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Investors’ perceptions, and their understanding related to an investment, are paramount to decision-making in economic and investment settings. Social media is increasingly playing a vital role in influencing investors’ perceptions and investors’ decisions in the financial arena. Social media is a comfortable and easy tool to use. That’s why it has just become a fundamental part of online news sharing and information distribution. In the first study of this thesis, a network structure is constructed and built social ties circle based on the frequency of communication of investors within the network, and the network size of the investors to develop a comprehensive measurement scale for the social network index. Our findings indicate that the acquisition of information in the social network of investors depends on different components or factors. A significant factor in the network index is the network degree (network connectivity). It implies that network members with higher degrees or connections acquire vast amounts of information. Likewise, investors with larger networks receive enormous amounts of information, notably "following," which is the principal component in terms of network size. As a result, network size appears as the network index's second biggest factor. The smaller contribution comes from social tie circles. However, collectively, all these factors represent the social network index. In the second study, we argue that the impact of financial information and news on investors’ perceptions is moderated by network factors such as network structure, social ties, and network size of the network. The impact of information on an individual’s perception is also called a social network or network effect. To tackle the moderating role of these network factors, we employed PLS-SEM as a statistical technique. The findings of this study indicate that network connectivity and social ties are crucial for the acquisition of information within the network. The findi

Understanding a country’s past, present and expected future population diversity at sub-national levels is important. Studying changing diversity in terms of the groups that constitute a population and how that varies within regions and between local areas assists in understanding socio-economic and demographic sub-national trends. It is important to project the probable future population diversity in regions for successful policy planning and implementation, group-specific investments in health, education, and community services, as well as the provision of non-government services. This thesis is a compilation of four inter-related studies that examine the ethnic makeup of the Auckland region of New Zealand. Using New Zealand Census of Populations and Dwellings data (1991, 1996, 2001, 2006 and 2013), the first study identifies and empirically demonstrates the shortcomings in traditional measures commonly used for measuring residential sorting, and instead proposes an alternative preferred measure. Specifically, the study shows that the Entropy Index of Systematic Segregation is the measure of residential sorting that is least biased by group size. Using the same data, the second study examines the long-term patterns in ethnic and economic residential sorting in Auckland at a fine geographic scale using disaggregated groups. The results show that residential sorting by ethnicity is much more prominent than sorting by economic factors. The results also show that, although residential sorting has been declining over time in Auckland, specific ethnic groups like the Chinese and Indians have become more residentially sorted over time. The New Zealand European, Other European, and New Zealand Māori groups were found to be the least residentially sorted, whereas small ethnic groups like the African, Latin American/Hispanic, Tokelauan, and ‘Other Pacific Island’ groups were the most residentially sorted, over the whole study period. The results also show that the dominant

Trade and migration have been extensively studied in a variety of disciplines but their inter relationship is still arguable. It is crucial to understand how trade and migration are linked, since they are important elements in a modern, globalized economy. This thesis presents three interconnected studies on trade and migration that make use of newly estimated international migration flows data, to understand these relationships and the potential contributions of trade and migration to global poverty and inequality reduction. The first study examines the bi-directional relationship between trade and migration using international bilateral trade and migration flows data within a seemingly unrelated regression gravity model framework. The study finds that trade and migration are complements, which means that larger migration flows are associated with higher trade flows, and vice versa. Although these results do not definitively demonstrate causality, they suggest that, if world trade decreases due to countries implementation on current protectionist policies, migration flows might also be likely to decline. The second study extends the investigation by examining the causal relationship between trade and migration. The study uses a novel instrumental variables strategy, utilising World Trade Organisation (WTO) affiliation and average tariff rates as instruments within a gravity model framework, to overcome endogeneity in the regression model. The results suggest that trade is a causal driver of migration. This means that migration flows would increase following an increase in trade flows. The third study investigates whether international trade or migration has a larger effect on global extreme poverty and inequality. Again, an instrumental variables approach is used to address any endogeneity problems. The results suggest that trade has a larger potential impact on reducing extreme poverty and inequality. Overall, the outcomes of this thesis are important to policy ma

