Socio-Economic Determinants of Household access to Health Services in Selected District of Punjab

Background: Sound health is basic right of every individual and access to health care is necessary. The right to use health services (HS) is a multifarious idea. In Pakistan provision of basic health facilities of health are inadequate. Current study was aimed at highlighting the primary reasons behind it. Methods: This study used cross sectional data from Pakistan Social and Living Standard Measurement (PSLM) to determine the social and economic determinants of health care services in selected districts of province Punjab. Logistic regression technique is used to measure the impact of selected variables on health access. Results:  Results of the study showed that the health access services in the district of Faisalabad are greater as compared to the Rawalpindi and Layyah districts. Moreover, people were using private health facilities as compared to government health facilities. Conclusion: The study indicated that the education level, household (HH) head gender, work status, region and place of residence, and economic situation, affect the health access services in selected regions. Measures should be taken to reduce the monopoly of private health sector by providing better government health facilities

Tourism as a Significant Contributor to Economic Development: Evidence from South Asian Economies

Tourism has become the world vibrant sector with its multidimensional impacts on the economies especially for developing nations. Study in hand was conducted by taking data of four South Asian economies i.e. Pakistan, India, Nepal and Sri Lanka, which have good potential for the tourism due to their diverse geography, culture and traditions. Time series data set for the years 1985 to 2015 were employed for analysis. It was observed that all selected variables were stationary on the first difference. The study findings revealed that the number of international tourist arrival in India is greater as compare to other three selected countries. The results of long run co integration indicated that variable, number of tourist arrival has significant effect on the GDP of all countries. Overall results of the study validate the hypothesis that tourism has positive impact on the economic development of a country

Demand and Supply Analysis of Transport Energy in Pakistan

Over the last decade, the importance of energy consumption in transport sector has burgeoned forth and has been growing rapidly in Pakistan, and the course is being augured to linger over the coming decades. This paper brings about the function of transport energy demand, economic growth (GDP), oil rents, gas rents, road length and number of registered vehicles for Pakistan over the 1980-2015 by using Autoregressive Distributive Lag (ARDL) approach. The results which have had come about shows preponderance of the fact that there is powerful relationship between all concerned variables when transport energy demand is used as a dependent variable in Pakistan. Hence, Autoregressive Integrated Moving Average (ARIMA) model is used for the future forecasting related to the consumption and production of gasoline and oil. According to the forecasted results, consumption (demand) is much greater as compared to production (supply) in both non-renewable sources. As policy makers suggest, we can make up for this lacuna by bourgeoning forth new technology (hybrid vehicles) as well as an awareness campaign through which we can make others abreast of this research may be launched about energy conservation methods to curtail the transport energy demand (TED) in the country

Financial Inclusion and Determinants in South Asian Countries

Financial inclusion is considered an essential mediator to achieve economic growth in recent years. The main focus of this study is to construct the financial inclusion index and to explore the determinants of financial inclusion in Pakistan, Bangladesh, and India. Data is collected from InterMedia's financial inclusion insights datasets 2016 that are collected through random sampling. The financial inclusion index is used as a dependent variable that is calculated using levels of access and usage of financial services. Age, gender, education, financial situation, working type and use of mobile phones are used as independent variables. Results of multinomial logistic regression reveals that in South Asian countries educated, male, relatively older, rich and regular employees have a better chance to be financially included. Mobile phone users also prefer high financial inclusion. Developing countries like Pakistan, Bangladesh, and India can attain inclusive growth by increasing the contribution of weaker sections of the population with the mainstream. If weaker sections of the population have easy access to financial services, the economic growth of a country can be enlarged. So policymakers should focus on the financial sector's structural problems and pay attention to create modern financial institutes both in the banking sector and in financial markets

A Time Series Analysis of Energy Consumption, Energy Prices and Economic Growth in Pakistan

The present study is conducted to investigate the impact of Energy Consumption (EC) on the Economic Growth (EG) in Pakistan by using a trivariate model. Time series data of macroeconomic determinants of Energy Consumption (EC), Energy Prices (EP) and Economic Growth (EG) are used to analyze the linkage among the variables. Annual data are collected from different published sources like World Development Indicators (WDI), BP Statistical Review and Economic Surveys of Pakistan for the period 1971-2014. Augmented Dickey Fuller (ADF) unit root test and Phillips Perron unit root test are used to examine the stationarity of data and all the variables are found stationary in differenced form. Short run and long run linkage among the variables is examined through Johansen co-integration test and the results confirm the existence of one co-integrating vector among the variables. Granger causality test under Vector Error Correction Model (VECM) is applied to observe the direction of between Energy Consumption (EC), Energy Prices (EP) and economic growth (EG). Unidirectional causality is found from Economic Growth (EG) to Energy Consumption (EC) and unidirectional causality from Energy Consumption (EC) to Energy Prices (EP) is also found in short run as well as in long run. On the basis of result of the study, conservation policy regarding to the Energy Consumption (EC) is suggested with a negligible or no effect on Economic Growth (EG)

A Time Series Analysis of Energy Consumption, Energy Prices and Economic Growth in Pakistan

