This paper aims to investigate the effectiveness of Qard-al-Hasan (QH) or interest-free loan in reducing multidimensional poverty through examining Fael Khair Waqf (FKW) program…
Abstract
Purpose
This paper aims to investigate the effectiveness of Qard-al-Hasan (QH) or interest-free loan in reducing multidimensional poverty through examining Fael Khair Waqf (FKW) program as a case.
Design/methodology/approach
A Multidimensional Poverty Index (MPI) approach has been used in this study, which was conducted over 1,600 households including 1,200 program households in 40 villages and 400 control households in 20 villages of 8 districts in the south-western region of Bangladesh.
Findings
It is found that 38.5% of sample population was multidimensional poor with deprivation of above the cutoff score. However, FKW participants were relatively less multidimensional poor. It was 35.3%. Hence, it is argued that the FKW is an effective program in terms of poverty reduction as it has contributed to higher economic outcomes for their participating households. The econometric result also suggests that the likelihood of the participants of FKW to be MPI poor is around 1.5 times lower than the nonparticipants, and the result is significant at 1% level. This indicates that program has a positive impact in reducing multidimensional poverty.
Practical implications
The analysis in this paper would fill the literature gap by investigating the link between application of QH and poverty alleviation. It will also guide academicians, researchers and decision-makers to design evidence-based policy to alleviate poverty.
Originality/value
To the best of the authors’ knowledge, there has been no empirical work in Bangladesh on the effectiveness of QH in poverty reduction considering an MPI approach. Hence, this study is a unique contribution to the literature of Islamic social finance.
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Farah Hayat, Abid Ali Khan and Muhammad Arif Ashraf
Analysis of relationship between energy and growth offers the sustainable energy pathway for a country’s sustainable economic development. This study aims to focus on the…
Abstract
Purpose
Analysis of relationship between energy and growth offers the sustainable energy pathway for a country’s sustainable economic development. This study aims to focus on the evaluation of the Pakistan’s energy system using long-run energy alternative planning (LEAP) modeling framework through different growth scenarios.
Design/methodology/approach
Principal component analysis has been adopted for indicators index formation. Study period of 1980 to 2030 is covered by forward and backward simulations in LEAP software.
Findings
The study reveals that current energy policy does not have the potential to lead the country toward a desired goal of economic sustainability.
Research limitations/implications
In falling off scenario, negative growth rate (-5 per cent) assumption is also debatable; LEAP shows an error in the analysis and takes the last positive available value for any further analysis as a default. This case could have been simply omitted from results but for research contribution, the computations for this case are also reported.
Practical implications
Long-range energy alternative planning model has been applied to answer the corresponding question for simulation period of 1980 to 2030 to better compare the past trend and future expectations. Critical analysis of four selected scenarios (BAU, moderate, advanced and falling off) indicate that energy policy of Pakistan is poorly managed to maintain energy system’s effectiveness.
Social implications
As far as statistical difference is concerned, early years have more fluctuation; however, from 2009, curve flattens for energy consumption and energy demand. The increasing demand of energy impacts the society and hence disturbs all sectors.
Originality/value
Policymakers have been so dragged off from the main route to sustainability, despite all odds there is a huge unexplored potential in the country for use to move in step with the world for a better tomorrow. The study educates the policymakers to comprehend the future energy scenarios and make rational decisions based on the study outcomes.
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The objective of this study was to look closely at how domestic violence is represented in Pakistani drama serials to see if portrayals are reinforcing stereotypical and/or…
Abstract
Purpose
The objective of this study was to look closely at how domestic violence is represented in Pakistani drama serials to see if portrayals are reinforcing stereotypical and/or patriarchal values, or breaking the rigid norms.
Design/methodology/approach
With the help of dispositive analysis within the critical discourse approach, the prominent and non-dominant discourses about domestic violence were identified and discussed. Episodes from two popular drama serials, Kaisa Yeh Naseeban and Khaas, released in 2019, were watched with special focus on texts on domestic violence alongside objects and actions.
Findings
Analysis showed that both drama serials gave importance to socio-systemic and liberal humanist instrumentalism discourses, which describe domestic violence as a result of social structures and that abuse is used to assert control, respectively. However, some instances were noted where patriarchal values were encouraged.
Originality/value
As media has become a powerful tool of influence and awareness in the recent times, it is imperative that the content watched on it by millions of people be studied and analyzed. It is claimed that Pakistani drama serials with wide following and that are made on social issues around women aim to raise awareness and empower them. Domestic violence is a prevalent issue in Pakistan, and no research till date has examined representation of domestic violence on Pakistani popular media, which may influence response to domestic violence, which this paper aims to do.
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Biswajit Prasad Chhatoi and Munmun Mohanty
This paper aims to identify the variables responsible for classifying the investors into risk takers (RT) and risk avoiders (RA) across their economic perspectives.
Abstract
Purpose
This paper aims to identify the variables responsible for classifying the investors into risk takers (RT) and risk avoiders (RA) across their economic perspectives.
Design/methodology/approach
The research offers a novel and unobtrusive measure of classifying investors into RT and RA based on a set of financial risk tolerance (FRT) questions. The authors have investigated the causes of discrimination across economic perspectives over a sample of 552 investors exposed to market risk.
Findings
The authors identify that out of the total of 11 risk assessment variables, only three are responsible for classifying investors into RA and RT. The variables are risk return trade-off, comfort level dealing with risk, and understanding short-term volatility. Financial literacy is considered as an emerging cause of discrimination. Further, the authors highlight the most striking finding to be the discriminating factors across wealth and source of income of the investors.
Originality/value
Existing research on FRT can be loosely segregated into three groups: the relationship between an individual's financial and non-FRT, estimation of FRT score (FRTS), and perceived self-assessed FRTS. The current research roughly falls into the third category of study where the authors have not only studied the self-assessed risk tolerance but also evaluated the predictors. Most of the studies have focussed on estimating self-assessed FRT with the help of one direct question to the respondent. However, the uniqueness of this study is that the researchers have used an instrument comprising a series of direct and indirect questions that can easily estimate the self-assessed risk perception and also discriminate the role of the economic factors that have any impact on self-assessed FRTS.