Determinants of the efficiency of Microfinance Borrowers and non-borrowers: Evidence from Pakistan

This study explores, whether micro finance is being efficiently used or not. As it has been observed that most of the micro finance is used for the non productive purpose. Where as the purpose of lending this credit is to finance the borrowers so that they could enhance their output and inputs. Data Envelopment Analysis was used in this study to find the efficiency scores of the borrowers. There after, Tobit regression was used in the second stage to explore the determinants of the efficiency. A total of 122 traders of micro level including 43 borrowers and 79 non-borrowers were interviewed to fill the questionnaires. While comparing microfinance borrowers with non-borrowers, it was found that microfinance borrowers were significantly more efficient than the small scale borrowers. Average Propensity to Consume (APC) is one of the major factors that has a negative impact on the efficiency. Education was found to have a positive impact on the technical efficiency of the traders. People are generally quite reluctant to take the loan from microfinance institutions due to insufficient amount offered, high interest rate and return of loan in monthly installments. That make the loan less efficient. Therefore it has been recommended the microfinance institutions to overcome these problems. Key Words: Efficiency, Microfinance, Data Envelopment Analysis, Tobit Model.

Institutional Credit and the Profit Efficiency of Micro and Small Scale Traders: Evidence from Faisalabad

In a country like Pakistan, where the people generally have shortage of capital due to low savings as a consequence of low income, financial institutions play an important part to finance the working capital requirements of the business. Data Envelopment Analysis was used in this study to find the efficiency scores of the borrowers. There after, Tobit regression was used in the second stage to explore the determinants of the efficiency. A total of 85 traders of micro and small scale were interviewed to fill the questionnaires. Mean Technical Efficiency was recorded at 0.78. Average Propensity to Consume (APC), Interest Rate (IR) and Number of times credit was taken (NTC) were found to have a negative impact on the Variable Returns to Scale Technical Efficiency (VRSTE). Micro level traders were more efficient than Small scale traders. Traders working in a rented shop were significantly more efficient than those who were running their business in an owned shop. Traders who utilized the loan for actual purpose were more efficient than those who partially or bulk amount of loan utilized for non productive purpose. Therefore it is recommended the financial institutions to work on screening policy and training workshops. Key Words: Efficiency, Institutional Credit, Data Envelopment Analysis, Tobit Mode

ELECTRO-MECHANICAL RESPONSE OF STRETCHABLE PDMS COMPOSITES WITH A HYBRID FILLER SYSTEM

With the technological development of wearable devices, there are increasing demands for stretchable conductor that have stable electro-mechanical performance. In this study, a stretchable PDMS composite electrodes using ternary systems of fillers consisting of poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene):poly(styrenesulfonate) (PEDOT:PSS) / carbon nanotube (CNT) / silver nanowire (AgNW) is explored in a perspective of electro-mechanical response. PDMS matrix is mixed with binary fillers of CNT and PEDOT:PSS, which is followed by AgNW peeling-off process. The PDMS composite is mechanically reliable especially under tensile deformation, which showed a high rupture strain of ~102 % and tensile strength of ~2.7 MPa. In addition, the PDMS composites shows the stable electro-mechanical response, where high electrical conductivity is sustained even under stretchable conditions, showing an electrical resistance value of ~11.7 Ω/cm under 40% of strain. As a demonstration, a supercapacitor using the PDMS composites is demonstrated that shows reliable electrochemical performance

Shifters of Participation in Micro Credit and Credit in General in Pakistan

This study explores the determinants of participation in the credit market using Binary Logit Model on a total sample of 185 small scale traders including 85 borrowers and 100  non-borrowers in the third largest city of Pakistan “Faisalabad”. Two different models were estimated including one for the micro entrepreneurs and the other for both micro and small scale traders. Results indicate that higher Average Propensity to Consume is a major factor of entrance in the credit market. Family size and the level of education were also positively related with participation in credit market. However number of earners is negatively related with the probability of entrance in the credit market. H-L Statistics shows that model is good fit. Key Words: Credit Participation, Micro Credit, Logit Model

Impact of Terrorism on Forex Market and Karachi Stock Exchange: Evidence from Pakistan

The present study is an effort for estimation of impact of terrorism on financial markets of Pakistan over the period from 2007 to 2010. The most terrorism affected era of Pakistan history. It finds the relationship between the terrorist activities and the two kinds of financial markets which are the capital market including the variable KSE stock prices, FOREX market which includes Exchange rate variable. A result show that terrorism has an adverse effect on the Karachi stock prices (capital market) Currency has also depreciated significantly due to the increase in the terrorism during this period. Time series data on daily basis has been used in this study. Key Words: Terrorist Incidents, Forex Market, Stock Marke