The present study is conducted to investigate the impact of Energy Consumption (EC) on the Economic Growth (EG) in Pakistan by using a trivariate model. Time series data of macroeconomic determinants of Energy Consumption (EC), Energy Prices (EP) and Economic Growth (EG) are used to analyze the linkage among the variables. Annual data are collected from different published sources like World Development Indicators (WDI), BP Statistical Review and Economic Surveys of Pakistan for the period 1971-2014. Augmented Dickey Fuller (ADF) unit root test and Phillips Perron unit root test are used to examine the stationarity of data and all the variables are found stationary in differenced form. Short run and long run linkage among the variables is examined through Johansen co-integration test and the results confirm the existence of one co-integrating vector among the variables. Granger causality test under Vector Error Correction Model (VECM) is applied to observe the direction of between Energy Consumption (EC), Energy Prices (EP) and economic growth (EG). Unidirectional causality is found from Economic Growth (EG) to Energy Consumption (EC) and unidirectional causality from Energy Consumption (EC) to Energy Prices (EP) is also found in short run as well as in long run. On the basis of result of the study, conservation policy regarding to the Energy Consumption (EC) is suggested with a negligible or no effect on Economic Growth (EG)

Microfinanças e empoderamento de mulheres: uma análise de regressão de comutação endógena

Women in Pakistan are suffering from a great social and economic deprivation due to gender discrimination and inequitable distribution of resources. This paper examines the determinants and extent of women empowerment by their participation in microfinance programs. Data for this study were collected from different areas of Faisalabad, Pakistan, where most of the households were poor and had borrowed money from different microfinance institutes. Keeping in view the disguised endogeneity, Endogenous Switching Regression Model was employed which accounts for selection bias because of observable and unobservable factors. The analysis revealed that education level, household size, family system, educational expenditures, income level and the ownership of different assets like sewing machines have the statistically significant impact on the women decision to work and hence promote women empowerment. It is concluded that the government in developing countries should introduce income-generating activities, especially for women by providing them access to financial resources.Las mujeres en Pakistán están sufriendo una gran carencia social y económica debido a la discriminación de género y la distribución desigual de los recursos. Este documento examina los determinantes y el alcance del empoderamiento de las mujeres por su participación en los programas de microfinanzas. Los datos para este estudio fueron recolectados de diferentes áreas de Faisalabad, Pakistán, donde la mayoría de los hogares eran pobres y habían tomado dinero prestado de diferentes institutos de microfinanzas. Teniendo en cuenta la endogeneidad disfrazada, se empleó el Modelo de Regresión de Conmutación Endógena que explica el sesgo debido a factores observables y no observables. El análisis reveló que el nivel educativo, el tamaño del hogar, el sistema familiar, los gastos educativos, el nivel de ingresos y la propiedad de diferentes activos, como las máquinas de coser, tienen un impacto estadísticamente significativo en la decisión de las mujeres de trabajar y, por lo tanto, promover el empoderamiento de las mujeres. Se concluye que el gobierno de los países en desarrollo debe introducir actividades generadoras de ingresos, especialmente para las mujeres, proporcionándoles acceso a recursos financierosAs mulheres no Paquistão sofrem de uma grande privação social e econômica devido à discriminação de gênero e à distribuição desigual de recursos. Este artigo examina os determinantes e a extensão do empoderamento das mulheres pela sua participação em programas de microfinanças. Os dados para este estudo foram coletados em diferentes áreas de Faisalabad, Paquistão, onde a maioria dos domicílios era pobre e tinha tomado dinheiro emprestado de diferentes institutos de microfinanças. Tendo em vista a endogeneidade disfarçada, empregou-se o Modelo de Regressão por Comutação Endógena, que considera o viés de seleção por causa de fatores observáveis e inobserváveis. A análise revelou que o nível de escolaridade, tamanho da família, sistema familiar, gastos com educação, nível de renda e posse de diferentes ativos, como máquinas de costura, têm impacto estatisticamente significativo na decisão das mulheres de trabalhar e, portanto, promovem o empoderamento das mulheres. Conclui-se que o governo dos países em desenvolvimento deve introduzir atividades geradoras de renda, especialmente para as mulheres, proporcionando-lhes acesso a recursos financeiro

Economic Analysis of Organic Wheat Production in Pakistan: Adoption and Return on Investment

The rising concern of conventional farming emphasized the need of organic farming which utilizes environment-friendly and economically-viable production methods. Pakistan has great potential but organic farming is not in practice. This study examined the constraints in adopting organic wheat and its impact on return on investment by employing farm level data of 300 wheat growers. We employ endogenous switching regression (ESR) approach that accounts for selection bias. The results show that organic wheat has significant and positive impact on the returns but adoption is slow due to number of limiting factors. Illiteracy, lack of information, liquidity constraint, complicated and costly certification process, absence of organic market and small land holdings are the major limiting factors for the adoption. Policy makers should focus to overcome the constraints of organic farming by providing easy, timely and adequate credit. Awareness and motivation of farmers should be done through education, training and extension services

Economic Analysis of Organic Wheat Production in Pakistan: Adoption and Return on Investment

The rising concern of conventional farming emphasized the need of organic farming which utilizes environment-friendly and economically-viable production methods. Pakistan has great potential but organic farming is not in practice. This study examined the constraints in adopting organic wheat and its impact on return on investment by employing farm level data of 300 wheat growers. We employ endogenous switching regression (ESR) approach that accounts for selection bias. The results show that organic wheat has significant and positive impact on the returns but adoption is slow due to number of limiting factors. Illiteracy, lack of information, liquidity constraint, complicated and costly certification process, absence of organic market and small land holdings are the major limiting factors for the adoption. Policy makers should focus to overcome the constraints of organic farming by providing easy, timely and adequate credit. Awareness and motivation of farmers should be done through education, training and extension services