Shaufique Fahmi Sidique

Relationship among local content policy, indigenous oil firms’ participation and job creation in nigeria: A theoretical concept

The focus of this paper is to explain in more detail the theoretical concept of the relationship among local content policy (LCP), indigenous oil firms’ participation and job creation in Nigeria’s oil and gas sector. There is no doubt about that “capital-intensivity” of oil and gas sector and that it creates little amount of jobs in the economy. However, it has been argued that if the sector is well managed and regulated, it has potential to create sizable employment. This mounts on the perception that several medium-scaled services often required in stages of production of oil products which may generate many employments. Recently, the motive for job creation in oil and gas sector, particularly for local labours, has led many established oil-producing countries to implement some regulatory policies in their hydrocarbon sectors. One common of such policies is the so-called local content policy (LCP). Generally, the LCP often aims at increasing participation of local oil service companies through which employment opportunities would be created for local workforce. Nigeria, a nascent oil-export country, introduced LCP in its hydrocarbon sector early 2001. The core objective of this policy in Nigeria is not uniquely different from other oil-rich countries where the policy has been practiced. The policy is mainly designed to increase participation of Nigerian indigenous firms for value addition to local economy, especially, in terms of creation of more employments for Nigerian workforce within the sector. Some corpus of studies has described the relationship between LCP and local firms’ participation in the oil sector, many of which relied on theory of firm. However, they provide little understanding on how such influence relate to job creation. This paper demonstrates and explains in more detail a theoretical relationship that likely to exist among the LCP, indigenous oil firms’ participation and job creation in the oil and gas sector. The focus is not on empirical examination of the effect, rather on explanation of conceptual relationship among these variables, which has seen as an indispensable. In this paper, we infer that there might be a linear link between LCP and indigenous oil firms’ participation in the industry. This paper argues that the credence of LCP relies on the amount of job it evolved. However, if interaction between LCP and indigenous firms’ participation fails to relate to job creation, then, the focal objective of the policy on value addition, as regard to job creation, may not achieved.

Estimating the demand for drop-off recycling sites: A random utility travel cost approach

Drop-off recycling is one of the most widely adopted recycling programs in the United States. Despite its wide implementation, relatively little literature addresses the demand for drop-off recycling. This study examines the demand for drop-off recycling sites as a function of travel costs and various site characteristics using the random utility model (RUM). The findings of this study indicate that increased travel costs significantly reduce the frequency of visits to drop-off sites implying that the usage pattern of a site is influenced by its location relative to where people live. This study also demonstrates that site specific characteristics such as hours of operation, the number of recyclables accepted, acceptance of commingled recyclables, and acceptance of yard-waste affect the frequency of visits to drop-off sites.

Cost analysis of rice milling: a case study of 7 rice mills in Malaysia

Purpose - The purpose of this paper is to examine the long-run profitability of rice milling operation in Malaysia and see how sensitive it is to changes in paddy purchases, rice recovery ratio and paddy price. Design/methodology/approach - Using a purposive sampling technique and semi-structured interviews, seven rice mills in Malaysia were selected to obtain data on operational details and business accounts. The paper provides a qualitative and descriptive account of the rice mill’s profitability by using cost curves, a simple linear regression and the Monte Carlo simulation. Findings - The rice milling operation in Malaysia is profitable in the long run, provided that there is a market for by-products. Large private mills have lower average costs, helping them obtain higher profit margins. Public mills that receive a rice miller subsidy are more protected than small private mills that operate without the rice miller subsidy and under price controls. Changes in paddy purchases, paddy price and recovery ratio affect the profitability to varying degrees. Research limitations/implications - Incomplete information provided by the interviewees. The analysis result is only a rough estimate. However, it may provide a useful insight into the Malaysian rice milling sector and its competitiveness. Originality/value - There are few economic studies of the rice milling sector in Malaysia. However, it plays an important role along the rice supply chain. There is a need for better understanding of the industry in order to obtain economic sustainability and effective policies. This paper provides the gap by providing an insight into the long-run profitability of rice milling operation in Malaysia.