Trade and migration have been extensively studied in a variety of disciplines but their inter relationship is still arguable. It is crucial to understand how trade and migration are linked, since they are important elements in a modern, globalized economy. This thesis presents three interconnected studies on trade and migration that make use of newly estimated international migration flows data, to understand these relationships and the potential contributions of trade and migration to global poverty and inequality reduction. The first study examines the bi-directional relationship between trade and migration using international bilateral trade and migration flows data within a seemingly unrelated regression gravity model framework. The study finds that trade and migration are complements, which means that larger migration flows are associated with higher trade flows, and vice versa. Although these results do not definitively demonstrate causality, they suggest that, if world trade decreases due to countries implementation on current protectionist policies, migration flows might also be likely to decline. The second study extends the investigation by examining the causal relationship between trade and migration. The study uses a novel instrumental variables strategy, utilising World Trade Organisation (WTO) affiliation and average tariff rates as instruments within a gravity model framework, to overcome endogeneity in the regression model. The results suggest that trade is a causal driver of migration. This means that migration flows would increase following an increase in trade flows. The third study investigates whether international trade or migration has a larger effect on global extreme poverty and inequality. Again, an instrumental variables approach is used to address any endogeneity problems. The results suggest that trade has a larger potential impact on reducing extreme poverty and inequality. Overall, the outcomes of this thesis are important to policy ma

Understanding a country’s past, present and expected future population diversity at sub-national levels is important. Studying changing diversity in terms of the groups that constitute a population and how that varies within regions and between local areas assists in understanding socio-economic and demographic sub-national trends. It is important to project the probable future population diversity in regions for successful policy planning and implementation, group-specific investments in health, education, and community services, as well as the provision of non-government services. This thesis is a compilation of four inter-related studies that examine the ethnic makeup of the Auckland region of New Zealand. Using New Zealand Census of Populations and Dwellings data (1991, 1996, 2001, 2006 and 2013), the first study identifies and empirically demonstrates the shortcomings in traditional measures commonly used for measuring residential sorting, and instead proposes an alternative preferred measure. Specifically, the study shows that the Entropy Index of Systematic Segregation is the measure of residential sorting that is least biased by group size. Using the same data, the second study examines the long-term patterns in ethnic and economic residential sorting in Auckland at a fine geographic scale using disaggregated groups. The results show that residential sorting by ethnicity is much more prominent than sorting by economic factors. The results also show that, although residential sorting has been declining over time in Auckland, specific ethnic groups like the Chinese and Indians have become more residentially sorted over time. The New Zealand European, Other European, and New Zealand Māori groups were found to be the least residentially sorted, whereas small ethnic groups like the African, Latin American/Hispanic, Tokelauan, and ‘Other Pacific Island’ groups were the most residentially sorted, over the whole study period. The results also show that the dominant

It is widely believed that the informal sector is growing in the modern global economy. When studying who occupies this informal sector and the nature of their business, the universal tendency is to describe the informal sector as made up of low-income producers and having opportunities for disadvantaged and low-quality sectors to run their businesses. The informal sector business has long been seen as marginalized groups working as subordinates because of economic needs and as a last resort. This thesis empirically analyses the features and characteristics of the informal sector in Timor-Leste and is made up of three connected studies. In the first study, in Chapter 2, the factors associated with being an informal sector work were identified. The results show that women rather than men dominate the informal sector. Moreover, there is a gender dimension in informal sector economic activities. Women are more interested in small trading activities, such as retail kiosks and weaving, that are attached to homes. Men mostly perform economic activities, such as mining and construction, outside the home. The informal sector is also dominated by uneducated people. The high level of involvement of illiterate people in the informal sector creates the potential for negative consequences. The second study, in Chapter 3, investigated the relationship between informal sector work and the income security, food security, and self-reported health. The only statistically significant relationship was with income security, where informal sector work was associated with lower income security. The relationships between informal sector work and food security and health were not statistically significant. The importance of improving income security among informal sector workers was clear. The third study, in Chapter 4, qualitatively investigated factors preventing informal sector development from the informal sector workers’ perspective. The thematic analysis demonstrated that most of the

