Social and Behavioral Sciences Commons^™

Empowering Women Through Education And Influence: An Evaluation Of The Indian Mahila Samakhya Program, Eeshani Kandpal, Kathy Baylis, Mary Arends-Kuenning

Eeshani Kandpal

This paper shows that participation in a community-level female empowerment program in India significantly increases participants' physical mobility, political participation, and access to employment. The program provides support groups, literacy camps, adult education classes, and vocational training. We use truncation-corrected matching and instrumental variables on primary data to disentangle the program's mechanisms, separately considering its effect on women who work, and those who do not work but whose reservation wage is increased by participation. We also find significant spillover effects on non-participants relative to women in untreated districts.

Domestic Violence And Women's Autonomy: Evidence From India, Mukesh Eswaran, Nisha Malhotra

Nisha Malhotra

This paper sets out a simple non-cooperative model of resource allocation within the household in developing countries that incorporates domestic violence as an instrument for enhancing bargaining power. We demonstrate that the extent of domestic violence faced by women is not necessarily declining in their reservation utilities, nor necessarily increasing in their spouses’. Using the National Family Health Survey data of India for 1998-99, we isolate the e¤ect of domestic violence on female autonomy, taking into account the possible two-way causality through the choice of appropriate instruments. We provide some evidence for the evolutionary theory of domestic violence, which argues …

The Drivers And Dynamics Of Illicit Financial Flows From India: 1948-2008, Dev Kar

Dev Kar

No abstract provided.

Workforce In Indian Health Care Sector, Venkatanarayana Motkuri Mr., Suresh V. Naik Mr.

Venkatanarayana Motkuri Mr.

The paper estimates the total workforce in Indian Helath Care Sector based on NSSO 61st (2004-05) round employment and unemployment survey.

Competition And Demographics In Large Indian Cities, Mohammad Amin

Mohammad Amin

Recent studies suggest that consumer-household attributes may be as important in determining the level of competition in certain markets as firm characteristics and the number of firms. However, evidence on which consumer-household attributes matter for competition is limited, especially for developing countries. Focusing on India’s retail sector, the present paper contributes to this literature by showing that the number of adult non-workers per household in the city, a proxy for shopping time opportunity cost, has a strong effect on competition between retailers. Policy implications of our findings in light of the ongoing dramatic reductions in non-workers in India are discussed.

Effect Of Monetary Incentives On Institutional Deliveries: Evidence From The Janani Suraksha Yojna In India, Ambrish A. Dongre

Ambrish A Dongre

This paper is the fi#12;rst attempt to rigorously evaluate the short term e#11;ffects of the `Janani Suraksha Yojna' (Safe Motherhood Scheme), a nationwide conditional cash transfer program in India, launched in April 2005. Under the scheme, a woman delivering her child in a medical facility is provided monetary rewards.

My diff#11;erence-in-di#11;fference results indicate that in the initial one and a half years of its operation, the scheme did not have any eff#11;ect on the disparity between the targeted and non- targeted states. In fact, the gap widened in this period, albeit marginally. But beginning from 2007, the targeted states have …

Information, Direct Access To Farmers, And Rural Market Performance In Central India, Aparajita Goyal

Aparajita Goyal

This paper estimates the impact of a change in procurement strategy of a private buyer in the central Indian state of Madhya Pradesh. Beginning in October 2000, Internet kiosks and warehouses were established that provide wholesale price information and an alternative marketing channel to soy farmers in the state. Using a new market-level dataset, the estimates suggest a significant increase in soy price after the introduction of kiosks, supporting the predictions of the theoretical model. Moreover, there is a robust increase in area under soy cultivation. The results point toward an improvement in the functioning of rural agricultural markets. (JEL …

The Drivers And Dynamics Of Illicit Financial Flows From India: 1948-2008, Dev Kar

Dev Kar

This study examines the magnitude of illicit financial flows from India, analyzing the drivers and dynamics of these flows in the context of far-ranging reform. In the process, it represents perhaps the most comprehensive study on the subject matter, both in terms of the range of issues involved and the time span covered. At its heart is a dynamic simulation model which seeks to capture the complex interplay of economic, structural, and governance issues that underlie the generation and cross-border transfer of illicit capital. Due to the random nature of illicit flows, this model cannot be used to forecast such …

Challenges Of Retailing In India (A Short Note), Mohammad Amin

Mohammad Amin

Using Enterprise Surveys data on 1,948 retails stores in India, this note highlights the key problems and challenges faced by retailers in 41 large cities of India. Inadequate power supply, access to finance, corruption, tax rates and land related problems are the most important obstacles to further growth. Competition in the sector also appears to be low, reducing labor productivity. Differences in the severity of these problems across regions and retail stores of various sizes are discussed.

