South Asia remains one of the major strongholds of hunger in the world, despite the fact that, following the Green Revolution, cereal production in the countries of this region tripled during the second half of the 20th century. This study examines the role played by this increase in cereal production in improving the region's nutrition and food security situation. We study the association between the different aspects of food security and cereal production in South Asia that have prevailed over the past 25 years. We find a beneficial role of the production and yield of cereals in lowering the extent of undernourishment. A 1% increase in cereal production and yield is associated with up to 0.84% decrease in the prevalence of undernourishment. The impact is significant over a period of 3 years. The positive effect is particularly evident in the case of rice and maize production. An improvement is seen in the aspects of availability, stability, and utilization of food security but not in the aspect of access. These findings are robust to alternative specifications and techniques. The results explain, in part, the means by which South Asian nations have managed to stall relative increases in extreme hunger and food insecurity.
This study examines asset accumulation patterns of the recipients of foreign and domestic remittances. Employing a number of matching techniques, we analyse stocks of consumer, productive, housing and financial assets among migrants' stay-behind households in Pakistan. We find that asset accumulation among remittance-receiving households depends upon the nature and magnitude of remittances, the economic situation, and the geographical location of the recipient households. Foreign remittances lead to a substantial increase in household assets, while no significant change results from domestic remittances. We conclude that foreign remittances are considered as mainly transitory income and are used to generate precautionary savings in cash and kind.
Pakistan is one of the world's top 10 remittance receiving countries. This paper examines the potential for the use of remittances as a development strategy. Remittances to Pakistan do seem to promote growth and reduce economic inequality and poverty. However, they also cause the Dutch disease, are inflationary, and tend to be pro-cyclical. The paper describes the challenges in employing remittances as the cornerstone of the country's development model, particularly the loss in competitiveness, volatility and the development of a dependency mindset that high remittance inflows can foster. In the end, some steps are suggested that are needed to be taken in this regard.
Purpose
– This paper aims to examine the Indian migrants' role in attracting outward foreign direct investment (OFDI) from India to their respective host countries. Diasporas play a crucial role in augmenting trade, foreign direct investment and prosperity of a country. They facilitate acquisition and exchange of technical knowhow, market information and physical capital, and are therefore considered as social capital.
Design/methodology/approach
– This paper employs mixed effect model using data for the period 1999-2008.
Findings
– This paper finds that the presence of Indian diaspora has a substantial positive effect on the volume of Indian overseas investments in the developed countries. This is particularly the case with Indian OFDI to Asia Pacific, whereas those to Europe appear to be affected by the Indian migrant community only in the presence of bilateral investment treaties (BITs). The author findings highlight the role of Indian diaspora in promoting trade and investment links between India and other Asia Pacific countries.
Originality/value
– This is the first empirical analysis of the role of Indian overseas community in attracting Indian OFDI.
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