scholarly journals Governance and government debt

2020 ◽  
Vol 10 (3) ◽  
pp. 34-49
Author(s):  
João Imaginário ◽  
Maria João Guedes

The continuous increase in debt ratios raises concerns in economic institutions concerning fiscal sustainability and its effect on the world economy. The empirical evidence has shown that both developed and developing countries have become highly indebted and fiscal deficits are not sustainable (Afonso, 2005) As such, the quality of institutions has an important role in debt accumulation (Presbitero, 2008) and fiscal stance is closely related to government institution quality as well as political and social stability (Woo, 2003). However, little attention has been devoted to the relationship between governance quality and government debt. This study examines whether the quality of governance relates to government debt. Using a sample of 164 countries for the period between 2002 and 2015, our results show that governance quality is negatively and statistically related to government debt. For low income countries evidence was found that a better governance environment is associated with lower public debt levels for low income countries, but not for high-income countries.

2020 ◽  
Vol 1 ◽  
pp. 5
Author(s):  
Audu Onyemocho ◽  
Agwa Moses ◽  
Aboh Kisani ◽  
Omole Namben Victoria ◽  
Anejo-Okopi Joseph

Objective: Rabies, one of the oldest and fatal infectious diseases known to human race, is transmitted by infected dogs. The global target of zero dog-mediated rabies human deaths has been set for 2030; however, the realization of this goal poses challenges in most low-income countries where rabies is endemic due to weak surveillance. Dogs have been increasingly deployed for domestic uses over the years, especially for security purposes. This study assessed the assessment of knowledge and practice of vaccination of dogs against rabies by dog owners. Materials and Methods: A cross-sectional community-based study was employed to study 400 dog owners in Makurdi metropolis through multistage sampling techniques. Sighting of valid dog vaccination card was used as criteria for current vaccination. Bivariate analysis was carried out to establish the relationship between the respondent knowledge of rabies and dog vaccination with significant value set at P < 0.05. Results: The mean age of the respondents was 31 (Â ± 0.8) years, majority of them had tertiary and secondary education (40.0% and 39.0%, respectively), 26.0% were traders, and 50.0% were married. Overall, 73.0% of the respondents had good knowledge score, 61.0% had seen at least a rabid dog in their life time, and 74.0% have a history of dog vaccination, but evidence of up to date vaccination of dogs by owners was seen in only 18.0% of all the vaccination cards sighted. The relationship between the educational status of the respondents, their knowledge score, and their dog vaccination was statistically significant (P < 0.05). Conclusion: Knowledge of rabies among dog owners in Makurdi was good, but the practice of dog vaccination was poor. Educational status was a good predictor of practice. Awareness campaign on dog vaccination should be strengthened and adequate measures should be put in place at the veterinary hospitals in Makurdi for vaccination of dogs.


2020 ◽  
Vol 16 (1) ◽  
pp. 79-87
Author(s):  
Meaghan Lunney ◽  
Aminu K. Bello ◽  
Adeera Levin ◽  
Helen Tam-Tham ◽  
Chandra Thomas ◽  
...  

Background and objectivesPeople with kidney failure typically receive KRT in the form of dialysis or transplantation. However, studies have suggested that not all patients with kidney failure are best suited for KRT. Additionally, KRT is costly and not always accessible in resource-restricted settings. Conservative kidney management is an alternate kidney failure therapy that focuses on symptom management, psychologic health, spiritual care, and family and social support. Despite the importance of conservative kidney management in kidney failure care, several barriers exist that affect its uptake and quality.Design, setting, participants, & measurementsThe Global Kidney Health Atlas is an ongoing initiative of the International Society of Nephrology that aims to monitor and evaluate the status of global kidney care worldwide. This study reports on findings from the 2018 Global Kidney Health Atlas survey, specifically addressing the availability, accessibility, and quality of conservative kidney management.ResultsRespondents from 160 countries completed the survey, and 154 answered questions pertaining to conservative kidney management. Of these, 124 (81%) stated that conservative kidney management was available. Accessibility was low worldwide, particularly in low-income countries. Less than half of countries utilized multidisciplinary teams (46%); utilized shared decision making (32%); or provided psychologic, cultural, or spiritual support (36%). One-quarter provided relevant health care providers with training on conservative kidney management delivery.ConclusionsOverall, conservative kidney management is available in most countries; however, it is not optimally accessible or of the highest quality.


Author(s):  
Murphy Halliburton

The Movement for Global Mental Health has defined the person suffering psychopathology in low-income countries as an abused and suffering subject in need of saving by biomedical psychiatry. Based on fieldwork in Kerala, South India, carried out at psychiatric clinics and a psychosocial rehabilitation centre, this paper examines patients’ experiences of illness, the degree and quality of family support, and attributions made to the role of ‘sneham’, or love, in recovery. The role of love and family involvement may help explain the provocative finding by WHO epidemiological studies that ‘developing’ countries – and India in particular – showed better rates of recovery from severe mental illness when compared to developed countries.


