The Persons with Disabilities (PWDs) Act, 2006 (Act 715) was passed in Ghana to grant several rights to PWDs, including access to public services such as healthcare. This paper…
Abstract
Purpose
The Persons with Disabilities (PWDs) Act, 2006 (Act 715) was passed in Ghana to grant several rights to PWDs, including access to public services such as healthcare. This paper investigates the inequality in resources and then later assesses the effect of disability on healthcare utilization if all resources are distributed equally between disabled and not disabled persons.
Design/methodology/approach
The study uses data from the seventh round of the Ghana Living Standards Survey (GLSS 7), which was conducted in 2016/2017, and employs the estimation method of propensity score matching (PSM), within the framework of the capability approach (CA).
Findings
The findings are that there is a disparity in the resources and conversion factors needed to utilize healthcare. Compared to not disabled persons, persons living with disability are more likely to be poorer but pay more out of pocket because they are more likely to be uninsured. They are also older, male, uneducated and live in rural areas. They are also likely to spend more money but less time to travel to the health facility, and they wait longer to receive treatment. After matching these background characteristics, disability reduces healthcare utilization by 12.4%.
Research limitations/implications
The research is limited by the lack of information about the reasons for seeking healthcare by the persons living with disability, whether it is for general treatment as any other person or for treating the disability.
Practical implications
Persons with disability are less endowed. However, even if they have the same resources as their abled counterparts, disability will still reduce healthcare utilization.
Social implications
This paper identifies and addresses all forms of inequality with respect to healthcare utilization, within Amartya Sen’s Capability Approach.
Originality/value
Persons living with disability are less likely to seek treatment when ill. This is understandable since there is a disparity in the resources and conversion factors needed to utilize healthcare. However, after matching these background characteristics, just being disabled still reduces healthcare utilization. The paper uses Sen’s CA framework.
Peer review
The peer review history for this article is available at: https://publons.com/publon/10.1108/IJSE-02-2022-0084
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Paul Adjei Kwakwa, Hamdiyah Alhassan and George Adu
Even though many studies have attempted to understand the drivers of carbon dioxide emission and energy consumption to help tackle environmental issues, not much has been done to…
Abstract
Purpose
Even though many studies have attempted to understand the drivers of carbon dioxide emission and energy consumption to help tackle environmental issues, not much has been done to estimate the effect of natural resources extraction on these two variables. This paper aims to analyze the long-run and short-run carbon dioxide emission and energy consumption effect of natural resources extraction in Ghana.
Design/methodology/approach
The theoretical foundation for this study is the Stochastic Impacts Regression on Population, Affluence and Technology (STIRPAT) model. Secondary Data sourced from World Development Indicators (2018) for the period of 1971-2013 were used. Estimation was done by using the autoregressive distributed lag.
Findings
It was found among other things that urbanization, and extraction of natural resources contribute to Ghana’s carbon dioxide emission, while official development assistance helps in reducing carbon dioxide emission in the long run. Again, while income and extraction of natural resources increase energy consumption, urbanization and official development assistance reduce environmental degradation in the long run. Regarding the short run, income and urbanization both increase energy consumption and carbon dioxide emission; trade openness and official development assistance decrease both carbon dioxide emission and energy consumption.
Research limitations/implications
The implications from the results include the need to strictly enforce laws regulating extractive activities in the country to ensure a safe environment; and also to raise tariff and non-tariff barriers on products that do not promote a friendly environment and vice versa.
Originality/value
The effect of natural resources extraction on carbon emission and energy consumption is examined.
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Transnational corporation (TNC)-led oil investments have been widely encouraged as a mechanism for the development of the Global South. Even though the sector is characterized by…
Abstract
Transnational corporation (TNC)-led oil investments have been widely encouraged as a mechanism for the development of the Global South. Even though the sector is characterized by major accidents, oil-based developmentalist narratives claim that such accidents are merely isolated incidents that can be administratively addressed, redressed behaviorally through education of certain individuals, or corrected through individually targeted post-event legislation. Adapting Harvey Molotch’s (1970) political economy methodology of “accident research”, this paper argues that such “accidents” are, in fact, routine in the entire value chain of the oil system dominated by, among others, military-backed TNCs which increasingly collaborate with national and local oil companies similarly wedded to the ideology of growth. Based on this analysis, existing policy focus on improving technology, instituting and enforcing more environmental regulations, and the pursuit of economic nationalism in the form of withdrawing from globalization are ineffective. In such a red-hot system, built on rapidly spinning wheels of accumulation, the pursuit of slow growth characterized by breaking the chains of monopoly and oligopoly, putting commonly generated rent to common uses, and freeing labor from regulations that rob it of its produce has more potency to address the enigma of petroleum accidents in the global south.
