الزراعة والتنمية الريفية والغابات
Migración de retorno en el Paraguay: Características e inserción sociolaboral
La historia de los procesos migratorios muestra que una proporción de los emigrantes regresa al lugar de origen. En un marco de cambios en los patrones migratorios relacionados con el retorno en la región, en el Paraguay han surgido diversos interrogantes, que en este artículo se procura abordar. Estos se relacionan, principalmente, con la estimación de la magnitud del retorno, la caracterización sociodemográfica, los diferenciales de inserción laboral y los patrones generales de los itinerarios migratorios.
Dividendo demográfico y migración en El Salvador: ¿cuánto se ha perdido?
El Salvador se encuentra en un proceso de transición demográfica en que la relación de dependencia continuará disminuyendo hasta 2032-2033, por lo que el país seguirá disfrutando de un momento poblacional favorable en los próximos 15 años. Los beneficios de los dividendos demográficos no son automáticos. Más bien, los países deben implementar medidas de política pública que permitan sacar el mayor provecho de esa ventaja. La inversión en capital humano, comparativamente baja, y las modestas ganancias de productividad laboral sugieren que El Salvador no estaría sacando el máximo provecho de su dividendo demográfico. La migración de salvadoreños en edades productivas al exterior es uno de los factores que, ceteris paribus, han incidido en la escasa capacidad que tiene el país para aprovechar esas circunstancias favorables. En este documento se muestra que la contribución del dividendo al crecimiento del producto ha sido positiva y que podría haber sido mayor si no fuese por la emigración de salvadoreños en edades productivas.
Vida doméstica en parejas del mismo sexo en ciudad de México y el Eje Cafetero colombiano
Este artículo tiene por objeto presentar tres aspectos centrales de la vida doméstica de las parejas del mismo sexo corresidentes: aportes económicos para el sostenimiento del hogar, toma de decisiones y distribución de las tareas domésticas. Como fuente de información se utilizaron dos encuestas, la primera levantada en Ciudad de México en 2006 y la segunda realizada en 2012 en cuatro ciudades del Eje Cafetero colombiano (Armenia, Cartago, Manizales y Pereira). En ambos sondeos se preguntó por el emparejamiento corresidente en los últimos cinco años. Los datos señalan que, si bien existe una tendencia a la equidad, esta se ve permeada por la discusión sobre la feminización de los cuidados, de la que no escapan las parejas del mismo sexo.
La crisis financiera y económica de 2008 y su repercusión en el pensamiento económico
La crisis financiera y económica de 2008 tuvo múltiples consecuencias en los países de América Latina y el Caribe. Trastocó el desempeño de las economías y puso en duda paradigmas que habían orientado la política económica en la mayoría de los países. Asimismo, exacerbó crecientes divergencias entre puntos de vista surgidos incluso antes de la crisis. Algunas de esas divergencias son de carácter ideológico, pero otras obedecen a enfoques antagónicos sobre estrategias económicas. Entre los factores de diferenciación se encuentran, primero, el papel del Estado y su relación con el mercado, y segundo, la naturaleza y alcance de la inserción en la economía global. Aquí se abordan algunos de los rasgos de diferenciación, las tensiones que generan y el futuro que deparan para la cooperación dentro de América Latina. También se señala que en este nuevo escenario, marcado por cierta perplejidad, se abren espacios inherentes al trabajo de la cepal.
Reformando las reformas previsionales: En la Argentina y Chile
En este trabajo se describen las recientes reformas previsionales en la Argentina y Chile. Con ellas se pretendió en los años ochenta y noventa mejorar la sostenibilidad fiscal de largo plazo y el diseño institucional de los sistemas, trasladando parte de los riesgos sociales y económicos desde el Estado a los participantes. En años recientes, las autoridades de ambos países coincidieron en identificar a la insuficiente cobertura entre los adultos mayores y al bajo nivel de los beneficios como los principales problemas de los sistemas previsionales vigentes. Debido a divergencias institucionales y políticas, las respuestas fueron dispares. En Chile, un proceso prolongado y participativo redundó en una amplia reforma concentrada en efectos a mediano plazo mediante ajustes cuidadosamente calibrados. En la Argentina, en cambio, las reformas involucraron un gran número de correcciones sucesivas, con poco debate público sobre sus implicancias y efectos en la cobertura y las necesidades fiscales.
