Interrelationship between Income, Health and Environment : In a Case of Malaysia

This paper examines the link between health indicators and the environmental variables withn a country widely dispersed on the economic development spectrum. While environment and income are seen to have an inverted-U shaped relationship (Environmental Kuznets Curve (EKC) hypothesis), it is also well established that environment and health are positively related. The main point of the study focuses on the implications of the relationship between health and income. In the early phases of income growth, the gains in health and the losses in environmental quality could cancel each other out and this challenges the idea that as incomes increase health would always improve. To empirically analyse these issues, the estimation of two-stage least squares model that focuses on the impact of income and the environment on health status, with environment being an endogenous variable is done. The results show that the environmental stress variable has a significant negative effect on health status. At the same time, gross national product (GNP) levels are shown to vary positively with health status. The Environmental Kuznet Curve is not found in this study, instead, it is found that the health gains obtained through improved incomes can be negated to a significant extent if the indirect effect of income acting via the environment is ignored. Research findings in this regard would be a useful policy instrument towards maximizing both the environmental and health gains that come with economic growth and development

The usage of computer integrated classroom (cic) technology tools in the study of interactions of knowledge construction among esl pre-service teacher

This paper takes a glimpse at the possible tools for collecting data on interactions of knowledge construction among ESL pre-service teacher. The main tool identified to compile the data collection of the study is a customized of computer integrated classroom (CiC) system. For that purpose, a pilot study on computer support face to face peer response using CiC was trialed with a group of students enrolled in a Microteaching course at the Faculty of Education, University Technology Malaysia. CiC was explored to see whether the system could facilitate both modes of synchronous interactions: text-based reporting and verbal interaction. With the assistance of software and hardware integrated in CIC, many computer supported collaborative learning activities could be carried out by ESL pre-service teachers such as recording, storing, retrieving, and monitoring of user profiles’ activities, learning materials and interactions

The determinants of Nigeria's forest products trade balance

This paper examines the cointegration relationship between forest products trade balance and its determinants in Nigeria using the autoregressive distributed lag (ARDL) bounds testing approach. The results revealed that the variables were cointegrated. In the long run, domestic and foreign incomes have significant negative and positive impacts on the trade balance, respectively, whereas exchange rate has an insignificant impact on trade balance. In the short run, both domestic and foreign income have significant negative impacts on the trade balance. In addition, the coefficient of exchange rate also shows significant negative impact, which supports one of the assumptions of J-curve hypothesis and Marshall-Lerner condition. J-curve existence was tested, and it was revealed that it does not exist in the case of Nigeria’s trading in forest products. The results of variable decompositions and generalized impulse response tests further confirmed the earlier findings. Hence, Nigeria may have to adopt policies that are income related or growth driven to improve its forest products’ trade balance. This is because of the significant role of income variables in influencing changes in the trade balance revealed through the study

J-curve effect and Thailand's trade in forest products: ARDL bounds testing

This paper tried to check for J-curve existence in Thailand's trade in forest products with the rest of the world. An ARDL approach to cointegration has been employed to specify trade balance model from trade equation based on the theory. Prior to the test for J-curve existence, pre-testing for unit root and cointegration test ware conducted. The results show that all the variables became stationary at first difference and cointegration exists among them. We have also assessed both the short run and long run relationships between Thailand's trade balance and its various determinants stated in the equation. The result (both in the short run and long run) shows that sustainable forest management policy's coefficients gave the expected results; income coefficients also gave expected results while the exchange rate coefficients gave contrary results as against the expected. However, the result of the J-curve effect test indicates that there are no signs of its existence and hence we concluded that it does not exists in the case Thailand's trade in forest products

