Review of Economics and Development Studies (READS) (E-Journal)
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Post 9/11 American Footprints in Pakistani Media: A Critique of Semiotic Discourses of Pakistani Newspapers
Get PDFThis paper highlights the power of image in shaping perception of the people regarding post 9/11 American representation in Pakistani print media discourses. The study deconstructs the semiotic discourse(s) of Pakistani English newspaper Dawn (daily) from September 2018 to February 2019 to argue that linguistic and semiotic devices and techniques work discursively to shape the readers’ perception regarding American foot-prints in Pakistani print media. It employs Multimodal Critical Discourse analysis approach by drawing upon Machin (2007), Van Leeuwen framework for recontextualization (2008) and Fairclough’s (2003) for visual and linguistic analyses to lay bare embedded ideologies propagated through word-picture conjunction. The levels of analysis include participants, settings, poses, objects, metaphor, inclusion, exclusion and discourse. Moreover, the researchers have validated the findings of their semiotic analysis by conducting two focus group discussions among the students of linguistics and other disciplines. The findings reveal that print media semiotic discourses provide an appropriate use of language in graphic form. The findings reveal that no use of language is ideology free and words and pictures work in conjunction to propagate desired ideology to the target readership. Additionally, the study notices the visible change that has taken place regarding American representation from superordinate to back foot and ready-to-hold dialogue through semiotic discourses of mentioned newspaper
Determinants of Terrorism and Its Impact on Economic Growth: A Panel Study of South Asian Region
Get PDFThe objective of the study is to examine the key determinants of Terrorism and its Impact on Economic Growth in case of South Asian Region. Panel data is used for the period of 1985-2018 for selected south Asian countries. Terrorism affected adversely most of the world’s regions since the start of the 1980s. The main issues which are faced by these countries are related to political or economic aspects like poverty, inflation, unemployment and repression. In present study we used the role of macroeconomic factors of terrorism. The study comprised of balance panel data and employed Fixed Effect Model to analyze the determinants of terrorism in such a way that characteristics of each country can be taken into account. The findings of the study suggest that higher literacy rate determines terrorism, as confirmed by many studies, because the more people are educated the more knowledge they may have for making plans or strategies similarly, unemployment is not leading terrorism showing that more the people involved in terrorism are employed or experienced. A terrorist act destroys the infrastructure; people are afraid to move for their work in a terrorized society these results in low production and makes demand greater than supply consequently high inflation rate so economy has to pay higher economic cost in any form.
 
Socio-Economic and Demographic Factors of Poverty Alleviation in Pakistan: A Case Study of Southern Punjab
Get PDFThis study aims to explore the socio-economic and demographic determinants of poverty in Southern Punjab by using the cross sectional data consisting of 785 household heads. Binary logistic regression and ordinary least square method are used for estimation. The findings exhibit that the variables like family system, household size, presence of disease and status of employment of household head are positively and significantly related to poverty whereas household head age, rural-to-urban migration, years of schooling, number of earners, women status of work, remittances, the physical assets value and ownership of house significantly and negatively influence the likelihood of poverty and positively influence the per capita income of the households in Southern Punjab. The study also provides the comparison of regional and division level. It is concluded that DG Khan division is the poorest among all the divisions of the southern Punjab. In DG Khan Division, the households have less education, high dependency ratio. In rural areas of southern Punjab, there is more poverty as compare to urban areas. The rural poverty is due to many factors like high dependency rate, lower level of education, adoption of profession, lower per capita income, dissaving. It is suggested that education should be promoted, employment opportunity should be provided so that dependency rate may be reduced, rural areas should be restructured by provision of basic necessities of life
Impact of School Management Councils on Teachers Community Relationship: An Analytical Study
Get PDFThe main objective of the study was to analytically evaluate the working of School Management Councils in relation to teachers/parents’ association with the results and outcomes of students at school level. This research work was carried out in the frame work of descriptive type of research planning, for which data was collected by means of conducting a survey, from the selected group of population in the targeted area. All the secondary schools of district Jhelum, Punjab Pakistan were constituted the population of the research study. A set of Questionnaires was developed and used to collect data. from the heads, teachers of schools and community representatives. The validity of these questionnaires was checked by pilot testing in two schools (not included in the sample). This study would be useful to improve the current situation in educational and social fields. The SMCs can be utilized for building a bridge between the schools and the local community to improve the standard of education. As the SMC is based on grass root approach to improve rate of literacy, through the involvement of students, teachers, heads and community representatives. After analytical analysis of the collected data, the study highlighted that SMC can positively influence the educational system., the study also indicated that the respondent equally agreed and disagreed with the statement that the workings of School Management Councils (SMCs) help to bring the students in school and also assisted the school authorities to produce good results. In this way the functioning of these school councils may become effective to decrease dropout ratio and increase the number of students in these schools, and to solve many administrative and academic problems at local level. The outcomes of this research work suggested that the role of SMCs may be more elaborated that they can work independently for the betterment of students in general and specially for the community
Perceptions of Special Education Teachers on the Internal Efficacy of Their Institutions: A Comparative Study
