Selvarathinam Santhirasegaram - Academia.edu (original) (raw)

Papers by Selvarathinam Santhirasegaram

American Journal of Applied Sciences, 2007

ABSTRACT Main objective of study is to show the relationship and effects of information accesses ... more ABSTRACT Main objective of study is to show the relationship and effects of information accesses on poverty in developing countries. This study shows that differences of capability of information accesses across the developing countries lead to disparity of poverty among them. Disparities of information accesses among 70 developing countries during 2000-2005 from all regions in the world have significant influences on their national poverty level. This study employs econometric models with OLS estimations and both qualitative and quantitative methodology. This study perceived that the capability of information accesses among selected countries have robust negative influences on level of national poverty (Around 50 %). Government and private investment on information infrastructures in low-income areas have a significant effect on reduction of poverty than traditional consumption expenditures for poverty alleviation. This study also focuses on that the relationship between information accesses and other causes of poverty. Further, this study compares the relative importance of information accesses on reduction of poverty. Women’s capability for information accesses has a robust negative effect on poverty in developing countries (65 %). In a comprehensive view, capability of information accesses of developing countries have negative effect on poverty and playing key role in reduction of poverty level.

This paper investigates the impacts of peace on economic growth in developing countries. Fundamen... more This paper investigates the impacts of peace on economic growth in developing countries. Fundamental determinants of economic growth such as conflict for self determination, various types of discriminations, regime types, durability of regime, social capacity for building peace and conflict with neighborhood are playing important role through the peace building capacity in determination of economic growth in developing countries rather than proximate determinants of the growth such as capital, labor, technology and liberal market economic policies. Empirical results of pooled data in 70 developing countries during 2000-2004 by using OLS econometric methods shows that peace measured by scores for peace building capacity has positive effects on economic growth directly and indirectly. Peace environment countries have higher growth than conflict countries. Peace reduces uncertainty and risk hence positively contributes to economic growth in present globalization. Peace has positive effect on physical capital accumulation and human capital accumulation. This effect is more significant than other economic determinants of physical and human capital accumulation. The economies which have peace environment accumulate more physical and human capital accumulation and enhance to economic growth rapidly. Peace contributes to economic growth by the ways of increasing of productivity in capital and labor, good governance, tourist arrival and efficient of institutions also. However, conflict and war in past period have positive effect on present economic growth since destruction of economy due to the conflict and war is rehabilitated in following period. According to the findings, this study emphasizes that peace as determinant of economic growth should be incorporated within growth theories the in future.

ABSTRACT Findings are mixed. Democratic regime positively influence on growth in mostly. Less dem... more ABSTRACT Findings are mixed. Democratic regime positively influence on growth in mostly. Less democratic regime (Autocracy / military regime/ one party regime/ authoritarian regime) is positively related with economic growth in some East Asian Countries. Other factors related with political regimes such as political leadership, time of independence, nature of people’s mind set are also key factors to come conclusion whether autocracy influence on growth positively or not. Top leader with proper vision and decisive action is crucial for economic development. Not all strong leaders are effective leaders. Economic literacy rather than political literacy is the key requirement for successful of economic development based on rapid growth. A good leader is the primary force in institutional change, because he/she can build other necessary conditions and systems. East Asia has Adopted Authoritarian Developmentalism (AD) during the take-off (for a few decades). It has key ingredients of AD. First, Succeeded nations had powerful and wise (economically literate) top leader. Second, Economic development without ethnic, language, religious cohesion was as a supreme national goal. Third, Technocrat group have supported to leader and execute policies in the lines of economic development. Legitimacy for leaders derived from successful development not by ethnic, language or religious chauvinism and get hold of popular support from people. AD emerges through election as well as a coup. AD is more likely to rise when the nation’s existence is threatened external enemy, internal ethnic/social instability and incompetent and corrupt leader, The rise and fall of AD is conditional mainly on the development stage of each country, but international environment also influences them. Eg. Cold War – reduced global criticism of AD. Economic growth requires a critical mass of mutually enforcing policies. A free hand of the state is needed to mobilize resources quickly and flexibly. Private dynamism is weak in most developing countries. The state must lead initially. If broad participation is allowed, policies are too slow and can’t achieve critical mass due to the power struggle, party politics, interest groups, etc. Processes which require patience and compromise, including parliamentary debate and consensus building and some groups refuse to cooperate with state purposes. Over time, views on the relationship between political regimes and economic development have changed. In the 1960s and 1970s democracy and economic growth were often considered as competing concerns. Bhagwati (1966, pp. 203-204): “the political economy of development poses a cruel choice between rapid (self-sustained) expansion and democratic process”. More recently, after ending gold war, authors often came to more optimistic conclusions on that democratic regime promotes the growth.

