Journal of Economic Impact

Socioeconomic Factors Affecting the Adoption of Digital Devices at Household Level in Pakistan

Sahira Bano, Sofia Anwar, Abdul Quddoos — Sun, 03 Nov 2024 00:00:00 +0000

The effective use of digital devices has become an essential part of modern life. This study explores the socioeconomic determinants of the adoption of digital devices in Pakistan. The data has been obtained from the Pakistan Social Living Standard Measurement (PSLM) survey 2019–2020. A binary logistic regression model has been used. The dependent variable is the household adoption of digital devices i.e. computers, laptops, and tablets/iPads. Socioeconomic and demographic variables have been used as explanatory variables in the regression. The results conclude that the household adoption of digital devices is influenced by socioeconomic and demographic factors including gender, income, schooling years, and age. Receiving foreign remittances emerged as a positive predictor of the adoption of digital devices. Surprisingly, employed individuals are less likely to use digital devices. The study also highlighted a few behavioral factors that affect the adoption of digital devices. These factors i.e. lack of accessibility and affordability of devices, fears regarding security, and challenges associated with digital literacy, negatively affect the adoption of digital devices. Digital divide and digital inclusion have been studied for different economies due to their perceived benefits in modern lifestyles. As per our information, such household level analysis for Pakistan has not been performed. Pakistan has a lot of space for improvement in ICT infrastructure and accessibility. The study elucidates socioeconomic factors that can influence the implementation of digital technology, providing implications for policymakers, who seek to promote digital inclusion.

Economic Impact of Cotton-Raya Relay Cropping on Crop Yield and Soil Health: A Strategic Approach to Climate Resilience and Profit Maximization

Tue, 05 Nov 2024 00:00:00 +0000

Climate change, soil degradation, and depletion of natural resources challenge agricultural productivity and economic sustainability. Developing resilient agricultural systems is crucial for food security amid these changes. Relay cropping, where one plant species is inter-seeded into an established crop, maintains continuous plant cover, optimizes resource use, and enhances climate resilience. Therefore, the objective of research was to assess the economic benefits of relay cropping systems in enhancing crop yield and improving soil health. It aims to identify how these practices contribute to climate resilience and maximize farm profitability, offering strategic insights for sustainable agriculture in the face of climate change. Brassica (Raya/Mustard) was sown in standing cotton as a relay crop on first week of October- using 3 kg seed/acre, and also a sole crop to compare the results. Economic analysis over three seasons shows that relay cropping consistently achieved higher net profits compared to sole cropping. Results showed that in 2022-23, cotton relay cropping yielded higher with a net profit of Rs. 66,950, compared to sole cotton and a net profit of Rs. 39,200. Relay cropping also improved soil health, with higher soil organic matter levels observed; for example, in 2022-23, cotton relay cropping had 0.78% soil organic matter compared to 0.63% in sole cotton. Although sole cropping offered higher yields for Brassica, relay cropping resulted in better soil nutrient levels. Overall, the relay cropping system yielded a combined net profit of Rs. 130,630 in 2022-23. These findings highlight relay cropping’s potential to enhance farm profitability and sustainability by addressing resource use inefficiencies, reducing input costs, and stabilizing yields, making it a strategic choice for climate resilience and economic stability.

Synergizing Socioeconomic, Technological, and Environmental Factors Influencing the Adoption of High-Efficiency Irrigation Systems (HEIS): Insights from Highland Balochistan, Pakistan

Ameen Ullah, Raza Ullah, Syed Mohammad Khair, Asghar Ali, Abdus Samie — Sun, 01 Dec 2024 00:00:00 +0000

