The Exchange Rate and Inward Foreign Direct Investment in Mexico

This paper analyzed the exchange rate and inward foreign direct investment (FDI) in Mexico from the 25 developed countries comprising the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD). Our empirical result does not support the significant relationship between exchange rate and exchange rate volatility to determine FDI in Mexico. The wages, export, and distance are found to be significant variables to determine FDI in Mexico which is supported by literatures.Exchange rate, Foreign direct investment, Mexico, OECD, International Relations/Trade,

BROILER PRODUCERS’ WILLINGNESS TO PAY TO MANAGE NUTRIENT POLLUTION

Economic incentives or disincentives play a major role on encouraging producers to implement environmentally benign production practices. We evaluated producers’ willingness to pay (WTP) value to represent the level of disincentives that motivate farmers to mitigate nutrient pollution. The result obtained by using ordered response model showed that farm size, farm income, and land available to spread litter are major variables that determine the producers’ WTP.Environmental Economics and Policy,

ICT and employment promotion among poor women : how can we make it happen? some reflections on Kerala's experience

This paper deals with the integration of gender in policies relating to information and communication technology to empower socially excluded poor women as producers of this technology. In this context, this paper examines an interventionist ICT policy undertaken by Kudumbasree (an innovative women based participatory programme) to empower poor women .The central part of the investigation is a survey of Kudumbasree supported micro enterprises scattered across the state to understand the nature and characteristics of the enterprises, activity pattern and performance parameters. The analysis of the paper is divided into two parts. First part deals with the structure and performance of women led enterprises and the second deals with issues relating to women, work and welfare. From the evidence gathered, we can conclude that the ICT initiatives under the umbrella of Kudumbasree have vast potential for empowering the poor women. The study clearly establishes that given the basic literacy of the state, engendering ICT for poor women is feasible, provided the right organisational support is given. Poor women through this programme have entered the lowest of IT enabled jobs. If this good beginning has to be sustained and poor women have to take advantage of the opportunities offered by the IT revolution, they should be helped to move to higher levels of activities with more intense training and organisational support. There is a need for continuous upgradation of skills and capacity building particularly in the context of the fast changing technology associated with the IT sector. The point that needs to be stressed is that while the agency has concentrated on the supply side, the demand side aspects such as output demand, market research, customer service etc; have been largely ignored. For best results the supply and demand factors need to be tackled in an integrated manner. The current practice of digitization of government records through Kudumbasree has its limitations. Work is bound to peter out when the backlog of digitization work is completed. The solution to this lies in the expanded role of the agency. The units have to diversify the customer base with government acting as a facilitator. Maybe the government can set up a flexible independent apex body, or alternatively an alliance of units to strengthen their bargaining power. To conclude, although we cannot expect with the given levels of education, for the women to move to very high levels of work like software development it is possible to ensure continuous income and employment through work contracts of a different nature-work of a continuous nature and not programme specific like electronic publishing, customer call centres, records management etc. which will fall well within their educational capabilities. ICT is certainly a promising sector for the empowerment of poor women and for them to become partners in development. Key words: E24, J16, J23, L63 JEL Classification: Women, Employment, Kudumbasree, Poverty alleviation, self help group

Long term trends in the growth and structure of the net state domestic product in Kerala

Kerala has been a model to other states for her achievements in social development. But in terms of economic growth her performance has for long been very poor and a matter of deep concern. In this context the turnaround in growth that has occurred in Kerala in the nineties , in contrast to the earlier decades needs to be looked at in detail. This study is an attempt in that direction. It is an analysis of the long terms trends in the State Domestic Product of Kerala for the period 1970-2000. It is concerned with the growth of the different sectors of the economy, the changes in the sectoral composition of output and other related issues such as the sources of growth. What is observed is that in the eighties and more so in the nineties both in terms of rates of growth and share in net state domestic product the tertiary sector has dominated and this has been due to the growth of the producer’s services. Income responsiveness of producer services is also found to be the highest. However, it is observed that this has not resulted in any linkages with the production sector within the economy suggesting that the linkages may be with productive sectors of other states. Nevertheless there are some intersectoral linkages with the consumer services and intra sectorallinkages between banking and insurance and transport by other means. In conclusion the leading and lagging sectors of the economy and in the nineties the sectors propelling growth are identified. The sectors which have lost their position when compared to the previous decades are Registered Manufacturing, Construction and Public Administration. The emerging sectors in the economy are transport by other means, and trade , hotels and restaurants while banking and insurance is the leading sector. Analysis of structural transformation in the economy suggests that although structural change has been there, it was found to be very moderate and has not been strong enough to bring about a major change either in terms of the growth centres of the economy or the main contributors to the growth of the economy. In conclusion one feels that we continue to remain a consumer /trading state and not a producer state. Is this socially desirable and sustainable is a question that needs to be addressed. Key words: SDP growth rates, sectoral shares, service sector, producer services, consumer services, income and price elasticity, structural transformation JEL Classification: O11, O1

Heterosexual men in the United States of America : are the oppressors also oppressed?

