Precise Estimates of the Unrecorded Economy

Informal economy in Pakistan is the backbone of the economy. However, the problem is that we do not know how big it is due to non-availability of the precise estimates of unrecorded1 economy. Precise estimates of the unrecorded economy would help policy-makers to make better macroeconomic policies. If unrecorded economy becomes part of the recorded economy government can seek revenues from it and rest of the sectors may have to take lesser burden of taxes. This would be a win-win situation for the government and for those sectors that are part of the documented system. In return, by becoming part of the documented economic system the undocumented sector can enjoy all those benefits and incentives that are available to the formal sector

Fiscal Consolidation and Economic Growth: Insights from the Case of Pakistan

The primary objective of this paper is to find whether fiscal consolidation has positive impact on economic growth in Pakistan or not, using nonlinear specification. In addition to checking nonlinear relationship between fiscal deficit and economic growth, we also compute optimal level of fiscal deficit that enhances growth, using data from 1976 to 2015. The results show that at the current level, fiscal deficit is positively associated with economic growth but fiscal deficit at a very high level would be damaging for growth. The nonlinear association between fiscal deficit and economic growth suggests that Pakistan would need to keep fiscal deficit in check and keep on practicing fiscal prudence. The analysis of data reveals that although the fiscal deficit has come down over the years, capital, or development, expenditures have also come down. According to the calculations in this paper, the optimal level of fiscal deficit is 0.74 percent of GDP, implying that Pakistan’s expenditure composition and tax structure needs to be revisited to achieve higher economic growth. JEL Classifications: 2SLS Keywords: Economic Growth, Fiscal Consolidatio

Numerical optimization of (FTO/ZnO/CdS/CH₃NH₃SnI₃/GaAs/Au) perovskite solar cell using solar capacitance simulator with efficiency above 23% predicted

The presented study deals with the investigations of the methyl ammonium tin halide (CH3NH3SnI3) based perovskite solar cells for optimized device performance using solar capacitance simulations software. Several necessary parameters such as metal work functions, thickness of structural layers, charge carrier’s mobility and defect density have been explored to evaluate the device performance. Calculations reveal that for the best efficiency of device the maximum thickness of the perovskite (CH3NH3SnI3) absorber layer must be 4.2 μm. The thickness values of 0.01 μm for ZnO electron transport layer (ETL), 0.871 μm for GaAs hole transport layer and 0.001 μm for CdS buffer layer have been found which proved to be optimum for maximum power conversion efficiency (PCE) of 23.80% for the device. The variation of open circuit voltage (Voc), Short circuit current (Jsc), Fill Factor (FF %), quantum efficiency (QE) against thickness of all layers and interface defect densities in FTO/ZnO/CdS/CH3NH3SnI3/GaAs/Au composition have been critically explored and their crucial role for the device performance has been reported. Heterojunctions between ZnO-ETL and CdS buffer layers have shown improved device performance and PCE. Current investigations may prove to be useful for designing and fabrication of climate friendly, non-toxic and highly efficient solar cells

Establishment of the Invasive Cactus Moth, \u3ci\u3eCactoblastis cactorum\u3c/i\u3e (Berg) (Lepidoptera: Pyralidae) in Pakistan: A Potential Threat to Cultivated, Ornamental and Wild \u3ci\u3eOpuntia\u3c/i\u3e spp. (Cactaceae)

Subsequent to the significant accomplishment of biological control of Opuntia weeds in Australia, the larvae of the cactus moth, Cactoblastis cactorum (native to parts of South America), were released in many countries for the biological control of native Opuntia species (Simmonds and Bennett, 1966). Inauspiciously, larvae were also released in the Caribbean, where the moth spread naturally and by the human support all over the region (García-Turudi et al., 1971). Its enhanced dissemination rate and the biological potential for invasiveness, suggests that the cactus moth is likely to become an invasive pest of Opuntia in the Southeast United States, Mexico, and southwestern America. Its damage is restricted mainly to the plants of genus Opuntia (plants with the characteristic of flat prickly pear pads of the former genus Platyopuntia, now considered to be the part of the genus Opuntia). In this region, plants of this genus provide valuable resources for humans, livestock, and wildlife such as food, medicine, and emergency fodder, while in the arid and semi-arid regions, the plants play key roles in ecosystem processes and soil conservation. At present, the cactus moth has developed into a severe threat to the high diversity of prickly pear cacti, all over the world for both the native and cultivated species of Opuntia (IAEA, 2002)

Trade Policy with Intermediate Inputs Trade

The paper aims to characterize the tariff policy for final goods as well as for intermediate inputs in the model of heterogeneous firms. We developed a theoretical model to show how the tariff on final goods and intermediate inputs affect the welfare, productivity, and the entry of firms in a country. We formulate the tariff level selection choice available to the policymaker with respect to four policy experiments. These policy experiments include; unilateral tariff selection, cooperative tariff selection, non-cooperative tariff selection, and political tariff selection. Our results show that at the Stackelberg equilibrium, which results from the unilateral tariff selection, the policy level selected by the leader is higher compared to the rest of the experiments. While, in the case of cooperation, free trade will be the equilibrium outcome. Since, the welfare gains of one country come at the cost of others, therefore, zero tariffs are the optimal strategy for both countries. At Nash equilibrium, which results of non-cooperative tariff policy selection, both countries select policy level simultaneously and applied positive tariff rates for both intermediate inputs and final goods. Lastly, at political equilibrium, which results after considering lobby by the heterogeneous firms, the policy level selection diverges from benchmark unilateral level. To illustrate our tariff policy formulations quantitively, we use the US import data to estimate the policy levels. These estimates are then compared the factual tariff rates to evaluate the degree of political interference of lobbying firms in the policy level selection

Antibacterial Applications of Low-Pressure Plasma on Degradation of Multidrug Resistant <i>V. cholera</i>

The existence of Vibrio cholera (V. cholera) is a major health problem in many parts of the world; therefore, the treatments of V. cholera have always remained necessary for public safety, health, and environmental protection. In the last few decades, plasma discharges have proven to be a novel technique of sterilization against infectious bacteria such as V. cholera. In this research, a low-pressure plasma (LPP) technique has been introduced for the degradation of multidrug resistant V. cholera. The V. cholera strains with 107 CFUs (colony-forming units) were treated by low-pressure plasma, with and without H2O2 injection into the sterilization chamber, to investigate and report the adverse effects of plasma on V. cholera. The results demonstrated that plasma treatment has significant effects on the degradation of V. cholera in the presence of H2O2 vapors inside the plasma sterilization chamber. The time-course study of the bactericidal effects revealed that there is no regeneration or increase in the number of V. cholera colonies after plasma treatment

Antibacterial Applications of Low-Pressure Plasma on Degradation of Multidrug Resistant V. cholera

The existence of Vibrio cholera (V. cholera) is a major health problem in many parts of the world; therefore, the treatments of V. cholera have always remained necessary for public safety, health, and environmental protection. In the last few decades, plasma discharges have proven to be a novel technique of sterilization against infectious bacteria such as V. cholera. In this research, a low-pressure plasma (LPP) technique has been introduced for the degradation of multidrug resistant V. cholera. The V. cholera strains with 107 CFUs (colony-forming units) were treated by low-pressure plasma, with and without H2O2 injection into the sterilization chamber, to investigate and report the adverse effects of plasma on V. cholera. The results demonstrated that plasma treatment has significant effects on the degradation of V. cholera in the presence of H2O2 vapors inside the plasma sterilization chamber. The time-course study of the bactericidal effects revealed that there is no regeneration or increase in the number of V. cholera colonies after plasma treatment