• Journal of Korea Trade
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• 제25권8호
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• pp.25-44
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• 2021

Purpose - This research aims to provide empirical evidence that highlights the importance of imported intermediate goods in long-term economic growth. To this end, this paper develops an index that measures the productivity gains associated with a country's intermediate goods imports using highly disaggregated trade data. Design/methodology - The basic hypothesis is that countries sourcing higher-productivity (or higher-quality) inputs from developed economies derive a larger benefit from foreign R&D. To explore this hypothesis, standard cross-country growth regressions are performed using the highly disaggregated data from the United Nations (UN) Commodity Trade Statistics Database (COMTRADE). To address the endogeneity issue, I apply an instrumental variable (IV) approach. Findings - The results of this study demonstrate that the index predicts subsequent economic growth in middle- and low-income countries. This finding is consistent with previous studies that have argued that developing countries can achieve substantial productivity gains by importing intermediate inputs from developed countries. By contrast, there is no evidence of a significant association between the index and economic growth in high-income countries. Originality/value - This paper contributes to our understanding of the causal relationship between international trade and economic growth. From an economic policy perspective, the results suggest that developing countries with limited technology endowment can boost growth from input-tariff liberalization.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• 제15권18호
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• pp.7875-7878
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• 2014

Background: The aim of this study was to investigate the awareness of breast cancer risk factors among female university students in 24 low, middle income and emerging economy countries. A cross-sectional survey was conducted with 10,242 undergraduate university students (mean age 20.7, SD=2.9) from 25 universities in 24 countries across Asia, Africa and the Americas. Using anonymous questionnaires the awareness of links between breast cancer and heredity, diet, overweight, exercise, alcohol use, smoking and stress was assessed. Results indicated that 35.4% of the women were not aware that any of these risk factors could influence breast cancer, 43.8% were aware of a genetic link, and only 12.5%, 10.9% and 10.6% correctly identified alcohol use, overweight and physical inactivity, respectively, as factors causing breast cancer. Moreover, 13.3% rated dietary fat and 11.5% fibre as influencing breast cancer; both low-fat and high-fibre diets may be weakly protective against breast cancer, and smoking (19.4%) and stress (13.5%), the most commonly chosen breast cancer lifestyle risk factors, have less clear impact on breast cancer. There were marked country differences, e.g., in regards of being aware of genetic causes of breast cancer risk in female students from Ivory Coast, India, Madagascar, Nigeria and Laos below 30% and female students from Pakistan, Singapore, Turkey, Grenada and Philippines 60 or more percent. This study provides insight in the breast cancer risk perception of young women, which can be utilized in breast cancer awareness and prevention programmes.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• 제15권12호
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• pp.5035-5042
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• 2014

Background: Knowledge and individual perceptions about adverse effects of all forms of tobacco exert direct influence on the level of tobacco consumption in various socio-demographic groups. The objective of this study was to determine the nature, extent and demographic correlates of knowledge, attitudes and perceptions of use of tobacco among adults in low and middle income countries. Materials and Methods: The Global Adult Tobacco Survey, conducted in fourteen different countries from 2008-2010, was sourced for the data analyzed in this study. Descriptive statistical analyses were conducted to determine the prevalent knowledge and individual perceptions amongst adults about all forms of tobacco consumption. Results: There was relatively high awareness about the harmful effects of smoking tobacco with main awareness being about its relationship with lung cancer (>90% in most countries). In contrast, there was relatively low awareness about harmful effects of smokeless tobacco (< 90% in all countries except India and Bangladesh), and observed correlation of smoking tobacco with heart attack (40.6% in China, 65.1% in India) and stroke (28.2% in China, 50.5% in India). Conclusions: A large proportion of adults living in low and middle income countries possess adequate knowledge about smoking tobacco but have inadequate awareness as well as false perceptions about smokeless forms of tobacco. Popular beliefs of inverse relationships of tobacco consumption with knowledge, attitudes and perception of populations towards tobacco are challenged by the findings of this study.

• Journal of the Economic Geographical Society of Korea
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• 제26권3호
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• pp.310-323
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• 2023

Urbanization and income distribution issues are global interest, and the results of studies on the impact of urbanization on income inequality are different for each country and period. This study analyzes the impact of urbanization on income inequality using regional data from 2000-2021. In particular, serial correlation, spatial dependence, and common factor effects of the Gini coefficient are confirmed and analyzed through a dynamic spatial panel regression model. As a result, urbanization has a positive effect on reducing income inequality. Therefore, it is necessary to continuously promote regional urbanization to improve the income distribution problem. Areas with already high urbanization rates should reduce income inequality by narrowing the wage gap by expanding training opportunities for low-skilled workers, and need to come up with measures to prevent counter-urbanization.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• 제15권22호
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• pp.10033-10038
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• 2014

The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence of tobacco use, beliefs and risk awareness and psychosocial correlates of tobacco use among university students in 24 low, middle and emerging economy countries. Using anonymous questionnaires, data were collected from 16953 undergraduate university students (mean age 20.9, SD=2.9) from 25 universities in 24 countries across Asia, Africa and the Americas. Results indicate that overall 13.3% of the university students were current tobacco users, 22.4% for men and 6.6% for women, ranging from 3.8% in Singapore to 32.5% in Cameroon. The risk awareness of the smoking lung cancer link was 83.6%, while the risk awareness of the smoking heart disease link was 46.5%. Multivariate logistic regression found that older age, male gender, having a wealthy family background, living in a low income country, residing off campus on their own, poor beliefs in the importance not to smoke, awareness of the smoking heart disease link, hit by a sexual partner, depressive symptoms, and substance use (binge drinking and illicit drug use) were associated with current tobacco use.