La estructura de los hogares y el ahorro en méxico: un enfoque de clases latentes
Aun cuando es bien sabido que el tamaño de los hogares y las características de sus integrantes determinan los recursos financieros de los que estos disponen, los economistas han abordado el análisis empírico del ingreso y el consumo en México enfocándose casi exclusivamente en la edad del individuo, pasando por alto la importancia de la heterogeneidad estructural de los hogares mexicanos. Para incorporar este elemento al estudio econométrico de sus perfiles de ahorro, en lugar de partir de tipologías de hogares definidas a priori, en este artículo estimamos, por medio del análisis de clases latentes, las estructuras típicas de los hogares mexicanos contenidas en la Encuesta Nacional de Ingresos y Gastos de los Hogares (ENIGH) 2014. A partir de esta estimación, mostramos de qué manera tomar en cuenta las relaciones socioeconómicas de dependencia de los hogares puede contribuir a mejorar la política pública.
Brecha de participación económica entre hombres y mujeres y dividendo de género: factores determinantes no tradicionales captados en una muestra de países
En este artículo se analiza la relación entre la participación en el mercado laboral de las personas con pareja y las percepciones de la población acerca de los roles de género. Para ello se usan datos de 46 países, de la última ronda de la Family and Changing Gender Roles survey (encuesta sobre la familia y el cambio de los roles de género), recolectados entre 2011 y 2015. A fin de identificar el efecto de las percepciones relativas a los roles de género sobre la participación de hombres y mujeres en el mercado de trabajo se usa el método de variables instrumentales. Se examina así la causalidad teniendo en cuenta la disonancia cognitiva o acomodamiento de las creencias a una situación concreta de las personas en cuanto a su participación laboral, lo que constituye un aporte al debate tradicional de agencia y estructura. Los resultados ponen de manifiesto el impacto considerable de los indicadores subjetivos (percepción de los roles de género) y objetivos (tipo de unión) de la especialización dentro del hogar sobre la participación de la mujer en el mercado de trabajo y el impacto nulo en el caso de la participación masculina.
Factores asociados al descenso de la desnutrición crónica de los niños de 6 a 24 meses en Haití en el período 1994-2017
Evaluación de la cobertura y el contenido en censos protoestadísticos: el caso del padrón de la ciudad y la campaña de Buenos Aires de 1827
En este artículo, llevaremos a cabo una evaluación crítica de un censo correspondiente a la etapa protoestadística: el padrón de la ciudad y la campaña de Buenos Aires de 1827. A simple vista, en el padrón se observa una población feminizada y con crecimiento negativo en comparación con los recuentos anteriores. No obstante, a partir de una evaluación completa de la cobertura y el contenido, llegamos a la conclusión principal de que esta realidad es en gran parte aparente, por los siguientes motivos: los distintos problemas del padrón (omisión de población, planillas censales extraviadas), y el complejo contexto de la época (la guerra con el Brasil y el conflicto político entre el poder central y las provincias).
Epicentros de emigración: un análisis comparativo de la evolución de sus dinámicas socioeconómicas y demográficas en Colombia y el Brasil
América Latina y el Caribe es una región de origen, destino y tránsito de gran dinamismo para la migración internacional. Según la última ronda censal, el patrón migratorio de la región presenta algunas continuidades, así como cambios en el volumen y la dirección de los flujos, y en la composición y características de la población migrante, sobre la cual poco sabemos. Este artículo presenta un análisis comparativo de la evolución de las dinámicas socioeconómica y demográfica de la migración internacional en el Eje Cafetero (Colombia) y la microrregión de Governador Valadares (Brasil), los principales centros de emigración de estos países. Se emplea un enfoque cuantitativo que incluye el análisis de los datos censales de emigración internacional de ambos países, que han sido poco explorados en la literatura, y, además, se cualifica la complejidad de los procesos migratorios a escala nacional y regional. Los resultados indican que los flujos han variado en sintonía con las dinámicas sociales, económicas y políticas regionales, nacionales e internacionales.
