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This paper examines the effect of foreign direct investment (FDI) inflows on host country's economic growth for a group of 45 developing countries for the period 1990–2014. Using the pooled mean group (PMG) regression method, we estimate the long-run and the short-run impact of FDI inflows on growth rate of GDP per capita. The PMG regression results suggest that the growth rate of GDP per capita and its covariates are cointegrated, implying the presence of a long-run equilibrium relationship among the variables. Our results suggest that FDI inflows have significant positive impact on economic growth of the recipient countries both in the long-run and in the short-run. We find that the long-run effect of FDI inflows on economic growth is higher in the emerging market economies as compared to the non-emerging market economies. FDI inflows have significant positive effect on the long-run economic growth in Asia and Africa region. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: This paper estimates the importance of (tariff-mediated) network effects and the impact of a consumer''s social network on her choice of mobile phone provider. The study uses network data obtained from surveys of students in several European and Asian countries. We use the Quadratic Assignment Procedure, a non-parametric permutation test, to adjust for the particular error structure of network data. We find that respondents strongly coordinate their choice of mobile phone providers, but only if their provider induces network effects. This suggests that this coordination depends on network effects rather than on information contagion or pressure to conform to the social environment. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Summary: This paper studies the driving forces behind the considerable expansion of the underground economy during the late 1990s. I propose a novel explanation for this phenomenon: the sharp increase in market competition worldwide, which reduces prices and profits and drives firms into the shadow economy. Empirical evidence from a panel covering 45 countries from 1995 to 2000 shows that increased competition is indeed correlated with an expansion of the underground economy. The effect is strongest in low-tax, high-corruption countries that do not provide the public services which make it worthwhile for firms to remain official despite growing competitive pressure. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

The consequences of spatial association of CO 2 determinants are discussed in this analysis, considering pollution control's significance. Six financial growth metrics were analyzed using data from 31 Asia-Pacific countries from 2000 to 2018. The spatial econometric models used in this paper, in a novel contribution, make it possible to study comprehensively the direct and spillover effects of financial development on CO 2 emissions regionally. The presence of the spatial Durbin model was verified by diagnostic testing. The findings demonstrate that the logarithm of GDP per capita, trade openness, urbanization, and energy intensity have beneficial and essential effects on CO 2 emissions. The efficacy of the components assessed for financial growth in the various models. The lack of consideration of the spillover consequences of economic growth to boost energy quality, based on the findings, contributes to skewed estimates and negligible coefficients. The ultimate results illuminate that all six financial growth metrics are becoming relevant and stimulate an increase in CO 2 emissions, while their spillover effects are adverse as energy quality is increased. The analysis of spatial influences illustrates the importance of adjacent countries' effects on a country's CO 2 emissions. The overall findings suggest that as demand and financial growth in neighboring countries increase, CO 2 emissions decrease. • Financial development. • CO 2 emission. • Asia-Pacific Countries. • Spatial econometric. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: The purpose of this paper is to provide a broad overview of the social and environmental costs and benefits of biofuels in Asia. The major factors that will determine the impacts of biofuels are: (1) their contribution to land-use change, (2) the feedstocks used, and (3) issues of technology and scale. Biofuels offer economic benefits, and in the right circumstances can reduce emissions and make a small contribution to energy security. Feedstocks that involve the conversion of agricultural land will affect food security and cause indirect land-use change, while those that replace forests, wetlands or natural grasslands will increase emissions and damage biodiversity. Biofuels from cellulose, algae or waste will avoid some of these problems, but come with their own set of uncertainties and risks. In order to ensure net societal benefits of biofuel production, governments, researchers, and companies will need to work together to carry out comprehensive assessments, map suitable and unsuitable areas, and define and apply standards relevant to the different circumstances of each country. The greatest benefits may come from feedstocks produced on a modest scale as co-products of smart technologies developed for phytoremediation, waste disposal and emissions reduction. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: Asia’s largest biofuels producers are currently Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Thailand, China and India. This paper first examines the current status of biofuels in these countries, including the national development targets, strategies, incentives and policies. It then identifies the fundamental driving forces behind the development and promotion of these industries and considers their economic, social and environmental impacts. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]