The Journal of Economic Concerns

What Influences Kathmandu Valley Users' Attitudes Toward Plastic Money: Evidence from an Ordered Logistic Model

Bikesh Shakya — 2023-12-31

The use of plastic money has grown over time. Previously availed by a few, the use of plastic money amongst people with bank accounts has surged tremendously. In 2020, it was discovered that over 78 lakh individuals in Nepal utilized plastic money. This study aims to analyse determining factors that affect users’ attitude toward plastic money in Kathmandu valley. The Kathmandu valley was chosen as the study location because people from many workgroups and locations travel here in quest of varied opportunities, resulting in a diverse range of viewpoints. Both primary and secondary data were used for gathering relevant information. Questionnaire of structured type was developed to gather the response from 404 respondents and convenient sampling method was employed for the selection of respondents. The data collected was analysed using ordered logistic regression. Findings from the study indicated that 95.79% respondents have knowledge regarding plastic money and users carry a positive attitude towards use of plastic money. However, if banks would enhance their ATM services, then respondents are more likely to use plastic money. This study thus concludes that though awareness about plastic money is gender neutral, however, males prefer to use plastic money more than female. Hence, the convenience, security and incentives brought in by cards over scores cash usage.

Descriptive Study of Community Based Disaster Management in Rural Western Nepal

Raghu Bir Bista — 2023-12-31

This study inspects community-based disaster management (CBDM) in Nepal. Employing secondary and primary data, the study used descriptive statistics tool. Firstly, the study identified multiple natural risks (flood and landslide). Secondly, in the practice of CBDM, the collective action was found mainly on planning of disaster calendar, early warning, preparedness, and rehabilitation. Thirdly, there was mean salary income loss per annum (330 USD). It is one third of national per capita. Having a significant economic cost, CBDM reduced effectively humanitarian and economic cost of the community. Thus, CBDM is effective collective action to be resilient at the community. Therefore, mainstreaming CBDMG in multi-hazard risk management program, the government should improve its technical capacity and performance by training &equipment for disaster resilience. This study is expected to contribute disaster risk reduction program of the local, province and central government and also preparedness to resilient.

Empirical Investigation of Abnormal Returns through Technical Analysis in the Nepalese Stock Market

Arun Krishna Lama — 2023-12-31

This study comprehensively assesses the potential superiority of a technical trading strategy compared to the conventional buy and hold approach in the Nepalese stock market, where prior research is limited. It investigates the effectiveness of three widely recognized technical analysis indicators, both individually and in combination, using a 12-year historical dataset of 75 stocks, and 25.65-year NEPSE (Nepal Stock Exchange) index data. The back testing procedure evaluates the profitability and viability of the technical analysis strategy relative to buy and hold. The results show that, when factoring in trading-related costs, the technical trading strategy does not consistently outperform buy and hold. However, when trading fees are excluded, the technical strategy exhibits statistically significant outperformance. Future research can explore alternative technical rules and strategies to gain a more nuanced understanding of trading dynamics.

Strengthening A ‘Nepal, India, and China Equitable (NICE) Relationship’ for Regional Development

Jagannath Kafle — 2023-12-31

This paper explores the prospects of fostering equitable trilateral economic cooperation among the contiguous nations of Nepal, India, and China (NIC). The underlying concept advocates for an integrated framework termed the 'Nepal, India, and China Equitable Relation' (NICE Relation). The study endeavours to elucidate Nepal's economic diplomacy from a geographical standpoint, emphasizing the significance of fostering warm neighbourhood relationships. Its overarching objective is to optimize the existing operational modalities of immediate neighbourhoods and socio-economic activities among NIC partners. The potential cooperations have unveiled insights derived from the realms of Development Cooperation, Economic Geography, and Centre-Periphery ideologies. A trilateral alliance of this nature has been revealed to catalyse enhanced cooperation within the immediate neighbourhood, fostering mutual benefits and contributing to the overarching goals of 'Protection (security), Peace, and Prosperity (PPP)' in the broader Himalayan region shared by these neighbouring nations.

