Factors Associated With Work-Life Balance of Working Fathers Involved in Small Business Enterprises: Evidence from Kathmandu Valley

Background: Work-life balance (WLB) can be considered as the systematic management of three important components like work-life conflict, work-life interference and work-life convergence. Objective: This study tries to examine the work-life balance of the working fathers involved in small business enterprises in Kathmandu valley. Method: Both descriptive and inferential analysis is used in the study which showed various results. The study adopted the descriptive approach. Respondents were sampled from working fathers in small business enterprises in Kathmandu valley. Non probability sampling technique was used to select 405 respondents. The questionnaire was used for data collection. Descriptive as well as inferential statistics were used for data analysis. Result: The study found that age, education level, business trainings and income level has positive significant relationship with work-life balance. The finding of this study shows that satisfaction and motivation towards working fathers is important factors for balancing the work-life and family life. Conclusion and Recommendation: The paper recommends that there should be inclusive climate in the workplace and policies supporting work-life balance should be forwarded.

Relationship between Macroeconomic Policy and Long-Run Economic Growth of Nepal

Background: The paper is an attempt to find the long-run relationship between macroeconomic variables and economic growth in Nepal. The variables in the study are run across the Cobb-Douglas production model. Objective: This paper examines the relationship between Gross Fixed Capital Formation, Population, Trade openness, Money Supply and GDP growth economic growth in Nepal. Method: The ARDL bound test and Error Correction model incorporated in the study to examine the long-run relationship among macroeconomic variables. Conclusion: Based on the Bound Test of F-statistics the Cointegration Result exists among the variable and ARDL (1,1,1,1,1) relation is estimated. Implications: Since the study has found the existence of a cointegration relationship on the variables of the study and the long-term relationship among economic growth is significant with GFCF. The policy should be targeted at investment growth in Nepal.

Market Development Approach: A New Paradigm in Promoting Business Development Services

Background: Business Development Service (BDS) market is considered as a paradigm shift to traditional approaches in promoting and delivering enterprise support services. BDS is an internationally recognized tool to achieve economic prosperity through the development of Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs). Most developed and developing nations are promoting BDS for MSME development and employment generation. Micro-Enterprise Development Program (MEDEP) has initiated the BDS market development approach named as Micro-Enterprise Development (MED) model in Nepal since1998. Objective: This article is objectively written to analyze and present the MED model, implementation approach, and MEDEP’s strategies for effective BDS delivery; market development; and sustainability. Method: Secondary as well as primary sources of information have been used to collect data. Secondary data have been triangulated through experts’ opinions. A descriptive methodology has been used while analyzing data. Result: Apart from ME promotion, this article has also briefly presented how MEDEP has contributed to making an enabling environment for sustainable BDS market development in Nepal. MED model was implemented by MEDEP in 10 districts in its first phase (1998-2003). The model is found successfully implemented in all districts of Nepal till the end of MEDEP’s 4th phase in 2018. It is in the process of being replicated in all 753 Local Governments (LGs). Conclusion: MEDEP remarkably found highly contributed to the introduction, development, and growth of the BDS market development approach in Nepal by creating more than 132,000 micro-enterprises, developing institutional frameworks and partnerships modality for service delivery, and creating an enabling policy environment. This approach is found well recognized and replicated in some manner by other government, Non-Government and private BDS providing institutions as well.

Social Media Influencers and Purchase Intention amongst Social Media Users in developing African economy

Background: Internet disruption has unprecedentedly made social media a global village and global digital market where business and customers interacts boundlessly. People’s interaction has far gone beyond boundary and businesses are seeing and harnessing these opportunities. Objective: This study investigated the effect of social media influencers on purchase intention among social media users. Method: The population of this study consist of active social media users in Anambra state. Sample size of 220 was arrived at using convenience sampling for infinite population. Reliability and validity test were done through construct Reliability and Discriminant validity respectively through smart- pls. Data was computed with SPSS version 24 and analysed with SEM via Smart-Pls. Result: The finding of this investigation showed that trustworthiness, attractiveness and influencer product match up has positive and significant effect on purchase intention respectively. Conclusion: More so, expertise does not influence purchase intentions. Finally, if there is need social media influencer, organizations should painstakingly seek influencers with high trust level among audience, highly attractive and it’s congruity with the intended promoted product.

