CIDS (Conversations in Development Studies) is a peer-reviewed, quarterly research publication produced by the research team of Centre for New Economics Studies, O.P. Jindal Global University. The student-led editorial publication features solicited research commentaries (in the range of 2500-3000 words) from scholars currently working in the cross-sectional aspects of development studies. Each published CIDS Issue seeks to offer a comprehensive analysis on a (pre-identified) specific theme within the scope of development scholarship.

Volume 1: Issue 1 (October, 2018)

Inaugural Issue on Gender in Development: A Feminist Perspective 

Volume 1: Issue 2 (December, 2018)

Examining Connectivity in Southeast Asia : Challenges and Prospects

• Budget 2019: A Disturbing Trend and Vision for Guyana’s Future

• Guyana Has One of the Highest Mother and Child Death Rates in Latin America and the Caribbean
• Poverty Facts: Almost 4 in 10 Guyanese Cannot Afford Basic Costs of Living 
  
  

For queries on any research cluster, kindly write to the research team at cnes@jgu.edu.in

Student Dissertations

Details on Designated Roles of Association with Centre for New Economics Studies (CNES)

Columnists

Any student or interested writer can apply for a position of a Columnist for Nickeled & Dimed once an open call is announced every academic semester (i.e. twice a year). As part of the role, each selected columnist shall be assigned to a writing cluster on a given thematic area and will be guided by one of the editorial team members, who will be responsible for managing the writing cluster. Each Columnist is required to submit at least two written articles every month and these should be as per the editorial guidelines of Nickeled and Dimed. The term of association will be for 6 months at a minimum and extendable upto a year (based on the feedback received from the editorial team).

Columnists, like all other positions at the Centre, will be issued a Letter of Appreciation by the Centre’s Director at the end of their term in acknowledgment of their contributions. Associated writers and columnists, when applying for a Research Assistant/Analyst position, will stand a favourable chance for selection by the team due to their written contributions. Interested applicants can write to Nickeled and Dimed team at cnes.jgu@gmail.com

Research Assistant

Any student of the University can apply for the role of a Research Assistant when there is a call for applications before the beginning of a semester. A Research Assistant would be required to undertake administrative, research related responsibilities initiated by the Centre during a given semester. This may include working as part of the official research platform, Nickeled and Dimed; or, be part of the organising team of the policy discussion series, Politica; or, may include additional research responsibilities (including field-work for on-going research projects).  Any JGU student working as a Research Assistant with CNES would need to commit for a minimum period of a given semester and can work for a maximum of two Research Centres (including CNES) during their appointed term duration. Students with previous research article contributions towards Nickeled and Dimed will be encouraged during appointments made for the role.

For applications/queries: All interested students may email their expression of interest/queries to the Centre’s Director at dmohan@jgu.edu.in 

Research Analyst

Any individual interested in being part of the Centre who may not be officially associated with the University can apply for this role. The roles and responsibilities of a Research Analyst may be the same to that of a Research Assistant. Considering the applicant’s work experience and academic qualifications, the Centre’s Executive Team will notify the selected individual about the terms and conditions of an Analyst’s role and responsibilities (including stipend details-if applicable).   

For applications/queries: All interested individuals may email their expression of interest/queries with a copy of their CV to the Centre’s Executive Director at dmohan@jgu.edu.in

Senior Research Assistant

Research Assistants/Analysts who have been associated with the Centre for a considerable duration of time (at least for two semesters or more) and may express interest to continue their association with CNES can be considered for promotion to the role of a Senior Research Assistant/Analyst. In capacity of a senior role, students or young scholars will work on Centre-initiated research projects which includes students designing their own project proposals, in close coordination with the Executive team while administering other responsibilities. All Senior Research Assistants/Analysts will be paid a stipend amount for the research work contributed towards the end of the semester or the research project (whichever is earlier). 

Important: For all of the above roles (i.e. Research Assistant, Research Analyst and Senior Research Assistant), a Letter of Appreciation shall be issued to each individual after she/he completes her/his association with the Centre. The issued Letter will acknowledge details of all administrative responsibilities and research contributions made by Assistants/Analysts during their term with the Centre.

• Semester End Newsletter (Aug-Nov, 2017)
• Half yearly Newsletter (May – Dec ’16)
• Quarterly Newsletters (Feb-Mar-Apr ’16)
• Quarterly Newsletter (Nov-Dec-Jan ’15-16)
• Quarterly Newsletter! (Aug-Sep-Oct ’15)

Vasco Alberto Banze

Role of Foreign Direct Investment and Its Impact on Small Scale Enterprises in Mozambique.

