Financial Liberalization, Weighted Monetary Aggregates and Money Demand in Indonesia

This study investigates the significance of Divisia monetary aggregates in formulating the monetary policy in Indonesia. A money demand function has been constructed to compare the relative performance for Simple-sum M1 and M2 (SSM1 and SSM2) and Divisia M1 and M2 (DM1 and DM2) monetary aggregates. The econometrics testing procedures that have been utilized in the estimation include unit root test, cointegration test, Vector Error Correction Model (VECM), Granger causality test and residual test. Empirical findings indicate that only DM1 model yields credible result amongst all of the money demand models. The obtained coefficients for DM1 model are consistent with a prior theoretical expectation and carry plausible magnitudes. The DM1 model is satisfactory as proven by the diagnostic tests. Divisia monetary aggregates are proven not only theoretical superior but also empirical valid as useful measurement of money for the case of Indonesia. The central bank of Indonesia may consider using Divisia monetary aggregates as the policy variables in formulating monetary policy.Money Demand; Divisia Money; VECM

Geopolitical Competition among Great Powers and ASEAN’s Policy Preference

The United States has long been a security ally and economic partner of the ASEAN member states. Strengths of the U.S.-ASEAN partnership include cooperation on regional security, economic growth, and people-to-people ties. The United States also supports ASEAN's efforts to promote regional cooperation and integration through mechanisms such as the ASEAN Regional Forum and the East Asia Summit. Moreover, the United States has demonstrated its commitment to maintaining a free and open Indo-Pacific region, which is consistent with ASEAN's own aspirations for a rules-based regional order. As China continues to exert influence in the region, ASEAN countries may seek the support of the United States to maintain their sovereignty and territorial integrity. The U.S. factor is regarded as a key factor in the strategic choice of indirect checks and balances against ASEAN. Due to the strategic presence of the United States in the Asia-Pacific region, the United States is considered to play a very important role in ASEAN's soft balancing against China. This Article going to explain the lack of political and security cooperation between China and ASEAN, especially focusing on ASEAN’s security policy towards China

Relationship Between Entrepreneur's Value,Firm Financing, Firm Management, Market Practices, and Growth Performance of Small-Medium Enterprises in Cambodia

The aims of this study are to examine the relationship between entrepreneur’s value,firm financing, firm management, market practices, and growth performance of Small-Medium Enterprises (SMEs) in Cambodia. This study also examined the moderating influence of government policy on the relationship between entrepreneur’s value, firm financing, firm management, market practices, and growth performance of SMEs. In determining this relationship, a hypothetical model were developed testing the relationship between entrepreneur’s value, firm financing, firm management, and market practices as independent variables; and government policy as moderating variable; and the growth performance of SMEs as dependent variable. The questionnaires were distributed and 220 questionnaires were usable for data analysis. The quantitative data were processed using a SPSS version 15.0 program. Descriptive statistics used to describe the respondents’ profile and variable items. Correlation,linear, multiple and hierarchical regressions used for inferential statistics. The result on the empirical relationship between entrepreneur’s value, firm financing, firm management, market practices, and moderated by government policy were contributed positively to the growth performance of SMEs as hypothesized. The positive association between the combinations among all independent variables to dependent variable was supported. The results also suggested that government policy had positive and significant moderating influence on the model

Reflections on Rurality in the Classroom: Connecting to Curriculum through Place

In this essay, I reflect on place-salient moments of my education career - one as a rural learner and the other as a rural teacher - to think about how rurality and where I came from affected my teaching and learning in rural classrooms

Estimating qualities and quantities of faecal sludge to determine resource recovery potential : A case study in Phnom Penh, Cambodia

A paradigm shift to convert faecal sludge into resources could minimise environmental pollution and public health risks in cities in low- and middle-income countries (LMIC). To support faecal sludge management planning at city scale, this thesis investigated resource recovery potential from faecal sludge, using Phnom Penh as a case and focusing on waterborne systems. Methods used were faecal sludge sampling and analysis, stakeholder interviews, observations and multi-criteria assessment.  Resource recovery potential from faecal sludge in Phnom Penh was found to be limited. Many quality parameters in faecal sludge were low compared with previously reported values, owing to dilution effects of high prevalence of waterborne toilets, addition of water during emptying events, mixed wastewater capture by containment units and connection of containment units to the urban drainage network. Concentrations of two heavy metals (mercury and zinc) exceeded the limits in the Cambodia standard for organic fertiliser and Swedish standard for compost. The highly diluted nutrient content and relatively high heavy metal contamination in faecal sludge limit its reuse potential. However, reuse of sludge could capture around 65 tons of total nitrogen and 13 tons of total phosphorus annually instead of allowing these nutrients to enter natural wetlands.  Three options to tackle the current challenges in faecal sludge management in Phnom Penh were identified: (i) short-term: use of treated faecal sludge as soil conditioner for public green space; (ii) medium-term: upstream source control to prevent contamination of sludge; (iii) long-term: source separation. Solar drying and vermicomposting are appropriate technologies for short-term solutions and co-composting, larval composting and vermicomposting for medium-term solutions, after implementing upstream source controls. For long-term solutions, extensive research on appropriate technologies is needed. Overall, the best option will depend on relative weighs of sustainability criteria and trade-offs for sector stakeholders. These findings can assist sector stakeholders in Phnom Penh and other LMIC cities with similar sanitation systems in improving faecal sludge management

