The Role of FDI on Structural Transformation among Sub-Saharan African and EAP Countries Using a Panel Data Approach

In recent decades the activities of multinational corporations have increased across the globe substantially having a massive flows of foreign direct investment. This paper empirically examines the role of FDI on structural transformation among Sub-Saharan African and EAP Countries Using a Panel Data Approach. To achieve the objective the study took 31 years panel data . The study used descriptive analysis and empirical methods of analysis. The panel Autoregressive Distributed Lag model with error correction models of Pooled Mean Group technique were employed after checking the possible assumptions of our economic series. The results of Im-Pesaran-Shin test confirms our economic series are stationary at level and first difference forms. Pedroni’s cointegration tests suggests the existence of co-integration between the variables. According to the descriptive analysis, on average structural transformation index (STI) is the highest for China (30.52%) followed by South Korea (25.86), while Ethiopia (4.85) is having the lowest. On other hand, the East Asian and Pacific (EAP) countries in the higher income category are performing better than Sub-Saharan African countries. In addition,Sub-Saharan Africa countries are by far having low level of FDI inflows as compared to EAP countries. Particularly, the FDI inflows for EAP countries in the higher income category is around USD 52 Billion, and while for low and middle income category SSA countries it accounts around USD 2.2 Billion and USD 85 million, respectively. More specifically, across countries in the panel the FDI inflow is the highest for China while on average Kenya is having the lowest FDI inflows. On the other hand, according to the ARDL model of Pooled Mean Group estimation technique in the long-run financial development indicator and FDI have positive impact on the structural transformation index of nations at 1percent level of significance for the full sample in the panel. Moreover, pooled mean group regression result among the Sub-Saharan African and EAP countries FDI has a significant but having different sign for the two group in predicting structural transformation. Particularly, for EAP countries FDI has a negative effect in the long run and a positive effect in the short-run on structural transformation index which are also statistically significant. While for Sub-Saharan African countries FDI has a positive and statistically significant effect on structural transformation both in the long run and short-run. Finally, the government of developing countries like SSAs should provide different incentive packages to attract FDI inflows, among others.

The moderated mediation role of malaria knowledge and household income in the relationship between insecticidetreated mosquito nets and malaria prevalence

Objectives: The study was premised on the notion that insecticidetreated mosquito nets are positively related to malaria prevalence, and that knowledge mediates the relationship between insecticide-treated mosquito nets and malaria. Furthermore, household income was hypothesized to have a moderating effect on the direct and indirect relationships (through malaria knowledge) between insecticide-treated mosquito nets and the prevalence of malaria. Methods: The hypothesized relationships were examined using panel data collected from ten regions of Ethiopia during 2011 – 2015. Structural equation modeling and the random effect model were used to test the hypotheses. Statistical analyses were performed using Stata version 13.0. Results: The results were consistent with our proposed hypotheses, showing a significant relationship between the research variables. The findings suggest that malaria knowledge contributes to improving the relationship between insecticide-treated mosquito nets and malaria prevalence. A positively significant indirect effect (β = 0.47, p = 0.003) as well as direct effect (β = 0.28, p = 0.001) was revealed in the study. Furthermore, a positive impact of household income in strengthening the relationship between insecticide-treated mosquito nets and malaria through knowledge reported, with a considerable value (β = 0.13, p = 0.000). The result also reveals differences in the outcome of malaria prevalence at different levels of household income category, where the indirect effect of insecticide-treated mosquito nets on malaria prevalence via malaria knowledge was positive and significant for households under the second-level income category (β = 0.15, p = 0.000). Conversely, the indirect effect of insecticide-treated mosquito nets on malaria prevalence via malaria knowledge was negative for the high level-income category (β = -0.14, p = 0.022). Besides, insignificant and negative relationships were reported for households under low-level income categories (β = 0.024, p = 0.539). Conclusion: The findings are potentially useful for the health sector to ensure success in infectious disease prevention and control, particularly malaria, and to explain how various factors contribute to the relationship. Keywords: malaria; insecticide-treated mosquito nets; malaria knowledge; household-income; structural equation modelling.

