Inflation, inflation uncertainty and output growth: recent evidence from ASEAN-5 countries

This paper investigates the links between inflation, its uncertainty and economic growth in five ASEAN countries over the period 1980: Q1–2011: Q3. We rely on the Exponential GARCH (EGARCH) model to explore the causal relationship among the three variables. The major findings are: (i) inflation uncertainty increases more in response to positive inflation surprises than to negative surprises in all countries; (ii) inflationary shocks affect positively inflation uncertainty as predicted by the Friedman–Ball hypothesis; (iii) there is no evidence to suggest that inflation uncertainty causes inflation and; (iv) there is evidence that inflation affects growth negatively, both directly and indirectly (via the inflation uncertainty channel). The indirect effect is clearly stronger as it applies in all countries in the sample

Exchange rate regime, exchange rate variability and flows of Malaysia's foreign trade

This article empirically evaluates Malaysian foreign trade effects through two types of exchange rate variability; misalignments and volatility across different exchange rate regimes from 1991:Q1 to 2003:Q4. The Natural Real Exchange Rate (NATREX) equilibrium model is employed to generate the real exchange rate misalignment while the GARCH (1, 1) model is used to measure the real exchange rate volatility, which is then tested in a model of Malaysian imports and exports. This paper differs from existing literature as the effects of exchange rate misalignment significantly hastened the level of Malaysian exports and imports for the periods, managed floating and pegged rate. On the other hand, the exchange rate volatility has merely promoted the Malaysian exports and imports during the implementation of pegged rate. This proposes that the variability of exchange rate and exchange rate regimes are important determinants in inspiring Malaysian foreign trade, especially during the 1997 financial crisis when the economic is distressed

The stability of money demand in China : evidence from the ARDL model

This study examines the demand for broad money (M2) in China using the autoregressive distributed lag (ARDL) cointegration framework. The results based on the bounds testing procedure confirm that a stable, long-run relationship exists between M2 and its determinants: real income, inflation, foreign interest rates and stock prices. Importantly, our results reveal that stock prices have a significant wealth effect on long- and short-run broad money demand; its omission can lead to serious misspecifications in the money demand function (MDF). This finding is consistent with the notion that asset inflation (deflation) has systematic influence on the pattern of monetary aggregates

Exchange rate misalignment, volatility and import flows in Malaysia

This paper investigates the effect of real exchange rate misalignment and volatility on Malaysian import flows during 1991:Q1 to 2003:Q4. A measure of the quantitative proxy of the real exchange rate misalignment is constructed using the Natural Real Exchange Rate (NATREX) equilibrium model, whereas the volatility of real exchange rate is generated from the GARCH model. This paper differs from existing literature as the effects of exchange rate misalignment significantly hastened the level of Malaysian imports for period of the study. The empirical results also show that the exchange rate volatility has merely promoted the Malaysian imports during the crisis period. This suggests that the exchange rate misalignment and volatility are important determinants in inspiring Malaysian import flows, especially during the 1997 Asian financial crisis

Stock prices and demand for money in China: new evidence.

This paper investigates the relationship between stock prices and the real money demands for China within a cointegrated framework. This study reports two important results. First, test results reveal that a stable long-term relationship exists between broad money (M2) and its determinants including real income, foreign interest rate, and stock prices. Second, stock prices have a significant substitute (positive) effect on long-run broad-money (M2) demand and its omission can lead to serious misspecification in the money demand function in both the short- and long-run. Finally, we demonstrate that long-run income elasticity is not significantly different from unity with the inclusion of stock prices in the money demand equation

Induction of labour using foley catheter: traction versus non traction technique, a randomized prospective study.

Background: Cervical ripening of an unfavourable cervix can be achieved by placement of a transcervical Foley catheter. Objective: To assess the effectiveness of 750 ml traction on Foley catheter compared to no traction for labour induction. Study design: A randomized controlled trial performed on pregnant women at 37-41 week who were admitted for induction of labour with unfavourable cervix. They were randomly assigned into two groups, Foley’s with 750 ml traction and and without traction. The primary outcomes were improvement in Bishop Score, number of favourable cervix following induction and the mode of delivery. The secondary outcomes were maternal pain score, neonatal outcome, and maternal infection. Results: A total of 160 women were randomized into traction group (n=80) and non-traction group (n=80). The mean change in Bishop Score was similar in both groups. Traction group had significantly (p=0.006) higher number of vaginal delivery (70%) compared to non-traction group. The rate of successful VBAC was also significantly (p= 0.001) higher in the traction group. Participants were comfortable using both methods with low pain score. There was no difference in neonatal outcomes and risk of maternal infections in both groups. Conclusion: application of traction did result in more vaginal delivery and successful VBAC without risk of maternal and neonatal infection

Majlis sulh: the handling of marriage disputes in Selangor / Siti Hamizah Binti Abdul Hamid …[et al.]