Nexus Between CO2 Emissions, Energy Use and Economic Growth in Nepal

Background: Economic growth in different economies comes with a cost of environmental degradation. The environment-growth nexus has come to the spotlight since scientists as well as policy-makers point out the threat of climate change and global warming all around the world. Nepal faces problems of pollution day by day raising a question about sustainable growth in the country. Such sustainability can be achieved by exploiting the water resources of the country which can be further used to generate cleaner forms of energy. Objective: This paper examines the interconnection between environmental degradation and economic growth in Nepal under the Environmental Kuznets curve’s framework and causal framework. These frameworks also incorporate energy variables such as electricity production, electricity and oil consumption at a disaggregated level to understand the energy growth nexus in Nepal. Method: The Auto-Regressive Distributed Lag model followed by TY Non-Granger Causality tests and variance decompositions are incorporated in the study to examine the EKC hypothesis and the nexus between energy and growth is analyzed through a multivariate framework. Result: Our result does not show the presence of the EKC hypothesis in the case of Nepal. However, the causal framework indicated that a percentage increase in electricity generation would lead to a reduction in carbon dioxide by 0.7%. The variance decomposition results showed that the impact of CO2 on GDP would decrease with horizons getting longer. On the other hand, the impact of electricity generation on CO2 on was found to be 78% in the longer horizon. Conclusion: Nepal should harness its potential of generating hydroelectricity to reduce environmental pollution as well as increase economic growth. Substituting the cleaner form of energy such as hydroelectricity can help in reducing the consumption of fossils and fuels as well as help in mitigating the pollution level in Nepal. This will further allow Nepal to be self-reliant since it has huge potential for generating hydroelectricity.

Demand for Financial Service in Capital Market of Nepal

Background: In the contemporary literature, access to finance is well spell-out as the key to development. The supply leading hypothesis asserts that financial deepening contributes to enhancing growth so, the growth of the financial market is regarded as an important infrastructure to influence saving and investment. The Government of Nepal opted for a policy ‘One person one bank account’ in its fiscal policy in 2018/19 (MOF, 2018). Aligning the policy, the Securities Board of Nepal (SEBON) launched the ‘one Nepali one D-mat account’ policy in 2018 to increase the access of the capital market throughout the country. The low-financial literacy base is a major constraint to develop the market, in the other, most of the rural population, still are not equipped with the capital market instrument. In, this background, there is an utmost need to examine the factors contributing the demand for the financial services. Objective: The primary objective of the study is to access the determinants of the demand for financial services in the capital market of Nepal, considering the supply leading hypothesis. Method: To examine the determinants of the demand for financial service, we employed the Ordinary Least Square method of regression analysis. The dependent variable employed in this study is the demand for financial services. Level of income, access to finance and financially active provinces have been taken as the independent variable along with the concerned district population. As well, the financial literacy program conducted by the capital market regulator is another major independent variable. Result: The demand following hypotheses asserts that financial literacy is the key to influence the demand for financial services. It is found that financial literacy programs conducted by the capital market regulator could not explain the demand for financial services in Nepal indicating the weak performance of the program conducted by SEBON. It is found that the number of BFIs, population and financially active provinces are highly significant with the demand for financial services indication the influential role of supply leading hypothesis. Conclusion: The study concludes that the variables selected to determine the demand for financial services in capital market are appropriate and most of them (population, per capita income, financially active provinces and access to financial services) are significant with the capital market of Nepal. It is observed that the financial literacy programs conducted by the capital market regulator have not contributed in enhancing demand of the financial services in the capital market of Nepal. Recommendation: The study is focused and based on the capital market of Nepal. Results obtained from this study could not replicate the same in the money market or insurance sector of Nepal. The findings of the study strongly recommend the regulatory body to evaluate and revise its financial literacy programs while in the meantime urge to focus on addressing demand-side inefficiencies in the long run. Originality: The research work is original and has not been published in other publications. As well, no financial support has been received for the study.