Sustainable Tourism Perspective of Wildlife Conservation Areas: A Case Study in Nepal

Chet Narayan Acharya — 2023-12-31

The conservation of biodiversity is a critical issue all around the globe, which is home to a diverse range of flora and fauna, including several endangered species. Tourism has been identified as a potential catalyst for the enhancement of the value of biodiversity and the promotion of conservation in modern development paradigm. However, there is a need to examine the opportunities and challenges of using tourism for these purposes. This research used a mixed qualitative study approach for data collection. The researcher has used document review, case study, FGD and expert opinion poll methods in order to capture the in-depth understanding on the issue. The SWOT analysis was used to identify the current status of sustainable tourism in Nepal and its potential for biodiversity conservation. The study found that Nepal has made significant progress in promoting sustainable tourism practices and biodiversity conservation. The government has implemented various policies and regulations to promote ecotourism, such as the establishment of national parks and conservation areas. However, there are still weaknesses that need to be addressed, such as poor waste management, insufficient infrastructure, and lack of awareness among tourists and locals about the importance of biodiversity conservation. The study highlights the need for a more strategic and collaborative approach to tourism development in Nepal that prioritizes biodiversity conservation and sustainable livelihoods. Furthermore, the study suggests that research is needed to identify the potential impacts of climate change on biodiversity in Nepal and develop adaptation strategies for the tourism industry. The research provides insights into the sustainable tourism perspective of biodiversity conservation in Nepal and highlights the need for collaboration among stakeholders to promote sustainable tourism practices and biodiversity conservation in Nepal. The findings suggest that tourism can play a positive role in biodiversity conservation, but this will require careful planning, effective management, and close collaboration between stakeholders in the tourism and conservation sectors.

Trade and Transit Relations between Nepal and India: Political Implications

Saroj Kumar Timalsina — 2023-12-31

The goal of this study is to learn more about the Nepal-India trade and transit situation, as well as to investigate the impact of trade and transit links on political relations. The descriptive and analytical data interpretation approaches employed to achieve the defined aims. According to the study's findings, Nepal-India trade and transit relations are critical because India has used Nepal's landlocked status and trade and transit dependency for political lobbying and has influenced Nepal's political and administrative sectors as a micromanager, which is not natural for any sovereign country. The paper examined the trade and transit scenario, as well as the issues that result from being on the outer edges of Indian entrenched interests in Nepali politics and administration.

Measure the Effects of Cognitive Ergonomics on Industrial Employee Wellbeing in Kathmandu Valley

Kiran Maharjan — 2024-01-28

Ergonomics serves as a strategic approach aimed at diminishing occupational disease rates and enhancing overall working conditions to boost employee productivity. Acknowledging the pivotal role of employee participation in fostering positive organizational relations, this study delves into the impact of cognitive ergonomics on employee performance within Nepalese industrial settings. Employing an explanatory research design anchored in the Theory of Ergonomics, the investigation aims to unveil the correlations between work stress, workload, decision-making, and communication, and their collective influence on employee well-being. Focusing on industry employees in the Kathmandu Valley through probability sampling, a purposive sampling technique was employed, utilizing structured questionnaires administered to 161 respondents from Balaju, Patan, and Bhaktapur industries via the KOBO toolbox. Structural Equation Modeling (SEM) was utilized to analyze the effects of cognitive ergonomics practices, employing SPSS and AMOS applications to scrutinize relationships between dependent and independent variables. Findings shows that among four components of cognitive ergonomic such as work stress, workload, decision making and communication examine the significant impact on employee wellbeing which gives theoretical relevance in terms of theory of ergonomics. In conclusion, the adoption of ergonomics in the workplace is crucial for improving productivity by addressing health-related issues and fostering an employee-friendly environment, ultimately enhancing overall employee performance.