In the last semester, we have chosen Majlis Sulh: The Handling of Marriage Disputes in Selangor as the ultimate topic for a research paper in completing the syllabus prescribed by the Faculty of Law, UiTM. This topic was preferred due to the current phenomena suffered by the civil courts including Shariah Court with backlog of cases which is burdensome to the court,generally and the disputed parties, specifically. As the number of family disputes keeps rising day by day in the state of Selangor, the effectiveness of Majlis Sulh in handling marriage disputes must be given serious attention by the legislature and the society at large. Majlis Sulh, as an alternative reference for the family disputes settlement is governed under Syariah judiciary in Malaysian legal system. The emphasis is made on the objective which is to analyse to what extent the application of Sulh is adopted in Selangor by looking at the procedures implemented during Sulh session. In Selangor, Majlis Sulh is governed under Kaedah-kaedah Tatacara Mai (Sulh) Selangor 2001. Besides, other mechanisms for dispute settlement out-of-court are compared with the Sulh process in making differences to the litigation process in court. The issues and problems in the implementation of Sulh are also highlighted together with the recommendations in order to ensure its effectiveness in achieving its aim in settling marriage dispute among Muslims. In these two semesters doing the research, we keep looking for sources in improving the scope of data, relevant to this project paper. Several books, acts and legislation are referred to in getting the detailed information including the documents found from the internet. An interview conducted with a Sulh Officer also provides a positive impact to the contribution of the work in addition to the good feedback given by the authorized body, such as Selangor Syariah Judicial Department

Purchasing power parity and efficiency of black market exchange rate in African countries

This paper investigates the long-run dynamics of black and official exchange rates for ten African countries. Our major findings are, first, that parity holds more favorably when the black market rate is used to validate the purchasing power parity hypothesis. The evidence supports the notion that the speed of adjustment is much faster in the black market than in the official market. Second, the two rates are connected in the long run, with the official rate adjusting toward the black market rate for the majority of cases. Finally, we find the long-run informationally efficient hypothesis is supported in the majority of African countries

Breastfeeding wages according to Al Quran and Al Sunnah

Payments for women who breastfeed a child has been widely discussed in the literature. Questions whether they should be paid with some amount of money arises in the community for such women who are in marital relationship or have been divorced. Nevertheless, wages for a woman who breastfeed a non-biological child and the consequence of such practice has also been inquired.. Hence this review aims to explore the jurists’ and the Islamic scholars’ debate on wages to a woman who breastfeed their biological as well as non-biological child. Qualitative methods were used in this review. Data from books of Islamic jurisprudence (Fiqh), and interpretation of hadith were analyzed. This review provides explanation of the criteria of breastfeeding women who deserve to receive wages, rate of the wages, timing of payment and the effect of such practice through Islamic lenses

“Tahu Salah Tapi Mahu”: cabaran remaja perempuan berhenti menonton pornografi

The study aims to explore how much female adolescents are willing to stop watching pornography and the challenges they face in abandoning their behavior. This qualitative study uses a phenomenological approach to understand the personal experiences of the adolescents involved. Given that the issue of pornography is considered ‘taboo’, only five adolescents who have engaged in pornography have voluntarily agreed to be interviewed in depth by adhering to established criteria and data saturation. They consist of late teens between the ages of 19 and 21 and are students from a public college. Data was collected via in-depth interviews based on semi-structured questions to achieve the research objectives. The questions are based on the Transteoretic Model with a focus on the readiness and challenges of abandoning pornographic behavior. The results of this study found that all respondents were less serious about change despite having the knowledge and awareness that watching pornography had a negative impact. The study also identified five challenges faced by respondents in abandoning pornographic behavior that were (i) incapable of controlling their appetite, (ii) internet attraction, (iii) filling their loneliness, (iv) their habit and (v) the way of thinking. The findings of this study are discussed by linking issues of internet addiction and the change model. Besides that, suggestions for referral to professionals in the help profession are also discussed