Managing Growth: The Role of Export, Inflation and Investment in three ASEAN Neighboring Countries

This study investigates the relationship between export, inflation, investment and economic growth for three ASEAN countries namely Indonesia, Malaysia, and Thailand. In general, the results revealed that export has a positive impact on growth. As for, Malaysia and Thailand, inflation has a negative impact on growth; while for Indonesia it has a positive impact. The inflation rate for Indonesia is almost consistent for a several years, which have lead to a positive relationship between inflation and growth. However, there is also a modest increase in the rate of inflation for certain years. The results also shows that investment have a positive impact on growth for Indonesia, Malaysia and Thailand.Economic growth; export; inflation; investment; ASEAN

Analysing youths’ perceptions on green technology policy and awareness on environment protection using a two-step least squares method

This study analysing the model of youths’ perceptions on green technology policy and their awareness level on environment protection. This study aims to address potential endogeneity in the model by introducing a few instruments in the two-step least squares model. A total of 300 Sabahan youths respondents had participated in this study. The finding of this study shows that there is an endogeneity issue in the baseline model with statistically significant post-estimation tests. After addressing the potential bias in the baseline model, this study finds that the positive effects between high youths’ perceptions on green technology policy efficacy and high awareness on environment protection become five times higher. It suggests for the government and policymakers to embark on youths involvement in spreading positive attitudes towards environmental protection as they are the future catalyst of Sabah particularly and Malaysia in general

Managing Growth: The Role of Export, Inflation and Investment in three ASEAN Neighboring Countries

This study investigates the relationship between export, inflation, investment and economic growth for three ASEAN countries namely Indonesia, Malaysia, and Thailand. In general, the results revealed that export has a positive impact on growth. As for, Malaysia and Thailand, inflation has a negative impact on growth; while for Indonesia it has a positive impact. The inflation rate for Indonesia is almost consistent for a several years, which have lead to a positive relationship between inflation and growth. However, there is also a modest increase in the rate of inflation for certain years. The results also shows that investment have a positive impact on growth for Indonesia, Malaysia and Thailand

Competitiveness with sustainable agriculture: win, lose or draw?

Through the Polluter-Pays-Principle (PPP), it is generally assumed that the additional cost of internalization is passed on to consumers. However, stiff competition in the world market could make it difficult for exporters to pass on to international consumers, thus profit margin on export commodities is eroded and exports may be curtailed. This situation prevails in many developing countries which export a large proportion of their commodity production. When pollution control costs are substantial, voluntary implementation of environmental policy in the commodity export sector of a country may be problematic. Studies have shown mixed results that generalizations on the competitive effects of eco-friendly agriculture are unwise. Results of our study reveal that stricter environmental regulation to increase the cost of chemical inputs to encourage farmers to produce eco-friendly pepper products would enhance the export market competitiveness of both black pepper and white pepper production in Malaysia. On the other hand, to produce cocoa in a manner consistent with eco-friendly objectives requires huge sum of investment by the government. Each producer has different cost structure such that internalization of production externalities may result in higher cost of production for some countries but reduced cost for others. Cocoa growers in Brazil estimated an increased cost of 13.33% over variable costs at average productivity to compensate for adequate soil management, disease prevention and maintenance of production infrastructure. In Malaysia, one-third of the cost of production is accounted for the labour in combating the cocoa pod borers in estates in Sabah thus increasing the overall cost of production by 14%. However, evidence shows a reduction in the cost of production by 77% in Indonesia due to low wages in agriculture

ANALYSING YOUTHS’ PERCEPTIONS ON GREEN TECHNOLOGY POLICY AND AWARENESS ON ENVIRONMENT PROTECTION USING A TWO-STEP LEAST SQUARES METHOD

This study analysing the model of youths’ perceptions on green technology policy and their awareness level on environment protection. This study aims to address potential endogeneity in the model by introducing a few instruments in the two-step least squares model. A total of 300 Sabahan youths respondents had participated in this study. The finding of this study shows that there is an endogeneity issue in the baseline model with statistically significant post-estimation tests. After addressing the potential bias in the baseline model, this study finds that the positive effects between high youths’ perceptions on green technology policy efficacy and high awareness on environment protection become five times higher. It suggests for the government and policymakers to embark on youths involvement in spreading positive attitudes towards environmental protection as they are the future catalyst of Sabah particularly and Malaysia in genera

Managing Growth: The Role of Export, Inflation and Investment in three ASEAN Neighboring Countries