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De-Graft Owusu-Manu, Rhoda Ansah Quaigrain, David John Edwards, Mabel Hammond, Mavis Hammond and Chris Roberts
Energy conservation literacy within households is a contemporary and topical issue globally. However, scant research has been conducted on energy-saving literacy amongst Ghanaian…
Abstract
Purpose
Energy conservation literacy within households is a contemporary and topical issue globally. However, scant research has been conducted on energy-saving literacy amongst Ghanaian households. To substantiate the problem, this paper aims to examine energy conservation literacy and behaviours among Ghanaian households in the Greater Accra Region.
Design/methodology/approach
The study assessed household electricity use and explored determinants of household energy conservation behaviours. Data was collected through a survey administered to households within the target region and analysed using descriptive statistics and Spearmen’s rank correlation.
Findings
Results showed electricity conservation among households is greatly influenced by the number of household occupants, household income levels, and the quality and quantity of appliances. The study also found that conservation behaviours are positively correlated to the number of occupants, household income levels, the quantity of electrical appliances, age of household members, number of rooms and level of urbanization within the home’s geographical region. Cumulatively, the findings suggest households held positive attitudes towards efficient energy practices. Enigmatically, the use of energy-conserving alternative technologies was not widely used by households; hence, this factor does not significantly affect household energy conservation.
Research limitations/implications
Although limited to Ghana’s capital region, the findings can be used to inform policy and regulations at the regional and national levels in designing an efficient and effective mechanism to reduce the country’s overall energy use.
Practical implications
Premised upon the findings, the study recommends an intensification of education and awareness-creation on various energy-saving regulations and initiatives and thorough education on the usage of standardized (approved) refrigerators to promote the consistent adoption of energy conservation measures among households.
Originality/value
This study pioneers investigations into the influence of household demographic variables on overall electricity conservation behaviours exhibited by Ghanaian households
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This study aims to fill the gap in existing studies that have analyzed the drivers of carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions. The author investigate the long-run effects of energy types…
Abstract
Purpose
This study aims to fill the gap in existing studies that have analyzed the drivers of carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions. The author investigate the long-run effects of energy types, urbanization, financial development and, the interaction between urbanization and financial development on CO2 emissions.
Design/methodology/approach
Stochastic impacts by regression on population, affluence and technology model served as the framework for empirical modeling. Using annual time-series data for Tunisia, autoregressive distributed lag bounds test was used to examine the cointegration of the variables. Also, the fully modified ordinary least squares was used to estimate the emission effect of the explanatory variables. Further investigations were done using the principal component analysis and variance decomposition analysis.
Findings
Income, urbanization, trade and financial development exert upward pressure on CO2 emissions. However, the interaction between urbanization and financial development reduces the emission of CO2. Furthermore, primary energy use, energy intensity, electricity consumption and fossil fuel consumption have positive effects on carbon emission, while combustible renewables and waste, and electricity production from natural gas have negative effects on carbon emission.
Practical implications
The policy implication/recommendation indicates that the financial sector’s authorities can combat carbon emission by properly regulating the development and activities of the financial sector in urban areas in Tunisia. The promotion of the development and usage of cleaner energy is recommended to help reduce carbon emission. Policymakers need to promote environmentally friendly economic growth and development agenda.
Originality/value
The contribution of this study to the environmental degradation literature is that it offers evidence from Tunisia, which has not received much empirical attention. It also examines the effect of various forms of energy usage on carbon emission. To the best of the author’s knowledge, this is the first study to examine the interaction effect between urbanization and financial development on carbon emission. Also, if not the first, this study is among the earliest to use the principal component analysis as a part of the prediction of the carbon emission effect of energy variables.
