ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
South Asia ◽  
South Asian ◽  
Global Economy ◽  
Social Protection ◽  
Large Population ◽  
Rural Livelihoods ◽  
Asian Countries ◽  
Economic Sectors ◽  
Economic Implications ◽  
Severe Recession

The dramatic spread of COVID-19 has threatened human lives, disrupted livelihoods, and affected trade, economy and businesses across the globe. The global economy has begun to show major disruptions and is heading toward a severe recession with an unprecedented economic crisis. As the global economy is highly integrated and interdependent through the global supply chains, it has been profoundly affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. Although all countries have faced difficulties due to Covid-19, South Asian countries in particular have had to deal with a more challenging situation due to their large population, weak health facilities, high poverty rates, low socio-economic conditions, poor social protection systems, limited access to water and sanitation, and inadequate living space, necessary to maintain physical distancing and take other required measures to contain this pandemic. To contain the spread of the virus, South Asian countries have imposed stringent lockdowns, which have consequently affected the lives and livelihoods of millions of people in the region, where a third of world’s poor live. Against this backdrop, this paper examines the existing and prospective impacts, risks and challenges of Covid-19 on key social and economic sectors including migration, tourism, informal sector, agriculture and rural livelihoods. The analysis revealed that COVID-19 is likely to affect economic growth, increase fiscal deficit and monetary burden, increase the risks of macroeconomic instability, decrease migration and remittance, reduce income from travel and tourism, and result in dwindling micro-small and medium industries and informal businesses. This is likely to deepen poverty and increase unemployment and the risks of hunger and food insecurity. If not addressed properly, this may reinforce existing inequalities, break social harmony, and increase tension and turbulence. The economic and social costs of the COVID-19 outbreak are therefore likely to be significant and long-lasting in South Asia.

The World Economy through the Lens of the United Nations

2018 ◽  
Keyword(s):  
World War Ii ◽  
United Nations ◽  
Global Economy ◽  
World Economy ◽  
Social Conditions ◽  
Policy Recommendations ◽  
The Past ◽  
The World ◽  
World Economic ◽  
The United Nations

This volume documents the intellectual influence of the United Nations through its flagship publication, the World Economic and Social Survey (WESS) on its seventieth anniversary. Prepared at the Department of Economic and Social Affairs (DESA) and first published in 1948 as the World Economic Report (subsequently renamed the WESS), it is the oldest continuous post-World War II publication of this kind, recording and analysing the performance of the global economy and social development trends, and offering relevant policy recommendations. This volume highlights how well WESS has tracked global economic and social conditions, and how its analyses have influenced and have been influenced by the prevailing discourse over the past seven decades. The volume critically reflects on its policy recommendations and their influence on actual policymaking and the shaping of the world economy. Although world economic and social conditions have changed significantly over the past seven decades and so have the policy recommendations of the Survey, some of its earlier recommendations remain relevant today; recommendations in WESS provided seven decades ago seem remarkably pertinent as the world currently struggles to regain high levels of employment and economic activity. Thus, in many ways, WESS was ahead of the curve on many substantive issues. Publication of this volume will enhance the interest of the wider community of policymakers, academics, development practitioners, and members of civil society in the analytical work of the UN in general and UN-DESA in particular.

scholarly journals Wasting and Associated Factors among Children under 5 Years in Five South Asian Countries (2014–2018): Analysis of Demographic Health Surveys

2021 ◽  
Vol 18 (9) ◽  
pp. 4578
Author(s):  
Nidhi Wali ◽  
Kingsley E. E. Agho ◽  
Andre M. N. Renzaho
Keyword(s):  
South Asia ◽  
South Asian ◽  
Health Surveys ◽  
Associated Factors ◽  
Common Factor ◽  
Household Wealth ◽  
Health Concern ◽  
Demographic And Health Surveys ◽  
Asian Countries ◽  
Sampling Weights

Child wasting continues to be a major public health concern in South Asia, having a prevalence above the emergency threshold. This paper aimed to identify factors associated with wasting among children aged 0–23 months, 24–59 months, and 0–59 months in South Asia. A weighted sample of 564,518 children aged 0–59 months from the most recent demographic and health surveys (2014–2018) of five countries in South Asia was combined. Multiple logistic regression analyses that adjusted for clustering and sampling weights were used to examine associated factors. Wasting prevalence was higher for children aged 0–23 months (25%) as compared to 24–59 months (18%), with variations in prevalence across the South Asian countries. The most common factor associated with child wasting was maternal BMI [adjusted odds ratio (AOR) for 0–23 months = 2.02; 95% CI: (1.52, 2.68); AOR for 24–59 months = 2.54; 95% CI: (1.83, 3.54); AOR for 0–59 months = 2.18; 95% CI: (1.72, 2.77)]. Other factors included maternal height and age, household wealth index, birth interval and order, children born at home, and access to antenatal visits. Study findings suggest need for nutrition specific and sensitive interventions focused on women, as well as adolescents and children under 2 years of age.

scholarly journals Agroforestry to Achieve Global Climate Adaptation and Mitigation Targets: Are South Asian Countries Sufficiently Prepared?

