Interregional Population Migration in Russia: Using an Origin-to-Destination Matrix

This study examines regional economic conditions and their effects on interregional population redistribution patterns in Russia. After reviewing striking changes in population flows before and after the collapse of the former Soviet Union, an application of the gravity model on population migration in Russia in 2003 is presented using a newly obtained interregional in- and out-migration flow matrix supplied by Rosstat (formerly Goskomstat). Gross migration patterns in since the year 2000, when large transformational population flows ceased, have not been investigated so far in the existing literature. The analysis conducted focuses on geographical factors, which have been basically omitted in existing literature on migration patterns in transformational Russia, and the attractiveness of Moscow regions and resource-mining areas is clearly presented.

Determinants of Childbirth in Russia: A Micro-Data Approach

This paper uses the micro-data from the Russia Longitudinal Monitoring Survey (RLMS) to identify factors that explain fertility between 1995 and 2004. An overview of nationwide birth dynamics in post-Soviet Russia shows that not only do changes in economic conditions move in lockstep with the overall birth rate trend, as has been pointed out by numerous researchers, but so too do proximate determinants of fertility, and suggests that rises and falls in the total fertility rate in Russia are also affected by factors such as demographic timing effects. Although few studies employing micro data have been conducted, it is frequently argued that the shrinking of the economy during the transition to the market economy was the reason for the decline in the birth rate. However, many demographic researchers and sociologists, particularly in Russia itself, attribute the drop in the countryfs birth rate from the 1990s to the long-term population trend, a view that also has widespread acceptance. While the previous studies all used fertility data up to 2001, this paper analyses data up to 2004, which is significant as the birth rate has shown a sustained rise since 2001. It was shown that household income levels do not have a significant impact on birth probability, and this may indicate the possibility that economic growth did not lead directly to the recovery in the birth rate. This suggests that social conditions in the broad sense may have caused the birth rate to rise. Finally, the paper examines, from a demographic perspective, the measures to encourage couples to have children that were introduced in the last days of the Putin Administration, which ended in May 2008.

Demographic Situations and Development Programs in the Russian Far East and Zabaikalye

This paper describes population problems involved in the Russian Far East and Zabaikalye regions, and the nation as a whole. According to the analysis conducted by the author no notable population growth will emerge in the near future, therefore extensive development strategy can not be taken in planning regional economic projects. In this regard the current "Development Program for the Russian Far East and Zabaikalye" established recently is much to the point.

Tajik Labour Migrants and their Remittances: Is Tajik Migration Pro-Poor?

For the four years since 2006, Tajikistan, a former Soviet republic, has led the world in the receipt of foreign remittance as a proportion of GDP. Needless to say, key reasons for this are the low income levels in Tajikistan and the country's special relationship with Russia, which is enjoying rapid economic growth. Yet while interest in the relationship between migration and foreign remittance has existed for a long time, not many studies have looked at this region. This paper used household survey forms from two points in time to profile households in Tajikistan and international labour migration by Tajiks, and examined the relationship between household income levels in Tajikistan, the poorest of the former Soviet republics, and foreign remittance being received from international labour migrants and the likelihood of migrants being supplied. It found no correlation between household income levels and amounts of money received from abroad, which suggests that altruistic models of the relationship between migration and remittance do not apply. Moreover, it also found that households with high incomes are more likely to supply migrants, indicating that international labour migration from Tajikistan may not be conductive to reducing poverty in that country.

Working Paper 130 - Growth and Macroeconomic Convergence in Southern Africa

This paper investigates convergence in real per capita GDP and macroeconomic policy and stability indicators within the Southern African Development Community (SADC). Empirical tests for the period 1992-2009 showed no evidence of absolute beta and sigma convergence in real per capita GDP among the SADC economies. Although, absence of convergence does not necessarily imply lack of economic growth, further empirical assessment of possible conditional beta convergence did not reveal any tendency of convergence to own steady states. On an individual level, however, ADF unit root test indicated that Botswana and South Africa’s real per capita GDP converged to a common stochastic trend while the rest were characterized by a boundless drift. With regard to the SADC macroeconomic convergence goals set for 2012, the findings indicate that most of the economies of the member states have shown a tendency of macroeconomic divergence in 2009 in monetary policy, fiscal policy, and foreign exchange reserve ratios. Since member countries are at varied levels of economic development, the goals themselves must be conditional on the level of convergence in economic structure and hence macroeconomic convergence may not be attainable. Furthermore, achieving the targets may be neither necessary nor sufficient to achieve good macroeconomic outcomes.

Organisation and Procedure of Shari'a Courts in Northern Nigeria.

This thesis deals with Islamic Law of Civil Procedure, according to the Maliki School, which applies in those "area courts" in the northern states of Nigeria whose "native law" is the Shari'a. These courts have been called in the thesis the Shari'a courts of Northern Nigeria. The thesis is divided into six chapters, with the conclusion as the seventh chapter. Chapter I is an introductory chapter which gives a historical sketch, the constitutional background and the framework of the legal system within which the Shari'a courts exist and function. Chapter II deals with the arena of the courts - their establishment, staff, sessions and the question of venue. Parties to litigation are discussed in Chapter III while Chapter IV considers pleadings. In Chapter V the actual trial procedure and the mode of proof are considered and the issue of conflict between the Shari'a rules on these on the one hand and the practical needs of modern litigation on the other is also tackled. Chapter VI deals with general matters of civil litigation: sulh, arbitration, execution of judgements, injuctions, time bar, costs, and appeals. In the thesis generally, both the Shari'a rules and the statutory enactments governing the topics have been considered and in the conclusion the possibility of codifying the Shari'a rules and integrating them within a unified code of civil procedure governing all native courts has been considered and my conclusion is that this is both possible and desirable

Family Dysfunction and Parental Role Abdication as Predisposing Factors for Drug Abuse Among Secondary School Adolescents and Youths in the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja, Nigeria

 This study aimed at deciphering how factors such as family dysfunction and parental role abdication influence drug abuse among youths in the Federal Capital Territory. Two objectives, two research questions, and two hypotheses guided the study. A correlation research design was employed to determine the extent of the relationship between the variables. The population of the study was youths within the age range of 18-32 in FCT. A Non-probability sampling technique by opportunity sampling was used to sample 500 young individuals within the age range of 18-32 from major motor parks and markets in Abuja Municipal Area Council (AMAC), and some parts of Gwagwalada Area Council. Motor Parks such as Jabi motor park, Area One motor park, Nyanya motor park, and Zuba motor park were selected. While Utako ultra-modern market, Garki model market, Wuse market, and Gwagwlada main market were equally selected for the study. A Pearson Product Moment Correlation analysis was the main statistic used for data analysis. The instrument for the collection of data was a self-structured questionnaire, validated by experts at the University of Abuja. The results from the analysis show that there is a significant relationship between family dysfunction and a high rate of drug abuse among youths in the Federal Capital Territory, it equally revealed that there is a significant relationship between parental role abdication and a high rate of drug abuse among youths in the Federal Capital Territory. It was recommended that the Federal Capital Territory Administration should make marriage counseling compulsory for prospective married couples and establish six major offices specifically for counseling within the six area councils in FCT also, families should be guided and equipped with the different types of parenting styles. The Federal Capital Territory Administration in collaboration with the federal government should equally enact stringent laws and penalties if need be for Parental role abdication and drug abuse with strict enforcement, or the existing laws should be strictly enforced