Maltrato en la vejez: caracterización y prevalencia en la población mexicana
Reconstitución de la población menor de cinco años mediante la ecuación compensadora: Estimación de subcobertura y omisión en el Censo Demográfico brasileño de 2010
Jueces de la Revista cepal año 2009 y período enero-agosto 2010
La economía del cambio climático en América Latina y el Caribe: Algunos hechos estilizados
Las principales cuestiones pendientes en las negociaciones sobre el Código de Conducta de la UNCTAD para la transferencia de tecnología
Diez años después de haber surgido en el temario internacional la cuestión de la transferencia de tecnología, se vislumbra un consenso entre las partes interesadas —tanto los proveedores como los importadores de tecnología—en el sentido de que:
América Latina: Sistemas financieros y financiamiento de la inversión. Diagnósticos y propuestas
Con el fin de hacer propuestas tendientes a fortalecer el financiamiento de la inversión en América Latina, en este trabajo se examinan las principales características de sus sistemas financieros. Primero se efectúa un diagnóstico de los sistemas bancarios, los mercados accionarios, los bonos y los flujos financieros externos respecto de su capacidad para apoyar la inversión. Luego se analizan los principales factores de índole macro y microeconómica, así como ciertos rasgos estructurales que han determinado un bajo grado de desarrollo financiero y la falta de adecuación de los sistemas a las necesidades de financiamiento de la inversión. Sobre la base de estos antecedentes, se realizan propuestas orientadas a elevar la capacidad de los sistemas financieros para apoyar la inversión en empresas de todo tamaño, pero también se proponen lineamientos para favorecer el acceso al crédito de largo plazo de aquellas de menor tamaño.
The case for convergence: Assessing regional income distribution in Asia and the Pacific
This paper considers income inequality in Asia and the Pacific, examining whether there has been an increase or decrease in income inequality among countries in the region in recent decades. By analysing the position of countries’ GDP per capita relative to that of a reference economy (Australia), the study finds that between the years 1970 and 2014, most of the region’s less affluent countries were able to catch up in relative terms, allowing them to slowly move up the income matrix towards higher tier groups. Subregional examination reveals that most of the income convergence in the Asia-Pacific region was due to exceptional economic growth in East and North-East Asia and, to a lesser extent, in South-East Asia. While the paper shows that relative income differences between countries in the region have fallen since the 1970s, it points to the need for differentiating between relative and absolute measures of inequality. Insufficient convergence and substantial initial differences in GDP per capita have meant that, despite a decline in relative inequality, absolute differences in average income have grown during the same period.
Situation and prospects of the Latin American economy in 1975
After describing the economic recession which came to a head in 1975 and examining some overall indicators, this article analyses the most important underlying causes of the recession. Two interrelated causes are particularly worthy of note: firstly, the deterioration of the economic situation of the centres, and secondly, the sharper contradiction between the growing demand for imports required by the prevail ing type of growth and the capacity to produce the foreign exchange necessary to pay for them and to cope with an increasing volume of financial services.
What impedes structural transformation in Asia?
Structural transformation – the movement of workers from low productivity to high productivity activities – is an essential ingredient of inclusive growth. In the present paper, evidence on why the pace of structural transformation has differed widely across countries in Asia is reviewed, with a specific focus on China, India and Thailand. It is argued that government failures relating to the functioning of labour, land and product markets, and market failures relating to coordination of investment, credit market imperfections and human capital formation have been the primary causes of the slow pace of structural transformation in several Asian countries. In the paper, it is suggested that emphasis be placed on reforming policies that impede the functioning of labour, land and product markets and strengthening industrial and education policies to tackle specific market failures pertaining to investment coordination and human capital formation.