Understanding Perceptions of Health Risk and Behavioral Responses to Air Pollution in the State of Utah (USA)

Poor air quality in Utah creates an array of economic, environmental, and health-related impacts that merit investigation and informed political responses. Air pollution is known to cause a variety of health problems, ranging from increased rates of asthma to cardiovascular and lung disease. Our research investigates the extent of Utahn’s understanding of the health risks associated with long-term and short-term impacts of air quality. To assess the degree to which Utahn’s perceive the health risks of air pollution, we performed an ordinal logistic regression analysis using responses to the Utah Air Quality Risk and Behavioral Action Survey, a representative panel survey administered between November 2018 and January 2020 (n = 1160), to determine how socioeconomic status impacts risk perception. Socioeconomic status is not a predictor of perceiving air’s short-term risks to health. Those with more conservative political orientation, as well as those with higher religiosity scores, were less likely than those with more liberal political orientation or those with lower religiosity scores to strongly agree that air pollution poses short-term health risks. We find that for short-term health risks from air pollution, Utahns in the middle-income category are more likely than those in the low-income category to strongly agree that air pollution poses long-term health risks. In addition, those with more conservative political orientation were less likely than those with more liberal political orientation to strongly agree that air pollution poses long-term health risks.

The Determinants of Innovation Performance; An Income Based Cross-Country Comparative Analysis Using Global Innovation Index(GII)

Purpose: - Despite the dearth of research on innovation performance, the key determinants of innovation performance are still blurred. Besides, comparative research on the determinants of innovation performance among countries at different income levels: high-income, upper-middle-income, lower-middle-income, and low-income, is not common. This study is, therefore, aimed to bridge this research gap by considering the innovation performance of 63 countries. Methodology: - Participating countries were purposefully selected from the Global Innovation Index (GII) dataset. Multistage analyses were conducted: first, a linear regression was run to identify the most decisive pillars; then, stepwise regression was applied to identify the best predicting model of innovation performance; thirdly, to examine the variation in innovation performance and figure out key determinants in each country groups, the ANOVA analysis was done.Results: - Human capital and research, infrastructure, and business sophistication are the key pillars determining innovation performance in general. The best predicting variables are innovation linkage & knowledge absorption (both pertaining to business sophistication), R&D and infrastructure (inculcating both physical and digital). The human capital that promotes R&D activities is the biggest bottleneck hampering promotion of innovation in the countries and firms at lower-middle income category, whereas innovation linkage in a high-income category and both human capital that promotes R&D activities and innovation linkage in an upper-middle income category. Hence, countries and firms in these income categories should give priorities accordingly to these decisive bottlenecks hindering the innovation performance.Implication: - The result implies that country's economic growth can be defined by the level of innovation performance and the challenges of innovation vary as per the countries’ development stage. Accordingly, bottleneck factors need to be identified & addressed properly in a policy direction first at firm level and then at country level.Originality/Value: - The study claims to have extended the horizon of understanding on determinants of innovation across countries and revealed the most crucial factors in each category of countries. Further empirical comparative research can be done by stratifying firms as SMEs and Large firms in each category of countries.

The Moderated Mediation Role of Malaria Knowledge and Household Income in the Relationship between Insecticide-Treated Mosquito Nets and Malaria

Objectives: The study was premised on the notion that insecticide-treated mosquito nets are positively related to malaria prevalence, and that knowledge mediates the relationship between insecticide-treated mosquito nets and malaria. Furthermore, household income was hypothesized to have a moderating effect on the direct and indirect relationships (through malaria knowledge) between insecticide-treated mosquito nets and the prevalence of malaria. Methods: The hypothesized relationships were examined using panel data collected from ten regions of Ethiopia during 2011-2015. Structural equation modeling and the random effect model were used to test the hypotheses. Statistical analyses were performed using Stata version 13.0. Results: The results were consistent with our proposed hypotheses, showing a significant relationship between the research variables. The findings suggest that malaria knowledge contributes to improving the relationship between insecticide-treated mosquito nets and malaria prevalence. A positively significant indirect effect (β = 0.47, p = 0.003) as well as direct effect (β = 0.28, p = 0.001) was revealed in the study. Furthermore, a positive impact of household income in strengthening the relationship between insecticide-treated mosquito nets and malaria through knowledge was reported, with a considerable value (β = 0.13, p = 0.000). The result also reveals differences in the outcome of malaria prevalence at different levels of household income category, where the indirect effect of insecticide-treated mosquito nets on malaria prevalence via malaria knowledge was positive and significant for households under the second-level income category (β = 0.15, p = 0.000). Conversely, the indirect effect of insecticide-treated mosquito nets on malaria prevalence via malaria knowledge was negative for the high level-income category (β = -0.14, p = 0.022). Besides, insignificant and negative relationships were reported for households under low-level income categories (β = 0.024, p = 0.539). Conclusion: The findings are potentially useful for the health sector to ensure success in infectious disease prevention and control, particularly malaria, and to explain how various factors contribute to the relationship.

