DOES TOTAL FACTOR PRODUCTIVITY CONVERGE AMONG ASEAN COUNTRIES?

This paper examines the productivity convergence of the five original Association ofSoutheast Asian Nations (ASEAN) countries, namely Indonesia, Malaysia, Philippines,Singapore, and Thailand (ASEAN-5), using annual data spanning the period 1968to 2014. Results from two-break Lagrange multiplier and residual augmented leastsquares Lagrange multiplier unit root tests reveal strong evidence of productivityconvergence in case of ASEAN-5. Further, the results based on Phillips–Sul panelclub convergence also reveal productivity convergence. To check the robustness ofour finding, we use an alternative measure of total factor productivity and still findevidence of convergence. We infer that such productivity improvements may helpASEAN countries to achieve a higher pace of economic growth.This paper examines the productivity convergence of the five original Association ofSoutheast Asian Nations (ASEAN) countries, namely Indonesia, Malaysia, Philippines,Singapore, and Thailand (ASEAN-5), using annual data spanning the period 1968to 2014. Results from two-break Lagrange multiplier and residual augmented leastsquares Lagrange multiplier unit root tests reveal strong evidence of productivityconvergence in case of ASEAN-5. Further, the results based on Phillips–Sul panelclub convergence also reveal productivity convergence. To check the robustness ofour finding, we use an alternative measure of total factor productivity and still findevidence of convergence. We infer that such productivity improvements may helpASEAN countries to achieve a higher pace of economic growth

THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC AND INDIAN PHARMACEUTICAL COMPANIES: AN EVENT STUDY ANALYSIS

Although there is a plethora of studies which examine the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on India’s financial sector, we contribute by investigating the effect of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic on stock returns of Indian pharmaceutical companies. By employing an event study methodology, our results indicate that the average returns of the pharmaceutical sector are positive during the COVID-19 phase although mixed evidence is found at the firm level. This finding is also robust to alternative model specifications.    Although there is a plethora of studies which examine the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on India’s financial sector, we contribute by investigating the effect of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic on stock returns of Indian pharmaceutical companies. By employing an event study methodology, our results indicate that the average returns of the pharmaceutical sector are positive during the COVID-19 phase although mixed evidence is found at the firm level. This finding is also robust to alternative model specifications

DOES INNOVATION OUTCOME INFLUENCE PERFORMANCE OF INDIAN MANUFACTURING FIRMS?

This paper investigates the impact of innovation on the performance of selected manufacturing firms in India over the period 2008-2017. Specifically, we emphasize on the role of innovation outcome in terms of number of patents on firms’ performance and consider total factor productivity growth, firms’ growth in terms of total gross sales, and profitability as indicators of firm performance. The results based on the panel Feasible Generalized Least Square estimator shows that the effect of innovation on firms’ performance is positive. Further, the impact of innovation on performance is higher for large firms compared to small firms

DOES EXPORT DIVERSIFICATION LEAD TO INCOME CONVERGENCE? EVIDENCE FROM CROSS-COUNTRY ANALYSIS

In this study, we examine the role of export diversification in the convergence of per capita income (output). By applying the dynamic system Generalized Method of Moments (GMM) estimator to a panel dataset consisting of 95 countries, we find evidence of both absolute and conditional divergence for the full sample and the subsamples based on income and regions. Thus, our findings suggest that, although high export diversification boosts the per capita income (output), it does not significantly reduce per capita income (output) gap between rich and poor countries.In this study, we examine the role of export diversification in the convergence of per capita income (output). By applying the dynamic system Generalized Method of Moments (GMM) estimator to a panel dataset consisting of 95 countries, we find evidence of both absolute and conditional divergence for the full sample and the subsamples based on income and regions. Thus, our findings suggest that, although high export diversification boosts the per capita income (output), it does not significantly reduce per capita income (output) gap between rich and poor countries

DO INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGIES FOSTER ECONOMIC GROWTH IN INDONESIA?

