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2006

University of New Mexico

Himalayan Policy Research Conference

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On The Evaluation Of An Environmentally Damaging Project, Biswo Poudel Oct 2006

On The Evaluation Of An Environmentally Damaging Project, Biswo Poudel

Himalayan Policy Research Conference

In this paper, the problem of evaluating a new ecologically damaging project undertaken by a locally dominant firm is studied. Often the total cost of undertaking such a project tends to be under evaluated for several reasons. One major reason is due to the failure to anticipate the rise of several small fringe firms in different regions and the impact of competition with them. This paper uses recent advances in game theory to present a game theoretic model to evaluate such a project in the context of what happened in Nepal when Arun project was mulled by the Nepal Electricity …


Full Proceedings, Alok K. Bohara, Mukti P. Upadhyay Oct 2006

Full Proceedings, Alok K. Bohara, Mukti P. Upadhyay

Himalayan Policy Research Conference

Association for Himalayan Policy Research: Through various scholarly activities, NSC aims to create a global network of scholars, professionals, and policy practitioners interested in the policy and development of Nepal and the Himalayan region. Eventually, NSC plans to create an Association for Himalayan Policy Research. Journal publications and Himalayan-focused conference at Wisconsin University are important activities contributing to this collaboration, and our initial attempt to create this network has been very successful. Many scholars from the US, Europe, Far East, Australia, and Nepal are joining this network.


Greenhouse Gas Mitigation And Climate Change Adaptation: Some Policies For Nepal, Ambika P. Adhikari Oct 2006

Greenhouse Gas Mitigation And Climate Change Adaptation: Some Policies For Nepal, Ambika P. Adhikari

Himalayan Policy Research Conference

Although Nepal is an extremely insignificant emitter of global carbon – emitting less than 0.1% of global emissions - it is burdened by a disproportionately high degree of vulnerability to the adverse effects of climate change. Nepal’s exposures include the possibilities of increased GLOF (Glacial Lake Outburst Floods) phenomenon, the melting mountains syndrome, and decrease in agricultural production, increase in vector borne diseases, loss of important bio-diversity assets and change in the hydrological cycles and resulting effects. Given her limited financial resources, and a weak institutional capacity, the changing climate will likely reduce Nepal’s GDP, increase the society’s disease burden, …


The Psychological Consequences Of Internal Migration, Amod Pyakuryal Oct 2006

The Psychological Consequences Of Internal Migration, Amod Pyakuryal

Himalayan Policy Research Conference

Little is known about the effects of migration and mental health in general, however even less is known about internal migration despite the fact that more persons move within their own countries. Population studies predict that there will be a continuous growth in both internal and international migration in the coming years. Within developing countries internal migration has important social and economic consequences. For this paper I use large representative sample of adults residing in Kathmandu, Nepal to investigate the utility of stress process model for understanding effects of migration. Because our sample contains both migrants and non-migrants, we are …


Reflections On The State Of Democratic Transition Process In South Asia, Pramod Kumar Kantha Oct 2006

Reflections On The State Of Democratic Transition Process In South Asia, Pramod Kumar Kantha

Himalayan Policy Research Conference

South Asia has a wide range of experience with democracy. While India’s democracy has proved resilient and exemplary, the foundations for democratic governance in other countries in the region are still fragile. The 1999 coup in Pakistan derailed the country’s experiment with democracy since 1988. With the success of the April 2006 movement, Nepal recently started another attempt at transition to democracy- a process disrupted by the May 2002 dismissal of the national parliament by King Gyanendra. The varying level of success of different South Asian countries with democratic governance offers rich contexts to learn about the dynamics of democratic …


Investigation Of Pre-Clinical Damage Of Lens From Smoke Exposure In Nepalese Women, Amod Pokharel Oct 2006

Investigation Of Pre-Clinical Damage Of Lens From Smoke Exposure In Nepalese Women, Amod Pokharel