Globally, almost four million people die prematurely annually due to indoor air pollution (IAP), and millions are facing serious diseases. These adverse health impacts place a great burden on national health budgets, increase medical expenditures, and reduce the overall productivity of the economy. Worryingly, almost three billion people still depend upon solid fuels such as firewood, biomass, crop residues, animal dung, and coal, which are the major contributors to IAP. This thesis investigates the causal relationship between solid fuel consumption and both child mortality and life expectancy, the price and non-price determinants of solid fuel use (using Pakistan as a case study), and finally uses cost-benefit analysis (CBA) to evaluate alternative policies. Specifically, the thesis includes four empirical studies related to solid fuel use and IAP. In the first study, panel data covering 101 countries over the period 2000-2012 were used to examine the causal impacts of solid fuel use on health outcomes. Utilizing an instrumental variables approach, it was concluded that solid fuel combustion causes increases in child mortality and decreases in male and female life expectancy. The second study investigated the factors associated with the selection of solid and cleaner fuels by households. Using data from the Pakistan Social and Living Standards Measurement (PSLM) Survey 2013-14, the study identified that agricultural occupation, large family size, and having cattle, were associated with solid fuel consumption. In contrast, higher income, higher education, and living in an urban area were factors associated with cleaner fuel consumption. However, the study concluded that income growth alone will not be sufficient to ensure that households switch to cleaner fuel use, particularly households in rural areas. Hence, the results challenge the practical aspects of countries moving along the Environmental Kuznets Curve, and suggest that in order to reduce IAP, direct policy

Globally, almost four million people die prematurely annually due to indoor air pollution (IAP), and millions are facing serious diseases. These adverse health impacts place a great burden on national health budgets, increase medical expenditures, and reduce the overall productivity of the economy. Worryingly, almost three billion people still depend upon solid fuels such as firewood, biomass, crop residues, animal dung, and coal, which are the major contributors to IAP. This thesis investigates the causal relationship between solid fuel consumption and both child mortality and life expectancy, the price and non-price determinants of solid fuel use (using Pakistan as a case study), and finally uses cost-benefit analysis (CBA) to evaluate alternative policies. Specifically, the thesis includes four empirical studies related to solid fuel use and IAP. In the first study, panel data covering 101 countries over the period 2000-2012 were used to examine the causal impacts of solid fuel use on health outcomes. Utilizing an instrumental variables approach, it was concluded that solid fuel combustion causes increases in child mortality and decreases in male and female life expectancy. The second study investigated the factors associated with the selection of solid and cleaner fuels by households. Using data from the Pakistan Social and Living Standards Measurement (PSLM) Survey 2013-14, the study identified that agricultural occupation, large family size, and having cattle, were associated with solid fuel consumption. In contrast, higher income, higher education, and living in an urban area were factors associated with cleaner fuel consumption. However, the study concluded that income growth alone will not be sufficient to ensure that households switch to cleaner fuel use, particularly households in rural areas. Hence, the results challenge the practical aspects of countries moving along the Environmental Kuznets Curve, and suggest that in order to reduce IAP, direct policy

