Renuka Mahadevan - Academia.edu (original) (raw)

Papers by Renuka Mahadevan

Using a panel of 13 tourism-intensive economies for the period 1995-2012, this paper shows that r... more Using a panel of 13 tourism-intensive economies for the period 1995-2012, this paper shows that rising growth in tourism which is proxied by tourism receipts to GDP ratio has an impact on poverty conditional on the poverty measure used. Using a panel Vector Autoregression method, there is little evidence to suggest that growth in tourism reduces headcount poverty. However, the poverty gap measure shows that the amount of money needed to help the poor out of poverty is significantly reduced. Based on different types of Gini coefficient, the results fail to find an improvement in income inequality resulting from tourism growth. Alternative measures such as relative poverty and poverty gap may be considered to better assess the impact of tourism on the poor

Asia-Pacific Development Journal, 2004

The Indian agricultural sector has been undergoing economic reforms since the early 1990s in the ... more The Indian agricultural sector has been undergoing economic reforms since the early 1990s in the move to liberalize the economy to benefit from globalization. This paper traces this process, analyses its effects on agricultural productivity and growth and discusses the problems and prospects for globalization to draw policy implications for the future of Indian agriculture.

Current Issues in Tourism, 2017

Panel evidence on the impact of toursim growth on poverty, poverty gap and income inequality

Tourism Analysis, 2015

Recently there has been an abundance of research on “grey nomad” travel in Australia and this sub... more Recently there has been an abundance of research on “grey nomad” travel in Australia and this subset of drive tourism is regarded as an expanding travel market segment. Grey nomads are older people, 55 years and older, who travel independently for extended periods of time. However, little attention has been given to short-stay travel by older adults who are members of a caravan club. Such membership involves attendance at monthly rallies over a weekend at a selected destination that is usually approximately 200 km from the club's base location. A total of 30 interviews were conducted to explore the benefits of short-stay caravanning to older people's lives. A number of motivations emerged from the interviews, such as friendship with like-minded travelers; discovering new places; and experiencing feelings of enjoyment. Overall, short-stay travel was strongly linked to the importance of making new friends and being part of a social group, as well as the enjoyment received from...

There has been increasing interest in the economic value of event tourism activities in regional ... more There has been increasing interest in the economic value of event tourism activities in regional and rural communities of Australia to help revive local economies. One touted solution is to encourage regional communities to embrace more fully older 'grey nomads' as they travel for six months or more around Australia. However, little attention has been paid to older adults who attend regular, short duration caravanning rallies as members of a caravan club. This research is based on a survey of 90 respondents who attended a caravan rally in 2012, and measures the economic contribution of these grey caravanners to a regional area while attending the organized event. Initial findings revealed that the group's expenditure was found to be greater than previously acknowledged for older travellers of this type. As such, it is argued that this group presents a growing and sustainable revenue source for regional communities who are willing to support these regularly staged rallies. Given the exploratory nature of the initial study, further research is needed in order to obtain a more detailed understanding of the economic contribution of this form of event related tourism activity in the Australian context.

Australian Journal of Agricultural and Resource Economics, 2013

Using Papua New Guinea as a case study, this paper investigates the macroeconomic and sectoral im... more Using Papua New Guinea as a case study, this paper investigates the macroeconomic and sectoral impacts of various developments in its agricultural and resource sector. It was found that commodity booms from 2004 to 2009 and the proposed large liquefied natural gas project increase output growth substantially but with Dutch disease consequences. The output expansion of the agricultural and fishery sectors on the other hand has limited positive impacts and the challenge lies in raising the productivity growth in these sectors and the better use of foreign aid. Lastly, the optimal policy strategy for sustainable development in the agricultural, fishery and resource sectors lies in the packaging of appropriate complementary policies (both institutional and economic) that support one another and the coherent implementation of these policies in a timely manner.

Japan and the World Economy, 2008

Energy Policy, 2007

This paper reinvestigates the energy consumption-GDP growth nexus in a panel error correction mod... more This paper reinvestigates the energy consumption-GDP growth nexus in a panel error correction model using data on 20 net energy importers and exporters from 1971 to 2002. Among the energy exporters, there was bidirectional causality between economic growth and energy consumption in the developed countries in both the short and long run, while in the developing countries energy consumption stimulates growth only in the short run. The former result is also found for energy importers and the latter result exists only for the developed countries within this category. In addition, compared to the developing countries, the developed countries' elasticity response in terms of economic growth from an increase in energy consumption is larger although its income elasticity is lower and less than unitary. Lastly, the implications for energy policy calling for a more holistic approach are discussed.