Power and development styles
This article makes a critical analysis of the various ways in which the concept of styles of development has been used, especially by those participating in the recent efforts to shape a unified approach to development. First of all, it briefly summarizes the main stages in the evolution of recent thinking on this matter, beginning with development strategies defined from a strictly economic point of view. It goes on to describe how social aspects — education, health, housing, social security, etc. — were gradually added, while more recently attempts have been made to incorporate elements of a sociological and political nature. Finally, a critical analysis is made of some of these attempts (especially those based on an analysis of the agents of development), and the article concludes with a definition of the concept of styles of development and an enumeration of the criteria which should be used as a guide in their analysis.
Price co-movements, commonalities and responsiveness to monetary policy: Empirical analysis under indian conditions
This study aims to empirically establish the co-movement of price indices of seemingly unrelated commodities, suggesting that the Central Bank should not decouple fluctuation in the national price index into volatile and core components. An attempt is also made to understand whether monetary policy can influence the factors responsible for price fluctuations in the states of India. The study becomes especially relevant under Indian conditions where flexible inflation targeting has been adopted by the Reserve Bank of India (Central Bank of India) and achieving the targeted inflation is a primary concern of the Indian government. The results of the empirical analysis clearly reveal that unrelated price indices co-move in India, and that monetary policy initiatives fail to influence the common factors of the states of India. The empirical results have crucial implications for the Reserve Bank of India and, as such, a conscious effort is needed to enable policy to influence the price indices of the states of India.
A new Latin America in a new international capital market
The timeliness of another look at the development prospects and policy options for Latin America can hardly be disputed. Another shock from a significant increase in the price of petroleum is adding to the burdens of a world economy already mired in stagflation. The recent UNCTAD meeting has not produced a common programme for accelerating and spreading economic development: on the contrary, divisions among and between the industrialized and developing nations have widened. Even the conclusion of the Tokyo Round has tailed to evoke enthusiasm among the Group of 77.
Envisioning tax policy for accelerated development in India
The objective of the present paper is to demonstrate that despite several years of reform, the tax-GDP ratio in India is well below international standards and has been static over the last decade. Based on a crosscountry analysis of tax-GDP ratios in 115 countries over the period 2005-2015, an estimate is made of the extent of under-taxation in India. Considering that children in the age group of 0-14 years constitute about 40 per cent of the population of 1.3 billion in India, in the paper, it is argued that the tax-GDP ratio must be raised to enhance allocation to education, health care and physical infrastructure to ensure demographic dividends by providing the increasing workforce with productive employment opportunities. The reforms needed to raise the revenue productivity of the tax system while taking into account the best practice approach to tax reform are identified in the paper.
Contract farming, agriculture productivity and poverty reduction: Evidence from tea estates in Viet Nam
Interest in contract farming is increasing because of its potential as an alternative channel for linking producers to international markets. However, there is limited knowledge on contract farming of tea production in Viet Nam, especially in more inaccessible provinces where tea production plays an important role in generating employment, improving livelihood and reducing poverty. In the present paper, the impact of contract farming on productivity is reviewed in Pho Tho province, a major tea production area that has not been the focus of any other studies. Using survey data, an analysis is conducted on the factors affecting tea productivity and the impact of contract farming on tea productivity in the province. The results indicate that the impact of factors on tea productivity is ambiguous. They also indicate that technical efficiency of tea production of contracted farmers is higher than that of other types of farmers by almost 5 per cent and that contract farming has a positive influence on tea productivity in the province. Because of different climatic conditions, the results from this study are not generalizable across Viet Nam, but they can be applied in the Northern midlands and mountainous areas.
