WEATHER VARIABILITY, AGRICULTURAL PRODUCTIVITY, AND FARMER SUICIDES IN INDIA

Globalization, commercialization, modernization, erratic climatic conditions, individual expectations, contagion, and government policies are some of the reasons attributed to farmers’ suicides. This study hypothesizes that farmer suicides in India are primarily linked to loss in agricultural productivity which in turn is affected by adverse weather and low penetration of irrigation networks. Using panel data of 16 major states in India, from 1996 to 2015 and Control Function (CF) approach, the study shows that keeping all other factors fixed, a one degree rise in temperature results in 4.8% higher farmer suicides through a 3.6% decline in agricultural productivity. Further, the study highlights the significant role played by the contagion factors influencing farmer suicides. The study argues for policy responses that address covariate shocks arising from weather vagaries, price volatility, and liquidity constraint as well as idiosyncratic shocks arising from farmer-specific characteristics.

MATHEMATICAL MODELS FOR THE FORMATION OF PORTFOLIOS OF FINANCIAL ASSETS IN G. MARKOWITZ AND V. SHARP STATEMENTS

В статье представлены результаты, включающие постановки задач и математические модели формирования оптимальных портфелей финансовых активов в постановках Г. Марковица и В. Шарпа с учетом ограничения по ликвидности. Представлены варианты оптимальных портфелей, рассчитанных для инвесторов умеренно-агрессивного типа с различными объемами инвестиционного капитала инвестиционного портфеля. The article includes: statement of problems and mathematical models for the formation of optimal portfolios of financial assets in the statements of G. Markowitz and V. Sharp taking into account the liquidity constraint. Variants of optimal portfolios are presented, designed for moderately aggressive investors with different volumes of investment capital.

A Possibilistic Portfolio Model with Fuzzy Liquidity Constraint

Investors are concerned about the reliability and safety of their capital, especially its liquidity, when investing. This paper sets up a possibilistic portfolio selection model with liquidity constraint. In this model, the asset return and liquidity are fuzzy variables which follow the normal possibility distributions. Liquidity is measured as the turnover rate of the asset. On the basis of possibility theory, we transform the model into a quadratic programming problem to obtain its solution. We illustrate that, in the process of investment, investors can make better use of capital by choosing their investment portfolios according to their expected return and asset liquidity.

BLENDING ISLAMIC MICROFINANCE AND PRODUCTIVE ZAKAT TO SUPPORT SDGS IN FISHERIES SECTOR

This paper attempts to offer a viable alternative model to tackle credit distribution problems by using integration of the credit distribution strategy between the financial institutions and amil zakat institution based on kafalah contract. The extant literature on the (i) financing constraints faced by fishermen, and (ii) quadruple helix strategy have been reviewed critically and used in the attempt of proposing an alternative model. The paper has developed blending strategy of Islamic microfinance and productive zakat as a source of financing for fishermen in coastal areas. This model is expected to provide fishermen to meet their liquidity constraint in developing their business. The paper is based on conceptual explorations of literature in the area of Islamic microfinance and zakat. This is a conceptual paper, so it did not employ any empirical analysis. The findings of this paper will provide strategy to optimize fishermen’s business which will increase their prosperity.

HEDGE-FUND MANAGEMENT WITH LIQUIDITY CONSTRAINT

We propose a model for a manager of a hedge fund with a liquidity constraint, where he is seeking to optimize his utility of wealth, with one and multiple period horizons. By using stochastic control techniques, we state the corresponding multi-dimensional Hamilton–Jacobi–Bellman partial differential equation and we use a robust numerical approximation to obtain its unique viscosity solution. We examine the effects of the liquidity constraint on managerial trading decisions and optimal allocation, finding that the manager behaves in a less risky manner. We also calculate the cost of being at sub-optimal positions as the difference in the certainty equivalent payoff for the manager. Moreover, we compare the values of a benchmark hedge fund with another one having a risky asset with a higher rate of return but less liquidity, finding that higher rate of return with a liquidity constraint does not always lead to greater return.

The Insurance Value of Trade Credit

The extensive use of trade credit in all manufacturing sectors, despite its high cost, is an apparent puzzle that economists explain in terms of asymmetric information problems affecting financial markets. The financial constraints arising from credit rationing and limited access to stock markets suffice to induce firms to resort to trade credit as a supplemental source of funding. Nonetheless, empirical evidence shows that also large and liquid firms facing no binding financial constraints use substantial amounts of trade credit. We address this issue by modelling the financial policy of a firm that does not face a binding liquidity constraint but the risk of being constrained in the future. We characterise the optimal amount of trade credit held by such a firm, and we show that a positive probability of facing a liquidity constraint leads the firm to fund its inventories with trade credit, even if cheaper sources of funds are available. The rationale is that trade credit provides implicit coverage against liquidity risk. Therefore, the optimal amount of trade credit grows with the expected size of a possible liquidity shock and with the likelihood of its occurrence.

Employment protection legislation and entrepreneurial activity

Labour market institutions enable and constrain individual behaviour on the labour market and beyond. We investigate two main elements of national employment protection legislation and their effects upon entrepreneurial activity. We use multilevel analyses to estimate the separate impact of redundancy payments and the notice period for employers on independent entrepreneurship (self-employment) and entrepreneurial employee activity. Redundancy payments and notice period reflect labour market friction, opportunity cost, search time and liquidity constraint mechanisms contained in employment protection legislation. Country-level legislation on the notice period for employers is found to be positively related to an individual‘s involvement in entrepreneurial employee activity, yet negatively related to self-employment. We do not find consistent effects of redundancy pay legislation on entrepreneurial activity.