Energy Economics, 2003

This paper uses a stochastic translog cost frontier model and a panel data of five key mining ind... more This paper uses a stochastic translog cost frontier model and a panel data of five key mining industries in Australia over 1968-1969 to 1994-1995 to investigate the sources of output growth and the effects of cost inefficiency on total factor productivity (TFP) growth. The results indicate that mining output growth was largely input-driven rather than productivity-driven. Although there were some gains from technological progress and economies of scale in production, cost inefficiency which barely exceeded 1.1% since the mid-1970s in the mining industries was the main factor causing low TFP growth.

Asean Economic Bulletin, 2002

The existence of a "real" or accurate total factor productivity (TFP) growth measure is discussed... more The existence of a "real" or accurate total factor productivity (TFP) growth measure is discussed and questioned by comparing TFP growth measures from a parametric and nonparametric frontier model using a panel data of twenty-eight manufacturing industries from 1981 to 1996. The discussion is then enhanced by the decomposition of TFP growth from the two frontier models into technical change and change in technical efficiency. In this way, the identification of the sources of TFP growth allows for more accurate policy implications for sustainable growth. The results are also compared with previous studies for robustness.

Economic Modelling, 2017

Unlike previous studies which often focus on trade liberalisation, this paper examines the impact... more Unlike previous studies which often focus on trade liberalisation, this paper examines the impact of protectionism in the form of import tariffs and mineral export taxes on rural and urban poverty and income inequality for the first time. Using a dynamic computable general equilibrium model on Indonesia, mineral export taxes were found to adversely affect urban and rural poverty but income inequality hardly changed as the decline in income in the higher income group is not significantly different to the decline in low income groups. However, if smelters for mineral ore are developed, then there is not only a fall in poverty, more so for the rural than urban, but there is some decline in income inequality. On the other hand, although the current imposed import tariffs do not affect poverty or income inequality, any further increases from the current low average MFN applied rates, will see a rise in rural and urban poverty and income inequality. By and large, any small improvements in the trade balance brought upon by the mineral tax and import tariffs are more than outweighed by the substantial decline in real household consumption expenditure due to falls in employment and wages, thereby leading to a fall in GDP growth.

A Disequilibrium Macroeconometric Model for the Indian Economy, 2017

... We thank Dr. U. Sankar, Dr. Ric Shand, Dr. GS Bhalla, Dr. KL Krishna, Dr. M. Govinda Rao and ... more ... We thank Dr. U. Sankar, Dr. Ric Shand, Dr. GS Bhalla, Dr. KL Krishna, Dr. M. Govinda Rao and Dr. Nirvikar Singh for many fruitful discussions. ... The cooperation provided by the ACIAR coordinators, Dr. Padma Lai and Dr. Donna Brennan is greatly appreciated. ...

Journal of the Asia Pacific Economy, 2015

In this paper, we consider an extension of the commonly used poverty gap measure that may be used... more In this paper, we consider an extension of the commonly used poverty gap measure that may be used to address he question of whether the elimination of poverty is a feasible objective, given sufficient political commitment. The resources potentially available to address poverty may be measured by the total amount by which the incomes of the non-poor exceed the same poverty line. The ratio of the poverty gap to the resources potentially available is equal to the proportional tax rate on incomes in excess of the poverty line that would be required to fund a transfer sufficient to raise the incomes of all poor people to the poverty line. We refer to this ratio as the 'poverty burden' (PB). We provide a formal definition of the poverty burden and an analysis of its properties as a poverty measure.

Economic Analysis and Policy, 2002

This paper sheds some light on the relevance of the assimilation view for South Korea, whereby su... more This paper sheds some light on the relevance of the assimilation view for South Korea, whereby successful mastering of foreign technology in its adoption and use would lead to frrms producing at their full potential output. This is investigated by studying the technical efficiency performance of firms in four manufacturing industries using frrm-level data from 1980-94 and applying the random coefficient frontier model. Empirical results show that the assimilation view holds true in the heavy industries but not in the light industries. Although the rate of technical efficiency varied within the two industries, the variation was statistically significant only for finns in the heavy industries since the late 1980s.

The World Economy, 2013

ABSTRACT Empirical results show that, for the Pacific island states, a free trade agreement with ... more ABSTRACT Empirical results show that, for the Pacific island states, a free trade agreement with developed countries provides more benefits followed by regional trade agreement within the Pacific and then unilateral tariff reduction. While the agricultural sector expands and the manufacturing sector declines in all scenarios, to avoid second‐best outcomes, developed countries need to go beyond the provision of aid for trade/development measures. For developing countries, the way forward with regional trade agreements is to carefully sequence them with regard to the different developed countries involved. This must be accompanied by domestic reform which is necessary but not sufficient for long‐term gains.