Get PDFSpecial education institutions are providing services to meet the unique needs of special students. Internal efficacy of any institution determines its effectiveness in terms of its outcomes. The current study was designed to explore the internal efficacy of special education institutions. The population of the study comprised of teachers teaching in the special education institution of the Lahore city. Sample of the study consisted of 200 teachers randomly selected from public and private sector special education institutions, currently performing their duties in the Lahore city. The study was quantitative in its nature conducting with descriptive research design. A standardized questionnaire was used to collect the data from the teachers after getting permission from its author. Initially, the questionnaire was piloted on a small number of participants to ensure its reliability. That was confirmed through Cronbach alpha (.750). After ensuring ethical considerations, researchers collected data by themselves from the teachers. The data were analyzed using SPSS. Results of independent sample t-test show the statistically significant difference between the public and private sector institutions’ internal efficacy. The internal efficacy of public sector special education institutions was better as compared to private sector special education institutions. Majority of the special education teachers serving in public sector institutes ranked the institutional communication, working environment, quality of education and professional support as major determined of internal efficacy of their institutions. The study has recommended that the private sector special education institutions need to enhance their internal efficacy
Analysis of Factors Influencing Household Human Capital Investment Behavior in Conflict Zones: A Case Study of District Swat
Get PDFDevelopment of human capital, as part of public policy, is critical for sustainable socio-economic development of a country. This study analyzed the factors that influenced the household behaviour of spending on human resources in terrorism affected region of district Swat. The uniqueness of the current study is to study human capital behaviour in the study area. The econometric technique (OLS) was applied to analyze the data. The study found that there are direct and indirect relationship exists among the targeted variables. It was found that health and education status is negatively affected by the incidence of terrorism. The education system drastically affected and the enrolment rate at the primary, secondary and post-secondary levels have exceptionally declined because of the aftermath of terrorism episode between 2002 and 2016. Health, education facilities and infrastructure are deteriorating posing a threat to long term development. The effective policies of the Government (investment in human capital) and eradicating terrorism (military actions) is a demanding subject of matter for the sake of development in the area
Achieving Sustainable Supply Chain Performance through Sustainable Production and Sustainable Supplier Management: A Case of Food Manufacturing Sector of Pakistan
Get PDFThis paper aims to investigate the impact of sustainable practices especially sustainable production and sustainable supplier management on supply chain performance. This empirical study demonstrate the contextual examination of sustainable practices especially with reference to an emerging economy like Pakistan. Survey was employed to collect data from 100 Food Manufacturing Firms. Exploratory Factor Analysis and Structure Equation Modeling was used through AMOS to test hypothesis. The results reveal that sustainable production and sustainable supplier management both significantly impact triple bottom line. However, sustainable production generate stronger impact on social performance, while, sustainable supplier management significantly effects environmental performance. Additionally, the findings provide valuable insights regarding the use of sustainable production and sustainable supplier management and their impact on supply chain performance. Finally, it propagates utility of ecological value chain management mentioning the impact of couple of sustainable practices on tipple bottom line
Analysis of Trade Competitiveness of Pakistan Cereal Products in Global Perspective
Get PDFThe present study has measured the cereal export competitiveness of Pakistan in global economy by utilizing different indices of Revealed comparative advantage (RCA): Balassa index (RCA), Vollrath index (RCA#), Revealed symmetric comparative advantage index (RSCA), Revealed import advantage index (RMA), Revealed trade advantage index (RTA) and Net export index (NEI). The data have been obtained from the International Trade Center UN-COMTRADE Statistics for cereal exports of Pakistan from 2003-2018. The findings of the analysis illustrate that Pakistan had a comparative and competitive advantage in the cereal sector. Further, the findings of the RTA index show that Pakistan’s cereal exports had also a net comparative advantage. Based on current findings, Pakistan needs to concentrate on production and exports of cereals. The brand name marketing of Pakistani rice with a special focus on better quality and improved market access can enhance the country’s share of the cereal sector in the global market
Pakistan-United States Relations in Trump Era and FATF
Get PDFThe Financial Action Task Force (FATF) has become a modern diplomatic instrument for the United States of America to use it the way it wants for. As the U.S. led Afghan peace process embraced the victory, Washington, Afghan Taliban and Kabul government have agreed upon limited ceasefire and withdrawal of troops from Afghanistan soil. Pakistani authorities are equally ready to cease the movement, amid the challenges posed by the FATF, by facilitating U.S.-Taliban peace deal in Qatar on Feb 29, 2020, the biggest development happened ever in South Asian region. It happened for the first time of grinding warfare since the U.S. invasion in 2001 which is considered to be a vital step to end the insurgency altogether in the region. Pentagon finally accepted Islamabad’s stance that there is no military solution to the Afghan imbroglio. Pakistani authorities, through Afghan authorities, are said to be taking over Pakistani Taliban purportedly operating from Afghanistan. After playing a key role in brokering the said peace deal, the challenge of FATF as a diplomatic tool to pile up pressure on Islamabad to mold its role in favour of the US and the Taliban talks
Energy Security: A National Security Paradigm Shift for US in Post 9/11 Epoch
Get PDF"Energy Security" is a safe and abrupt means of getting a secure supply of energy sources. In order to function smoothly, the modern economies need to have a secure and uninterrupted supply of energy resource. This importance has linked Energy Security with the National Security of Nation-States thus making energy primarily a significant resource for the powers around the globe.
However, an uneven distribution of the resource has led to susceptibility amongst states thus leading to a situation of anxiety around the globe. Roots of this anxiety can be traced back in 1973, the oil embargo, which forced the giant economies to think seriously about the concept of Energy Security. This study thus aimed to explain that there exists a link between energy, economy and National Security. This linkage of energy with economy and national security has paved way for the National Security Paradigm shift. The study explains the factors related to political as well as economic global scenario that have ignited the concept of "Energy Security" and its link with "National Security"