It is widely believed that the informal sector is growing in the modern global economy. When studying who occupies this informal sector and the nature of their business, the universal tendency is to describe the informal sector as made up of low-income producers and having opportunities for disadvantaged and low-quality sectors to run their businesses. The informal sector business has long been seen as marginalized groups working as subordinates because of economic needs and as a last resort. This thesis empirically analyses the features and characteristics of the informal sector in Timor-Leste and is made up of three connected studies. In the first study, in Chapter 2, the factors associated with being an informal sector work were identified. The results show that women rather than men dominate the informal sector. Moreover, there is a gender dimension in informal sector economic activities. Women are more interested in small trading activities, such as retail kiosks and weaving, that are attached to homes. Men mostly perform economic activities, such as mining and construction, outside the home. The informal sector is also dominated by uneducated people. The high level of involvement of illiterate people in the informal sector creates the potential for negative consequences. The second study, in Chapter 3, investigated the relationship between informal sector work and the income security, food security, and self-reported health. The only statistically significant relationship was with income security, where informal sector work was associated with lower income security. The relationships between informal sector work and food security and health were not statistically significant. The importance of improving income security among informal sector workers was clear. The third study, in Chapter 4, qualitatively investigated factors preventing informal sector development from the informal sector workers’ perspective. The thematic analysis demonstrated that most of the

The two-way relationship between international migration and institutional quality is at the core of migration and development interconnections. Migration decisions are shaped by various types of institutions, and subsequently alter the quality of institutions in both home and host countries. This thesis empirically examines the two-way relationship between international migration and institutional quality at the country and cross-country levels. Three studies on the return decisions and intentions of Vietnamese migrants are presented, which elucidate the role of institutional quality in explaining migration. Subsequently, a panel analysis that involves across-country-and-time comparisons is presented that investigates the development role of migration in improving institutional quality in home countries. In the first study, binary and multinomial regression models are fitted to identify the determinants of Vietnamese return migrants’ location choices when registering for permanent residency back in their home country. The analysis reveals that institutional quality at the local level has a positive role in these migration decisions. Moreover, the revealed effect differs with the characteristics of migrants: regions with better institutional quality are more attractive both to younger return migrants and to those who have returned from host countries with better institutional quality. The second study uses data from a web-based survey conducted in OECD countries in 2016 to examine determinants of the intentions to repatriate among Vietnamese migrants. Logistic regression results suggest that Vietnamese migrants who attach greater importance to the institutional quality in Viet Nam are less likely to have the intention to return than others. However, there is considerable heterogeneity by gender. The concern about institutional quality in Viet Nam is only statistically significant for males. The third study attempts to measure the implicit monetary value of instituti

This thesis consists of three essays that improve the general understanding of the public demand for safety programmes in the context of natural hazards. With the growing importance of this topic around the world, this study provides a practical and methodological contribution to the literature on Environmental Economics and Policy, especially local policy. In particular, this research examines people’s preferences and their willingness-to-pay for landslide mitigation programmes. The primary aim is to assess how the residents of and visitors to a mountain valley in the Alps value and trade off the multiple attributes of protection programmes for landslide risk reduction by applying Discrete Choice Modelling methodology. To address the current needs of local decision-makers, the investigation of the determinants of preference heterogeneity is the central theme of the research. The study is based on a panel choice dataset created from a Discrete Choice Experiment, based on full ranking, administered in person by the author to 250 respondents in the Boite Valley, Italy. The first essay examines the stability of preferences, investigating to what extent additional information has an impact on estimated values. Specifically, it studies whether respondents adjust their preferences based on scientific information provided on one specific attribute. A mixed logit model in willingness-to-pay space is implemented to account for preference heterogeneity. The findings suggest that respondents perceive the existing protection measures as insufficient. The provision of information affects only the attribute subject to additional information and the consideration of the current status of protection. Preferences for the other attributes remained stable. Preliminary evidence of spatial heterogeneity is also detected. The second essay addresses the issue of the stability of parameter estimates obtained through simulation using choice models with latent variables. Specifically, it ana