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Michael Kyei-Frimpong, Emmanuel Kodwo Amoako, Bridget Akwetey-Siaw, Kwame Owusu Boakye, Isaac Nyarko Adu, Abdul-Razak Suleman and Amin Abdul Bawa
The current study aimed to examine the moderating role of perceived supervisor support in the nexus between employee empowerment and organizational commitment in the Ghanaian…
Abstract
Purpose
The current study aimed to examine the moderating role of perceived supervisor support in the nexus between employee empowerment and organizational commitment in the Ghanaian hospitality industry.
Design/methodology/approach
A quantitative research design was adopted, and data were collected from 274 frontline workers from 4-star and 5-star hotels at two different waves within a 7-month interval. The data received were analyzed using descriptive and inferential statistics with the aid of Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS V. 23.0) and SmartPLS (V.4.0), respectively.
Findings
As hypothesized in the study, employee empowerment was significantly related to organizational commitment. Furthermore, the results revealed that perceived supervisor support moderated the nexus between employee empowerment and affective and continuance commitment but did not moderate the nexus between employee empowerment and normative commitment.
Originality/value
Arguably, support from supervisors has been theoretically identified as a key construct in enhancing subordinates' commitment to an organization. However, less is known in the literature about the moderating role of perceived supervisory support in the nexus between employee empowerment and organizational commitment, especially in the Ghanaian hospitality industry.
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Innocent Okwanya, Abdulkareem Alhassan, Job Pristine Migap and Sunday Simeon Adeka
This study aims to examine the effects of policy incentives and cost on the choice and use of renewable energy in North-Central Nigeria.
Abstract
Purpose
This study aims to examine the effects of policy incentives and cost on the choice and use of renewable energy in North-Central Nigeria.
Design/methodology/approach
The data for this study are collected from a sample of 290 respondents drawn from across 6 states in North-Central Nigeria, including the Federal Capital Territory. This study uses descriptive statistics and multinomial logistic regression to analyze the data.
Findings
The findings reveal that there is a huge potential demand for renewable energy sources (particularly solar photovoltaic) in the rural communities in Nigeria. It also indicates a positive and highly significant relationship between the level of awareness, availability and income and the use (consumption) of renewable energy sources among the rural communities. Furthermore, the cost of installation and maintenance of renewable energy, its reliability and availability are significant determinants of renewable energy choices among rural inhabitants in Nigeria.
Practical implications
The authors submit that inefficient policy strategies, high cost of installation and lack of awareness remain the major hindrances to the use of more efficient renewable energy sources. From a policy point of view, a viable strategy for effective use of renewable energy sources is the involvement of government, development partners and agencies for the funding of renewable energy technology in the rural sector of the country. The usage of modern renewable energy would increase if policy incentives are aimed at covering parts of the maintenance and installation cost of renewable energy users. The authors recommend that apart from creating awareness on the benefits of renewable energy, policymakers should provide a desirable policy environment for private energy firms to supply renewable energy at an affordable cost to the rural communities in Nigeria.
Social implications
A majority of the rural households in Nigeria, as shown in this article, are poor and therefore use firewood as their main source of cooking energy because of the cost of renewable energy.
Originality/value
Despite the abundance of renewable energy sources and government effort at improving renewable energy use, more than 15 million people live without access to electricity and 54 million are without modern energy services for cooking and lightening in Nigeria. A total of 61% of these people live in rural areas. Therefore, this study is novel in providing energy policy insights for rural communities in North-Central Nigeria.
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The aggregate index and per capita index have different meanings for some countries or regions. CO2 emissions per capita matters for China because of its huge population…
Abstract
Purpose
The aggregate index and per capita index have different meanings for some countries or regions. CO2 emissions per capita matters for China because of its huge population. Therefore, this study aims to deepen the understanding of Kuznets curve from the perspective of CO2 emissions per capita. In this study, mathematical formulas will be derived and verified.
Design/methodology/approach
First, this study verified the existing problems with the environmental Kuznets curve (EKC) through multiple regression. Second, this study developed a theoretical derivation with the Solow model and balanced growth and explained the underlying principles of the EKC’s shape. Finally, this study quantitatively analyzed the influencing factors.
Findings
The CO2 emission per capita is related to the per capita GDP, nonfossil energy and total factor productivity (TFP). Empirical results support the EKC hypothesis. When the proportion of nonfossil and TFP increase by 1%, the per capita CO2 decrease by 0.041 t and 1.79 t, respectively. The growth rate of CO2 emissions per capita is determined by the difference between the growth rate of output per capita and the sum of efficiency and structural growth rates. To achieve the CO2 emission intensity target and economic growth target, the growth rate of per capita CO2 emissions must fall within the range of [−0.92%, 6.1%].