Abstract

Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) in the Least Developed Countries (LDCs), including Mozambique provides a significant business opportunity to stimulate the local economy by including local small scale and medium enterprises (SMEs) in their supply chain. In light of this spirit, the main purpose of the present paper is to understand the role of FDI and its impact on small scale enterprises in Mozambique. The paper evaluates the linkage between FDI and SMEs through mega-projects (MOZAL, SASOL and VALE) operating in the country and highlighted that, on one hand, these megaprojects are capital-intensive, they use a sophisticated technology and they require suppliers with high skills in terms of technique and quality; on the other hand, it was understood that the domestic SMEs are facing structural problems characterized by financial problems, deficiencies in the production process (obsolete technology) and poor international standards of business. As a result of the limitation of domestic suppliers, the mega-projects are more favorable to deal with foreign firms which present good skills and standards to engage with Multinational Corporations (MNCs) than domestic SMEs. Therefore, the study does not find optimal linkage between mega-projects and domestic small scale enterprises, observing that FDI in Mozambique has negative impact on domestic SMEs, but positive impact on foreign firms, and therefore recommends that it is an opportunity for the domestic SMEs to learn from foreign SMEs through joint-venture or partnership. In this sense, I recommend in the study that the government should play more roles to empower SMEs in building their capacity and competitiveness and also in facilitating the linkages between FDI and SMEs. 

Complete Paper: PDF 

Jefferson Togba 

Regional Trade and Investment In Africa: The Case of ECOWAS and SADC 

Abstract

Fundamentally of almost all regional economic community’s formation has been aimed at improving the economies for any region. Even though regional economic community principle objectives in contributing to growth and development were identified by the Organization of African Unity now African Union, its relevance in Africa has never been clearly outlined. The theoretical context of regional trade and investment is scrutinized in my paper to bring out the importance of regional integration to ECOWAS and SADC. This paper mainly analyses the process, stride and approaches of ECOWAS and SADC in Africa while evaluating the performance of these regions using different variables. Africa’s two regional bodies are compared but through the lens of selected countries identified as critical for Africa. The study concludes that regional groups like ECOWAS and SADC should be part of a common strategy toward Africa’s development and growth as the benefits of ECOWAS and SADC make it imperative for them to remain one of the central pillars of the Africa development agenda. 

Complete Paper:PDF 

P. Samuel 

Looking Beyond Tariff and non-Tariff Barriers to Enhance Intra-African Trade: A Focus on ECOWAS and EAC 

Abstract

This paper uses the simple linear regression model to establish correlation between tariff and intra-bloc trade, manufacturing value added and intra-bloc trade, and agricultural value added and intra-bloc trade within ECOWAS and EAC. The results show that increase in manufacturing value added as percentage of GDP is likely to enhance intra-bloc trade in ECOWAS and an increase in agricultural value added as percentage of GDP is likely to work better for EAC. The results also show very weak relationship between tariff and intra-regional trade in both regions. The research further uses economic analysis to establish that although border posts and checkpoints are impediments to intra trade within both region, their impacts have been observed to be limited compared to what one could expect. The paper then argues that since manufacturing value added is the bedrock for intra-trade in ECOWAS, the region should rethink its growing trade pattern with China. In this regard, instead of focusing squarely on importation of cheap Chinese consumer goods, policy makers should focus more on strategy that aim at importing capital goods that could contribute to Africa manufacturing sector development. With respect to EAC, the paper maintains that since increasing the share of agricultural value added is likely to enhance intra-trade, policy makers should focus more on improving agricultural productivity. The paper then conclude that since ECOWAS potential is in manufacturing value added and EAC potential mainly lied in agricultural value added, David Ricardo theory of comparative and absolute advantage would work better in terms of trade collaboration between the two regions. 

Complete Paper: PDF 

Faith Lorpe 

Aid for Trade: Analyzing the impact/effectiveness of the Initiative in Africa. The case of Nigeria and Cote D’Ivoire 

Abstract

 This dissertation seeks to investigate the impact of the aid for trade initiative in Nigeria and Cote D’Ivoire. In order to do this, a correlation and regression analysis was carried out, additionally a performance evaluation of the aid receiving sectors were carried out, in comparison with a before and after analysis of both countries exports and related parameters of the World Bank doing business report. Given that the both countries formed part of the developing countries of Africa, and constituting a great percentage of the continent total exports (Oil and Coffee). Nigeria is the biggest economy in Africa and has also been one of the key beneficiaries of the initiative over the years. Cote D’Ivoire on the other hand who had suffered from a civil crisis in 2002, have shockingly recovered quickly with rapid economy expansion has also been a key beneficiary. Although the correlation and regression analysis shows that there exist a possible relationship between aid and trade, but how have effective has the initiative been in achieving its aims in these two big exporters of Africa? 

Complete Paper: PDF