Factors Influencing College Choice of Nepalese Undergraduate Students

Background: College choice decision remains one of the major issues for the students and parents especially during the time of admission. Objective: Understanding this problem, this research, taking colleges of Tribhuvan University and Kathmandu University as the samples, assesses which of the characteristics― institutional, marketing, and social are more dominant in this decision. Method: The study, based on the primary survey; uses the questionnaire to collect data among the management students of bachelor’s level in Lalitpur and Kathmandu district, shows that academic program, quality of education, and social factors are the key factors that impact college choice decision. The study employs convenient sampling techniques. The tendency of students to make college choice decisions depends on the colleges’ academic programs that they have concentrated. Result: The results suggest that college should focus their eyes to apply different types of academic programs, adopt quality education in terms of appointing highly qualified faculties and even contribute certain margin to social support, employability of the students over the market and position of enrolment of the students in higher education. These characteristics enable the colleges to run and sustain in the long run. Conclusion: To mitigate the moderating impact on college choice, the variable gender is used, however, its impact on the relationship of college fees and college choice is not supported by the study.

Financing Devolution in a COVID-19 Environment: The Status of Devolution in Zimbabwe

Background: The concept of devolution has always presented significant controversy in African unitary states. It is often viewed with inherent suspicion and skepticism based on the lack of mutual trust between the people and the government. While proponents see it as a form of empowerment, resistant groups in society view the decentralization of government powers and responsibilities as a gateway to success. Despite the devolution agenda being a major component of local governance in the Zimbabwean Constitution of 2013, it would not be practically implemented until the new dispensation that rose into power in 2018. However, the coming in of the COVID-19 pandemic has significantly marred the take-off of devolution implementation in Zimbabwe. Whilst COVID-19 cases continue to escalate on the globe, African countries continue to battle not only with the second wave of the pandemic but also with the new COVID-19 variants. Already fragile economies of these countries, the governments were forced to prioritize the national budgets in response to the pandemic; consequently, other social and developmental issues were left behind. Objective: This study discusses the contemporary status of devolution in Zimbabwe to ascertain the extent of implementation; provide supportive legislation for devolution structures through recommendations; analyze devolution disbursements from 2019 before COVID-19 to date; assess the local authorities’ initial requests versus the disbursements in 2019 and 2020. Method: The researcher carried out a desk review and followed the principles of case study design by analyzing financial statements, reports and data coming in from the Councils and relevant Government ministries. The meaning was also derived by critically reviewing, organizing and interpreting related information from books and articles published in newspapers and journals. Result: Despite Section 264(1) of the Constitution providing for devolution of power to the three tiers of the Government, there is no supporting legislature in place as yet to actualize this key element. The Government Budgetary Allocation of 5% is not meeting local authority demands. Conclusion: The onset of the COVID-19 pandemic in late 2019 reduced the pace of the devolution process because the funds were channeled to fight against the virus. If properly practiced, devolution may be one of the solutions to the development of the Zimbabwean economy since the devolution program is largely founded on the principle of empowering provincial government councils and Local Authorities to spearhead economic and social development projects in their areas by leveraging on local resources. It may also solve issues of corruption in many local councils in Zimbabwe by improving accountability mechanisms, especially where sub governments are permitted to progressively compete with each other to establish innovative ways of delivering public services efficiently and inexpensively. Implications: The findings imply that the Government policies can affect the social and economic well-being of citizens, however, the COVID-19 pandemic has far outweighing impacts. Secondly, the coronavirus outbreak has proved how much the Government of Zimbabwe is ill-prepared to deal with a pandemic of this dimension. Policymakers should ensure that finances are set in the national budget for unseen events so as not to derail other Government projects. Originality: This paper is original and not sent anywhere for publication.