Originality/value
Inspired by the EKC and balanced growth, this study investigated the relationships between China’s environmental variables (empirical analysis) and developed a theoretical background (macro-theoretical derivation) through formula-based derivation, the results of which are universally valuable and provide policymakers with a newly integrated view of emission reduction and balanced development to address the challenges associated with climate change caused by energy.
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Paul Adjei Kwakwa, Vera Acheampong and Solomon Aboagye
Agricultural development still constitutes an integral part of Ghana's drive towards job creation, industrial development and economic growth with various growth policies placing…
Abstract
Purpose
Agricultural development still constitutes an integral part of Ghana's drive towards job creation, industrial development and economic growth with various growth policies placing the agricultural sector at the core. While there are likely environmental effects of agricultural activities, evidence in Ghana remains scanty. The study focused on examining, empirically, the effects of the development of the agricultural sector on carbon dioxide (CO2) emission in Ghana.
Design/methodology/approach
The paper employed the Stochastic impacts by regression on population, affluence and technology (STIRPAT) framework to test for the environmental Kuznets curve (EKC) hypothesis for agriculture and carbon dioxide emission as well as the effect that the changing structure of Ghana's agricultural development has on carbon dioxide emission for the 1971–2018 period. Regression analysis, variance decomposition and causality analysis were performed.
Findings
The regression results revealed a U-shaped relationship between agricultural development and carbon emission, implying a rejection of the EKC hypothesis between the two variables. In addition, the Structural Adjustment Programme was found to positively moderate the effect agriculture has on carbon emission.
Practical implications
The study recommends the need for policy-makers to facilitate the large-scale adoption and use of modern technology and environmentally friendly agricultural methods.
Originality/value
The study is among the few works to assess the EKC hypothesis between agriculture and carbon dioxide emission in Africa. The direct and indirect effect of structural adjustment programme on carbon emission is estimated.
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Abbas Ali Chandio, Yuansheng Jiang, Tehreem Fatima, Fayyaz Ahmad, Munir Ahmad and Jiajia Li
This study aims to examine the impacts of climate change (CC), measured average annual rainfall, average annual temperature and carbon dioxide (CO2e) on cereal production (CPD) in…
Abstract
Purpose
This study aims to examine the impacts of climate change (CC), measured average annual rainfall, average annual temperature and carbon dioxide (CO2e) on cereal production (CPD) in Bangladesh by using the annual dataset from 1988–2014, with the incorporation of cereal cropped area (CCA), financial development (FD), energy consumption (EC) and rural labor force as important determinants of CPD.
Design/methodology/approach
This study used an auto-regressive distributive lag (ARDL) model and several econometric approaches to validate the long- and short-term cointegration and the causality directions, respectively, of the scrutinized variables.
Findings
Results of the bounds testing approach confirmed the stable long-term connections among the underlying variables. The estimates of the ARDL model indicated that rainfall improves CPD in the short-and long-term. However, CO2e has a significantly negative impact on CPD both in the short-and long-term. Results further showed that temperature has an adverse effect on CPD in the short-term. Among other determinants, CCA, FD and EC have significantly positive impacts on CPD in both cases. The outcomes of Granger causality indicated that a significant two-way causal association is running from all variables to CPD except temperature and rainfall. The connection between CPD and temperature is unidirectional, showing that CPD is influenced by temperature. All other variables also have a valid and significant causal link among each other. Additionally, the findings of variance decomposition suggest that results are robust, and all these factors have a significant influence on CPD in Bangladesh.
Research limitations/implications
These findings have important policy implications for Bangladesh and other developing countries. For instance, introduce improved cereal crop varieties, increase CCA and familiarizes agricultural credits through formal institutions on relaxed conditions and on low-interest rates could reduce the CPD’s vulnerability to climate shocks.
Originality/value
To the best of the authors’ knowledge, this study is the first attempt to examine the short- and long-term impacts of CC on CPD in Bangladesh over 1988–2014. The authors used various econometrics techniques, including the ARDL approach, the Granger causality test based on the vector error correction model framework and the variance decomposition method.