An econometric analysis of sport tourism in Thailand

South East Asia Games (SEA) is a sports game participated by 11-countries around South East Asia. The participating countries include Malaysia, Singapore, Indonesia, Thailand, Laos, Vietnam, Brunei, Myanmar, Philippines, and Cambodia. In year 2007, Thailand hosted the 24th SEA Games at Nakhon Ratchasima. It is an honor for Thailand being the host of the competition as this gave Thailand an opportunity to promote their country’s uniqueness and attractions. This paper highlights the empirical evidence of tourist arrival in Thailand which relates to the SEA games event. The economic factors, short-run and long-run effects of its determinants were examined using Autoregressive Distributed Lag (ADRL) approach. The results suggest that there are no determinants that have significant impact on tourist arrival in the long run, except for the dummy variable which represent SEA games. The dummy variable is significant at the level of 1-percent. Similarly, in the short run, the obtained results revealed that the dummy variable is a significant determinant of tourist arrival in Thailand. These results indicate that, the determinant of tourist arrival particularly based on the SEA games does exist. Whereas, the economic factors such as national income by participating countries of the SEA games and exchange rate are not important factors influencing tourist arrival in Thailand. Hence, by hosting major sport events such as SEA games will positively boost the tourism industry for the host country

Sustainable forest management and West Malaysian sawntimber supply analysis

This paper examines the dynamic effects of sustainable forest management (SFM) on the West Malaysian sawntimber supply. Both short-run and long-run effects on sawntimber supply are studied using a multivariate cointegration analysis. The proxy of SFM variable is permanent forest reserve. It is expected as an exogenous negative shock in the sawntimber supply. In general, given the fact that West Malaysian sawntimber supply is decreasing since 1990s, the results show that sawntimber supply is statistically influenced by SFM practices. Furthermore, reducing of harvested area of forest has significant effect on sawntimber supply decreases. While in the short-run, the results suggest that there are negative impacts of SFM practices on sawntimber supply at 10 percent significant level, in the long-run, the result is significant at 1 percent level. This may to some extent pull down the West Malaysian sawntimber supply together by bringing the forest harvests to sustainable level

Determinants of deforestation in Peninsular Malaysia: an ARDL approach

The forested land in Malaysia is slowly giving way to agriculture especially oil palm and other forms of land use, creating a conflict between agriculture production and forest management. Land use for agriculture has changed over the years. While the land use for oil palm has been increasing steadily since the late 1980s, the relatively more drastic increment has been observed in the late 1990s. On the other hand, land use for other crops such as rubber and cocoa has been declining. This paper highlights the empirical evidence on tropical deforestation in Peninsular Malaysia. The economic factors and short-run and long-run effects of its determinants were examined in an Autoregressive Distributed Lag (ADRL) approach. The results suggest that in the long run, there are no determinants that have significant impact on deforestation. Instead, the price of oil palm is significant at 10 percent level and has positive impact on forest area. In the short run, the results show that the weighted price of logs and the price of oil palm are negative and statistically significant at 10 and 1 percent level respectively. These results indicate that the determinants of deforestation in the short run do exist. They lead to the decline of forest area which increases the rate of deforestation in the Peninsular Malaysia

Financial and economic analyses of conventional and new technology harvesting systems

This paper examine the various committed new technology and improve logging activities ascribed in the 'Logfisher' Practice (LP) rather than Conventional Practice (CP). The result of cost analysis shows that the cost constitutes under LP is higher than under CP. Incremental average per ha total cost rose by 46.86% to RM13,576/ha. While the incremental average per m3 total cost increased by 57.41% to RM267.80/m3. Hence, CP was slightly more profitable and exceeds the Net Present Value (NPV) of LP. Similarly, the Benefit-Cost Ration (BCR) for CP is better than LP. On the other hand, the result of the economic analysis of 40-year period showed that the LP system (NPV = RM9302/ha) provided a higher level of overalls benefits and welfare to the society as a whole as opposed to CP (NPV = RM8497/ha)