The energy challenge
The subject of styles of development is not foreign to us, nor has it only recently become one of CEPAL’s concerns; it has been one for some time. Originally serving as an analytical category to dispel the anxiety of economists over the social failure or inefficiency of growth processes, it later acquired elements developed in the expanded international discussion of the various dimensions of development. The debate on development has thus been forced to follow the pronouncements of scientists which were publicized at a very opportune moment indeed by the work of the Club of Rome, through which d\e discussion on the meaning for humanity of the depletion of natural resources or the appearance of physical restrictions on the process of economic growth was brought up at the international level. These facts implied not only a scientific, but also an economic, social and political challenge, and at those levels the need to examine the styles of development which exert irrational pressure on natural resources and challenge physical restrictions was raised and discussed.
Current trends in private financing of water and sanitation in Asia and the Pacific
The present paper shows the current trends in private sector investment in the water and sanitation sector. After peaking in 2007, private investment in the water and sanitation sector has been volatile. The decline in private investment has also been accompanied by a shift in the type and size of investments taking place. Post-2007, private investment is increasingly concentrated in a few large and wealthy countries and municipalities; and are bankrolled and developed by smaller, regional-based investors. This is especially worrying for low-income countries, which stand to benefit the most from private investment, but have been receiving less than 1 per cent of the total project allocations in the sector. The huge financing gap requires more innovative financing that can only come by attracting private sector capital to improve water and sanitation services in the Asia-Pacific region, especially for the least developed and low-income emerging economies.
Measuring creative economy in Indonesia: Issues and challenges in data collection
Although creative economy is emerging as an area to be evaluated, establishing a benchmark against which it can be measured is still problematic due to a range of definitional problems, both conceptual and practical. In recent years, many agencies and governments have invested significant effort into collecting data on creative economy, but in many countries, including Indonesia, measuring creative economy remains a challenge. Data collection on creative economy has been conducted twice in Indonesia, initially through surveys undertaken in 2016 and then in a compilation of the 2016 Economic Census. The data collection used a common classification system to identify the five-digit Indonesia Standard Industrial Classification (KBLI) regarded as creative economy. Out of a total of 1,573 five-digit KBLI codes, there are 223 which are identified as creative economy activities. However, this approach remains unstandardized in terms of concept definitions, data collection procedures, methods of analysis and common classification systems. This paper highlights the numerous limitations in current creative economy measurement in Indonesia, identifying issues and challenges in data collection and creative economy measurement processes that are needed to support the Sustainable Development Goals.
Tapping capital markets and institutional investors for infrastructure development
The present paper is focused on using capital markets in the Asia-Pacific region to channel more resources for infrastructure development, while mobilizing assets managed by institutional investors, such as pension funds and insurance companies. To this end, the paper is structured as follows. First, an analysis of the level of capital market development in the region is conducted, which indicates that markets remain at a nascent stage in many economies. Banks continue to dominate private financing in the region. Second, a review is carried out on the size of institutional investors from which it is suggested that prudential regulation might need to be adjusted to enable greater infrastructure investment. Third, different modalities for investors seeking infrastructure exposure are highlighted and initiatives launched by different countries to support the development of infrastructure-related instruments are presented. Fourth, a review is made on the actions to support capital market development, which is critical for greater involvement of institutional investors. Fifth, ways to address constraints hindering infrastructure investments are presented. Finally, the paper concludes with proposals of strategies that are adapted to each country’s circumstances and designed to further tap this source of financing for infrastructure development.
The Monetary and real effects of the financial opening up of national economies to the exterior. The case of Chile, 1975-1978
The object of this article is to describe and analyse certain aspects of Chilean short-term macroeconomic policy which have not been sufficiently investigated, placing special emphasis on the financial measures applied from the end of 1973, and more specifically from the first quarter of 1975, when the so-called Economic Recovery Programme began.