The two-way relationship between international migration and institutional quality is at the core of migration and development interconnections. Migration decisions are shaped by various types of institutions, and subsequently alter the quality of institutions in both home and host countries. This thesis empirically examines the two-way relationship between international migration and institutional quality at the country and cross-country levels. Three studies on the return decisions and intentions of Vietnamese migrants are presented, which elucidate the role of institutional quality in explaining migration. Subsequently, a panel analysis that involves across-country-and-time comparisons is presented that investigates the development role of migration in improving institutional quality in home countries. In the first study, binary and multinomial regression models are fitted to identify the determinants of Vietnamese return migrants’ location choices when registering for permanent residency back in their home country. The analysis reveals that institutional quality at the local level has a positive role in these migration decisions. Moreover, the revealed effect differs with the characteristics of migrants: regions with better institutional quality are more attractive both to younger return migrants and to those who have returned from host countries with better institutional quality. The second study uses data from a web-based survey conducted in OECD countries in 2016 to examine determinants of the intentions to repatriate among Vietnamese migrants. Logistic regression results suggest that Vietnamese migrants who attach greater importance to the institutional quality in Viet Nam are less likely to have the intention to return than others. However, there is considerable heterogeneity by gender. The concern about institutional quality in Viet Nam is only statistically significant for males. The third study attempts to measure the implicit monetary value of instituti

This thesis consists of three essays that improve the general understanding of the public demand for safety programmes in the context of natural hazards. With the growing importance of this topic around the world, this study provides a practical and methodological contribution to the literature on Environmental Economics and Policy, especially local policy. In particular, this research examines people’s preferences and their willingness-to-pay for landslide mitigation programmes. The primary aim is to assess how the residents of and visitors to a mountain valley in the Alps value and trade off the multiple attributes of protection programmes for landslide risk reduction by applying Discrete Choice Modelling methodology. To address the current needs of local decision-makers, the investigation of the determinants of preference heterogeneity is the central theme of the research. The study is based on a panel choice dataset created from a Discrete Choice Experiment, based on full ranking, administered in person by the author to 250 respondents in the Boite Valley, Italy. The first essay examines the stability of preferences, investigating to what extent additional information has an impact on estimated values. Specifically, it studies whether respondents adjust their preferences based on scientific information provided on one specific attribute. A mixed logit model in willingness-to-pay space is implemented to account for preference heterogeneity. The findings suggest that respondents perceive the existing protection measures as insufficient. The provision of information affects only the attribute subject to additional information and the consideration of the current status of protection. Preferences for the other attributes remained stable. Preliminary evidence of spatial heterogeneity is also detected. The second essay addresses the issue of the stability of parameter estimates obtained through simulation using choice models with latent variables. Specifically, it ana

This thesis is to discover whether the strength of social capital can alter household livelihoods and their sustainability. The intention of this thesis is to answer two questions: (1) Can different types of social ties (kin and non-kin ties) lead to differential access to social capital in a small community in China？(2) Does the strength of social capital alter local livelihood patterns by diversifying household livelihoods, or producing new livelihoods in an industry that has potential for development? This thesis, using a quantitative methodology, focuses on social capital measures. It begins with data collection on the social capital status and livelihoods of mining households. The household survey used a random recruitment for sample selection, which involved 228 participants in mines and related working departments (e.g. electricity, and the corporate headquarters of the local biggest mining company) in Zoucheng city, Shandong Province, China. OLS regression models used the household survey to generate associations of variables, such as human capital resources for respondents, length and location of residency, access to social networks, etc. with the composite measure of access to social capital. With these analyses and background information about Zoucheng, I use a simulation model to project the alternative livelihoods for local rural households based on local resources (e.g. farmland, tourism, and mineral resources). The aim of the simulation model was to better understand the role that social capital might play in possible transitions to alternative livelihoods (namely, tourism and farming). The research results argue that both kin ties and weak ties (such as friendships) are important factors associated with social capital for mining sector residents in Zoucheng (Chapter Six). The advantages of strengthened social capital are presented in the simulation model (Chapter Eight). As social capital was enhanced, both incomes and number of rural tourism operato

