Journal of Development Policy Research & Practice (JoDPRP)
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Role of Households’ Wealth and Maternal Education in Early Child Development: A Case Study of Punjab, Pakistan
Get PDFChildren under the age of five are exposed to several hazards in developing countries, such as poverty, inadequate housing, and unstimulating home environments, which have an adverse influence on their cognitive and socio-emotional development. Since learning during adulthood is influenced by earlier developmental stages, these formative years are crucial in shaping a successful adult life. Therefore, the study intends to investigate what causes some children to perform worse than other children of the same age. It utilises data from the Multiple Indicator Cluster Survey (MICS) 2017-18 of 4,043 children from Punjab, Pakistan. Binary Logistic Regression was used for analysis and it demonstrated a positive relationship between early child development, wealth, maternal education, and home stimulating activities with all three measures of child development which include child identification of alphabets, reading at least four popular words, and recognition of numbers or shapes. The result of the study suggests that it is an urgent need of the hour to focus to women’s education and take steps to mitigate poverty in order to enable parents to provide their children with a better learning environment.
JEL Classification Codes: I250, H75, P36, J13.
Impact of Organisational Politics Perceptions on Doctoral Students’ Engagement and Performance: Exploring the Mediating Role of Supervisor Support
Get PDFThe study investigates the possible linkage of organisational politics with the academic performance of doctoral students, mediated by work engagement and moderated by perceived supervisor support, based on the ‘Broaden-and-Build Theory’. The authors collected multisource data through structured questionnaires from 432 doctoral students and their supervisors, which was analysed using the Structural Equation Modeling (SEM) technique in SmartPLS 4. Analysis showed that organisational politics negatively impacts academic performance with the partial mediation of work engagement. However, perceived supervisor support buffered this association, thus, reducing the indirect effects on academic performance. The findings are useful for the management of Higher Education Institutes/Universities (HEIs) into how and why the perception of organisational politics could lead to poor academic performance of students enrolled in doctoral studies. The findings also direct university management to take necessary measures by which students’ academic performance could be enhanced through their work engagement and perceived supervisor support.
JEL Classification Codes: I2
Peacebuilding through Dialogue: A Case Study of Pak-Afghan Track III Dialogues
Get PDFPeacebuilding is as sensitive an issue as it is important. Societies that have suffered localized or national conflicts are prone to lingering underlying tensions. Conflict transformation theory highlights that these tensions can be transformed through strategic interventions, one of which is dialogue. Dialogues enable conflicting parties to address preconceived notions and work toward mutual understanding, making them a valuable tool for policy practitioners in conflict-prone areas. This paper examines grassroots peacebuilding efforts between Pakistani locals and Afghan refugees, focusing on the role of dialogue in changing perceptions. The study uses convenience sampling to survey 70 participants, with a control group of 20, assessing the impact of dialogues on intergroup relations. Findings indicate that dialogues have a positive effect on participants’ perceptions and demonstrate a multiplier effect, influencing non-participants within the broader community. These results underscore the importance of dialogue in fostering sustainable peace between conflicting communities.
JEL Classification Codes: D74, F5
Fiscal Devolution and Corruption in Pakistan: A Non-Linear Analysis
Get PDFThis study analysed the viability of fiscal devolution for controlling state corruption in Pakistan. Specifically, it investigated the role of different types and magnitudes of fiscal decentralisation in controlling corruption after accounting for institutional quality and fiscal reforms. The FMOLS results from 1976–2020 indicated a non-linear relationship between fiscal decentralisation and corruption, implying that decentralisation initially worsened the transparency of state affairs before later improving it. The findings suggested that composite decentralisation should be considered instead of analysing revenue and spending decentralisation separately, and that a minimum of 57% composite decentralisation was necessary for successful corruption control. It was also noted that an institutional structure characterised by low institutional quality and non-transparent fiscal reforms did not substantiate the benefits of fiscal decentralisation for controlling state corruption. The study recommends that fiscal devolution be coordinated with the overall institutional framework of the economy to realise its benefits.
JEL Classification: D73, E
Towards the Development of Economically Vibrant Special Economic Zones in Pakistan
Get PDFThis study explores the dynamics of Special Economic Zones (SEZs) in Pakistan, underscoring their crucial role in industrial development and economic growth. It examines the critical success factors shaping their effectiveness by analysing policy frameworks, case studies, stakeholder surveys, and field observations. The research highlights the importance of a conducive regulatory environment and robust infrastructure in fostering investment and building investor confidence. It underscores the necessity of effective institutions, transparent governance, and well-structured policies to accelerate industrialisation. Furthermore, it advocates for aligning economic zone policies with international best practices and broader economic objectives. Ultimately, this paper serves as a comprehensive resource for policymakers, investors, and stakeholders seeking insights into leveraging these zones to attract foreign investment, generate employment, and stimulate economic prosperity.
JEL Classification Codes: O11, O14, O2
AI and Public Policy: A Developing Country’s Perspective
Get PDFArtificial intelligence (AI) is a disruptor for the public and society on multiple levels. This includes human learning, knowledge comprehension, technology application and process efficiencies. These multi-level disruptions require comprehensive policy formulation and effective application for the overall good of society.
The development of AI policy in developing countries is vital and unique due to a multitude of factors. They have typically higher population densities, lower internet penetration, variable rates of technology adoption and evolving legislation around emerging technologies due to less exposure (Filgueiras 2022). These factors make the formulation of AI policy in developing countries distinctly different from developed countries where either the legislation is developed fully or close to the developed ones (Scherer 2015).
