Impact of Energy Consumption on Economic Growth of Malaysia: Crisis Effect

The study aims to examine the impact of energy consumption on the economic growth of Malaysia by considering the 1997 Asian Financial Crisis and 2009 Global Financial Crisis. Autoregressive distributed lag (ARDL) bounds testing method is adopted to estimate the long run and short run impact for the sample period from 1980 to 2019. Empirical findings show that energy consumption has a positive impact on the economic growth of Malaysia in the long run. Furthermore, the impact of energy consumption on growth intensifies during both financial crisis periods

Impact of Government Expenditure, Exchange Rate and Unemployment Rate on Economic Growth of Malaysia

The objective of the study is to investigate the association between government expenditure, exchange rate and unemployment rate on economic growth of Malaysia from 1988 to 2017. All variables in the model are cointegrated with two cointegrating vectors and implies that long-run relationship exist. Granger Causality based on Vector Error Correction Model (VECM) revealed an unidirectional short run causality from government expenditure to economic growth, economic growth to unemployment, unemployment to exchange rate and unemployment to government expenditure. Policies such as fiscal policy and exchange rate policy need to be implemented by policy makers in Malaysia to ensure empowering economic growth

Modelling the penumbra in computed tomography

Background: In computed tomography (CT), the spot geometry is one of the main sources of error in CT images. Since X-rays do not arise from a point source, artefacts are produced. In particular there is a penumbra effect, leading to poorly defined edges within a reconstructed volume. Penumbra models can be simulated given a fixed spot geometry and the known experimental setup. Objective: This paper proposes to use a penumbra model, derived from Beer’s law, both to confirm spot geometry from penumbra data, and to quantify blurring in the image. Methods: Two models for the spot geometry are considered; one consists of a single Gaussian spot, the other is a mixture model consisting of a Gaussian spot together with a larger uniform spot. Results: The model consisting of a single Gaussian spot has a poor fit at the boundary. The mixture model (which adds a larger uniform spot) exhibits a much improved fit. The parameters corresponding to the uniform spot are similar across all powers, and further experiments suggest that the uniform spot produces only soft X-rays of relatively low-energy. Conclusions: Thus, the precision of radiographs can be estimated from the penumbra effect in the image. The use of a thin copper filter reduces the size of the effective penumbra

Impact of Trade Liberalization on Economic Growth in Japan: Autoregressive Distributed Lag Model (ARDL)

The objective of this study is to identify the impact of trade liberalization on economic growth in Japan. Annual data are utilized from 1985 to 2016 via on Autoregressive Distributed Lag Model (ARDL) Cointegration test and Vector Error Correction Model (VECM) based Granger causality. The findings from unit root tests revealed that all the variables of mixed results whereby they are integrated at I(0) and I(1) and could proceed to the ARDL Cointegration test. Furthermore, all the variables have long-run relationships between trade openness, investment, education, inflation and economic growth in Japan. However, this study found a significant positive of trade openness and investment on economic growth in the long run. Lastly, VECM based Granger causality showed some of the causality relationships between variables in the short run for Japan

Biomonitoring of streams: using Ephemeroptera, Plecoptera And Trichoptera (Ept) in responses to the different types of land use at Tabin Wildlife Reserve (TWR), Lahad Datu, Sabah, Malaysia

A preliminary study on three aquatic insect orders, namely Ephemeroptera (mayfly), Plecoptera (stonefly), and Trichoptera (caddisfly) (EPT) was conducted at Tabin Wildlife Reserve (TWR), Lahad Datu, Sabah in January and February 2015. The objectives of this study were to determine (i) the composition of EPT along a stream at TWR, (ii) the distribution of EPT in each different land use at TWR, and (iii) the relationship between EPT communities and the water quality of the stream at TWR. Kick net sampling technique was used for collecting the EPT communities along Sg. Lipad of TWR. The most dominant order was Ephemeroptera consisting of 11 families with 1,354 individuals out of the total of 1,724 individuals and 26 families of EPT communities sampled. Trichoptera was the second most abundant order with nine families and 258 individuals, and lastly, Plecoptera with only six families and 112 individuals. There were more families of EPT communities distributed in secondary forest as compared to the oil palm plantation. Several exclusive families were found in secondary forest, while only one family was found in oil palm plantation. The habitat run showed the highest in abundance of EPT, while pool recorded the least in abundance. Four biotic indices (BMWP, ASPT, FBI, and INWQS) and a few physico-chemical parameters (pH, temperature, conductivity, and DO) were used in this study to determine the water quality of the sampling location. Based on the biotic indices and physico-chemical parameters, the status of water in Sg. Lipad was in excellent condition. The two water quality tests showed profound consistency. This serves as a confirmation that the EPT communities are effective to be used as a biomonitoring tool at TWR