2019 ◽  
Vol 26 (2) ◽  
pp. 238-264
Author(s):  
Nam Hoai Tran ◽  
Chi Dat Le

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to thoroughly investigate the interplay between institutions, foreign direct investment (FDI) and entrepreneurship in the context of emerging markets (EMs). Design/methodology/approach The authors argue that the impact of FDI on entrepreneurial activity depends on different natures of capital flow and entrepreneurial motivation and relates to the quality of institutional environment. First, the roles of inward and outward FDI are examined in connection with the new firm creation by opportunity- and necessity-motivated entrepreneurs. Second, the integrated influences of (inward/outward) FDI and governance quality (GQ) on (opportunity/necessity) entrepreneurship are tested. This nexus of relationships is analyzed through segmented regressions using the GEM data of 39 EMs over the 2004–2015 period. Findings It is evidenced that the quality of governance infrastructure affects the relationship between FDI and entrepreneurship: in emerging countries with low GQ, opportunity entrepreneurship is stimulated by inward FDI and diminished by outward FDI; and in emerging countries with high GQ, necessity entrepreneurship is discouraged by inward FDI and promoted by outward FDI. Practical implications This research has implications for the institutional context-based execution of public policy in emerging economies. As the entrepreneurial effects of inward and outward FDI are pronounced differently under the two types of entrepreneurship and the two extremes of GQ, public policy makers who recognize the catalytic role of FDI in domestic business development should take the distinct institutional context of their country into consideration. Originality/value The paper contributes to the extant literature on international entrepreneurship in emerging economies by making a breakdown on the roles played by different types of FDI in the entrepreneurial activity, analyzing the mediating effects of GQ on the relationship between inward/outward FDI and entrepreneurship, and interpreting the capital and institutional determinants of entrepreneurship in terms of entrepreneurial motivations by opportunity and necessity.


2019 ◽  
Vol 34 (4) ◽  
pp. 307-315 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kristy Hackett ◽  
Mina Kazemi ◽  
Curtis Lafleur ◽  
Peter Nyella ◽  
Lawelu Godfrey ◽  
...  

AbstractMobile health (mHealth) applications have been developed for community health workers (CHW) to help simplify tasks, enhance service delivery and promote healthy behaviours. These strategies hold promise, particularly for support of pregnancy and childbirth in low-income countries (LIC), but their design and implementation must incorporate CHW clients’ perspectives to be effective and sustainable. Few studies examine how mHealth influences client and supervisor perceptions of CHW performance and quality of care in LIC. This study was embedded within a larger cluster-randomized, community intervention trial in Singida, Tanzania. CHW in intervention areas were trained to use a smartphone application designed to improve data management, patient tracking and delivery of health messages during prenatal counselling visits with women clients. Qualitative data collected through focus groups and in-depth interviews illustrated mostly positive perceptions of smartphone-assisted counselling among clients and supervisors including: increased quality of care; and improved communication, efficiency and data management. Clients also associated smartphone-assisted counselling with overall health system improvements even though the functions of the smartphones were not well understood. Smartphones were thought to signify modern, up-to-date biomedical information deemed highly desirable during pregnancy and childbirth in this context. In this rural Tanzanian setting, mHealth tools positively influenced community perceptions of health system services and client expectations of health workers; policymakers and implementers must ensure these expectations are met. Such interventions must be deeply embedded into health systems to have long-term impacts on maternal and newborn health outcomes.


2018 ◽  
Vol 9 (3) ◽  
pp. 270-280 ◽  
Author(s):  
S. A. Lule ◽  
A. M. Elliott ◽  
L. Smeeth ◽  
E. L. Webb

There is substantial evidence of an inverse association between birth weight and later blood pressure (BP) in populations from high-income countries, but whether this applies in low-income countries, where causes of low birth weight are different, is not certain. Objective: We conducted a review of the evidence on the relationship between birth weight and BP among African children and adolescents. Medline, EMBASE, Global Health and Web of Science databases were searched for publications to October 2016. Papers reporting the relationship between birth weight and BP among African children and adolescents were assessed. Bibliographies were searched for further relevant publications. Selected papers were summarized following the preferred reporting items for systematic review and meta-analysis (PRISMA) guidelines. In total, 16 papers from 13 studies conducted in nine African countries (Nigeria, Republic of Seychelles, Gambia, Democratic Republic of Congo, Cameroon, South Africa, Algeria, Zimbabwe and Angola) were reviewed. Eight studies were cohorts, while five were cross-sectional. The relationship between birth weight and later BP varied with age of the participants. Studies in neonates showed a consistently positive association, while predominantly inverse associations were seen among children, and studies in adolescents were inconsistent. Based on the limited number of studies identified, the relationship between birth weight and later BP may vary with age in African children and adolescents. Not all studies adequately controlled for confounding, notably gender or age. Whether the inverse relationship between birth weight and BP in later life observed in Western settings is also seen in Africa remains unclear.


Policy Papers ◽  
2014 ◽  
Vol 2014 (38) ◽  
Author(s):  

Diversification and structural transformation play important roles in influencing the macroeconomic performance of low-income countries (LICs). Increases in income per capita at early stages of development are typically accompanied by a transformation in a country’s production and export structure. This can include diversification into new products and trading partners as well as increases in the quality of existing products.


Utafiti ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 15 (2) ◽  
pp. 257-278
Author(s):  
Nasibu Rajabu Mramba ◽  
Nandera Ernest Mhando

Abstract Street vending is an important employment opportunity for the millions of youth, women, anyone with very few resources and the least-skilled people in low-income countries. Its popularity is due to the ease of entry into the business as far as costs, legal eligibility, and level of education. Despite their importance to local economies, street vendors operate in challenging environments that limit the productivity, the decency, and the sustainability of this kind of work. Governments should play a central role in improving the quality of work in this sector, particularly in countries where it constitutes a large proportion of the nation’s work force, and provides goods and services to so many people.


Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document