Water plays a crucial role in sustaining human life and facilitating global economic development. Balochistan, the largest province of Pakistan, faces severe water scarcity primarily because of the unregulated extraction of groundwater aquifers. The scarcity of water resources can be effectively addressed by increasing Water Use Efficiency (WUE) achievable through the adoption of High-Efficienscy Irrigation Systems (HEIS). Despite substantial efforts by both public and private sectors, the adoption rate of efficient techniques remains notably low. Evaluating the factors influencing the adoption of high-efficiency irrigation methods and their resultant impact on water use efficiency is the need of time. In this study, an effort was made to study HEIS and its characteristics including the factors affecting the adoption decision, operation duration, and the economics of HEIS. The present study focused, on three main river basins using a multistage sampling technique in highland Balochistan. Three key basins namely Nari River Basin (NRB), Zhob River Basin (ZRB), and Pishin Lora Basin (PLB) Out of 18 basins in Balochistan were selected purposively. These basins are currently dealing with the issue of depleted groundwater table at a rate of more than 5-15 feet annually in the majority of their aquifers. A representative sample size of 300 farmers was chosen using a proportionate stratified sampling technique. Logistic regression was employed to analyze the data and the study findings revealed that the availability of off-farm income and higher education level were found to have highly significant and positive relationships with the likelihood of adoption. Farmers' age and the level of water scarcity were additional significant factors. Along with them, installation costs, maintenance expenses, and technological complexity were key barriers to HEIS adoption. To increase farmers' willingness to accept technology in highland Balochistan, organizations should undertake extension and educational training to increase knowledge and awareness of HEIS.

Profitability of Organic Versus Conventional Rice Production: An Evidence from South Asia

Muhammad Asim Yasin, Sami Ullah, Rafaqet Ali, Saad Munir — Sat, 07 Dec 2024 00:00:00 +0000

Rice, a staple and cash crop in South Asia, is vital for small-scale farmers, but concerns about the profitability of organic farming challenge its adoption despite its environmental benefits. The present study was conducted in the Rice-Wheat zone of three South Asian countries to make a comparison of profit efficiency in rice production under organic and conventional farming systems and to examine factors affecting profit efficiency. A multistage sampling technique was employed to collect cross-sectional data. Profit efficiency was determined by employing Cobb Douglas's functional form of stochastic profit frontier. Results show that the mean profit efficiency of organic rice growers is 0.89 less than conventional rice growers (0.910) in Pakistan. The mean profit efficiencies of organic growers are higher than conventional growers in Nepal and Bangladesh. Education and the role of the extension department are important factors in increasing the efficiency of organic and conventional farming while access to credit and experience in rice farming are significant in reducing inefficiencies in conventional rice farming. The study concludes that the education of farmers, the role of extension services, and easy credit access are key policy variables to improve profit efficiency.

Exploring the Relationship between CO2 Emission, Economic Growth, and Energy Consumption at Aggregate Level: A Panel Data Analysis

Muhammad Awais, Saleha Akram, Hassan Safdar — Wed, 11 Dec 2024 00:00:00 +0000

This article explores the relationship between CO2 emissions, economic growth, energy consumption, and, other control factors for the eight highest CO2-emitting countries (USA, Russia, Iran, China, Germany, India, Japan, and Canada) in 1995-2023. The m objective of the study is to determine how economic growth (GDP), energy consumption (EC), industrial production (IP), and other macroeconomic factors influence CO2 emissions. Using panel data analysis, this study applies various econometric techniques, including fixed and random effects models, Multicollinearity tests, heteroscedasticity tests, and cross-sectional dependence tests. Independent variables include GDP, Total energy use, Industrial output, Density of the population, and Trade while the dependent variable is CO2 emission. The results suggest that energy consumption positively correlates with CO2 emission, where, for each unit of energy consumption, CO2 emission increases by 0.0024 units. The outcomes also reveal a negative correlation of international trade with CO2 emissions implying that trade inhibits emissions. However, the relationship between GDP and, carbon emissions was formed to be statistically insignificant. Population density and industrial production have mixed effects on emissions, with industrial production showing a positive impact. The study emphasizes the importance of adopting cleaner energy sources, enhancing energy efficiency, and considering trade policies that might reduce emissions. The findings suggest that transitioning from coal and oil to cleaner energy sources, such as natural gas, could be an effective strategy for reducing carbon emissions without significantly hindering economic growth. The study provides valuable insights for policymakers in high-emission countries aiming to balance economic development with environmental sustainability.