Himalayan Policy Research Conference

Prolonged exposure to biomass and tobacco smoke can damage the lens of human eyes. Epidemiological studies conducted in developed and developing countries have established an association between smoke and lens opacity (cataracts). In our earlier epidemiological study conducted in the eye hospital at western Terai region of Nepal, we had found rate of lens damage (cataracts) two times higher among women who cooked with solid fuel (wood, dung cake, crop-residues) in unvented stoves than women who cooked with clean burning fuel-stove (LPG, bio-gas, kerosene and electric heaters). Damaged lens (lens opacity) or cataract is still the most important cause of …


Sex For Sale: An Investigation Into The Status Of Nepali Women As A Root Cause Of Sex Trafficking, Michelle Kaufman, Mary Crawford Oct 2006

Sex For Sale: An Investigation Into The Status Of Nepali Women As A Root Cause Of Sex Trafficking, Michelle Kaufman, Mary Crawford

Himalayan Policy Research Conference

Trafficking is a major part of the social and economic structure of Nepal. Currently, very high numbers of young girls are taken from Nepal into India as trafficked sex workers. It is estimated that 5,000 to 7,000 girls are trafficked to India each year (Poudel & Carryer, 2000). There are many factors contributing to the continued practice of sex trafficking in Nepal, including poverty, migration (due to both high levels of poverty in rural areas and the Maoist insurgency), and the low status of women in Nepali society. The current research is focused on the status of women as a …


Issuing Annual Permits For Harvesting Thatch Grass As Compensation To Local People In Nepal: Does This Policy Have Effects On Conservation Attitude?, Jay Sah, Joel Heinen Oct 2006

Issuing Annual Permits For Harvesting Thatch Grass As Compensation To Local People In Nepal: Does This Policy Have Effects On Conservation Attitude?, Jay Sah, Joel Heinen

Himalayan Policy Research Conference

One of fundamental strategies in community-based conservation is people receiving benefits from conservation projects are more likely to express positive attitudes towards conservation. As a result, various forms of compensation and economic incentives are provided to local people to reduce park-people conflicts, and to influence the people’s attitude towards conservation. Nepal, being a leader in integrating conservation and local development, implemented a policy in 1976 to address the legitimate needs of local people residing in and around protected areas by allowing them the restrictive use of park resources. Since then, people in lowland Terai are given permits to harvest thatch …


Relative Deprivation And Civil Conflict In Nepal, Karen Macours Oct 2006

Relative Deprivation And Civil Conflict In Nepal, Karen Macours

Himalayan Policy Research Conference

This paper investigates the relationship between relative deprivation and the escalation of the civil conflict in Nepal. Poverty in Nepal decreased substantially between 1995 and 2003, which seems puzzling given the political instability and the raise and strengthening of the insurgency. We hypothesize that increasing differences in welfare among different groups - i.e., relative deprivation as opposed to absolute deprivation - can help explain this puzzle. The hypothesis is tested with data from 2 national-representative household surveys, matched with information regarding mass abductions by the Maoists, obtained from an extensive search of newspaper articles. The identification strategy relies on the …


On The Implementation Of The Ramsar Convention In Nepal And Its Implications For Regional Waterfowl Conservation, Joel Heinen, Jay Sah Oct 2006

On The Implementation Of The Ramsar Convention In Nepal And Its Implications For Regional Waterfowl Conservation, Joel Heinen, Jay Sah

Himalayan Policy Research Conference

The 1971 Convention on Wetlands of International Importance, especially for Waterfowl Conservation (hereafter referred to as Ramsar) is historically and currently important from several standpoints. It came into force in 1975 and is the oldest of the international conservation conventions and the only one that protects one general ecosystem type. Through the main text and various policy documents published over the past 30 years, Ramsar provides signatory nations with many general and specific guidelines for conserving and managing wetlands resources and their associated wildlife. Here we consider the implementation of Ramsar within Nepal, a Party since 1987, based on the …


Nepal And Bhutan: Development Strategies And Growth, Kamal P. Upadhyaya, Gyan Pradhan, Dharmendra Dhakal Oct 2006

Nepal And Bhutan: Development Strategies And Growth, Kamal P. Upadhyaya, Gyan Pradhan, Dharmendra Dhakal

Himalayan Policy Research Conference

This paper has sought to examine the factors that have contributed to the economic growth of Nepal and Bhutan. After a brief discussion of the economy and growth strategy of each country, standard growth models for Nepal and Bhutan are developed and estimated. The results indicate that domestic capital has been a significant source of economic growth in Nepal whereas foreign aid has not had any appreciable effect on growth. The reverse is true for Bhutan.