Challenges in implementing decentralization of foreign direct investment management in Viet Nam — case study of the Hung Nghiep Formosa Ha Tinh Steel project in Ha Tinh province
Over the past decades, an increasing number of developing countries in Asia have experimented with decentralization in varying degrees to achieve good governance and promote democracy. In Viet Nam, even though decentralization has been limited to de-concentration (or administrative decentralization), foreign direct investment (FDI) management is vigorously decentralized at the provincial level and has proven to be problematic. In one instance, it led to an environmental disaster in 2016. The objective of the present paper is to explore the factors resulting in ineffective decentralization of FDI management in Viet Nam, focusing on the challenges that the local government has been dealing with under the decentralization set-up, in particular with respect to environmental protection. Drawing on the case study of the Hung Nghiep Formosa Ha Tinh Steel project in Ha Tinh province, it is argued that Viet Nam continues to lack the essential prerequisites for effective decentralization. It is the time for Viet Nam to reconsider the policy of decentralization in the area of FDI management. Bearing in mind that economic development is vital, it should go hand in hand with environment protection in order to ensure the country’s sustainable development.
Factors influencing maternal health care in Nepal: The role of socioeconomic interaction
This paper relies on an extensive data set on Nepalese families to examine factors influencing the extent to which maternal health care is provided.
Women’s empowerment among married women aged 15 to 49 in Myanmar
The present study entails an investigation of the empowerment of married women aged 15 to 49 in Myanmar from socioeconomic and demographic perspectives based on data from the Myanmar Demographic and Health Survey 2015-16. The dimensions of women’s empowerment are categorized into two parts: women’s control over their earnings, and women’s participation in household decision-making (decisions on major household purchases, visits to family or relatives, their health care; and the well-being of their children). These two dimensions are combined to create an index of women’s empowerment. A binary logistic regression is used, by means of odds ratios to assess the relationship between women’s level of empowerment and their socioeconomic and demographic characteristics. Overall, the findings of the study show that a higher empowerment level is associated with women’s employment, increased age, urban residence, a higher educational attainment, a higher wealth quintile, and a lower level of husband’s education. In addition, women that have one child or up to four children are more likely to have a higher level of empowerment than women with no children. About three fourths of the women in the sample live in rural areas. Among those women, the ones with a higher level of empowerment are more educated, employed and have higher household income. Generating employment opportunities for women and educating women are important factors that can lead to an increase in women’s income, and accordingly, help raise the levels of women’s empowerment.
Measuring autonomy: Evidence from Bangladesh
The search for rigorous, transparent and domain-specific measures of empowerment that can be used for gender analysis is ongoing. This paper explores the added value of a new measure of domain-specific autonomy. This direct measure of motivational autonomy emanates from the “selfdetermination theory” (Ryan and Deci, 2000). We examine in detail the Relative Autonomy Index (RAI) for individuals, using data representative of Bangladeshi rural areas. Based on descriptive statistical analyses, we conclude that the measure and its scale perform broadly well in terms of conceptual validity and reliability. Based on an exploratory analysis of the determinants of autonomy of men and women in Bangladesh, we find that neither age, education nor income are suitable proxies for autonomy. This implies that the RAI adds new information about individuals, and as such, could represent a promising avenue for further empirical exploration as a quantitative, yet nuanced, measure of domain-specific empowerment.
Latin America, from boom to crisis: Macroeconomic policy challenges
This article analyses the most recent phase of growth in Latin America, lasting from 2003 to late 2008, and the way the different policies applied in this period lessened its countries’ vulnerability and gave them greater macroeconomic policy space to confront the international crisis than in other negative shocks of the past. In addition, it briefly surveys the main countercyclical fiscal, monetary, financial and exchange-rate policy measures applied in the region’s economies to mitigate and reverse the effects of the crisis. It concludes by discussing post-crisis macro policy challenges in the region.
Raúl Prebisch and the dilemma of development in the globalised world
Globalization poses both challenges and opportunities. Prebisch confronted this development dilemma in the global world and left three messages which form the great legacy of his work. Firstly, central countries form visions of the world order that serve their own interests; and peripheral countries need to rebel against this theoretical framework to resolve the dilemma. Secondly, it is possible to transform reality and achieve a symmetrical non-subordinate relationship with the world’s power centres. Thirdly, the transformation requires a fundamental change in productive structures to incorporate knowledge into economic and social activity, since this is the fundamental instrument of development. These messages remain fully current to this day.