Forests ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 12 (3) ◽  
pp. 303
Author(s):  
Shalini Dhyani ◽  
Indu K Murthy ◽  
Rakesh Kadaverugu ◽  
Rajarshi Dasgupta ◽  
Manoj Kumar ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
South Asia ◽  
South Asian ◽  
Climate Adaptation ◽  
Global Climate ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Agroforestry Systems ◽  
Climate Mitigation ◽  
Asian Countries ◽  
Implementation Phase ◽  
Adaptation And Mitigation

Traditional agroforestry systems across South Asia have historically supported millions of smallholding farmers. Since, 2007 agroforestry has received attention in global climate discussions for its carbon sink potential. Agroforestry plays a defining role in offsetting greenhouse gases, providing sustainable livelihoods, localizing Sustainable Development Goals and achieving biodiversity targets. The review explores evidence of agroforestry systems for human well-being along with its climate adaptation and mitigation potential for South Asia. In particular, we explore key enabling and constraining conditions for mainstreaming agroforestry systems to use them to fulfill global climate mitigation targets. Nationally determined contributions submitted by South Asian countries to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change acknowledge agroforestry systems. In 2016, South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation’s Resolution on Agroforestry brought consensus on developing national agroforestry policies by all regional countries and became a strong enabling condition to ensure effectiveness of using agroforestry for climate targets. Lack of uniform methodologies for creation of databases to monitor tree and soil carbon stocks was found to be a key limitation for the purpose. Water scarcity, lack of interactive governance, rights of farmers and ownership issues along with insufficient financial support to rural farmers for agroforestry were other constraining conditions that should be appropriately addressed by the regional countries to develop their preparedness for achieving national climate ambitions. Our review indicates the need to shift from planning to the implementation phase following strong examples shared from India and Nepal, including carbon neutrality scenarios, incentives and sustainable local livelihood to enhance preparedness.

Has the Internet increased FDI, economic growth, and trade? Evidence from Asian economies

2021 ◽  
pp. 026666692199974
Author(s):  
Zi Hui Yin ◽  
Chang Hwan Choi
Keyword(s):  
Economic Growth ◽  
East Asia ◽  
South Asia ◽  
Internet Use ◽  
The Internet ◽  
Economic Factors ◽  
Vector Autoregressive ◽  
Western Asia ◽  
Asian Economies ◽  
Transaction Efficiency

This study examines the causal relationship between the Internet and economic factors in Asian economies between 1997 and 2017. The economic factors consist of gross domestic product (GDP), foreign direct investment (FDI), imports, and exports. A comparative analysis of East, South, and Western Asia was conducted using a panel vector autoregressive model. The findings show bidirectional causality between FDI and Internet use in South Asia, unidirectional causality from Internet use to FDI in East Asia, and unidirectional causality from FDI to Internet use in Western Asia. Moreover, the findings indicate unidirectional causality from exports to Internet use in East Asia and unidirectional causality from Internet use to exports in South Asia, but no impact in Western Asia. Finally, the results show unidirectional causality from Internet use to GDP in Western Asia. As these results suggest that Internet use has boosted economic performance in Asia, policy makers in the region should improve Internet use with a focus on economic growth, improving transaction efficiency, and facilitating foreign investment.

Suicide methods in South Asia over two decades (2001–2020)

2021 ◽  
pp. 002076402110157
Author(s):  
S M Yasir Arafat ◽  
Syeda Ayat-e-Zainab Ali ◽  
Vikas Menon ◽  
Fahad Hussain ◽  
Daniyal Shabbir Ansari ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Sri Lanka ◽  
South Asia ◽  
South Asian ◽  
English Language ◽  
Public Health Problem ◽  
Asian Countries ◽  
Pubmed Central ◽  
Suicide Methods ◽  
Search Terms ◽  
Quantitative Studies

Background: Suicide is a global preventable public health problem. About a quarter of all suicides in the world occur in South Asia. As means restriction is an important suicide prevention strategy, gaining knowledge of the common suicide methods and their changing trends in each country and region is crucial. Aims: We aimed to assess the suicide methods in South Asian countries over the last two decades. Methods: A search was performed in PubMed, PubMed Central, Scopus, and Google Scholar with the search terms. Original articles of quantitative studies, published in the English language, from 2001 to 2020, with full-accessible text, that rank different methods of suicide in eight South Asian countries, were included. Results: A total of 68 studies were found eligible for review. The Maximum number of studies were found from India ( n = 38), followed by Bangladesh ( n = 12), Pakistan ( n = 9), Sri Lanka ( n = 6), and Nepal ( n = 3). Hanging ( n = 40, 55.8%) and poisoning ( n = 24, 35.3%) were the two most common suicide methods reported, in that order. Hanging followed by poisoning were the commonest suicide methods in Bangladesh, India, and Pakistan while in Sri Lanka, poisoning was the preferred method to hanging. There is a decline in suicide by poisoning and an increase in suicide by hanging in Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, and India. Although hanging is still the commonest method in Pakistan, the use of firearms is growing in recent years (2011–2020). Conclusions: There is a steady decline in the incidence of suicides by poisoning following pesticide regulations in South Asian countries. However, there is heterogeneity of study methods, probable under-reporting of suicide, and lack of robust suicide data.