ABSTRACT This study has been interested in this topic by seeing rapid economic growth with lower ... more ABSTRACT This study has been interested in this topic by seeing rapid economic growth with lower inflation in China and Asian tigers under the peace full environment that achieved internally and externally during their economic development. Central idea of this study is to build up a foundation to formulate new growth theory in future which incorporates sociopolitical stability (peace) as a key determinant of economic growth. This study demonstrates that sociopolitical instability, caused by sociopolitical and economic causes such as political system, non-visionary constitution and leaderships, ethnic discrimination, regional discrimination, historical myths, influencing of religion on politics, social democracy, ethnic motivated economic development policies, language conflicts, ethnic riots and terrorism adversely affect economic growth and inflation in developing countries, particularly in Sri Lanka. With theoretical determinants of growth and inflation such as physical capital accumulation, human capital accumulation and money supply, this study has found that sociopolitical instability have been affecting economic growth and inflation adversely and significantly as well as theoretical sources of growth and inflation in Sri Lanka by using qualitative and quantitative methods. Before seeing Sri Lanka’s case study, this study analyzes the role of sociopolitical stability, measured by scores of peace building capacity in determination of economic growth and inflation in 70 developing countries by using simple cross country econometrics analysis. Chapter 3 found that sociopolitical instability adversely affects economic growth and inflation in developing countries, but liberal democracy which is to be said by western scholars as foundation for sociopolitical stability generates conflicts, violence and unstable government in developing counties. Such instability negatively affects economic growth. Lower and higher level of democracy at initial stage of development has been challenge for economic development. Chapter 4 explains the various sociopolitical and economic causes for sociopolitical instability in Sri Lanka qualitatively. It illustrates major causes for sociopolitical instability in Sri Lanka such as ethnic biased constitution, social democracy with non visionary leadership, various forms of ethnic and regional discriminations, historical legends, role of Buddhism in politics, language policy, internal colonization on Tamil’s home land, free social services, ethnic riots, terrorism civil war between and within communities and non- implementation or broken down of political agreement due to the majority’s oppositions in democratic politics. Because of the unavailability, accountability, censorship of violence and war related data, researcher’s personal security and occupational limitations, this study uses the annual growth rate of tourist arrivals as proxy measure quantitatively to measure the degree of annual peace environment made by all the sociopolitical causes in Sri Lanka. Quantitative analytical results show that Sri Lanka had lost average 5.23 percent annual growth rate due to sociopolitical instability, generated by both conflicts between and within communities during 1978-2005. It is more than two times of its achieved growth rate. Sri Lanka would have been attained average 9.62 percent growth rate of real GDP during 1960-2005 and 10.06 percent during 1978-2005, if it had avoided the conflict and war. It would be more than average 7.1 percent growth rate of Singapore and 9.18 percent of growth rate of China, achieved without conflicts and war during the 1978-2005. Direct loss of sociopolitical instability on growth in long run during 1960 -2005 is average 2.52 percent per years. Indirect loss by way of human capital accumulation and physical capital accumulation are average 1.5 and 1.02 percent respectively (Chapter5). Sociopolitical instability is negatively related with budget deficit and money supply in Sri Lanka. Sociopolitical instability has been more powerful determinants of inflation than output and money supply (Chapter6). Even sociopolitical instability in Sri Lanka has been related positively with economic growth and negatively with inflation in some years, the macroeconomic stability has been affected by war adversely and severely since policy makers substitute other macroeconomic goals to show that economy has been high growth with lower inflation despite of war (Chapter 7). Like some westernized scholar’s findings, even democratic regime has been affecting economic growth positively in some countries; the macroeconomic stability has been strong in authoritarian regime under the visionary leadership without ethnic discrimination than democratic regime. Sri Lanka has failed to achieve macroeconomic stability based on rapid growth despite of its partial authoritarian regime after 1978 since authoritarian power had been applied by non-visionary leaderships to eliminate…

Main objectives of this study is to show that how dowry in Tamil society enhances the empowerment... more Main objectives of this study is to show that how dowry in Tamil society enhances the empowerment of women in marriage life. Most of existing literatures in this area explain that dowry system in Tamil society that wealth has been transferring from bride to groom is social crime and adversely effect on society. This study statistically shows that dowry system in Tamil society make a foundation to bride to enrich power after marriage. The women who brought more dowry have more empowerment rather than whose have less dowry. This study from a sample of rural Jaffna in Sri Lanka during 2007-2011, shows that dowry system in Jaffna has been empowering women to Tamil society economically and socially. The correlations between monetary value of dowry and determinants of empowerment of women are positive and statistically significant.

Main objective of this study is to discuss the political backing for physical capital accumulatio... more Main objective of this study is to discuss the political backing for physical capital accumulation by showing the relationship between political freedom and ‘big push’ and ‘take off’ of capital accumulation in selected Asian economies. Qualitative and quantitative results computed from related literatures and time series data during 1965 – 2005 show that limited democratic regime under the visionary leadership led industrialized Asian economies except Japan to reduce consumption expenditure and increased domestic savings as well as higher foreign savings which made foundations for physical capital accumulation whereas economies those have been experienced with liberal democracy having more consumption expenditure which reduced saving, investment and capital accumulation. Limited democracy at initial stage of development in developmental state makes a political back push for capital accumulation and speeds up success of theoretical based big push and takes off of development strategy...

