Search results
1 – 5 of 5Md Aslam Mia, Md Imran Hossain and Sunil Sangwan
Digitalization is one of the major factors that fosters economic growth across the world. However, the level of digitalization varies significantly between developed and…
Abstract
Purpose
Digitalization is one of the major factors that fosters economic growth across the world. However, the level of digitalization varies significantly between developed and developing countries, with the latter often lagging behind. To bridge this gap, it is crucial to pinpoint the drivers of digitalization, specifically from the macroeconomic and country-level governance dimensions. Therefore, this study aims to investigate the determinants of digitalization, particularly for countries in Asia and the Pacific region.
Design/methodology/approach
Our study utilizes unbalanced panel data from 46 Asian and Pacific countries for the period of 2001–2021. Initially, we analyzed the data using conventional econometric methods, such as pooled ordinary least squares (POLS), random-effects model (REM) and fixed-effects model (FEM). Moreover, we employed endogeneity-corrected techniques and alternative proxies to enhance the robustness and reliability of our findings.
Findings
Our findings reveal that economic development progress, government expenditure relative to country size and political stability are key drivers of digitalization. In contrast, corruption at the country level emerges as a significant impediment. Notably, our results remain robust to endogeneity-corrected techniques and alternative proxies of digitalization. Overall, these insights can inform policymakers, helping them to understand the macroeconomic and governance factors shaping digitalization and guide their decision-making toward effective policy interventions.
Originality/value
This study’s empirical findings add significant value to the existing literature by quantifying the impact of macroeconomic and governance factors on digitalization in selected countries. This offers valuable insights for policymakers, particularly in nations with lower levels of digitalization.
Details
Keywords
Leila C. Kabigting, Maria Claret M. Ruane and Kristina C. Sayama
During the COVID-19 pandemic, lockdowns were implemented to achieve two goals: (1) to reduce the number of COVID-19 cases and (2) to reduce the number of COVID-19 deaths. In this…
Abstract
Purpose
During the COVID-19 pandemic, lockdowns were implemented to achieve two goals: (1) to reduce the number of COVID-19 cases and (2) to reduce the number of COVID-19 deaths. In this paper, the authors aim to look at empirical evidence on how effectively lockdowns achieved these goals among small island developing states (SIDS) and for one specific SIDS economy, Guam.
Design/methodology/approach
The authors reviewed existing studies to form two hypotheses: that lockdowns reduced cases, and that lockdowns reduced deaths. Defining a lockdown as a positive value for Oxford COVID-19 government response tracker, OxCGRT's stringency index, the authors tested the above hypotheses on 185 countries, 27 SIDS economies and Guam using correlation and regression analyses, and using different measures of the strictness, duration and timing of the lockdown.
Findings
The authors found no evidence to support the hypothesis that lockdowns reduced the number of cases based on data for all 185 countries and 27 SIDS economies. While the authors found evidence to support the hypothesis in the case of Guam, the result required an unrealistically and implausibly long time lag of 365 days. As to the second hypothesis that lockdowns reduced the number of deaths, the authors found no evidence to support it for 185 countries, 27 SIDS economies as well as Guam.
Originality/value
From the review of the existing literature, the authors are the first to conduct this type of study among SIDS economies as a group and on Guam.
Serafina Stone, Zannie Langford, Risya Arsyi, Imran Lapong, Zulung Zach, Radhiyah Ruhon, Boedi Julianto, Irsyadi Siradjuddin, Annie Wong and Scott Waldron
Poor post-harvest handling practices by seaweed farmers are a key issue in seaweed value chains, contributing to low-quality seaweed being supplied to processors. To address this…
Abstract
Purpose
Poor post-harvest handling practices by seaweed farmers are a key issue in seaweed value chains, contributing to low-quality seaweed being supplied to processors. To address this, a range of advanced drying technologies and methods have been developed, yet uptake by farmers remains low. This study examines factors affecting drying technology uptake by seaweed farmers to identify opportunities to incentivise improved drying practices.
Design/methodology/approach
This study draws on a quantitative survey of 273 seaweed farmers in two villages in South Sulawesi, 16 months of ethnographic fieldwork and 166 semi-structured interviews.
Findings
Farmers engage in limited adoption of improved drying technologies and practices as they don't receive higher prices for higher quality products, instead aiming to meet only the minimum acceptable standards to avoid a price discount or rejection of their product. Technologies and techniques that have been adopted are often used in ways that differ from their original purpose, such as to reduce drying times and labour input, rather than to produce products of low moisture and dirt contents. Similarly, local traders mix high- and low-quality seaweed in order to supply warehouses with seaweed which on average meets minimum quality standards.
Originality/value
This study reveals that improved drying practices are unlikely to be adopted unless incentivised by more targeted price-grade differentials.
Details
Keywords
This paper aims to investigate the determinants of global interest in central bank digital currency (CBDC). It assessed whether global interest in sustainable development and…
Abstract
Purpose
This paper aims to investigate the determinants of global interest in central bank digital currency (CBDC). It assessed whether global interest in sustainable development and cryptocurrency are determinants of global interest in CBDC.
Design/methodology/approach
Google Trends data were analyzed using two-stage least square regression estimation.
Findings
There is a significant positive relationship between global interest in sustainable development and global interest in CBDC. There is a significant positive relationship between global interest in cryptocurrency and global interest in the Nigeria eNaira CBDC. There is a significant negative relationship between global interest in CBDC and global interest in the eNaira CBDC. There is a significant positive relationship between global interest in CBDC and global interest in the China eCNY. There is a significant negative relationship between global interest in cryptocurrency and global interest in the Sand Dollar and DCash.
Originality/value
The literature has not empirically examined whether global interest in sustainable development and cryptocurrency are factors motivating global interest in CBDC. This study fills a gap in the literature by investigating whether global interest in sustainable development and cryptocurrency are factors motivating global interest in CBDC.
Details
Keywords
Suveera Gill, Taruntej Singh Arora and Karan Gandhi
Profit shifting is a matter of great concern for governments internationally. It leads to the loss of tax revenues and puts multinational corporations (MNCs) in a disparate…
Abstract
Purpose
Profit shifting is a matter of great concern for governments internationally. It leads to the loss of tax revenues and puts multinational corporations (MNCs) in a disparate position. Lately, due to the aggressive stance of the Indian taxman, several Indian MNCs are planning to minimise their tax outflows. This paper aims to study profit-shifting drawing from the institutional theory for the Indian MNCs.
Design/methodology/approach
The sample comprises 679 MNCs listed on the Bombay Stock Exchange or the National Stock Exchange with either Indian parents with foreign subsidiaries (553) or Indian subsidiaries of a foreign parent (126) for FY 2013–14 to FY 2018–19. A fixed-effect panel regression technique was invoked to examine tax rate differential motivated profit-shifting undertaken by MNCs with the moderating effect of international presence and patents.
Findings
The results suggest that MNCs shift their profits to take advantage of differences in global tax rates when they have an international presence in at least five tax countries. Further, profit shifting is likely towards no-tax compared to low-tax countries, with the presence of patents in an MNC group having no significant impact.
Originality/value
Losses to the government revenue due to profit shifting by MNCs are rather severe in emerging economies. The study provides the first empirical evidence of the direction of profit shifting with the moderating effect of the extent of global presence and group patents, which would interest scholars in the field. The findings provide valuable insights to the policymakers, highlighting the urgent need to operationalise the general anti-avoidance taxation rules.
Details