Exploring Nowcasting Techniques for Real-Time GDP Estimation in Bhutan

In various policy institutions, current estimates of quarterly GDP growth are frequently employed to advise decision makers on the current state of the economy. The bridge equation serves as a fundamental model for nowcasting, elucidating GDP growth through the utilization of time-aggregated business cycle indicators. Recent academic literature has shown significant interest in an alternative method for nowcasting known as mixed-data sampling, abbreviated as MIDAS. Given this context, the paper examines the following questions: How can we estimate the annual GDP of Bhutan through MIDAS and bridge equations? Do they matter for nowcasting GDP growth in practice? By addressing these questions, the study aims to to provide insights into the application and comparative efficacy of these nowcasting techniques in an empirical context

What Meaning Can We Make Together? On Learning to Code Qualitative Research Data with Graduate Students in Education

Graduate students in education are often expected to collect and code data, but the practice of how to do this with qualitative data is not often made visible. In October 2022, we gathered as a collective of graduate students and a professor to address this gap. We asked, what might it look like to learn about coding together? What informs the decisions we make during the coding process? Drawing on a workshop where we coded data from Dr. Burkholder’s research with 2SLGBTQI+ youth, we discussed how we approached the data from multiple lenses and perspectives. In this inquiry, we have traced the growth of our collective understanding of coding practices and show how we made sense of the data as we engaged in dialogue with each other. This paper reveals the intersections of our learning and creates a space for our accumulated knowledge using collaborative modes of inquiry. We argue that there is pedagogical value for graduate students in education and for qualitative researchers in making coding practices explicit

Joint approach combining damage and paleoseismology observations constrains the 1714 A.D. Bhutan earthquake at magnitude 8±0.5

International audienceThe region of Bhutan is thought to be the only segment of the Himalayas not having experienced a major earthquake over the past half millennium. A proposed explanation for this apparent seismic gap is partial accommodation of the India-Asia convergence further south across the Shillong Plateau, yet the seismic behavior of the Himalayan megathrust in Bhutan is unknown. Here we present historical documents from the region reporting on an earthquake in 1714 A.D. and geological evidence of surface rupture to constrain the latest large event in this area. We compute various earthquake scenarios using empirical scaling relationships relating magnitude with intensity, source location and rupture geometry. Our results constrain the 1714 A.D. earthquake to have ruptured the megathrust in Bhutan, most likely during a M7.5–8.5 event. This finding reclassifies the apparent seismic gap to a former information gap and implies that the entire Himalayan arc has a high level of earthquake potential

Echoes of ancient Ethos: Reflections on some popular Bhutanese Social Themes

The essay deals with some religious and social traditions in Bhutan, explains their origins as well as their developments and examines their importance and meanings in contemporary Bhutanese society

The Economic Impact of Infectious Bronchitis on the Canadian Poultry Industry

Infectious bronchitis is a common, highly contagious, acute, and economically important viral disease of chickens caused by infectious bronchitis virus (IBV), a gammacoronavirus. It affects the respiratory system, reproductive organs, and kidneys. Morbidity is 100%, and mortality can go well up to 30%, while egg production drops by up to 50% or more depending upon secondary infection by bacterial pathogens. Emerging IBV variants have led to outbreaks in vaccinated flocks due to a lack of cross-protective immunity, which represents a concern for producers. It is imperative that we assess the economic impact of IBV on the Canadian poultry industry to make important decisions on control and mitigation. I hypothesized that vaccination to prevent infectious bronchitis (IB) in poultry layers would have net positive economic benefits for Canadian poultry producers. A multiple scenario framework with Monte Carlo simulation and benefit-cost analysis was applied. The economic impact of IB on layer farms in Canada was examined by setting up models of Canadian layer poultry farms using data from Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, scientific papers, the internet, and industry sources to perform simulations for various revenue classes across a range of IBV infection scenarios while considering possible control and prevention options. The results show that the impact of IB outbreaks on Canadian poultry industry is estimated to be around 207 billion CAD annually. The high benefit-cost ratios (5-9) from adopting IB vaccines suggest that vaccination as a preventive strategy would be highly cost effective. The study demonstrated the value of vaccination as a preventive or mitigation strategy against potential losses due to IBV. Understanding the extent of economic losses IB outbreaks cause to layer producers would inform the development of timely and cost-effective disease control and preventive measures in order to minimize the impact of IB on egg and chicken production

The Marriage of the Media and Religion: For Better or Worse

This paper briefly explores the 'relationship' between Buddhist spirituality and the various forms of media during the 2500 years of Buddhist history. In doing so, it highlights the flexibility of Buddhism in taking the multiple forms of media as useful means for a spiritual end that culminates in the state of enlightenment. The article also raises the problems and prospects of the new encounter between Bhutan’s ancient Buddhist heritage and modern mass media. It goes on to argue that the media is intrinsically a neutral tool and that an educated and expedient use can only further the cause of Buddhism

The position of Mipham in the Indo-Tibetan debate on emptiness

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