World Economy, 2009

exports, and 9 per cent for textiles and clothing, compared to only 2.5 per cent for other manufa... more exports, and 9 per cent for textiles and clothing, compared to only 2.5 per cent for other manufactured goods (see Table 1). At the same time, the average tariff in developing countries is also relatively high, thus highlighting the need for policy reforms in both the developed and developing countries. However, a few developing countries have been granted preferential access to developed countries' markets for selected products under various preferential agreements. Examples include preferential arrangements with the European Union (EU) for exports of bananas, sugar, rum and beef for the group of African, Caribbean and Pacific (ACP) countries under the Lomé Convention in 1975. In June 2000, the EU and the ACP countries agreed to replace the Lomé Convention with the Cotonou Agreement. The trade component of this agreement is to form the basis of Economic Partnership Agreements (EPAs) to be renegotiated among the parties after 2007. To further improve market access for least developed countries (LDCs), the EU formally adopted the 'Everything But Arms' regulation in 2001. 1 The US, on the other hand, established the African Growth and Opportunity Act and the Caribbean Basin Initiative in May 2000. The Pacific Island Countries (PICs) have traditionally benefited from the South Pacific Regional Trade and Economic Cooperation Agreement since January 1981 for exports of garments to Australia and New Zealand, which will eventually be abolished in a post-Doha scenario. 1 The 'Everything But Arms' initiative is an extension of the WTO's 'Generalised System of Preferences' and offers LDCs duty-and quota-free access to the EU market for virtually all products with the exception of arms and ammunition. TABLE 1 Average Applied Import Tariffs by Sector and Region in 2001 Exporting Economies Importing Economies High Income Developing World Agriculture and food High-income 18 18 17.8 Developing 14 18 15.6 Textiles and wearing apparel High-income 8 15 12.0 Developing 7 20 9.3 Other manufactures High-income 2 9 4.1 Developing 1 7 2.5 All merchandise High-income 3 10 5.4 Developing 3 10 4.9 Source: Anderson and Martin (2006). 'Trade liberalisation' is a rather broad term which is used to describe a country's trade becoming more 'outward-oriented'. This is associated with a situation

The Singapore Economic Review, 2002

This paper analyses the effect of the Australian goods and services tax. First, we compute the so... more This paper analyses the effect of the Australian goods and services tax. First, we compute the social marginal cost per dollar revenue raised for nine broad commodity groups to determine whether a uniform flat rate is efficient. Second, we evaluate the welfare effects of the tax on the consumption of different income groups. The results indicate that a uniform tax may not be efficient and that the goods and services tax has adversely affected the distribution of purchasing power and thus, there is little scope for using the indirect tax system as a means to redistribute consumption towards the poor.

Oxford Development Studies, 2003

To date, the concept, measurement and interpretation of total factor productivity (TFP) growth re... more To date, the concept, measurement and interpretation of total factor productivity (TFP) growth remains highly discussed but poorly understood. This paper attempts to provide a review of these issues. First, the definition of TFP growth and the related concepts of embodied and disembodied technical change are discussed. Second, a brief overview and critique of TFP growth measuring techniques is provided. Third, the debate surrounding the accounting identity underlying the estimation of a production function for TFP growth is highlighted. Fourth, the usefulness of TFP growth is evaluated (and maintained) in the light of the criticisms hurled at this measure. Finally, some direction for future work on TFP growth is suggested.

Journal of the Asia Pacific Economy, 2011

Ignoring consumption inequality between individuals within a household is shown to not only under... more Ignoring consumption inequality between individuals within a household is shown to not only underestimate the Gini coefficient and poverty measures but these vary considerably over different income groups even in a small island state like Fiji. Interestingly, the Kuznets curve for intra-household inequality is absent and to our knowledge the paper provides the first attempt in determining the factors that influence intra-household inequality. It was found that variation in the age of family members only affected inequality in low-expenditure groups while total assets affected inequality in the mid-level-expenditure group. Age variations arise due to the existence of intergenerational family structure among the poorer households and strong affinity towards asset accumulation among the middle class could have harmful effects on the development of children and the welfare of the weaker members within such families. These intra-family distributional problems can be addressed through targeted redistributive policies to provide additional resources and enhance family cohesion.