Household’s willingness to pay for safe drinking water: A case study of Abbottabad district

This study is based on survey data and used both the contingent valuation method and averting behaviour approach to capture HH's willingness to pay for services and quality in the drinking water sector. In case of the HH’s WTP for improved water services, the study estimates that there is statistically significant effect of location that in urban areas, HHs has more WTP for improved water services. The study also finds that sources of water have a significant effect on WTP i.e. the HH who have own source are willing to pay in the higher range (Rs 51–100) further tap water has significant effect on WTP for the first two quartiles. As expected, education level ignificantly affects WTP for safe drinking water.contingent valuation, averting behaviour, household survey, willingness to pay, Pakistan

Globalization and socio-economic structure: Evidence from selected Asian countries

Considering the fact that globalization shapes socio-economic structure, its effects vary substantially across countries and sectors, depending on the nature of globalization. This study assesses empirically the effects of different types of globalization — economic, social and political— on socio-economic structure. The empirical analyses carried out in case of 17 non-oil producing countries of Asia and Eastern Europe covering the time period 1990-2016. This study employs the system generalized method of moment (GMM) as estimation technique. The estimates indicate that all forms of globalization signify their role in the shaping of socio-economic structure of the sample countries. In simple words, more economic, social, and political tied-up country results in an improving of socio-economic structure. The empirical contribution of the paper lies in to two folds.  First, instead of individual indicator, the paper illustrates the effect of globalization on the complete socio-economic structure. To this end, we developed a composite index of socio-economic structure comprising six different socio-economic indicators.  Second, the paper provides empirical indications that how the complete socio-economic structure of a country is affected by different types of globalization— economic, social and political

Effects of Innovations on Margins of International Trade: Evidence with Firm Level Data of Selected South Asian Countries

In an increasingly globalized world, firms and countries are continuously striving for export competitiveness to increase their export shares in international markets. This study investigates the effects of different types of innovations on extensive and intensive margins of exports by using data of manufacturing firms operating in four South Asian countries. We use the probit, and fractional response model as estimation techniques. The results of the study reveal that process, management, and marketing innovations have positive and statistically significant effects on both extensive and intensive margins of exports. These results suggest that South Asian countries should facilitate firms to engage in innovative activities which provide a sustainable, competitive advantage for firms in international market

Household’s Willingness to Pay for Safe Drinking Water: A Case Study of Abbottabad District

Drinking water is the basic need of human life. Safe drinking water is an essential component of primary health care and have vital role in poverty alleviation. There is positive correlation between increased national income and the proportion of population with access to improved water supply. An increase of 0.3 percent investment in household access to safe drinking water generates one percent increase in GDP. Whereas, provision of safe drinking water supply is an effective health intervention reduces the mortality caused by water-borne diseases by an average 70 percent. Inadequate drinking water not only resulted in more sickness and deaths, but also augments health costs, lower worker productivity and school enrolment [World Bank (1994)]. The World Health Organisation (WHO) estimate 1.8 million people in developing countries die every year from diarrhea and cholera, Out of these 90 percent are children under the age of five years. While 88 percent of diarrhoeal diseases are attributed to unsafe water supply, inadequate sanitation and hygiene [WHO (2004)]. The situation is not very different in Pakistan; the access to safe drinking water is estimated to be available to 23.5 percent of population in rural areas and 30 percent in urban areas. While every year 0.2 million children die due to diarrhoeal diseases [Rosemann (2005)]

Effects of Innovations on Margins of International Trade: Evidence with Firm Level Data of Selected South Asian Countries

In an increasingly globalized world, firms and countries are continuously striving for export competitiveness to increase their export shares in international markets. This study investigates the effects of different types of innovations on extensive and intensive margins of exports by using data of manufacturing firms operating in four South Asian countries. We use the probit, and fractional response model as estimation techniques. The results of the study reveal that process, management, and marketing innovations have positive and statistically significant effects on both extensive and intensive margins of exports. These results suggest that South Asian countries should facilitate firms to engage in innovative activities which provide a sustainable, competitive advantage for firms in international market

Household’s willingness to pay for safe drinking water: A case study of Abbottabad district

This study is based on survey data and used both the contingent valuation method and averting behaviour approach to capture HH's willingness to pay for services and quality in the drinking water sector. In case of the HH’s WTP for improved water services, the study estimates that there is statistically significant effect of location that in urban areas, HHs has more WTP for improved water services. The study also finds that sources of water have a significant effect on WTP i.e. the HH who have own source are willing to pay in the higher range (Rs 51–100) further tap water has significant effect on WTP for the first two quartiles. As expected, education level ignificantly affects WTP for safe drinking water

2,4-Dinitrophenyl hydrazone derivatives as potent alpha amylase inhibitors

In our current study thirteen new 2,4-dinitrophenyl hydrazone derivatives 1–13 have been evaluated for alpha amylase activity. The molecular docking results indicate that compounds potentially bind in the catalytic site of the enzyme with excellent result. Molecular Operating Environment (MOE) software was used for docking study. 2,4-Dinitrophenyl hydrazone 1-13 have been obtained under reflux conditions by reacting dinitrophenyl hydrazine in methanol with different aromatic as well as aliphatic aldehydes in the presence of acetic acid act as a catalyst. The current results have shown that compounds 5 (IC50 =12.16µg/mL), 6 (IC50 =15.03µg/mL), and 12 (IC50 =16.42 µg/mL) have been found to be the more potent alpha amylase inhibitors as compared to the standard acarbose (IC50 = 42.47µg/mL). These compounds may provide better leads for alpha amylase inhibitor and further assessment of these compounds can be of great help in the discovery of new antidiabetic drugs.

2,4-Dinitrophenyl hydrazone derivatives as potent alpha amylase inhibitors

277-282In our current study thirteen new 2,4-dinitrophenyl hydrazone derivatives 1–13 have been evaluated for alpha amylase activity. The molecular docking results indicate that compounds potentially bind in the catalytic site of the enzyme with excellent result. Molecular Operating Environment (MOE) software was used for docking study. 2,4-Dinitrophenyl hydrazone 1-13 have been obtained under reflux conditions by reacting dinitrophenyl hydrazine in methanol with different aromatic as well as aliphatic aldehydes in the presence of acetic acid act as a catalyst. The current results have shown that compounds 5 (IC50 =12.16µg/mL), 6 (IC50 =15.03µg/mL), and 12 (IC50 =16.42 µg/mL) have been found to be the more potent alpha amylase inhibitors as compared to the standard acarbose (IC50 = 42.47µg/mL). These compounds may provide better leads for alpha amylase inhibitor and further assessment of these compounds can be of great help in the discovery of new antidiabetic drugs

The contribution of international trade to economic growth through human capital accumulation: Evidence from nine Asian countries

This study is an attempt to test the hypothesis “international trade contributes to economic growth through its effects on human capital accumulation.” To assess the hypothesis empirically, we employed the extended Neo-Classical growth model that reflects some features of the endogenous growth models. We thus ended up with a model in which the change in human capital is sensitive to change in trade policies. Unlike conventional approaches, the model serves to assess and determine the impact of international trade on the accumulation of human capital. The empirical analysis estimates dynamic panel growth equations by using a data-set of nine Asian countries, over the period 1972–2012. The overall evidence substantiates the fact that in countries under consideration, international trade enhances the accumulation of human capital and contributes to economic growth positively through human capital accumulation