WATER MANAGEMENT IN BANGLADESH AGRICULTURE: OPTIMAL USE AND INVESTMENT POLICIES FOR ADAPTATION TO CLIMATE CHANGE

In Bangladesh, climatic change is likely to impact significantly upon surface and groundwater availability, as well as in other countries. The population of Bangladesh is projected to be double the current 2010 level by 2050. Demand for water will rise with the increasing demand for rice. This paper considers the optimal demand management of irrigation water with stochastic supply under climate change for a 3-year planning horizon. It also identifies the utilization of irrigation water from surface water sources to maximize the expected net social return from rice production. This is done by considering decision on dam release for rice production with reference to climate change. A stochastic dynamic programming model is developed for analyzing the levels and timing of the allocation of surface water for irrigation. The objective is to find the optimal dam release for irrigation which results in the maximum expected present value of the stream of annual net social return from rice production for the 3 years from 2012 to 2014. Net social return in a year consists of the value of rice consumed, measured by consumers’ willingness to pay for rice, less the total cost of rice production. The paper also identifies the need for irrigation infrastructure and determines the optimal investment policies for the adaptation to climate change in Bangladesh agriculture.climate change, dam release, dynamic programming, Environmental Economics and Policy,

Security and Privacy Issues in Cloud Computing

Cloud computing transforming the way of information technology (IT) for consuming and managing, promising improving cost efficiencies, accelerate innovations, faster time-to-market and the ability to scale applications on demand (Leighton, 2009). According to Gartner, while the hype grew ex-ponentially during 2008 and continued since, it is clear that there is a major shift towards the cloud computing model and that the benefits may be substantial (Gartner Hype-Cycle, 2012). However, as the shape of the cloud computing is emerging and developing rapidly both conceptually and in reality, the legal/contractual, economic, service quality, interoperability, security and privacy issues still pose significant challenges. In this chapter, we describe various service and deployment models of cloud computing and identify major challenges. In particular, we discuss three critical challenges: regulatory, security and privacy issues in cloud computing. Some solutions to mitigate these challenges are also proposed along with a brief presentation on the future trends in cloud computing deployment

Asleep at the wheel: the real interest rate experience in Australia

A re-thinking and clear understanding of the factors underlying a country's balance of trade position is needed as the global trade regime becomes more liberalized. The relationship between the overall trade balance and its determinants as propounded in the standard models may not necessarily be the same with the bilateral trade balances. This study has developed a model of bilateral trade balance that captures the effects of all factors influencing trade balance as suggested by elasticity, absorption, and monetary approaches and the popular Gravity Model with some extensions. Specifically, the present paper postulates that the relative factors determine the trading pattern, and hence the trade balance of a country in bilateral trade with partners while in the earlier models absolute factors determine the trade balance,. Using standard panel data techniques the model is empirically tested and the results show significant effects of all the relative factors on the bilateral trade balance of Bangladesh in trading with her partners. The robustness check of the model ensures the validity of the specification.Trade Balance, Panel Data

Pseudo elliptic dual-band filters based on ring structures / Zuhani Ismail Khan

In recent years, wireless transmission via high frequency electromagnetic wave has been given a lot of attention from various industries due to the emergence of new applications and new technologies. One of the most recent and interesting evolution in the wireless communications area is the trend toward the integration of multiple functions into a wireless device that can be used anywhere. One of the main components in the communication system is the microwave filter. The performance of the device is defined in terms of its transmission loss, circuit size and response selectivity. Dual-band filters are seen as the solution for circuit size reduction in a dual-channel communication system

ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE (AI) AS SUSTAINABLE SOLUTION FOR THE AGRICULTURE SECTOR: FINDINGS FROM DEVELOPING ECONOMIES

Agricultural production plays an important role both in national and global economies. The efficient and safe methods of sustainable agricultural production is crucial, and the use of information technology is imperative to meet this end. Among the available information technology tools, this study highlights the IT based cognitive solutions supported with the artificial intelligence (AI) algorithm for sustainable solutions in the agriculture sector of developing economies. For this purpose, a systematic review of 87 papers has been conducted in the chosen last 20 years from 2000 to 2019 to identify the major trends, challenges, limitation related to the applicability of AI supported cognitive solutions in the agricultural industry of developing countries. The results derived from the systematic literature review represents some major flaws in the existing technological & cognitive solutions being used for agriculture means in the developing economies, with special emphasis on the lack of advanced AI techniques that are required for development of robust and precise farming methods. This is due the farmers’ inability to use sustainable technological solutions that are limited by the high cost of available technological tools. Moreover, contrary to other disciplines of science, a human expertise is scare and very costly in the agriculture industry. Hence, there is a need to actively introduce the concept of AI in the agriculture sector by making AI more viable and affordable for the farming community in the developing economies. Besides, there is also a need to create a centralized AI model for the agriculture industry which will integrate AI into a single central system for the entire economy that could be used in various enterprises of the agriculture industry.