This qualitative study examines the experiences of heterosexual men in the United States, exploring their disadvantages, in particular. The responses of the men studied showed that they did feel oppressed on some level, and/or that they perceived that heterosexual men they knew experienced oppression because of the social expectations for men. On their own accord, they also acknowledged their privileges and that it is great to be a man. The most salient forms of oppression discussed involved feelings of limitations in their authentic self-expression and disenfranchisement in unwed fathers. Research data were collected from a focus group of five men and an individual interview. A second individual interview was conducted with one of the members of the focus group who asked to speak more on men feeling limited in what they can say to a female, especially around other men. A female researcher conducted all interviews. Examining the ways in which the deemed oppressors feel limited, disadvantaged and disenfranchised, contributes to the Anti-Sexism movement as it helps redefine sexism from something that only victimizes women to something that victimizes everybody by fallaciously considering a person\u27s sex to be relevant in a context in which it is not, thereby inviting wrongful discrimination. Implications include the sensitization of clinicians to the experiences of heterosexual males, and further exploration into birth control options for men. A larger scale mixed methods study on this topic is suggested for further research

Preparation and characterization of lamivudine microcapsules using various cellulose polymers

Purpose: The objective of the present study was to prepare and evaluate microcapsules for the controlled release of lamivudine using various cellulose polymers Methods: The microcapsules were prepared by the solvent evaporation method. The prepared microcapsules were characterized for the percent drug content, entrapment efficiency, FTIR, DSC, scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and in vitro dissolution studies. Accelerated stability studies were also carried out. Results: The microcapsules were spherical and free flowing. The entrapment efficiency was 76-86%. The release of drug from the microcapsules extended up to 8 to 12 hours. FTIR and DSC thermograms showed the stable character of lamivudine in the microcapsules. SEM revealed that the microcapsules were porous in nature. The release kinetics study revealed that the prepared microcapsules were best fitted to the zero order for F-2, F-4 and F-5 formulations and Higuchi model, for F-1 and F-3 microcepsules Conclusion: The release kinetics data and characteristion studies indicate that drug release from microcapsules was diffusion – controlled and that the micrapsules were stable. Keywords: Lamivudine, cellulose polymers, microcapsules, controlled release, stability. Tropical Journal of Pharmaceutical Research Vol. 6 (4) 2007: pp. 841-84

A study to assess receipt and utilization of janani suraksha yojana cash incentive among mothers in urban slums of Raipur city, Chhattisgarh, India

Background: Janani Suraksha Yojana (JSY) replaces the National Maternity Benefit Scheme. It was launched by the Government of India in April 2005. The aim was to reduce maternal and neonatal mortality by increasing institutional delivery by providing cash incentive to the beneficiaries as well as the link worker ASHA. Objectives of this study was to assess receipt of Janani Suraksha Yojana (JSY) cash incentive and to assess fields of utilization of Janani Suraksha Yojana (JSY) cash incentive.Methods: A Community based cross-sectional study was conducted among 384 mothers delivered within last one year in urban slum of Raipur city. Study centre was department of community medicine, Pt. J.N.M. medical college Raipur, Chhattisgarh. A pre-designed and pre-tested questionnaire was used to interview the study subjects.Results: Out of total 384 study subject’s cheque of JSY cash incentive was received by 70.83%. All (100%) beneficiaries who received cheque was stipulated amount as per JSY guideline. Reasons for not receiving cheque was no availability of BPL card for those who delivered in accredited private health facility. Other reasons were absconded after delivery, unaware of cash incentive, did not go back to get the cheque when called later, patient shifted to another ward. None of the study subjects who delivered at home received the cash incentive cheque. Realization of cheque was not done by 22.79% of study subjects due to complex procedure to open an account in bank. Cash incentive money was utilized in neonatal care, drugs, food, household activities and some deposited in bank.Conclusions: JSY scheme is definitely functioning well in terms of providing cash incentive cheque of JSY on delivery in Government Health facility. There is need to simplify the procedure to open an account so that beneficiaries can avail cash incentive money. There is need to address the problems to receive cheque in home delivery and accredited Private health facility in addition to motivation for institutional delivery

Evidence of a universal and isotropic 2\Delta/kBTC ratio in 122-type iron pnictide superconductors over a wide doping range

We have systematically investigated the doping and the directional dependence of the gap structure in the 122-type iron pnictide superconductors by point contact Andreev reflection spectroscopy. The studies were performed on single crystals of Ba1-xKxFe2As2 (x = 0.29, 0.49, and 0.77) and SrFe1.74Co0.26As2 with a sharp tip of Pb or Au pressed along the c-axis or the ab-plane direction. The conductance spectra obtained on highly transparent contacts clearly show evidence of a robust superconducting gap. The normalized curves can be well described by the Blonder-Tinkham-Klapwijk model with a lifetime broadening. The determined gap value scales very well with the transition temperature, giving the 2{\Delta}/kBTC value of ~ 3.1. The results suggest the presence of a universal coupling behavior in this class of iron pnictides over a broad doping range and independent of the sign of the doping. Moreover, conductance spectra obtained on c-axis junctions and ab-plane junctions indicate that the observed gap is isotropic in these superconductors