Group Decision-Making: Evidence from a framed field experiment with community organisations in Pakistan
January 30, 2019
Dr. Hamna Ahmed (Assistant Professor, Department of Economics, CREB, Lahore School of Economics) attended the international conference on Economic Development in South Asia held 7-8 January, 2019 in Kalutara, Sri Lanka.
The conference was organised by The Institute of Policy Studies of Sri Lanka (IPS) in collaboration with the South Asia Research Network (SARN) of the Centre for Global Business (CGB), and Centre for Development Economics and Sustainability (CDES), Monash University Australia. The conference provided an opportunity for researchers and policy makers from the South Asia region and Monash University, Australia to interact with each other and deepen collaborative links on major development challenges facing South Asia.
Ms Ahmed presented her paper titled “Group Decision-Making: Evidence from a framed field experiment with community organisations in Pakistan”. The paper was well received by attendees and is a good example of the rigorous research being carried out by researchers at the Lahore School.
Labels: Lahore School, Research
posted by S A J Shirazi @ 1/30/2019 12:34:00 PM,
Innovation and technological upgradation in the Sialkot manufacturing sector
January 28, 2019
Dr. Azam Chaudhry (Professor and Dean faculty of Economics) of the Lahore School of Economics presented his research findings at a conference “Development in Punjab: Setting New Priorities in Agriculture and Industries”, jointly being organized by the Consortium for Development Policy Research (CDPR) and the International Growth Center (IGC) in partnership with the Finance Department (FD) and Planning and Development Department (P&DD), Government of Punjab, on 22 January 2019 at Lahore.
Dr. Azam presented his research on ‘Innovation and technological upgradation in the Sialkot manufacturing sector’. He reported how a misalignment of incentives between workers and firm owners led to firms not adopting cost cutting practices. For detailed presentation, visit here.
Read more »Labels: Lahore School, Research
posted by S A J Shirazi @ 1/28/2019 02:39:00 PM,
Demographics lie in the eye of the beholder
By Moazam Mahmood
There is a good debate on Pakistan’s demographic growth rate. According to the latest census, it is estimated well and rigorously at 2.4% per annum. A critical camp, led by demographers and notable officials far more cognisant of these pyrotechnics than myself, finds this demographic rate of growth too high. For demographers, child quality will improve if the number of children ever born falls further. Of course, but assuming a constrained budget to spend on them. Nutrition, morbidity, education, capabilities, all will increase if the target population is smaller. But only if we assume a resource budget growing by less than the demographic growth rate.
So there are two questions here to consider. An empirical question, of whether Pakistan’s resources are chasing too large a target in our demographic growth rate? Sure, that case can always be made out. But I think there is a theoretical prior, for some economists. Let me make this out. Economists come in two flavours. Macroeconomists, like myself, who fancy viewing the whole economy. Which we call fancily general equilibrium. And micro and meso economists, who fancy that the whole economy comprises smaller bits to be analysed. Which we call partial equilibrium.
Read more »Labels: Lahore School, Publications
posted by S A J Shirazi @ 1/28/2019 02:38:00 PM,
Young innovative companies and employment creation, evidence from the Pakistani textiles sector
Dr. Waqar Wadho and Dr. Azam Chaudhry of the Lahore School of Economics along with Dr. Micheline Goedhuys of the United Nations University (UNU Merit) published their recent research in the top development journal-World Development.
Read more »Labels: Lahore School, Research
posted by S A J Shirazi @ 1/28/2019 02:38:00 PM,
Innovation in the Pakistani Textile and Apparel Sectors: Key findings and Recommendations
Dr. Waqar Wadho (Assistant Professor and Senior Research Fellow) of the Lahore School of Economics presented his research findings at a conference “Development in Punjab: Setting New Priorities in Agriculture and Industries”, jointly being organized by the Finance Department (FD) and Planning and Development Department (P&DD), Government of Punjab in partnership with the Consortium for Development Policy Research (CDPR) and the International Growth Center (IGC) on 22 January 2019 at Lahore.
Dr. Waqar presented his research on ‘Innovation in the Pakistani Textile and Apparel Sectors: Key findings and Recommendations’. He reported that managerial innovation has the highest impact on a firm’s labor productivity followed by process innovation. However, introduction of new products resulted in productivity loss (disruption effect). He also showed that young innovative companies create more jobs and that innovation is conducive to employment creation. For detailed presentation, visit here.
The event was well attended by the policy makers including the Minister of Finance, Punjab, high level bureaucrats, manufacturers and academics. The participants appreciated the role of Lahore School of Economics and its researchers in bridging the gap between academia, policy makers and industries.
Labels: Lahore School, Research
posted by S A J Shirazi @ 1/28/2019 10:30:00 AM,
When nudge comes to shove: Demand for commitment in microfinance contracts
January 23, 2019
Farah Said (Assistant Professor, Department of Economics, CREB, Lahore School of Economics) attended the American Economic Association (AEA) Annual Meeting held 4-6 January, 2019 in Atlanta, USA. The annual meeting, held in conjunction with the American Social Science Association (ASSA), comprises of over 500 paper and panel sessions allowing esteemed economists from around the world to present their work.
The conference was an excellent opportunity to present cutting-edge research conducted at the Lahore School and receive feedback on on-going work. Ms. Said presented her paper “When nudge comes to shove: Demand for commitment in microfinance contracts”, co-authored with Uzma Afzal (University of Nottingham), Giovanna d’Adda (University of Milan), Marcel Fafchamps (Stanford University) and Simon Quinn (University of Oxford). The paper was well received by attendees and is a good example of the rigorous research being carried out by researchers at the Lahore School.