Styles of development in Latin America
The discussion of styles of development has been complicated by the improper use of this and other associated terms. In order to avoid misunderstandings, this article starts by examining the concepts of system and structure and on this basis, goes on to define a style of development as “the way in which human and material resources are organized and assigned within a particular system with the object of solving such questions as what goods and services to produce; how; and for whom”. More specifically, it notes two sets of features of such styles: (a) those which make up the structural basis of the production apparatus, especially the sectoral structure of the product and employment, the various technological strata, and the predominant type of external relationship, and (b) the dynamic elements of the system, which are revealed by analysing the level and composition of demand and its underlying basic factors, namely the level and distribution of income. These two sets of features are closely linked by a circle of mutual cause and effect.
Growth and concentration among the leading business groups in Mexico
This article discusses various hypotheses relating to the origin and operation of business groups in Mexico, and it proposes a model to explain the sources of their total asset growth. It highlights their growing contribution to Mexican gdp, but notes that their shares of employment and profits are smaller. Over time, sales and assets have clearly tended to become more concentrated in the largest groups. The paper concludes that the main financing sources for asset growth between 2005 and 2007 were firstly debt and secondly capital contributions from shareholders. It also finds that the leading groups invest discretely over time and tend to “overinvest” to block the entry of other competitors.
Meeting on a new Latin America in a changing world economy
The essays reproduced below were presented at a small, informal and high-level conference on the theme of “A New Latin America in a Changing World Economy” held at the Belmont Conference Center near Washington D.C. on 25-26 June 1979.
Contributory factors towards sustainability of bank-linked self-help groups in India
The present study focuses on the Indian flagship financial inclusion scheme – the Self Help Group-Bank Linkage Programme, which successfully leverages the social collateral concept and the vast network of bank branches in India to deliver financial services to small, cohesive and participatory women’s self-help groups. To develop a deeper understanding of the topic of sustainability of self-help groups, we propose a framework that conceptualizes sustainability by integrating the financial and organizational aspects of functioning of self-help groups. Sustainability is assessed in the light of the group’s performance (on set of indicators) with respect to the primary objective of the Self Help Group-Bank Linkage Programme, which is financial intermediation. Subsequently, we ascertain the effect of plausible contributory factors related to group management practices on the sustainability of self-help groups. The results of regression analysis on primary data captured from a survey of 170 self-help groups show that such factors as equitable access to credit, group savings, growth in savings, loan utilization in income generation activities, members depositing a savings contribution or loan installment on each other’s behalf, and distance from bank contribute significantly to group sustainability. Accordingly, designing suitable measures to monitor and improve group governance and management practices would be a critical policy intervention.
The economics of climate change in Latin America and the Caribbean: Stylized facts
Notes on integration
It is argued in these notes that a number of factors, together with the current problems in the world economy, tend to make integration appear less important than it really is and to reduce its chances of success, so that a clear interpretation and evaluation — not as yet available — is called for.
Interpretative summary
Latin America stands at the treshold of the 1980s as the most highly industrialized region in the Third World. Because of concern in industrial countries over the increasing competitive capacity of some developing countries in the production and export of manufactures, Latin America’s essential thrust is often perceived by those outside the region as based on its new industrial capability.
Latin America and the international monetary system: some comments and suggestions
In this paper, I intend to emphasize aspects of the present system of international economic relations in the monetary and financial area that create difficulties for an adequate insertion of Latin America in the world economy. I do not propose to make a comprehensive study of all transfers of resources between developed and developing countries.