Road Transport System in Southeast Asia; Problems and Economic Solutions

In Southeast Asian countries (SEA), road transport accounts for the main energy consumption and CO2 emission. Air pollution is a major concern in densely populated cities such as Bangkok, Manila, and Kuala Lumpur. The main objective of this paper is to give insights on trends of transport development, car ownership, and CO2 emissions in Southeast Asia. This study also attempts to review the successful transportation policies around the globe and to introduce the possible instruments that can help reduce air pollution in Southeast Asian countries. Economic instruments to estimate the benefits of a cleaner environment due to new policies are introduced as well. The results of this research could help policy makers consider approaches that could internalize external costs of transportation and maximize the societal welfare.

Determinants of privatized solid waste management service provision in Lagos

The growing popularity of privatized solid waste management service in least developed countries warrants an exploration of factors that are likely to impact on its sustainability. This study takes integrated solid waste management approach by analyzing relevant issues on both market sides. We use a three step theme development sequence to analyze the data obtained on service providers through library research, observations and interviews. This was followed by an opinion survey on the demand side to elicit households’ support for service improvement. Findings show that source-separation issues, government enforcement, market segmentation, financial issues and waste disposal issues are key factors influencing improved service provision. Meanwhile, on the demand side, we found that households are willing to support proposed regulatory improvement in service provision. Thus, we suggest industrial stakeholders to consider the aforementioned supply side issues in designing future service improvements that will take advantage of existing demand side feasibility.

Mediating effects of indigenous oil firms’ participation and backward linkages on the relationship between local content policy and job creation: Insight from Nigeria

Abstract The increase in indigenous oil firms’ participation (IOFP) and backward linkages through which additional jobs could be created was the main target of the local content policy (LC policy) implemented in the Nigerian oil sector over the past decade. Thus, the purpose of this paper is to assess whether IOFP and backward linkages mediate the relationship between the LC policy and job creation in the country’s oil sector on which there was little empirical research. Data obtained from Nigerian indigenous oil service firms through self-administered questionnaires were analysed by using a bootstrapping technique. Our results revealed that there was an indirect effect of the LC policy on the creation of new jobs. This finding sheds light on the positive impact of the LC policy. Our results imply that if Nigeria’s LC policy is effective and efficient, increased job opportunities will follow. This may speed up the country’s vision of 2020 on value-addition in achieving economic development through the oil sector.

Modelling of supply chain of rice in Bangladesh

ABSTRACTRice supply chain in Bangladesh is a focus for considerations of food security and climate change impacts. Although Bangladesh is self-sufficient in rice, supply chain management lacks efficiency and results in artificial crisis and price volatility. This paper presents a system dynamics model of supply chain of rice starting from the farmers to the consumers to address supply chain management scenarios and design the policy options for efficient and sustainable supply chain management of rice in Bangladesh to ensure the availability of rice to the consumers in an economic manner under uncertainty. Towards these ends, the impacts of productivity changes of the seasonal production of rice, lead time and demand average variability on the supply chain performances are assessed and different management policies are analysed. Initially drying the rice and round the year operation of the milling industries stabilises not only the milling inventory but also the whole system. Also less total supply chain ...

A review of an international sustainability standard (GlobalGAP) and its local replica (MyGAP)

In light of growing concerns about sustainable development, international sustainability standards are prevalent and are replicated by local governments to form country-specific sustainability standards. A consensus has been reached that local sustainability standards can be considered to underperform in view of their limited adoption. Supplementing the current literature, this study hypothesizes additional explanations of this phenomenon through a review of both the GlobalGAP (international) and Malaysian Good Agricultural Practices (MyGAP) standards. Through content analysis, the findings indicate that MyGAP provides a weak institutional framework and market opportunity structure. In addition, since it lacks transparency and accountability, its credibility is questionable. Although it is not clear whether such a credibility issue has a direct impact on the local market, sustainable produce is neither differentiated nor rewarded through premiums. The GlobalGAP standard was found to be an exemplar, and potential improvements are suggested to help support local sustainability standards.

Analysis of car commuters knowledge, awareness and willing to modal shift in Klang Valley, Malaysia

The main objective of present study is to evaluate private vehicle commuters’ knowledge and concern about health and environmental impact of transportation related air pollution in Klang Valley, Malaysia. Data were collected using structured questionnaire and interviewing 450 car commuters in five main areas of Klang Valley. The Results indicated that majority of respondents (58%) have knowledge about deteriorating effect of transport on society’s health and welfare. While, only 36% of them were concern about the transport related environmental problems. This study suggest that government intervention through increasing toll, parking fee and introducing congestion fee together with providing more efficient public transport can reduce more than half of travels by car.