Perceived Trust of E-Services, Perceived Usefulness and Adoption of E-Banking amongst the Students of University of Kelaniya: A Relational Study

This study examines the relationship of perceived usefulness and perceived trust of e-services on adopting e-banking in the context of Sri Lankan private commercial banks. Sample was drawn from the students of University of Kelaniya, those who are possessing e-banking facilities of private banks. Initially 500 questionnaires were distributed and 305 duly completed questionnaires were considered for the final data analysis process. Governing factors on perceived trust of e-services were identified by conducting principal component analysis. TAM has been extended by using the perceived trust of e-services. In order to test the hypotheses, correlation analysis followed by multiple regression analysis using hierarchical method along with diagnosis tests for outliers, residuals, influential cases, were performed whilst supplementary statistical tests, such as trend analysis and contrast test of ANOVA were also used for further analysis of demographic characteristics with special reference to respondents’ income levels. The empirical evidence supported two hypotheses indicating the positive relationships of perceived trust of e-services and perceived usefulness variables towards e-banking adoption. Furthermore, it was revealed that there are differences in adoption of e-banking with regard to several demographic variables. Third hypothesis stating the existence of differences in adoption of e-banking between lower income category customers and higher income category was also supported. Restricted sample selection and time restrictions are limitations. Nevertheless, extending of TAM in relation to present research context could be noted as the originality of the research. Findings would be beneficial for Sri Lankan bankers and banking application developers, alike. In conclusion, future research could be conducted in varied contexts in the field of technology adoption in search of novel findings.

Improving Health Behavior Standard Through Modern Islamic Boarding School

The purpose of this study is to explain health behavior standard of modern Islamic boarding school. The sample was determined purposively in Modern Islamic Boarding School in Banten Province, of Indonesia and respondents were 90 people with simple random techniques. This research uses descriptive quantitative method and data from the questionnaires. The results of this research showed that health behavior residents of Islamic boarding schools can be improved by predisposing factors such as (category of fairly good education and good income category), enabling factors (facilities for clinic/poskestren included: room/place, the medical and non-medical equipment and medicines in the good category) and strengthening factors (cadres of Poskestren, management aspect of clinic/poskestren, aspect of observation on the health and from the aspect of healthy behavior in the good category). A dominant factor to improving health behavior residents of Islamic boarding schools is the reinforcing factor.

ANALISIS PENDAPATAN PETANI KELAPA DI KELURAHAN BENGKOL KOTA MANADO (INCOME ANALYSIS OF COCONUT FARMERS IN THE SUB-DISTRICT OF BENGKOL MANADO CITY)

The purpose of this study was to analyze the income of farmers in Bengkol Village, Manado City. Quantitative data analysis methods to determine the income of coconut farmers in Bengkol Village. The number of respondents 20 0 the sampling was done deliberately (purposive sampling). The results showed that the average income category of farmers who own land and sell coconuts in the form of copra is Rp. 15.654.536 categories of farmers who own land and sell coconuts in the form of coconuts Rp. 773,400 and for the category of farmers who do not own land but have capital to sell coconuts in the form of copra and coconuts Rp. 7,330,500

Impact of Covid-19 on Bottom of the Pyramid Population – An Empirical Study

The Covid-19 pandemic has triggered a lot of studies on its impact, the way in which countries managed or coped with the issues arising out of the pandemic, and so on. While countries had several lessons to learn in terms of speed and thrust on leapfrogging digital capabilities and also creating a super-fast crisis access team in health considering the intensity and surge in numbers that needed critical care globally, the fact of the matter is that it is the low income category of the population of every country that had to suffer the most hardships. In this paper, the researchers study a set of this base of the pyramid population through a mixed approach, to understand the severity and impact that the pandemic and its associated restrictions and government measures had on the population.