Within the developing countries, Pakistan can be considered as a representative sample as it consists of most of the population which is young, and tech-savvy and the IT industry is vital for the country’s export revenues (Chohan and Akhter 2021). Exploring the design of the public AI policy for a country with these unique characteristics is quite interesting.
Early approaches to public policymaking usually follow one of the two approaches. One is restrictive, early and often gets ahead. Whereas others are passive, multi-stakeholders based and adapt as you go. As we are unaware of the future of AI so advocating any of the two can result in uncertainty and risks for society at large (Valle-Cruz et al. 2019).
Our limited knowledge at this stage of this emerging technology can result in a policy which can be proscriptive and top-down. This can be counterproductive as AI architecture has shown Algorithm bias and hallucinations which are high risks to its wider implementations. Therefore, overall, policy contours should incorporate these key factors: should have legal oversight but enough freedom of use and application to be allowed, sufficient safeguards against misuse, foster collaboration, room for innovation, increase awareness and breaking new grounds of discovery for future breakthroughs.
In conclusion, if proper legal framework and policy guidelines are made available soon for developing countries like Pakistan it will give them a head start in AI innovations and its associated fields like healthcare, IT, supply chain, finance and learning technologies. It will also aid in the emergence of a knowledge economy where humans and technology interact for the betterment of society and long-term sustainable progress
Muslims in Britain: History, Diversity, Socio-Economic Status
No full textThis paper examines the growing presence of Muslims in the United Kingdom (UK), a community that, despite being a minority, is expanding rapidly according to data from the Oxford-based Migration Observatory. This research examines the diverse origins, cultures, languages, and religious beliefs of British Muslims, setting the stage to explore the multifaceted emergence of Islam and Muslims in the UK. The study investigates the various phases of Muslim migration, pinpointing the principal reasons for their arrival and the routes chosen by individuals from countries such as Pakistan, India, Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Syria, Somalia, Bosnia, Kosovo, and Yemen to settle in cities like London, Glasgow, Birmingham, Cardiff, Bradford, Liverpool, Hull, and Sheffield. It identifies key factors driving the formation of Muslim communities in the UK, including political instability, ethno-religious conflicts, natural disasters, civil unrest, decolonisation, and labour shortages. Additionally, the paper assesses the socioeconomic status of Muslims in England and concludes with strategic recommendations for policymakers.
JEL Classification: A14, Z1
Does Capital and Funding Liquidity Risk Affect Risk-Taking and Monetary Policy?
Get PDFThis paper examines how bank capital and funding liquidity risk influence the interplay between monetary policy and risk-taking among banks in the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) region. The Generalized Method of Moments (GMM) model was employed to analyse panel data from 2009-18. The empirical findings indicate that the interest rate negatively affects bank risk-taking. Diverging from previous literature, this study provides evidence that bank capital and funding liquidity risk moderate the relationship between monetary policy and bank risk-taking. This is evident from the significant coefficients of both interaction terms. Banks with low capital and high funding liquidity risk exhibit increased sensitivity to interest rate changes, leading to greater variations in risk-taking behaviours. Consequently, it is advisable for regulators and policymakers to closely monitor liquidity and minimum capital requirement ratios, particularly for banks with lower levels of deposits and capitalisation. Furthermore, this study contributes to the literature by providing evidence that risk-taking is influenced by both bank capital and funding liquidity risk.
JEL Classification Codes: E52, D81, G2
Dynamics of Digitalisation and Energy Efficiency in Developing Countries: An Empirical Analysis
Get PDFThis study examines the impact of digitalisation on energy and environmental efficiency in developing countries using panel data from 2010 to 2020. Energy efficiency is measured by Energy Intensity per unit of output, while Environmental Efficiency is assessed through CO₂ emissions per economic output. The two-step system Generalised Method of Moments (GMM) estimates reveal that all proxies of digitalisation, except telephone subscriptions, have a negative effect on energy intensity, leading to improved energy efficiency. The findings indicate a distinct difference in the impact of digitalisation on energy intensity and carbon emission intensity. While developing countries benefit from digitalisation in achieving environmental efficiency, they still require targeted efforts to enhance energy efficiency and achieve the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals. This study provides valuable insights into promoting digital transformation, particularly in the energy sector, where developing countries face challenges in accelerating the impact of digitalisation.
JEL Classification Code: O13; O31; O33; P18; P28; P33; Q2
Gendered Narratives: Viewing Disasters from a Cultural-Religious Lens
Get PDFPakistan, as an environmentally vulnerable country, has experienced many natural catastrophes over the last two decades, resulting in significant human, socioeconomic, infrastructural, and agricultural losses. These events have had diverse impacts on people based on class, gender, geography, and cultural diversity leading to varied perceptions influenced by their intersectionality. This study explores the prevailing cultural-religious interpretations regarding the causes of disasters within the local community of Upper Dir, one of the main vulnerable districts of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa in Pakistan. Qualitative research methods were used to conduct interviews with the local community, ensuring gender balance among respondents to capture their diverse views. The study’s major findings reveal that causes of disasters are interpreted through religious and cultural narratives, attributing deviation from these normative structures as responsible for their occurrence. Notably, these narratives are gendered as women’s actions and their departure from traditional feminine traits and roles are considered the primary reasons for ‘divine retribution’ manifesting as disasters. In communities strongly shaped by cultural and religious beliefs, enhancing public awareness is critical for ensuring that disaster preparedness strategies resonate with local values and practices, ultimately helping to reduce the adverse impacts of disasters.
JEL Classification Codes: Q5