This study investigates the relationship between export, inflation, investment and economic growth for three ASEAN countries namely Indonesia, Malaysia, and Thailand. In general, the results revealed that export has a positive impact on growth. As for, Malaysia and Thailand, inflation has a negative impact on growth; while for Indonesia it has a positive impact. The inflation rate for Indonesia is almost consistent for a several years, which have lead to a positive relationship between inflation and growth. However, there is also a modest increase in the rate of inflation for certain years. The results also shows that investment have a positive impact on growth for Indonesia, Malaysia and Thailand

Oil and gas trends and implications in Malaysia

The trends of reserves, production and consumption of oil in Malaysia to meet the ever-increasing demands do not seem to show that oil and gas will be depleted soon, contrary to many reports. Malaysia’s net exporter status of oil continues to expand over time for as long as the value of exports is greater than the value of imports. Only in physical quantities of oil that Malaysia’s imports exceed exports, but this does not mean that Malaysia will be a net importer by then. Given higher prices of exports, the value of exports outweighs the value of imports. If the current reserves are extracted based on the domestic consumption trend of 1980–2010, Malaysia’s reserves will last until 2027 but based on the 1998–2010 trend, the reserves will be depleted by 2035. Malaysia has adopted a four fuel diversification strategy comprising oil, gas, coal and hydro, instead of heavily dependent on oil. Gas has a huge potential for domestic utilization as well as for exports to increase revenues. Malaysia is one of the few countries having many types of renewable energy sources. Malaysia has great potential in biomass utilization as renewable resources mostly from the existing natural forest and planned plantations

Investigating Behavioural Determinants for Disaster Preparedness among Youth in Malaysia

Disaster preparedness refers to the efforts taken to increase knowledge and preparation for handling disasters regarding the risks, related agencies, preventive measures, and other disaster-related information. This may include plans or preparations to save lives or property or to help the response and rescue service operations. Youth is considered to be one of the most vulnerable groups of people, and those who are most affected in the event of a disaster. For that reason, this study investigates the determinants of disaster preparedness among youth in the context of a developing country, specifically Malaysia. Measures derived from the Theory of Planned Behaviour were analysed using the Partial Least Square-Structural Equation Model (PLS-SEM) examining the links between disaster preparedness and its behavioral determinants. The results show that the behavioral factors of attitude, social norms, and perceived behavioral control, can explain disaster preparedness among youth. Successful interventions should not only convince people of the value of disaster preparedness, but also equip them with the knowledge and resources necessary to carry it out. Such knowledge would be beneficial for policymakers to understand how behavioral factors are significant and necessary for integration in policy. The enforcement of policies regarding disaster preparedness should be embedded at a very young age as youth specifically are one of the most vulnerable groups of society in the event of a disaste

From Africa to Asia: the shared path of Ethiopia and Cambodia

Geographically, Ethiopia and Cambodia are very far away from each other, but they have more in common than you might imagine. Both countries share a dramatic recent history of violence and difficulties. Nevertheless, they have been capable to rise from the ashes of their past to become two of the fastest-growing economies in the world. But the numbers could be misleading not showing the extremely fragile foundations on which this growth is based. Both countries, in fact, are dangerously lacking appropriate attention on education, committing the same mistake in aiming too high, too fast, without preparing strong underpinnings for sustainable development. Education is a necessary element needed to support the growth of a country, and in this paper, we are going to analyze where Cambodia and Ethiopia stand, focusing on their education sector and highlighting how it is not only their recent pasts and their exceptional economic growth that associate the

Environmental Issues in the Mekong River Region : A Mitigation Model Based on Information Communications Technology

The Mekong River Basin region is extremely dependent economically on the Mekong River, which supports fisheries, agriculture, energy production, mining, and industries along its path. These activities, in many cases unregulated and uncontrolled, have been causing environmental damages to the river, with several many human activities having affected the river’s flow, its chemical composition, and the biosystem. In addition, one of the major issues that have sharply rose in the past years is the increasing number of dams deployed for energy production, which are severely disrupting the water flow downstream, causing droughts and flooding in the lower river path areas. Education and financial-related interventions represent traditional ways to tackle these issues affecting the Mekong River. But there are also more rooted approaches, involving and inducing a behavioral change in the people, offering alternative solutions to monitor environment while shifting toward alternative energies. In support of these approaches, Information Communication Technologies (ICT) can represent a common pivotal element. Yet, a multi-dimensional application of ICT to tackle environmental issues related to the Mekong River can foster a change, but only if a common approach and framework are agreed upon and followed by all the involved actors. To answer to this, in this paper, a three-pillar model of approaches is presented, leveraging on ICT affordances. This mitigation model is based on three pillars: behavioral approach, smart approach, and alternative energy approach. The proposed model should represent a starting point in the stakeholder’s discussion for the creation of a shared roadmap