Main objective of this study is to investigate that Muslim population as minority in developing c... more Main objective of this study is to investigate that Muslim population as minority in developing countries have lower peace building capacity hence less economic development and compare the results with Sri Lankan context, particularly with Muslim dominant regions, Ampara district by using both quantitative and qualitative techniques. Empirical study in selected 70 developing nations during 2000-2004 shows that Muslim population as percentage of total population is negatively correlated with peace building capacity, democratic freedom, economic freedom, foreign direct investment, secondary education, tertiary education, per capita income, information and communication technology infrastructure and inflation. It is only positively correlated with literacy rate and economic growth. Conflict, violence and war (less peace building capacity) do not a case of minority status of Muslim people in developing countries. Low of Muslim populated developing countries has stable peace and economic...

Main objective of this study is to show that how military expansion in Sri Lanka contributed to a... more Main objective of this study is to show that how military expansion in Sri Lanka contributed to achieve this macroeconomic goal, reduction of unemployment and poverty. Statistical evidences show that percentage of people, living under poverty level negatively correlated with size of military forces in time series data at 96 percent. Percentage of Sinhalese majority people in districts population negatively correlated with percentage of poor in district population in cross sectional data at 59 percent. Sri Lanka’s military expansion creates employment and income to Sinhalese who are employing around 97.1 percent of security forces. Sri Lanka’s per capita military expenditure reached Rs 30.12 per day in 2012 even after ending of war. The earnings of Tamil refugees in developed countries and earnings of Sri Lankan workers in Middle East have considerable tickle down effects on poverty reduction in North and East of Sri Lanka. In this context, contribution of Samurdhi (prosperity of poo...

Poverty reduction in developing countries has been a socio-economic and political challenge for p... more Poverty reduction in developing countries has been a socio-economic and political challenge for policy makers and development practitioners in developing world. It is simply achieved in Sri Lanka during war period 1991-2010 from 26.3 percent people who living below the national poverty level to 8.9 percent despite of severe economic loses of war. Main objective of this study to show that how military expansion in Sri Lanka contributed to achieve this macroeconomic goal, reduction of unemployment and poverty in Sri Lanka. Statistical evidences show that percentage of people, living under poverty level negatively correlated with size of military forces in time series data at 96 percent. Percentage of Singhalese majority people in districts population among the districts negatively correlated with percentage of poor in district population in cross sectional data at 59 percent. Sri Lanka’s military expansion creates jobs and income to Singhalese who are employing around 97.1 percent of ...

ABSTRACT Corruption in developing countries has been higher than developed countries. Most import... more ABSTRACT Corruption in developing countries has been higher than developed countries. Most important objective of this study is to investigate the impacts of economic and political freedom on corruption in developing countries. This empirical work engages 70 developing countries during 2000-2004 from all regions over the world. It examines the relationship between corruption, measured by corruption perception index and economic political causes of corruption, measured by direct and proxy measures. Results of regression analysis show that economic freedom significantly and positively affects corruption. Even democratic freedom positively affect corruption, it does not have statistical significant. Economic variables, income level of nations, economic freedom, capability of information accesses and tertiary education have negative effects on degree of corruption in developing countries. Corruption reduces income inequality and increase poverty in developing countries. Dependency of agriculture, unemployment and government’s long procedure to start economic activities negatively related with corruption in developing countries. Democracy, multi party political system and weak majority of government (unstable regime) reduce the corruption. Human right violations, conflicts and violence and non peace environment increase the corruption. Economic freedom is more powerful determinant in reduction of corruption than democratic freedom. This study concludes that increasing of economic freedom and openness, less control of government’s rule and regulations to start business activities and increasing of people’s information capability via extensive development of information accesses such as education, internet, telephones and institutions will leads to reduction of corruption in developing countries. In a political view, even thought more democratization, human security and capacity of peace building environment reduce corruption; democratic freedom has less power to reduce the corruption than economic freedom. However, consequences of these determinants differ country to country based on country’s leadership, people’s attitudes, sociopolitical institutions and religious and cultural ethos.

American Journal of Applied Sciences, 2008

This study analyze that influences of political stability on balance of payment and relative impo... more This study analyze that influences of political stability on balance of payment and relative importance of political stability and economic freedom for healthy of balance of payment and exchange rate stability. Political stability has an important role in determination of healthy of balance of payment than economic freedom. This study focus on selected 10 Asian countries of various income levels and test the factor of political stability and economic freedom in stability of balance of payment by using a simple econometric model with various techniques. Our empirical finding shows that political stability is more important than economic freedom in stabilizing balance of payment. Stable political regime with visionary leadership leads the nations to higher level of favorable balance of payment. Political stability is playing major role than theoretical explanation to achieve surplus of balance of payment hence exchange rare stability. Surplus of trade balance, foreign direct investment and higher international reserves hence appreciation of Yuan in china mostly depends on its long term political stability under one party political system rather than pure theoretical determination of balance of payment. Attaining of political stability before economic freedom is policy implication of this study to achieve international financial stability.

American Journal of Applied Sciences, 2007

American Journal of Applied Sciences, 2008