The Role of Foreign Banks in Emerging Banking Sector in the Developing Countries like Pakistan

Banking sector plays a significant role in the development of a country, that’s why the financial advisors of the country place a high priority on the growth of the banking sector. Efficient banking system gives direction to the basic policies regarding micro and macro level stability and instability. There is a huge body of literature which confirms that banking system is an important indicator of economic growth. Even some early literature has found an active correlation between financial development and economic growth. Some recent research literature has also concluded that financial development increases the economic growth. Majority of governments are working towards the opening up of their banking system for foreign banks to increase competition, which in turn reduces the administrative costs, lowering banks rate of return and decreasing net interest margins. Researchers, academics and policy makers are studying the impacts of foreign bank entry in the domestic markets. Some researchers have found that foreign bank entry has different impacts in different economies and it is hinged upon the economic development level. Keywords: Profitability Efficiency, Domestic Banks, Foreign Bank

Profitability and Efficiency of Foreign and Domestic Banks: A Case Study of Pakistan

This study examines the profitability and efficiency of domestic and foreign banks of Pakistan during 2006-2010. The type of ownership of banks was divided into domestic and foreign banks. To measure the profitability and efficiency, we used interest spread, net interest margin, return on equity and return on assets and non-interest income to total assets and net interest income to total assets ratios. This study used the secondary data obtained from Financial Statements Analysis of Financial Sectors 2006-2010 published by State Bank of Pakistan. By applying different tests, we have found that although foreign banks are performing very good but the net result show that the profitability of domestic banks was higher and better as compared to foreign banks in Pakistan. Keywords: Profitability Efficiency, Domestic Banks, Foreign Banks

ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE (AI) AS SUSTAINABLE SOLUTION FOR THE AGRICULTURE SECTOR: FINDINGS FROM DEVELOPING ECONOMIES

Agricultural production plays an important role both in national and global economies. The efficient and safe methods of sustainable agricultural production is crucial, and the use of information technology is imperative to meet this end. Among the available information technology tools, this study highlights the IT based cognitive solutions supported with the artificial intelligence (AI) algorithm for sustainable solutions in the agriculture sector of developing economies. For this purpose, a systematic review of 87 papers has been conducted in the chosen last 20 years from 2000 to 2019 to identify the major trends, challenges, limitation related to the applicability of AI supported cognitive solutions in the agricultural industry of developing countries. The results derived from the systematic literature review represents some major flaws in the existing technological & cognitive solutions being used for agriculture means in the developing economies, with special emphasis on the lack of advanced AI techniques that are required for development of robust and precise farming methods. This is due the farmers’ inability to use sustainable technological solutions that are limited by the high cost of available technological tools. Moreover, contrary to other disciplines of science, a human expertise is scare and very costly in the agriculture industry. Hence, there is a need to actively introduce the concept of AI in the agriculture sector by making AI more viable and affordable for the farming community in the developing economies. Besides, there is also a need to create a centralized AI model for the agriculture industry which will integrate AI into a single central system for the entire economy that could be used in various enterprises of the agriculture industry.

The Profitability and Efficiency of Foreign and Domestic Banks: A Mode of Economic Development

For developing countries it is necessary to have a sound banking system in the growth framework since banking system has tremendous influence on the growth in the early stages. Pakistan initiated its banking reforms in the 1990s and allowed many foreign banks to open their branches in the different cities. Foreign banks entry in the financial markets of Pakistan had a positive and healthy influence on the performance and profitability of the domestic banking sector. Some researchers have compared the performance of domestic and foreign banks from 1988-1995 in the context of developed and developing countries. In developing countries, not adequate research has been conducted but a lot has been written about the effect of financial reforms conducted in various capacities. Keywords: Profitability Efficiency, Domestic Banks, Foreign Banks, Economic Developmen