Relationship of Social Progress Index (SPI) with Gross Domestic Product (GDP PPP per capita): The moderating role of Corruption Perception Index (CPI)

This study investigated the impact of social progress on economic development in 119 countries, while taking their individual corruption perception into consideration. Simple linear regression was use on the secondary data for 119 countries and 5 continents while the SPSS PROCESS macro was used to test the moderating effect of corruption perception. As hypothesized, a positive relationship of the social progress index (SPI) with gross domestic product (GDP) PPP per capita was observe. This means that countries, which fulfill basic human needs, foundations of wellbeing and foster availability of opportunities have enhanced economic development. Moreover, the moderating role of corruption perception between the relationship of social progress and economic development was confirmed; thus indicating that countries with better corruption perception rating possess a stronger relationship of SPI and GDP (PPP) per capita and vice versa. When checked for continents, moderation results showed that the continents that have higher values of corruption perception index (CPI) are more socially and economically developed

Impact of Online Consumer Reviews on Hotel Booking Intentions: The Case of Pakistan

This study is aimed at empirically investigating the influence of online consumer reviews such as realism, positive reviews, negative reviews and volume of online reviews on hotel booking intentions in Pakistan through mediational mechanism. Data was collected from 250 part-time business graduates of University of Punjab, the largest Public-Sector University of Provincial Capital of Pakistan. SPSS and AMOS were carried out to analyze the results and determine the impact of online reviews on hotel booking intentions. Results indicated that realism, the volume of reviews and positive reviews are the most influential dimensions of online consumer reviews. Moreover, trust act as an intervening variable between positive reviews, the volume of reviews, realism and hotel booking intentions. Empirical analysis also indicated that negative online reviews have no direct and indirect impact on hotel booking intentions of online customers. This study is an effort in proposing a combination of online consumer reviews dimensions in determining Hotel Booking Intentions

SENSING MECHANISM AND APPLICATION OF MECHANICAL STRAIN SENSOR: A MINI-REVIEW

This study reviews the potential of flexible strain sensors based on nanomaterials such as carbon nanotubes (CNTs), graphene, and metal nanowires (NWs). These nanomaterials have excellent flexibility, conductivity, and mechanical properties, which enable them to be integrated into clothing or attached to the skin for the real-time monitoring of various activities. However, the main challenge is balancing high stretchability and sensitivity. This paper explains the basic concept of strain sensors that can convert mechanical deformation into electrical signals. Moreover, this paper focuses on simple, flexible, and stretchable resistive and capacitive sensors. It also discusses the important factors in choosing materials and fabrication methods, emphasizing the crucial role of suitable polymers in high-performance strain sensing. This study reviews the fabrication processes, mechanisms, performance, and applications of stretchable strain sensors in detail. It analyzes key aspects, such as sensitivity, stretchability, linearity, response time, and durability. This review provides useful insights into the current status and prospects of stretchable strain sensors in wearable technology and human–machine interfaces

Efficiency of domestic institutional arrangements for environmental sustainability along the way to participate in global value chains: evidence from Asia

The well-functioning domestic institutions are very important for the global value chains to have its positive impact on environment. This article provides an empirical assessment of the impact of domestic institutional arrangements along the way to participate in global value chains on environmental performance index for sustainability goals for 41 Asian countries over 2001–2018 period. Most recent empirical studies assumes that causality runs to environmental measures through trade and governance but inverse relationship is also feasible and none of the previous studies have discussed about it. Using instrumental variable strategy to closing these gaps, we analyse the mechanism of direct and indirect impact of participation in global value chains on environmental performance index. Our results show that environmental performance index is negatively affected by participation in global value chains and this relationship overturns when participation in global value chains is accompanied by governance facilitation. Further, the findings suggest that governance-augmented participation in global value chains is a tool of environmental sustainability

Impact of Training and Supervisor Support on Organizational Commitment with mediating role of Job Satisfaction

Training and Supervisor support shows a very important role in growing organizational commitment. The purpose of this research is to give a hypothetical justification of: a) impact of supervisor support on organizational commitment, mediating part of job satisfaction for the positive connection between supervisor support and organizational commitment, b) direct impact of training on organizational commitment and job satisfaction for the positive association among training, organizational commitment too. Self-administered questionnaires were distributed. The population which is targeted for this study was employees of the textile firms in Lahore. Data were collected from 320 employees. The study uses the SPSS and Structural Equation Modelling to test the hypotheses among 320 respondents. The results indicate that there is a significant relationship between training and organizational commitment, supervisor support and organizational commitment, training and job satisfaction. Supervisor support is significantly related with job satisfaction and there is a significant relationship between job satisfaction and organizational commitment