A study of some ridge-type shrinkage estimators

In this paper,several ridge-type shrinkage estimators are studied with respect to their relative efficiency. Some interrelationships which exist among these estimators are pointed out. One of these estimators, T∞ based on the work of Mehta and Srinivasan (1971), is shown to be a flexible estimator, which has clear advantages over its competitors. A useful approximation for calculation of the relative efficiency of T∞ is also presented.     

Women on boards and bank efficiency in ASEAN-5: the moderating role of the independent directors

Corporate governance codes around the world promote women’s presence in corporate board. The extant literature suggests women directors contribute to improve monitoring and advisory role of the board. This study aims to examine the role of independent women directors in improving banks’ efficiency. Using 102 commercial banks from ASEAN-5 countries for a period of 1999–2012, we run generalized method of moments models to test the relationship between the variables. Our results show that banks with independent women directors on board contribute significantly to the bank’s efficiency level. Contrary to the literature, we found that the appointment of women directors or independent directors alone does not significantly enhance banks’ efficiency. The result suggests that women directors are more effective on boards if they are also appointed as independent directors. This finding implies that a combination of corporate governance mechanism is more powerful than relying on a single element of corporate governance.     

Improving Development Ownership Among Vulnerable People: Challenges of NGOs’ Community Empowerment Projects in Bangladesh

This paper exposed the major challenges that the non‐governmental organizations (NGOs) face in improving development ownership among vulnerable people in community empowerment projects in Bangladesh. The finding, based on a qualitative research approach, used multi‐method data collection procedures. Data were collected from two NGOs, Proshika and Practical Action Bangladesh (PAB), working with two vulnerable communities—blacksmiths and goldsmiths. The results showed that NGOs faced a number of challenges, including lack of understanding about the local context, initiatives to localize global development tools, developing partnership, and space for local people in the development processes. The paper argued that, without securing development ownership, the NGOs’ activities toward community empowerment of vulnerable people would not be possible. The findings of the paper would be valuable guidelines for policy makers, development practitioners, NGO workers, and academicians.     

Multistate survival models for transitions and reverse transitions: an application to contraceptive use data

This paper extends the use of the multistate proportional hazards model proposed by R. Kay for transitions, reverse transitions, and repeated transitions. A simple method of testing the equality of vectors of parameters for transitions and repeated transitions is also shown in addition to estimates for the underlying cumulative hazards for different types of transition. The multistate survival models applied to contraceptive use data collected by the International Center for Diarrheal Disease Research, Bangladesh, for the period January 1978 to December 1982 provide useful findings relating to interstate transitions. The author stresses the need to not treat separately states of contraceptive use given their link to the acceptance of the first method, transitions from one method to another, first method discontinuation, periods of non-use, the use of subsequent methods, loss to follow-up, the use of irreversible methods, and subsequent periods of non-use. Religion is an important indicator for the acceptance of an irreversible method as a first or subsequent method; compared to women of other religions, Muslims were less likely to accept an irreversible method as a first or subsequent method. Religion is not, however, associated with the acceptance or subsequent use of a reversible method or with discontinuation of a reversible method. Higher age in the study area is associated with both lower acceptance and longer continuation of a method. Women with a larger number of living sons tend to accept their first method and subsequent methods at an higher rate than women with fewer or no sons. As for educational status, women with higher education proved to be serious users of contraception, although women with less or no education tend to accept an irreversible method at an higher rate than the women with an higher level of education. Further, the desire for more children is a strong predictor for non-use of a method even if contraception is used to space births. The score test suggested in the paper for testing the equality of parameters in models 1-4 reveals that there is no significant difference in the parameters of the models. This paper shows that the factors which affect the acceptance of any reversible method of contraception are different from those for an irreversible method. Moreover, the factors which affect a transition differ from those for a reverse transition in the case of adopting reversible methods.     

Gender Bias in Parental Attitude: An Experimental Approach

Parental bias toward children of a particular gender has been widely observed in many societies. Such bias could be due to pure gender preference or differences in earning opportunities and concern for old-age support. We conduct a high-stakes allocation task (subjects allocate the equivalent of one day’s wages between male and female school-aged students) in rural Bangladesh to examine parental attitudes toward male and female children. Parents, either jointly or individually, allocated freely or restricted endowments for the benefit of anonymous girls or boys at a nearby school. We examine whether there is any systematic bias among fathers and mothers and, if so, whether such bias differs when they make the decision individually or jointly. The results suggest (1) bias both for and against boys or girls but no systematic bias by either parent; and (2) no significant differences in individual and joint decisions.     

Microfinance as a Development and Poverty Alleviation Tool in Rural Bangladesh: A Critical Assessment

Poverty is multidimensional in nature and exists in every part of the world. Microfinance is considered one of the most important programs to achieve poverty reduction, particularly in Bangladesh. It has been estimated that nearly 45% of Bangladesh's population lives below the poverty line. This qualitative research study was conducted in order to determine the effectiveness of microfinance programs and the contributing factors to the high‐level of poverty among microfinance beneficiaries in the district of Bogra, Bangladesh. Study findings indicated that microfinance programs were ineffective as a result of high interest rates; insufficient loans; unproductive use of loans; corruption and poor skills of microfinance institution staff; weekly repayment schedules; and physical and mental harassment of poor women. Additionally, the lack of employment opportunities, education, healthcare facilities and social safety nets; natural disasters; the dowry system; and the rising cost of basic daily needs have also contributed to chronic poverty.     

An exploration of the relationship between police presence,crime and firms in developing countries

Economic theory predicts that a rise in police presence will reduce criminal activity. However several studies in this field have found mixed results. This study adds to the literature by exploring the relationship between the size of the police force and crime experienced by firms. Using survey data for about 12,000 firms in a cross‐section of 27 developing countries it is found that increasing the size of the police force is negatively associated with crime experienced by firms. Results are confirmed using a panel of firms for a subset of countries for which data are available. It is also found that this negative relationship is stronger under certain macroeconomic circumstances.     

Body Image Disturbances and Predictors of Body Dissatisfaction Among Hispanic and White Preadolescents

This study assessed ethnic and gender differences in ideal body size, body dissatisfaction (BD), and the relationship between BD and various predictors (e.g., body composition indicators and cardiorespiratory fitness). The sample consisted of 190 White and Hispanic preadolescents aged 10–13 years. Demographic, percent body fat (%BF), body mass index (BMI), body image variables, and cardiorespiratory fitness (CRF) were examined. A significant Gender × Ethnicity interaction was found for ideal body size (p < .05), with Hispanic girls preferring the thinnest figures and Hispanic boys the largest figures, compared to their counterparts. No significant gender or ethnic differences in BD were observed. After controlling for demographic and cultural variables, increased %BF and BMI scores predicted greater BD, whereas CRF did not.     

The Economic Effect of Refugee Crises on Neighbouring Host Countries: Empirical Evidence from Pakistan

There is a considerable debate in terms of opportunities and challenges about the presence of refugees in the neighbouring host countries. Most of the existing discourse has focused only on their humanitarian and security implications. This article, on the other hand, seeks to uncover this issue through a purely economic lens, focusing on the economic impact of more than three million Afghan refugees in Pakistan. Utilizing data for the period 1979–2014 and the ARDL bounds testing approach, we arrive at few important conclusions. The empirical results indicate that Afghan refugees have a strong negative impact on economic growth in Pakistan. The effect holds in both the short run and the long run, suggesting that the influx of refugees lowers real economic activity in the country. Ultimately, the study implies that hosting refugees can never be a boon to Pakistan's economy.