Impact of COVID-19 on FDIs, Remittances and Foreign Aids: A Case Study of Nepal

2021 ◽  
pp. 097639962097420
Author(s):  
Gaurav Bhattarai ◽  
Binita Subedi
Keyword(s):  
United Nations ◽  
Low Income ◽  
Global Economy ◽  
Grey Literature ◽  
Foreign Assistance ◽  
Foreign Direct Investments ◽  
Middle Income ◽  
Low Income Country ◽  
The Government ◽  
The Impact

The global economy has been severely paralysed, owing to the unprecedented crisis triggered by the COVID-19 pandemic, and different studies have indicated that the crisis is relatively more maleficent to the lower-income and middle-income economies. Methodologically, this study relied on the review and analysis of the grey literature, media reporting and data published by the Asian Development Bank, United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD), United Nations (UN), World Bank, International Monetary Fund (IMF) among others. The article begins by describing the impact of the pandemic on low-income and middle-income countries, and it discusses how they have responded to the crisis. While discussions have surfaced regarding whether COVID-19 will reverse the process of globalization, what will be its impact on the low-income country like Nepal? The study also highlights that with foreign direct investments speculated to shrink and foreign assistance and remittance taking a hit, how is Nepal struggling to keep its economy afloat? Analysing the new budget that the government unveiled in 2020, this study concludes with a note that instead of effectively implementing the plans and policies directed by the budget, Nepal is unnecessarily engaged in political mess and is needlessly being dragged into the geopolitical complications.

scholarly journals Commonalities and Differences of Cluster Policy of Asian Countries; Discussion on Cluster Open Innovation

2021 ◽  
Vol 7 (1) ◽  
pp. 21
Author(s):  
Arkadiusz Michał Kowalski ◽  
Marta Mackiewicz
Keyword(s):  
South Korea ◽  
Global Economy ◽  
Innovation Policy ◽  
Cluster Formation ◽  
Cluster Structure ◽  
Recovery Process ◽  
Foreign Direct Investments ◽  
Asian Countries ◽  
Cluster Policy ◽  
Cluster Development

The article aims at investigating the commonalities and differences between cluster policies in selected East Asian and Southeast Asian countries: Thailand, Singapore, South Korea, and China, to outline the Asian model of a cluster policy. Clusters play a significant role in the economic development of these countries, and some practical experiences from Asia may be used to shape the cluster policy in the recovery process after the COVID-19 pandemic. The conducted research contributes to a better understanding of the cluster formation process, cluster development, and policy aims in the analyzed countries. In Singapore and South Korea, which are among the most innovative countries in the global economy, cluster policy is to a great extent part of innovation policy, focusing on facilitating the networking and cooperation between science and business, the flow of knowledge, transfer of technology, and developing innovative technologies of key economic importance. In China and Thailand, which are developing countries, there is a much stronger role of foreign direct investments, which take the central place in the cluster structure. However, one common characteristic of cluster development patterns in all the analyzed countries is a top-down approach, where clusters are emerging and developing mostly as a result of governmental decisions and public programs.

scholarly journals Exchange Rate Volatility and Domestic Consumption: A Comparative Study of Developed, Developing and Emerging Economies

2019 ◽  
Vol 9 (3) ◽  
pp. 164
Author(s):  
Muhammad Zubair Chishti ◽  
Hafiz Syed Muhammad Azeem ◽  
Farrukh Mahmood ◽  
Adeel Ahmed Sheikh
Keyword(s):  
Exchange Rate ◽  
Panel Data ◽  
Developing Economies ◽  
Exchange Rate Volatility ◽  
Domestic Consumption ◽  
Aggregate Consumption ◽  
Developed Economies ◽  
Panel Data Estimation ◽  
The Exchange Rate ◽  
Data Estimation

The current study endeavors to explore the effects of oscillations in the exchange rate on the household aggregate consumption of developed, emerging, and developing economies, employing the panel data from 1995 to 2017. To select an appropriate panel data estimation technique, we apply Brush-Pagan & Hausman Tests for each set of chosen economies. Further, our study deduces that, in the case of developed economies, the oscillations in the exchange rate, significantly, affect the domestic consumption, supporting Alexander’s (1952) conjecture. However, in the case of emerging and developing economies, aggregate consumption does not respond to the exchange rate volatility.

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