Economic Inequality In Kathmandu: A Multi-Indicator Perspective, Udaya R. Wagle Oct 2006

Economic Inequality In Kathmandu: A Multi-Indicator Perspective, Udaya R. Wagle

Himalayan Policy Research Conference

Studying economic inequality is increasingly important because of its multidimensional effects on human and societal well-being. This paper examines economic inequality in Kathmandu using wealth, income, and consumption as its indicators. Amidst the finding that wealth, income, and consumption have mutually reinforcing relationships, recent survey data indicate that high income many not necessarily accumulate into wealth as normally expected. Data also show that the household and householder characteristics somewhat differ when it comes to explaining disparities in household wealth, income, and consumption. The suggestion that spatial segregation, human capital and capability, inheritance, and household composition are important determinants of economic …


Sex Trafficking In Nepal: Survivor Characteristics And Long-Term Outcomes, Mary Crawford, Michelle Kaufman Oct 2006

Sex Trafficking In Nepal: Survivor Characteristics And Long-Term Outcomes, Mary Crawford, Michelle Kaufman

Himalayan Policy Research Conference

Sex trafficking, the coercion of girls and women into forced prostitution, is a global problem. South Asia is a particular trouble spot for trafficking. Source countries in this region include Bangladesh, Vietnam, Myanmar (Burma), and Nepal. Destination countries include India and Thailand (Farr, 2005). The present research focuses on sex trafficking from Nepal. Although accurate figures are difficult to obtain, the best estimate is that 5,000 to 7,000 Nepali girls and women are trafficked each year, primarily to India, and at least 200,000 Nepali girls and women currently work in Indian brothels (Huntington, 2002).


Urban Sprawl In Kathmandu Valley Of Nepal From 1964-2003: A Challenge For Urban Policy Makers And Planners, Keshav Bhattarai, Dennis Conway Oct 2006

Urban Sprawl In Kathmandu Valley Of Nepal From 1964-2003: A Challenge For Urban Policy Makers And Planners, Keshav Bhattarai, Dennis Conway

Himalayan Policy Research Conference

This paper analyzes the conditions of the five cities—Bhaktapur, Kathmandu, Kirtipur, Lalitpur, and Madhyapur Thimi— that comprise the Kathmandu Valley conurbation and exhibit the typical characteristics of the nation’s primate city (Bhattarai, 2003). It examines the patterns and causal processes of urban sprawl for the period 1955 and 2003 by utilizing both spatial and aspatial data. It analyzes the patterns of historical aspects of the Kathmandu Valley’s settlements that acquired the characteristics of a European feudal urban agglomeration in the mid-18th century, combining political, administrative, and craft production functions (Bhattarai, 2003). Our analyses reveal that since the early 1970s, the …


A Pedagogical Experiment On Liberal Democracy In South Asia, Jeffrey Drope Oct 2006

A Pedagogical Experiment On Liberal Democracy In South Asia, Jeffrey Drope

Himalayan Policy Research Conference

In the spring of 2006, a junior-level political science class focusing on democracy at the University of Miami and the Nepal Study Center at the University of New Mexico collaborated on a pedagogical experiment that sought to enhance learning opportunities about liberal democracy by promoting intellectual exchange between two nations, Nepal and the U.S. This abstract will introduce the program, note several key themes of the students’ proposals to address issues of democratization, and highlight directions for future related activities.