This paper investigates, using annual data from 1980 to 2014, whether adoption of information and communication technologies (ICT) fosters economic growth in Indonesia. We employ an Autoregressive Distributed Lag cointegration technique on an augmented neoclassical growth model. The empirical results indicate a positive effect of ICT development on economic growth in both the long-run and short-run. The other regressors, such as total factor productivity, human capital, and capital per worker, also positively affect economic growth. From a policy perspective, the Indonesian government should promote ICT development through greater investment.This paper investigates, using annual data from 1980 to 2014, whether adoption of information and communication technologies (ICT) fosters economic growth in Indonesia. We employ an Autoregressive Distributed Lag cointegration technique on an augmented neoclassical growth model. The empirical results indicate a positive effect of ICT development on economic growth in both the long-run and short-run. The other regressors, such as total factor productivity, human capital, and capital per worker, also positively affect economic growth. From a policy perspective, the Indonesian government should promote ICT development through greater investment

COVID-19 uncertainty, financial markets and monetary policy effects in case of two emerging Asian countries

This paper examines the effectiveness of the monetary policies undertaken by the central bank on economic growth during COVID-19 uncertainty in case of India and Indonesia. We use an innovative framework of Growth-at-Risk as oppose to standard macroeconomic models, which can predict the growth in a much robust way particularly when an economy is facing shocks like COVID-19. The empirical results based on Growth-at-Risk model clearly reveal that effect of COVID-19 pandemic on economic growth is much adverse in comparison to actual declines. Further, this study shows the effectiveness of monetary and financial policies undertaken by the central banks of both India and Indonesia, which have actually subsided the adverse impact of COVID-19

THE NEXUS AMONG EMPLOYMENT, PRODUCTIVITY AND TRADE OPENNESS: EVIDENCE FROM BRICS AND INDONESIA

This paper investigates the nexus among employment, labor productivity and trade openness in Brazil, Russia, India, China, South Africa (BRICS), and Indonesia using annual data (1991–2018). The results suggest a long-run relationship among the variables but only in the agricultural sector of these economies. We also find a unidirectional causality running from employment to productivity in only the agricultural sector. Similarly, trade openness also Granger causes employment. Our final result indicates that trade openness positively influences labor productivity in the long-run. From a policy perspective, it is imperative for BRICS and Indonesia to target employment generation by promoting trade openness.This paper investigates the nexus among employment, labor productivity and trade openness in Brazil, Russia, India, China, South Africa (BRICS), and Indonesia using annual data (1991–2018). The results suggest a long-run relationship among the variables but only in the agricultural sector of these economies. We also find a unidirectional causality running from employment to productivity in only the agricultural sector. Similarly, trade openness also Granger causes employment. Our final result indicates that trade openness positively influences labor productivity in the long-run. From a policy perspective, it is imperative for BRICS and Indonesia to target employment generation by promoting trade openness

What is the value of corporate sponsorship in sports?

This paper investigates the stock market reaction to investor mood swings resulting from the Indian Premier League (IPL) cricket matches. We find that stocks listed on the Bombay Stock Exchange (BSE) that sponsor the IPL cricket are unaffected by the cricket matches. This finding is robust along two lines: (a) the effect is insignificant both statistically and economically which we demonstrate using a simple trading strategy; and (b) results hold across a wide range of portfolios. Our results, both statistical and trading strategy-based, suggest that the portfolios of companies that sponsor cricket in India are efficient. Our findings stand in sharp contrast to the evidence obtained by the broader sports literature suggesting that sports actually impact stock returns, driven principally by psychological factors

ASSESSING THE COMPETITIVENESS OF FIRMS IN THE INDIAN MANUFACTURING SECTOR: AN INTER INDUSTRY ANALYSIS

This study measures the competitiveness of Indian manufacturing industries by covering 650 firms from 11 industries using the composite index approach. Firms are classified into two broad groups based on labor-capital intensity and ownership. The study found that capital-intensive industries are more competitive than labor-intensive industries. With regards to ownership of firms, the study finds that foreign-owned firms are more competitive than domestic firms. The study also divides the sample into two sub-periods based on India’s Competition Act 2002. The results reveal that competitiveness has slightly increased after the implementation of the Act

Innovation and Firm-level Labour Productivity: A Comparison of Chinese and Indian Manufacturing Based on Enterprise Surveys

This article examines the impact of innovation on labour productivity by using latest World Bank Enterprise Surveys data and compares the results between Chinese and Indian manufacturing sector. The article uses cross-section data based on two surveys that were conducted by the World Bank in 2012 and 2014 for China and India, respectively. By employing simple ordinary least squares (OLS) regression technique, we find that innovation affects the labour productivity positively for Chinese as well as Indian manufacturing firms, but its impact on firm productivity is relatively weak in case of India as compared to China. Second, other factors such as average wage of the workers, education of production workers and training do significantly boost the labour productivity of Chinese manufacturing firms as well as for Indian firms. Third, our results based on firm size also indicate that the impact of innovation activities on labour productivity is higher in case of large firms as compared to medium firms. However, innovation does not affect the labour productivity of small manufacturing firms for both China and India. In terms of policy, it is important for both Chinese and Indian manufacturing firms to keep pursuing innovation activities, in order to spur productivity, which would strengthen firms’ growth