Farmers’ Willingness To Adopt Agricultural Best Management Practices To Control Nonpoint Source Pollution In The Lower Bhavani River Basin, Tamilnadu, India, Sacchidananda Mukherjee

Sacchidananda Mukherjee

The role of stakeholders and their voluntary participation in agri-environmental management in general and water resources conservation in particular is a new area of research, at least for a developing country like India. This study attempts to understand the factors influencing farmers’ willingness to adopt agricultural Best Management Practices (BMPs) to protect groundwater from nonpoint sources of pollution. Based on long term groundwater nitrate concentration and source(s) of irrigation six villages selected in the Lower Bhavani River Basin, Tamilnadu and detailed questionnaire survey (face-to-face interviews) has been carried out among 395 farm households. The results of binary choice Probit models …

Does The Journal Impact Factor Help Make A Good Indicator Of Academic Performance?, Sudhanshu K. Mishra

Sudhanshu K Mishra

Is journal impact factor a good measure of research merit? This question has assumed a great importance after the notification of the University Grants Commission (Minimum Qualifications for Appointment of Teachers and other Academic Staff in Universities and Colleges and Measures for the Maintenance of Standards in Higher Education) Regulations, 2009 on September 23rd 2009. Now publication of research papers/articles in reputed journals has become an important factor in assessment of the academic performance of teachers in colleges and universities in India. One of the measures of reputation and academic standard (rank or importance) of a journal is the so-called …

Rescuing The Doha Development Round: Role Of India And China In Multilateral Trade Governance, Suparna Karmakar

Suparna Karmakar

This paper examines the changing contours of the engagement of developing countries in the global trade regime, with special reference to the important role India and China can play in the 21st century WTO system of trade governance.

It argues that emerging developing countries today need to pick up the leadership mantle and play a constructive role in furthering the cause for multilateral trade integration. This will be in the larger interests of protecting their international market access as well as the much needed domestic reforms.

The paper tries to identify the role and responsibilities of emerging hegemonic powers like …

Consumer Behavior And Competition In Retailing (A Short Note), Mohammad Amin

Mohammad Amin

Drawing on a small but growing literature, this note argues that consumer behavior may be as important as firm behavior for the level of competition in consumer industries such as retailing. We use data on 1.948 retail stores in India and contribute to the literature in three ways. First, we find that the number of non-workers in the household, a proxy for time cost of shopping, has a large effect on competition. Moving from the city with the least to the most number of non-workers increases competition by 84% of its mean level. Second, as suggested in the literature, we …

Women Head Of The Village Councils And Water Borne Diseases, Ambrish A. Dongre

Ambrish A Dongre

This paper examines the relation between prevalence of water- borne diseases and gender of the head of the village councils by exploiting a `natural experiment' in local governance in India. A constitutional amendment in early 1990s ensured that only women could be the head in at least one- third of the village councils selected randomly. Utilizing a unique sample survey, we show that having a woman as the council head seems to have no effect on the prevalence of water borne diseases. But if we look into the sub- categories of the women council heads, we find that the women …

Factors Influencing Farmers’ Willingness To Protect Groundwater From Nonpoint Sources Of Pollution In The Lower Bhavani River Basin, Tamil Nadu, India, Sacchidananda Mukherjee

Sacchidananda Mukherjee

Farmers' perceptions about groundwater and drinking water quality are important, which influence their willingness to adopt protection measures either individually or collectively. This study attempts to capture the factors influencing farmers’ perceptions and their willingness to protect groundwater from nonpoint sources of pollution, and their willingness to support the local government to supply drinking water through alternative arrangements. Six villages are identified in the Lower Bhavani River Basin, Tamil Nadu, India on the basis of their long-term groundwater nitrate concentrations and sources of irrigation. A pre-structured questionnaire survey (face-to-face interviews) has been administered to 395 farm-households across six villages during …