Development And Discontentment In South Asia (With Special Reference To North-East India), Ajailiu Niumai Oct 2006

Development And Discontentment In South Asia (With Special Reference To North-East India), Ajailiu Niumai

Himalayan Policy Research Conference

This paper, from the sociology of South Asia perspective, clearly reveals a consensus on the significance of trade relations and increased social mobility both within and across the nations of South Asia as factors that could enhance an overall economic integration of the region. It also examines the debates on the matrix of relationship between development and discontentment in North East India involving cross-border movement, social mobility and trade relations. The discourse also showed a changing attitude towards North East region. This paper attempts to examine the contours of the debates on development and discontentment, rather than executing an in-depth …


The Plight Of The Forgotten Ones: Civil War And Internal Displacement In Nepal, Prakash Adhikari, Mani Nepal Oct 2006

The Plight Of The Forgotten Ones: Civil War And Internal Displacement In Nepal, Prakash Adhikari, Mani Nepal

Himalayan Policy Research Conference

Although different theoretical arguments have been developed for understanding civil wars, very few efforts have been made to study their impact. This paper attempts to bridge this gap by providing a systematic explanation of conflict-induced internal displacement. We use sub-national data from Nepal to explain whether or not conflict is directly responsible for displacing people, as is generally assumed, or whether there is an indirect link between conflict and displacement. We argue that internal displacement occurs as a result of the direct as well as indirect impacts of civil war. Both the government and the rebels are involved in violating …


Spheres Of Exclusion In Democratizing Nepal, Mahendra Lawoti Oct 2006

Spheres Of Exclusion In Democratizing Nepal, Mahendra Lawoti

Himalayan Policy Research Conference

The paper will discuss various forms of political exclusion of socio-cultural groups in Nepal during the democratic period, 1990-2002. The groups considered are: dalit, indigenous nationalities, madhesi, Muslims, and women. The paper will discuss seven forms of exclusion: (1) exclusion from access to citizenship, (2) exclusion from governance, (3) exclusion from public policies, (4) cultural discrimination, (5) symbolic exclusion, (6) exclusion from civil society, and (7) socioeconomic inequality.


Comparative Study Of Federation Proposals For Nepal, Vijaya R. Sharma Oct 2006

Comparative Study Of Federation Proposals For Nepal, Vijaya R. Sharma

Himalayan Policy Research Conference

At the time Nepal is planning for an unprecedented task of forming constitution through a constituent assembly of people’s representatives, restructuring of Nepal into a federation of autonomous or semi-autonomous states has been prominently proposed by some scholars, the Federation of Indigenous Nationalities, and some major political parties, like the Communist Party of Nepal (Maoists), the Communist Party of Nepal (UML), Jana Morcha, and Nepal Sadbhawana Party. To my knowledge there are at least 14 proposals already made, which can be classified into two groups. Proposals in one group consider the meeting of political aspirations and demands of ethnic and …


Determinants And Consequences Of Chronic Vs. Transient Poverty In Nepal, Saurav D. Bhatta, Suman Kumari Sharma Oct 2006

Determinants And Consequences Of Chronic Vs. Transient Poverty In Nepal, Saurav D. Bhatta, Suman Kumari Sharma

Himalayan Policy Research Conference

As in most other poor countries, the poverty reduction strategies and policies in Nepal are primarily informed by periodic cross-section household income data that provide estimates of static poverty rates. Interestingly, however, the focus of these policies appears to be chronic or long-term poverty—poverty that is not necessarily reflected in cross-sectional survey data. While estimates of poverty at specific points in time might correlate with chronic poverty to some extent, such estimates are more representative of poverty that is transient in nature. Hence, an issue of interest is the extent to which there is an overlap between the factors that …


Poverty, Economic Growth, And Inequalty In Developing Countries: A Focus On Nepal And South Asia, Mukti Upadhyay, Gyan Pradhan Oct 2006

Poverty, Economic Growth, And Inequalty In Developing Countries: A Focus On Nepal And South Asia, Mukti Upadhyay, Gyan Pradhan

Himalayan Policy Research Conference

Our study seeks to answer what rate of economic growth will achieve a one percentage-point reduction in the level of poverty, as measured by the popular headcount ratio. We also recognize that income distribution might change in response to growth and may in turn have an effect of its own on poverty. In particular, do initial inequality and level of development matter in the subsequent realization of poverty? Finally, we examine if some seemingly important variables, such as trade and human capital, also have a significant influence on poverty. For obvious reasons, these findings can have significant implications for policy.