Labor Market Flexibility as a Determinant of FDI Inflows

This paper shows that labor market flexibility, measured by labor market standards and regulations, has two opposing effects on FDI inflows. Labor market regulations and standards decrease FDI inflows through the cost channel, but they increase FDI inflows through the productivity channel. Allowing for a non-linear relationship between different indicators of labor market flexibility and FDI inflows revealed that some degree of labor market standards and regulations may be attractive for foreign investors. Results strongly suggest that foreign investments to and from different countries and in different sectors are affected differently by different aspects of labor market standards and regulations.foreign direct investment, labor market flexibility

Disaggregating PTAs at the Role of International Division of Labor on PTA Formation

This paper shows that additional insights on PTA formation can be gained from separating North-South, North-North, and South-South country pairs. Inter-industry trade is mostly significant for all country pairs and intra-industry trade has a positive impact only for North-South and North-North country pairs. Controlling for geographical proximity, countries choose PTA partners with which they have a history of trading. Using a simple model, this paper demonstrates that trade protection is not the necessary outcome with international product fragmentation. Empirical findings support the hypothesis that international division of labor has influenced the formation of North- South PTAs.preferential trading agreements, product fragmentation, trade policy

Trade and Investment in the Philippines

Developing countries such as the Philippines relies heavily on trade and foreign direct investment (FDI), consequently leading to economic integration, which in its entireity, determines the country’s economic condition. As such, we believe that there is a need to further study the impact of these external variables on the competitiveness and efficiency of the Philippine economy

International Trade and FDI Literature in the Philippines: Development and Prospects

Trade and investment policies in the Philippines have undergone major shifts through decades. These changes have had important implications on the economy and have been extensively investigated by various scholars. Significant areas which may have important policy implications remain unexplored

Costs of Transporting Fresh Fruits and Vegetables to Honolulu from Hilo and Los Angeles

This publication describes the factors involved in the costs of transporting fresh fruits and vegetables to Honolulu from Hilo and Los Angeles. Transportation cost of food represents a significant factor of Hawaii's cost of living

Competitiveness of Hawaii's Agricultural Products in Japan

This publication extends and updates a recent CTAHR publication that assessed Hawai‘i’s comparative advantage (CA) in selected agricultural products in the U.S. mainland market. It examines the CA patterns of Hawai‘i’s agricultural exports to the Japan market over the period 1995 to 2008

On Pregnancy Journey and Early Parenting: Young Indigenous Mothers in Context

The objective of this study was to explore and understand the experiences of young Indigenous mothers during their pregnancy and early parenting. Using qualitative descriptive phenomenology, the study was conducted among 14 purposefully chosen Indigenous young mothers aged 14-17 years old and caring for at least one child who is two years of age. There were seven participants for the focus group discussion and seven for the in-depth interview. The descriptive phenomenological method developed by Colaizzi was used in the research study to analyze data. The study's findings showed that the challenges experienced by the participants were used to process the data. The three main themes of the study are as follows: The Winding River of Motherhood, Prayer as a Universal Solvent, and Navigating Life’s Waters. The means of coping with the challenges the participants experienced were Faith’s Resilient Beacon, and Pillars of Unwavering Support. Finally, the insights they shared with their fellow Indigenous mothers and society in general were the themes: The Art of Making Wise Choices, The Scholar’s Beacon, and Echoes of the Looking Glass. It entails that the families, government, and other concerned agencies aggressively promote and offer educational opportunities, livelihood programs, and healthcare services for young Indigenous mothers as a powerful advocacy to positively impact their life paths.&nbsp

The Art of Questioning Used in CED Departmental Examination: An Analysis

Assessment plays a vital role in the development and improvement of quality education. In addition, assessment refers to anything that diagnoses the student’s learning and monitors their level of understanding. It is also considered to be the key to evaluating the effectiveness of teaching strategies (Hans, 2015). Traditionally, the most common way to measure achievement and proficiency in language learning has been the paper and pen test. However, various forms of assessment and the design of classroom tests have also undergone some changes in line with the latest development in foreign language teaching specifically the communicative language teaching method. At Rizal Technological University, the College of Education devised a departmental examination program. This program is initiated to determine the capacity of the learners to answer test-item questions patterned after the licensure examination for teachers which aims to eventually prepare them in taking the said examination. Utilizing the quantitative descriptive method, the researchers tried to analyze the levels of questions used in the Departmental Examination.  Specifically, this paper sought to identify the types of questions given in the CED departmental examination, determine the level of questions given in the CED departmental examination in terms of the Revised Blooms Taxonomy and Webb’s Depth Knowledge (DOK) model and evaluate the overall distribution of cognitive rigor present in the CED departmental examination

Rebuilding with a heart: architecture roles in post-disaster psychosocial interventions

The presented paper focuses on the role of architecture in post-disaster humanitarian efforts particularly on the return to normalcy and sustainable recovery. Two major approaches were introduce, ‘Architecture of empowerment’ and ‘Strengths-based approach’ to analyze two cases of post disaster rebuilding projects employed in Batug, Leyte Philippines after super-typhoon Haiyan. The objective of the paper was to formulate a framework for post-disaster humanitarian efforts in order to achieve sustainable recovery. Another objective was to look at the interrelationship of the humanitarian architecture and psychosocial intervention or the journey to normalcy. Key Informant Interviews with locals, observers and participants of the shelter project, were used to gather information for both projects. Qualitative analysis and descriptive method were used for the interpretation the gathered data. In the end, a framework was formulated which points out that the integration with the roles of humanitarian architecture ( provider, supporter and catalyst) with strength-based approaches in post-disaster efforts factors of resources, competencies and sustainable recovery and the interplay of all these factors are the vital elements in order to have successful rebuilding projects after disasters