Modeling Malaysia Debt Threshold: Debt Composition (Domestic Debt; External Debt; Household Debt)

Malaysia as one of the fast growing economy in the Southeast Asia region experienced challenging tasks in managing the increasing level of debts. This study intends to investigate the implication of the debt (domestic debt, external debt and household debt) towards economic growth of Malaysia by adopting Threshold regression method for sample period from 1980 to 2015. Empirical findings indicate that the threshold level for domestic debt is approximately 47% of GDP, 17% of GDP for external debt and 81% of GDP for household debt where there is a negative impact on growth the debt is above the threshold level

Twin Deficits And Debt In Asean-5 Countries: Panel Data Analysis

In view of the globalization, current account deficit and fiscal deficit remain the concern among the policy makers. This is due to the importance of the fiscal policy in governing the current account deficit of a country. This study aims to investigate the Twin Deficits phenomenon in ASEAN-5 countries (Indonesia, Malaysia, Philippines, Singapore and Thailand). In addition, the interaction between Twin Deficits and public debt also included in this study to examine the effects of the fiscal policy on current account deficit when considering the different levels of public debt. Panel data analysis is adopted and the sample period covers from 2000-2014 using annually data. Empirical findings indicate that evidence of Twin Deficits can be observed in the ASEAN-5 countries. In terms of the public debt levels, existence of positive association between current account deficits and fiscal deficits only can be observed when the public debt level is considered high

Non-Linearity Effect of Energy Consumption on Economic Growth: Panel ASEAN-4 Countries

The aim of the study is to investigate the impact of energy consumption on economic growth in ASEAN-4 countries as a whole. In addition, the effect of the non-linearity of the relationship between energy consumption and growth is examined using Threshold Analysis method for the period of 1980 to 2014. Empirical findings indicate that energy consumption has significant positive impact on economic growth in ASEAN-4 countries in the long-run. Furthermore, the non-linearity results show that the impact of the energy consumption on growth become greater when the energy consumption is above the threshold level. This implies that more usage of energy may contribute to the economic growth. Keywords: Energy Consumption, ASEAN-4, Non-Linearity

Impact of Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) on Housing Affordability Index: Vector Autoregressive Model

This paper aims to investigate the short and long term association between Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) and overall consumer affordability in Malaysia Real Estate Sector using Vector Autoregressive model. Sample period used is 2009:Q1 to 2017:Q4. FDI is scapegoated as the leading cause of decreasing affordability in real estate. In most cases, FDI on real estate contributes to the rising income of the country. Increasing income promotes demand to a higher threshold level. Thus, theoretically will cause housing price to increase. Through this study, evidence of no cointegration and absence of Granger causality converge towards deficiency of relationship among FDI and Housing Affordability Index (HAI). Findings pointed out FDI is not the cause of decreasing HAI

Determinants of Foreign Direct Investment Outflow of Malaysia : Vector Error Correction Model

This study aims to investigate the determinants of outwards FDI of Malaysia. This study adopted annually data of outwards FDI, market size, trade openness, technology level, and exchange rates which ranging from 1986 to 2016. Augmented Dickey-Fuller (ADF) unit root test, Johansen and Juselius cointegration test and Vector Error Correction Model (VECM) are employed to determine the relationship between the outward FDI and its determinants. The results of unit root tests show that all the variables were stationary after first difference, I(1). Besides that, the cointegration results imply a stable long run equilibrium exist between variables. Based on VECM results, the outwards FDI is affected by all the explanatory variables in both short run and long run. The results obtained are beneficial for the government and policy makers to implement and enhance the outwards FDI in Malaysia