This thesis is to discover whether the strength of social capital can alter household livelihoods and their sustainability. The intention of this thesis is to answer two questions: (1) Can different types of social ties (kin and non-kin ties) lead to differential access to social capital in a small community in China？(2) Does the strength of social capital alter local livelihood patterns by diversifying household livelihoods, or producing new livelihoods in an industry that has potential for development? This thesis, using a quantitative methodology, focuses on social capital measures. It begins with data collection on the social capital status and livelihoods of mining households. The household survey used a random recruitment for sample selection, which involved 228 participants in mines and related working departments (e.g. electricity, and the corporate headquarters of the local biggest mining company) in Zoucheng city, Shandong Province, China. OLS regression models used the household survey to generate associations of variables, such as human capital resources for respondents, length and location of residency, access to social networks, etc. with the composite measure of access to social capital. With these analyses and background information about Zoucheng, I use a simulation model to project the alternative livelihoods for local rural households based on local resources (e.g. farmland, tourism, and mineral resources). The aim of the simulation model was to better understand the role that social capital might play in possible transitions to alternative livelihoods (namely, tourism and farming). The research results argue that both kin ties and weak ties (such as friendships) are important factors associated with social capital for mining sector residents in Zoucheng (Chapter Six). The advantages of strengthened social capital are presented in the simulation model (Chapter Eight). As social capital was enhanced, both incomes and number of rural tourism operato

While farmland loss (due to urbanisation and industrialisation) causes job losses for a huge number of farmers and threatens food security, it can bring about a wide range of new job opportunities for local people through which they can change their livelihoods and improve their welfare. The literature in Vietnam and some other countries reveals that although there has been much discussion about the mixed impacts of farmland loss on rural household livelihoods, none of these impacts has been quantified thus far. This thesis is the first study to use econometric methods for quantifying the various impacts of farmland loss on households' livelihood strategies and outcomes. Using survey data from 477 randomly sampled households in 6 communes in a peri-urban district of Hanoi, several regression models were used to examine how and to what extent farmland loss has affected rural household livelihoods in Vietnam. Specifically, three key relationships were considered and tested: (i) the relationship between farmland loss and household livelihood strategies; (ii) the relationship between farmland loss and household livelihood outcomes (income and consumption expenditure); and (iii) the relationship between farmland loss and household income shares by source. It was found that farmland loss has a positive impact on the choice of non-farm work-based strategies, notably the informal wage work-based strategy. Given the impact of farmland loss, households' income shares actually diversified into non-farm sources, especially informal wage income. Interestingly, the results indicate that farmland loss, coupled with compensation, has no negative impact on livelihood outcomes (neither income nor consumption expenditure per capita). Possibly this can be explained by the fact that a number of households used part of their compensation money for smoothing consumption. In addition, income earned from jobs outside of farming might compensate for or even exceed the loss of farm income due

While farmland loss (due to urbanisation and industrialisation) causes job losses for a huge number of farmers and threatens food security, it can bring about a wide range of new job opportunities for local people through which they can change their livelihoods and improve their welfare. The literature in Vietnam and some other countries reveals that although there has been much discussion about the mixed impacts of farmland loss on rural household livelihoods, none of these impacts has been quantified thus far. This thesis is the first study to use econometric methods for quantifying the various impacts of farmland loss on households' livelihood strategies and outcomes. Using survey data from 477 randomly sampled households in 6 communes in a peri-urban district of Hanoi, several regression models were used to examine how and to what extent farmland loss has affected rural household livelihoods in Vietnam. Specifically, three key relationships were considered and tested: (i) the relationship between farmland loss and household livelihood strategies; (ii) the relationship between farmland loss and household livelihood outcomes (income and consumption expenditure); and (iii) the relationship between farmland loss and household income shares by source. It was found that farmland loss has a positive impact on the choice of non-farm work-based strategies, notably the informal wage work-based strategy. Given the impact of farmland loss, households' income shares actually diversified into non-farm sources, especially informal wage income. Interestingly, the results indicate that farmland loss, coupled with compensation, has no negative impact on livelihood outcomes (neither income nor consumption expenditure per capita). Possibly this can be explained by the fact that a number of households used part of their compensation money for smoothing consumption. In addition, income earned from jobs outside of farming might compensate for or even exceed the loss of farm income due