Foodborne bacteria in the Cambodian meat value chain: Emphasis on the risk of Salmonella in chicken and pork from traditional markets to household consumption

Foodborne pathogens, such as Salmonella and Staphylococcus aureus, pose a high risk to human health globally. Using quantitative microbial risk assessment (QMRA), this thesis estimated the risk of salmonellosis to Cambodian consumers eating contaminated chicken and pork salad. Chicken meat and pork samples (n=204 each) were collected from traditional markets in 25 provinces in Cambodia for analyses of Salmonella and also S. aureus. Practices used for preparing chicken and pork salads in 93 Cambodian households were surveyed and used to design an experiment assessing Salmonella cross-contamination from raw meat to ready-to-eat salad in four scenarios. Salmonella prevalence in chicken meat and pork was found at 42.6% (87/204) and 45.1% (92/204), respectively, with mean Salmonella concentration of 10.6 MPN/g in chicken meat and 11.1 MPN/g in pork. Salmonella contamination, salad consumption and dose-response were modelled using Monte Carlo simulations with 10,000 iterations. The QMRA model showed that the annual estimated risk of salmonellosis from consuming chicken salad, pork salad and both salads was 11.2% (90% CI 0.0-35.1), 4.0% (0.0-21.3) and 14.5% (0.0-33.5), respectively. Thus one in 10 chicken salad consumers in Cambodia was at risk of contracting salmonellosis annually. The factor with the most decisive influence on risk estimates was crosscontamination while preparing salad, followed by high prevalence of Salmonella on chicken meat/pork at the market. These results indicate a need to implement control measures, including monitoring the safety of retail chicken and pork at markets and improving hygiene in practices and equipment used during salad preparation in households

Geopolitical Competition among Great Powers and ASEAN’s Policy Preference

The United States has long been a security ally and economic partner of the ASEAN member states. Strengths of the U.S.-ASEAN partnership include cooperation on regional security, economic growth, and people-to-people ties. The United States also supports ASEAN's efforts to promote regional cooperation and integration through mechanisms such as the ASEAN Regional Forum and the East Asia Summit. Moreover, the United States has demonstrated its commitment to maintaining a free and open Indo-Pacific region, which is consistent with ASEAN's own aspirations for a rules-based regional order. As China continues to exert influence in the region, ASEAN countries may seek the support of the United States to maintain their sovereignty and territorial integrity. The U.S. factor is regarded as a key factor in the strategic choice of indirect checks and balances against ASEAN. Due to the strategic presence of the United States in the Asia-Pacific region, the United States is considered to play a very important role in ASEAN's soft balancing against China. This Article going to explain the lack of political and security cooperation between China and ASEAN, especially focusing on ASEAN’s security policy towards China

Upland crop technologies in Cambodia: economic evaluations and some adoption issues

Agricultural research and development (R&D) has being conducted in the upland districts of Cambodia to develop new farming systems and crop management technologies. Levels of farm income in these areas are relatively low due to small farm sizes and low crop productivity. Work is also planned to encourage the process of adoption of these technologies, and here we investigate how this process can be facilitated. A literature review identifies two important technology characteristics, ‘relative advantage’ and ‘trialability’, for successful adoption. Minimum or target rates of return on investment in new technologies are discussed as a means of investigating how much improvement in relative advantage might be enough to encourage successful adoption of the technology. A number of economic assessments of new crop methodologies in Cambodian upland districts and farming systems are presented. Some technologies show an encouraging return on investment from the viewpoint of the Cambodian farmer – rhizobium inoculation of soybean seed had an indicated return of up to 600% on the investment depending on the cost to the grower. Other issues are also likely to be important in discussing change to farming systems, for instance social issues in the village/community context. We present a proposal for a participatory learning process in which economic and social issues are highlighted, to encourage adoption of new crop technologies in local Cambodian contexts.New technology, adoption, upland crops, Cambodia, economic assessment, social, Crop Production/Industries, Institutional and Behavioral Economics, Research and Development/Tech Change/Emerging Technologies,

organizational Conflict: Strategy, Leadership, Resolution Framework, and Managerial Implications

This paper examines the concept, nature and characteristics of organizational conflict, and presented the relevant theoretical framework that serves as the conceptual foundation for his analyses, analyzes the sources of organizational conflict, discusses the role of leadership styles in managing organizational conflict, reviews models of conflict management strategies, and offers a framework for au effective functional conflict resolution system in organizations and outlined the implications for managers