Fiscal policy in times of crisis: macroeconomic effects of the primary surplus
Trade unions in the “South” in the era of globalization
This article examines the effects of globalization on the trade union movement in developing countries (the “South”). It concludes, first, that globalization has been asymmetrical: much further-reaching for trade in goods than for capital flows, weak for technology transfer and very limited in migratory flows. Second, it examines the role and economic repercussions of labour unions. It finds that, contrary to the orthodox view, these have little negative impact on employment but do significantly reduce wage inequalities. In view of the shift in the South since the 1980s away from development strategies based on import substitution aimed at domestic markets and towards export-oriented strategies, the final section proposes new tasks and priorities for unions that are more consistent with this strategic reorientation, both at the national and international levels as well as within firms.
From national to local economic development: theoretical issues
Deaths at sea in the Pacific Islands: Challenges and opportunities for civil registration and vital statistics systems
Accurate and reliable death statistics produced by civil registration and vital statistics systems are essential for health planning and programme evaluation. The quality of death registration data in Pacific island countries and territories remains suboptimal. Data on deaths occurring at sea are especially limited. While coastal and oceanic activities are the norm and essential to the livelihoods of Pacific island populations, such activities pose risks for accidents at sea, especially those involving small-scale vessels. In this paper, the scale of deaths at sea associated with small vessels in three Pacific island countries or territories over the period 2008-2017 is investigated using data from the health, civil registry, and police and fisheries departments, and reports produced by national statistics offices, ministries of health, the Pacific Community, the World Health Organization and media sources. Data on deaths at sea were found to be fragmented among multiple sources and missing key information on age, sex, and cause. Standardized procedures for reporting deaths and accidents at sea and harmonized data sharing between local communities and government agencies are urgently needed to improve civil registration and vital statistics systems and sea safety in the Pacific island subregion.
Human resource requirements for meeting the needs of ageing societies
While health care is accorded priority by Asian and Pacific countries in addressing the rapid ageing of their populations, only some include long-term care as part of a continuum of care available in institutional and non-institutional settings with formal and informal caregivers. Measures for avoidable (preventive and amenable) mortality contribute towards preventive long-term care. The delivery of health care by health professionals, allied health professionals and auxiliary care workers is discussed in this review, with examples of the training of nurses and social workers to show the range and variety of training available in the region. Caregiving is increasingly undertaken by migrant domestic and care workers and by volunteer health workers, often as part of community organizations. Institutional care is often perceived as abandonment and de-institutionalization is thus pursued as an “asset-light” policy option. But it should be supported as ageing-in-place, community-based services and platforms, with the integration of health and social care, innovative approaches for engagement and participation, and technology, all of which require trained human resources with the necessary skills and competencies. Other measures to strengthen care provision and support to older persons include expanding filial piety to social piety, changing mindsets and combating ageism for social solidarity and collective responsibility. It also includes measurement and monitoring mechanisms for accountability and course correction.
Technologies to reach older persons with health-care services
This review examines telemedicine practices, which are separated into teleconsultations and telemonitoring, that have applied information and communication technologies (ICT) for the delivery of health-care services to older persons in the Republic of Korea, Japan, Australia and China. The practices featured from the Republic of Korea and Japan are telemedicine pilot projects to manage chronic disease patients more efficiently and at lower cost. The projects included a health management curriculum, with emphasis on nutrition and exercise guidance. The participants in each pilot project found the services to be helpful in managing their health; the project evaluation findings also indicated several meaningful medical improvements. In Australia, a Home Monitoring of Chronic Disease for Aged Care Project was designed in 2014 to manage ageing patients with chronic diseases at home through various telemedicine devices. In China, the Ningbo Cloud Hospital was established in 2015 to control increasing health-care expenses and to resolve difficulties for individuals to see a doctor. More than 2,000 patients are now registered for online video consultations and prescriptions. The featured examples illustrate how the application of telemedicine to a health-care system not only promotes accessibility between doctors and patients but can save on construction costs for new facilities and the cost of supplying medical personnel in remote areas, which thus can help reduce national medical expenses. However, to initiate ICT-based health-care service delivery, governments in Asia and the Pacific need to first establish related policies that promote telemedicine.