Linkages Between Industrialization Strategies And Industrial Relations/Human Resource Policies: Singapore, Malaysia, The Philippines, And India, Sarosh Kuruvilla

Sarosh Kuruvilla

The case studies of Singapore, Malaysia, the Philippines, and India presented in this paper support the author's contention that a country's industrialization strategy for economic development profoundly influences its industrial relations (IR) and human resources (HR) policy goals. The author finds that import substitution industrialization was associated with IR/HR policy goals of pluralism and stability, while a low-cost export-oriented industrialization strategy was associated with IR/HR policy goals of cost containment and union suppression. In countries that moved from a low-cost export-oriented strategy to a higher value added export-oriented strategy, the focus of IR/HR policy goals shifted from cost containment to …

Retailing In India: Assessing The Investment Climate, Mohammad Amin

Mohammad Amin

An overview of the business climate for the retail sector in India is provided using micro data on retail stores collected by the World Bank's Enterprise Surveys.

Economic Valuation Of A Wetland In West Bengal, India, Sacchidananda Mukherjee

Sacchidananda Mukherjee

In the Gangetic flood plain of West Bengal, wetlands are used for multiple purposes, and have significant role in the livelihoods of the local people. Over the years, these Multiple Use Systems (MUSs) are getting converted to single use systems due to economic and social pressure from dominant stakeholders, which are higher than that in single use systems. Economic and ecological functions of MUS changes over time and space. These dynamic aspects of MUS are often not fully appreciated. Attempts to classify wetlands according to their uses across ecological zones and to do their economic valuation are very limited. Based …

Labor Regulation And Employment In India’S Retail Stores, Mohammad Amin

Mohammad Amin

A new dataset of 1,948 retail stores in India shows that 27% of the stores find labor regulations as a problem for their business. Using these data, we analyze the effect of labor regulations on employment at the store level. We find that flexible labor regulations have a strong positive effect on job creation. Our estimates show that labor reforms are likely to increase employment by 22% of the current level for an average store. We also address the issue of informality in India’s retail sector. Our findings suggest that more flexible labor laws can encourage firms to operate in …

Child Schooling In A Community In Transition: A Case Of Scheduled Tribe In Andhra Pradesh, India, Venkatanarayana Motkuri Mr.

Venkatanarayana Motkuri Mr.

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Employment Structure In Rural Andhra Pradesh, A Amarender Reddy

A Amarender Reddy

The study examined occupational diversification among rural households in Andhra Pradesh. The specific objectives of the study are: (i) To examine the occupational structure of households in different regions of rural Andhra Pradesh (ii) To assess the level of unemployment, underemployment and poverty in different categories of households (iii) To find out various socio-economic factors affecting employment pattern in different regions and among households, and (iv) To suggest policy measures to reduce unemployment and underemployment. The study is based on National Sample Survey Organisation (NSSO) unit household data from its 50th and 55th rounds on employment and unemployment surveys for …

An Economic Analysis Of Occupational Diversification Among Households In Andhra Pradesh, A Amarender Reddy

A Amarender Reddy

The study examined occupational diversification among rural households in Andhra Pradesh. The specific objectives of the study are: (i) To examine the occupational structure of households in different regions of rural Andhra Pradesh (ii) To assess the level of unemployment, underemployment and poverty in different categories of households (iii) To find out various socio-economic factors affecting employment pattern in different regions and among households, and (iv) To suggest policy measures to reduce unemployment and underemployment. The study is based on National Sample Survey Organisation (NSSO) unit household data from its 50th and 55th rounds on employment and unemployment surveys for …

An Economic Analysis Of Occupational Diversification Among Households In Andhra Pradesh, A Amarender Reddy

A Amarender Reddy

The study examined occupational diversification among rural households in Andhra Pradesh. The specific objectives of the study are: (i) To examine the occupational structure of households in different regions of rural Andhra Pradesh (ii) To assess the level of unemployment, underemployment and poverty in different categories of households (iii) To find out various socio-economic factors affecting employment pattern in different regions and among households, and (iv) To suggest policy measures to reduce unemployment and underemployment. The study is based on National Sample Survey Organisation (NSSO) unit household data from its 50th and 55th rounds on employment and unemployment surveys for …