Labels: Lahore School, Research
posted by S A J Shirazi @ 1/23/2019 02:54:00 PM,
Inertia and Public Bureaucracy: The Imprint of Bureaucrat
January 22, 2019
Shaheen Naseer, PhD, Assistant Professor at Lahore Schoolof Economics presented the paper, "Inertia and Public Bureaucracy: The Imprint of Bureaucrat”, co-authored with Klaus Heine (Professor at Erasmus University), in the poster session at the American Economic Association (AEA) Annual Meeting 4-6 January, 2019 held in Atlanta, USA.
The American Economic Association (AEA) is the most prestigious professional Association for Economics scholars where the most eminent scholars in the field share their on going research. Shaheen shares that the poster session provided the unique opportunity to give a discussion/ presentation of their work for the entire three days of the conference in the AEA highly visible location. This was a great opportunity to showcase our research and get the feedback from the researchers in the field attending the American Economic Association (AEA) Annual Meeting.
Labels: Lahore School, Research
posted by S A J Shirazi @ 1/22/2019 12:41:00 PM,
A blessing in disguise?
January 14, 2019
By Dr Rashid Amjad
Over the last 30 years, Pakistan has signed as many as 12 agreements with the IMF. Only one was fully completed. In almost each case, the IMF left hoping that, this time, Pakistan would deliver on the almost impossible-to-implement conditionalities it had imposed. The Pakistan team left extremely unsure of how they would meet these conditionalities, already thinking of excuses or ‘waivers’ The situation was aptly described by Dr Meekal Ahmed, who worked for many years with Pakistan’s representative to the IMF, as “a road to nowhere”.
Over the last 30 years, Pakistan has signed as many as 12 agreements with the IMF. Only one was fully completed. In almost each case, the IMF left hoping that, this time, Pakistan would deliver on the almost impossible-to-implement conditionalities it had imposed. The Pakistan team left extremely unsure of how they would meet these conditionalities, already thinking of excuses or ‘waivers’ The situation was aptly described by Dr Meekal Ahmed, who worked for many years with Pakistan’s representative to the IMF, as “a road to nowhere”.
Post-1990, Pakistan’s growth plunged from a healthy rate of around six per cent in the preceding 30 years to just over half this number. The IMF attributed this downturn to Pakistan having failed to implement the agreed economic reform programmes. Pakistan’s rejoinder was that, not only was the economic cost of these reforms too high, but also that the reforms that were carried out had not produced the desired results. Indeed, in many cases, they had worsened the economic situation. A classic example was the virtual stagnation of the industrial sector: despite a more open economy and lower tariffs, competitiveness and growth had not increased, deindustrialisation had set in, and exports had stagnated in the absence of a comprehensive industrial policy.
Read more »Labels: Publications
posted by S A J Shirazi @ 1/14/2019 03:55:00 PM,
Lahore School Incubation Lab
January 10, 2019
The 1st cohort of the Lahore School Incubation Lab (LSIL) are now LIVE! To be eligible, you have to be Lahore School Alumni as well as available for full time to join LSIL for an incubation period of 4 months.
Download application form for 1st Cohort of LSIL here
The Lahore School Incubation Lab is specifically designed facility to nurture and unveil the next generation of the Lahore School entrepreneurs. The facility is specially designed to mentor and support our own alumni to start their own ventures. The facility aims to provide support services and comprehensive expert guidance at NO COST for our own alumni. Some of the facilities being offered at Lahore School Incubation Lab (LSIL) are:
Office Space: Fully equipped office space with computers/laptops, a dedicated fiber connection, Wi-Fi, 24/7 power backup, and telephone line. The housed entrepreneurs would also have access to six hybrid Resource Centers offering access to digital repository along with huddle rooms (to be booked in advance) for discussions and formal meetings.
Mentorship: We can help startup founders by arranging training sessions, networking events, webinars and lectures with these distinguished professionals for mentorship and advice.
Co-Workers/Interns: Incubates may ask for the Lahore School student interns or graduate associates to assist them with research and their startup.
Training: LSIL aspiring incubates would also get to attend training sessions from veteran entrepreneurs and industry executives, dedicated to equip them with tactical education, methodologies and tools necessary for their entrepreneurial journey.
Funding Opportunities: Take benefit of our broad spectrum faculty and management connections to generate stream of referrals and leads to find the right investor for your business.
Refreshments: The facility has a built-in self-service kitchenette equipped with microwave, water dispenser and refrigerator. On the house coffee/tea would also be available to facility users.
Mail Services: Feel free to make LSIL your business address. For any official correspondence between your startup and external parties; the Lahore School postal services can be availed.
Labels: Lahore School, Lahore School Incubation Lab, LSIL
posted by S A J Shirazi @ 1/10/2019 12:57:00 PM,
Textile, apparel: Young innovative firms key drivers of job growth
January 02, 2019
Shahram Haq
Pakistani textile and apparel manufacturing firms, which are running on modern lines with a blend of innovation, research and development and technological upgrade, are more inclined towards contributing to employment opportunities.
At present, the newly established small-scale units were widely involved in making innovations compared to old and large textile units and their chances of success had improved, stated a study conducted by the Lahore School of Economics.
Read more »Labels: Lahore School, Research
posted by S A J Shirazi @ 1/02/2019 11:29:00 AM,
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