The forecasted accuracy of the bioenergy market in the EU-28 region

We developed and evaluated a new approach to investigate the accuracy of forecasted analysis findings of the bioenergy market in the European Union EU-28 between 2014 and 2020. This study tests the accuracy of forecasted analysis results by applying panel data analysis and using the ARIMA forecasting model. Testing the forecasted accuracy for the bio-energy market in the EU-28 zone resulted in an increase in the ratios of supply by 3.04 million tonnes of oil equivalent (Mtoe), demand by 13.83 Mtoe and import by 13.39 Mtoe of bio-energy output, which is logical for achieving objectives of the 2020 National Renewable Energy Action Plan (NREAP). However, export rates are predicted to reduce markedly in all EU28 countries by 26.87 Mtoe because of the significant efforts of the EU-28 states to increase local demand of bio-energy products. This study contributes to the literature by providing an accurate forecasted analysis of the status of the bio-energy markets in the EU-28 zone till the end of 2020 for decision makers and other energy politicians

Economic Impact of Sustainable Forest Management Practices on the Malaysian Timber Market

Malaysia is one of the major producing countries in global timber market. At the same time, issues relating to forests such as climate change, global warming and forest management has continued to be the Malaysian Government‟s main concern. Thus, the Malaysian Government has given its priority towards Sustainable Forest Management (SFM). It is noted that Reduced Impact Logging (RIL) option is widely known as a tool to achieve SFM. Recognising the need to strengthened the SFM, Malaysia has undertaken a critical step to reduce the annual coupe or Annual Allowable Cutting (AAC) in the country and imposed stringent criteria on harvesting operations. This step was taken to ensure the sustainable capacity of the forests and to ensure the reduction or internalisation of externalities by minimising damage from timber harvesting activities. Hence, this policy implementation has affected the volume of timber that can be extracted from the forests. It is noted that, welfare economic impacts of stakeholders in timber industry will be affected as well. This is because their interests normally require trade-offs from the environmental and natural resource concerns. Furthermore, the interests of difference stakeholders were rarely fully mutually reinforcing. Thus, the impact analysis of SFM practices on Malaysian timber market is needed. The purpose of this study is not only to carry out a timber market analysis but also to flag several scenarios that potentially arise due to SFM practices (i.e. reduction in harvested area, incremental cost of internalisation the externalities, external cost of timber harvesting operations and market access). These scenarios were incorporated into the timber market model as a platform for discussion about the possible need to revise the domestic and international supply-demand of timber as well as the welfare economic impacts of timber industry. As Malaysia have three main Forestry Department (i.e. Forestry Department of Peninsular Malaysia, Forestry Department of Sabah and Forestry Department of Sarawak), this study analysed the impact of SFM on timber market based on these three regions in Malaysia. The data related to the timber market model are annual time series basis from 1970 to 2008. A partial equilibrium model was applied in this study covering supply of timber, domestic demand of timber and export demand of timber. This study employed a system of equations technique to estimate the Malaysian three regions timber market model and to determine the timber market, followed by analising the market and welfare economic impacts which incorporates several scenarios under SFM practices into the model. Based on the estimated results from the timber market analysis, price of timber, harvested area and input cost are parameters that significantly determine the well-being of domestic timber market. The partial equilibrium model analysis shows that under the SFM practices scenarios (i.e. reduction in harvested area, incremental cost of internalisation the externalities and external cost of timber harvesting operations), the equilibrium quantity of timber and the price level decreased and increased respectively. In addition, the welfare economic impacts analysis provides an empirical evidence that there is a loss in economic welfare on the Malaysian timber industry resulting from the SFM practices. However, under the scenarios of market access, the result shows that there is a gain in economic welfare on Malaysian timber industry. Hence, this study could identify the optimum level of quantity and price of timber by incorporating several scenarios under SFM practices into the timber market model. The results show that although timber producers would suffer a reduction in economic welfare from SFM/RIL practices, several advantages (i.e. prices premium and market access) could potentially offset their losses. In addition, proactive strategies and policies from the government for upstream activities in timber sector could lessen their losses in compliance with SFM practices. Although most of scenarios under SFM practices will slump the economic welfare on Malaysian timber industry, it has enhanced the forest conservation goal of the country