Online Learning during the Covid-19 Pandemic: A Web-Based Survey of Undergraduate Students of Pokhara University, Nepal

Background: COVID-19 pandemic has forced educational institutions throughout the world to shut, putting academic calendars in jeopardy. To continue the academic activities, most educational institutions have switched to online mode of learning. Objective: Against this backdrop, the study aims to identify the perception and attitude of the undergraduate students towards e-learning during Covid-19 pandemic, to determine the online learning characteristics of the students across different academic year, and to explore the factors that influence the online learning activities of the students. Method: The study employed a descriptive cross-sectional research design. The self-administered questionnaire was developed after a thorough assessment of the literature and consultation with topic specialists, and it included demographic information about the research participants, as well as their perceptions and attitudes regarding online classes. The questionnaire was created on Google Forms, and the link was distributed to the students of all the four schools through Viber and Messenger groups. Data was collected online from 300 undergraduate students at Pokhara University in Nepal. Descriptive statistics (frequency, percentage) and inferential statistics were used to examine and interpret the data. The Chi-squared test was employed to analyze the link between the student’s online learning characteristics and academic year. To discover the characteristics that impact online learning activities, exploratory factor analysis was performed. Result: The results indicated statistically significant association of online learning characteristics of students of different academic year with availability of alternative power source, internet service, digital platform used and availability of basic computer skill and continuation of online class. Majority of the students evinced a positive attitude towards online classes. Online learning was deemed advantageous since it offered learners with flexibility and convenience. Furthermore, teachers devote appropriate time to studying, motivate students to learn, and emphasize student-centered learning. However, students are dissatisfied with the teachers’ online teaching skills owing to a lack of training and familiarity with modern information technology. Conclusion: The study concluded that although students reported positive attitude towards online classes, there are serious challenges of power backup or alternative power supply, poor connectivity, unfamiliarity of digital platforms and poor ICT skills among students. Teachers need to be trained properly for the effective and productive teaching and learning along with proper handling of digital platforms. The school/ college/ university must have a well-established IT infrastructure for the smooth operation of online classes.

Enhancing Socio-Economic Rights in the Mashonaland Central Province of Zimbabwe through Fiscal Decentralization: Progress and Challenges

Background: Since 2019, the government of Zimbabwe has been making fiscal transfers to local governments as part of fulfilling the constitutional provisions to improve the socio-economic wellbeing of communities. Despite these transfers, there is limited research that establishes whether the funds are achieving the intended results. Objective: The main focus of this paper was to assess progress towards the enhancement of the socio-economic rights of communities in the Mashonaland Central province of Zimbabwe through fiscal decentralization. Method: This paper adopted qualitative methodology and the case study as the design. The Mashonaland Central province was purposively selected as it is one of the regions lagging in terms of development. Data was collected through, documentary analysis and key informant interviews with ten councilors, one Town clerk, nine Chief Executive Officers as well as ten focus group discussions with community members. Findings: The study noted that since the transfer of funds to local authorities started in 2019, significant progress has been achieved in the fulfillment of socio-economic rights. However, local governments were facing challenges such as the unavailability of an administrative manual to guide them in the implementation of fiscal decentralization, lack of clear funds allocation criteria, untimely and unpredictable distribution of funds, price instability, cumbersome procurement processes and lack of a monitoring and evaluation framework. These challenges were negatively affecting the attainment of the desired goals. Conclusions and Recommendations: Fiscal devolution has already started paying dividends in enhancing the socio-economic rights of communities in the Mashonaland Central Province of Zimbabwe in key sectors such as water and sanitation, education, healthcare, infrastructure development, governance and administration, and peace and security. There is a need to develop an administrative manual for implementing fiscal devolution, timely disbursement devolution funds, use of virtual meetings in the wake of the Covid- 19 pandemic, integration of monitoring and evaluation mechanisms, and capacity building of local government policymakers and administrators.