• Journal of Korea Port Economic Association
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• 제35권1호
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• pp.77-96
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• 2019

Logistics and transportation are increasingly playing a crucial role in international trade relations. Logistics services provide sectoral connections within the local economy. The efficient logistics services facilitate the flow of products; besides ensuring safety and speed of movement, they can reduce the cost of cross-border trade. The Logistics Performance Index (LPI) evaluates the efficiency of customs, quality of transportation service, and infrastructure for overland and maritime transport in each country it covers. The objective of this article is to analyze the impact of the various LPI indicators of Korea's trading partners. The impact of LPI on trade varies according to the income level of the trading partners. The results show that an improvement in any of the components of the LPI can lead to significant growth in a country's trade flow. Exports to Korea will increase as the LPI of the trading partner country is higher. This index has a greater impact on the exports of low-income countries.

• The Journal of Asian Finance, Economics and Business
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• 제7권8호
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• pp.131-141
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• 2020

This study is designed to investigate the impact of China exchange rate policy on its trading partners by using a country multi-dataset GVAR model. Our model includes samples of 30 countries, six from high-income, six from middle-income and eighteen from low-income countries. This study used annual time series data over the period 1992 to 2017. We constructed currency misalignment index and it provided some interesting features about the currency undervaluation and overvaluation. The results of the currency misalignment shows that China's Renminbi is structurally more undervalued over the sample period as compared to other countries, and fluctuation in major currencies effects the global trade around the world. The overall empirical results of the GVAR model indicate that RMB undervaluation affects the trade pattern and macroeconomic performance of China's trading partners. Overall, China's exchange rate undervaluation has mixed effects on trading partner's GDP, exports and imports. The devaluation of China's RMB efficiently stimulated China's exports and reduced imports. While, in some countries, this effect is reverse, the RMB undervaluation increases the GDP of partner countries and also increases their exports to China. The results confirm the strong and leading role of the Chinese Renminbi in the global trade.

• Journal of the Korean Home Economics Association
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• 제40권4호
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• pp.1-12
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• 2002

This study aimed to examine the needs for the planning of group homes for the elderly with dementia in lower income class, who have more economic burden on the caring the demented aged. The survey was conducted by questionnaires collected from 300 respondents from December 2000 to March 2001. Methods of analysis were frequency distribution, mean and chi-square test. The results of this study were as follows: 1) The respondents perceived that the responsibility to take care of the elderly with dementia belonged to their family, not to society or the government, and the sons and daughters had to share the burden placed on care-givers. 2) The awareness of group homes for dementia was relatively low. 3) The respondents' needs for the group homes with dementia could be summarized as follows; small scale plan with homelike atmosphere, a total of 6-8 residents, structural type of detached house or three-storied town house, 2-3 persons per individual room, and management system by non-profit organization or the government. There were no big differences between the respondents of this study and upper and middle class studies conducted by other research, except for some details. Referring to results of this study, it is asserted that group homes for the elderly with dementia would be embraced throughout the country if poetical assistance combined with economic support were provided.

• The Journal of Economics, Marketing and Management
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• 제9권4호
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• pp.9-18
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• 2021

Purpose: This study examines some successful and failed cases of Korean private universities' profitable business and explores the desirable economic value and direction of their profitable business business operations with a view to shedding light on some clues conducive to their financial health and quality education. Research design, data and methodology: This study reviews news articles, reports and literature to find out Korean universities' financial condition and examines some successful and failed examples of their corporations' profit-making business operations to suggest a direction. Results: Private universities suffer declining enrollments and/or tuition freeze but they lack in making efforts to secure financial health. The reviewed examples of private universities' profit-making business operations suggest both universities and their corporations should first assume the public accountability prior to engaging in diverse business activities. Conclusions: First, to remain financially healthy, university corporations should exert themselves to transform their low-profit-margin lands and buildings into high-profit-margin businesses and to credit the realized income to their school-expense accounts. And, the ultimate purpose of universities' profit-making business operations is to realize a decent income without prejudice to their public accountability for the country and community, while forging a virtuous cycle by investing the income for the betterment of their educational quality and competitiveness.

• The Journal of Asian Finance, Economics and Business
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• 제6권4호
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• pp.189-199
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• 2019

The objectives of this study are to propose the Integrated Waqf Environmental Protection Model (IWEP) and investigate the farmers' intention to adopt it. In developing the IWEP model and investigating farmers' willingness to adopt it, this study surveyed 400 farmers in Kedah. The intention of the farmers to adopt the proposed model was analysed by adding perceived barriers and socio-economic variables into the theory of reasoned action (TRA) model. The collected data were processed using structural equation modelling (SEM). The SEM results show that the subjective norm is positive and has a significant impact on the intentions of low-income farmers to accept the IWEP model. This indicates that the decision of the low-income farmers to accept the IWEP model is significantly influenced by their family members, neighbours and friends. Furthermore, awareness and perceived barriers have a greater impact on the elderly, highly educated and wealthy farmers. The findings indicate that the elderly, highly educated and wealthy farmers are aware of climate change and they perceive higher risks or barriers to climate change. As a result, they are more likely to have an adaptation intention. If we encourage people to create waqf fund, we can increase the value of the farmer and the country's total GDP.