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This paper explores the linkages between poverty and labor force participation in the context of Pakistan. Poverty alleviation has been one of the major issues throughout the societies. Different strategies have been adopted in Pakistan to improve the country condition and earning capacity, provision of social safety nets for the poor. The study is based on the secondary source of data mainly collected from Pakistan Economic Survey and Federal Bureau of Statistics. The determinants of poverty are estimates by using ARDL approach. The findings of the study show that employment is the major source of poverty alleviation and health expenditures and inflation also contribute significantly. It is suggested that more jobs for the skilled population must be created in order to curtail poverty in Pakistan. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The favorable trade balance is a good indicator for developing economies. The main focus of the present study is to explore the effect of devaluation on balance of trade in Pakistan. The study considers the time period from 1972 to 2014 for examining the effect of exchange rate on balance of trade. The Auto Regressive Distributed Lag model technique is applied for analysis. We have examined both short-run and long run behavior of exchange rate. In order to determine the shape of the J-curve and to capture the non-linearity effect of the exchange rate on net trade, we have introduced the squared term of the exchange rate. The analysis verifies the existence of J-curve in Pakistan. Moreover, study concludes that GDP growth, Foreign Direct investment and inflation rate favor the trade in the long run. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study aims to assess the impact of energy short-fall on poverty in macroeconomic framework in Pakistan. The study has used the difference between energy demand and its supply as proxy for energy short-fall and poverty head count ratio as an indicator of poverty incidence. This study has employed ARDL bounds testing approach that confirms the existence of long run relationship between energy short-fall and poverty levels. Error correction term of the estimated model exhibits that approximately 47% of the departures from long run equilibrium value would be corrected each year. The findings show that GDP per capita and government expenditure exhibits negative impact on poverty. Whereas, energy short-fall, unemployment rate and inflation rate show strong positive impact on poverty level. The study concludes that energy sector reforms are required on priority basis to alleviate poverty in Pakistan. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Turmoil in Pakistan economy, bulging inflationary trend and increasing foreign dependence due to specifically energy import have reignited interest in the link between energy crisis and economic performance. This paper examines the impact of energy crisis on inflation using annual data from 1971 to 2011. ARDL bounds testing approach has been adopted for empirical analysis. This approach assures the existence of long run relationship and determines the direct impact of aggregate energy crisis on inflation rate. These outcomes call for the immediate actions to restructure energy sector along with fiscal and monetary measures as energy crisis is leading to stagflation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The purpose of this study is to find out the effects of workers' remittances on poverty reduction in Pakistan, during time span of 1972-2010. The Ordinary Least Square Method is used in our study. We have found that Life expectancy, Consumer price Index (measure of Inflation), Education expenditure, Government expenditure, Gross domestic product, Foreign aid and Private investment reduce poverty at large. The essence of the study is to high light the significance of all such variables in the line of addressing poverty pressures. There is a need of sincere effort from the Government side to realize that the attempt to curb poverty pressures is only viable if workers' remittances are properly used. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The objective of the present study is to analyze the role of fiscal decentralization in generating employment opportunities in Pakistan. The analysis based on secondary source of data, considering the time series period from 1972 to 2009. Ordinary least square method (OLS) is applied for estimating employment models through examining the validity of OLS assumptions. The study concludes that expenditure decentralization has positive and significant impact on employment creating while decentralization in revenue is not suitable for employment generation. Poverty and inequality are reducing the employment in Pakistan. So, it is suggested that fiscal autonomy is necessary for creating more employment opportunities in Pakistan. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The paper attempts to investigate the Globalization and Saving Behavior of Pakistan by using the time series data from 1972 to 2010. This paper takes into account the importance of Globalization a core determinant of national, private and public savings. Ordinary Least Square method is used for empirical analysis. The analysis is made in two stages. In the Ist stage descriptive statistics and correlation matrix are described. In 2nd stage, Multivariate analysis explains saving behavior of Pakistan is determined by Globalization. The study concludes that the consumer price index, real interest rate, workers' remittances have positive and significant influence on savings. Government deficit has marginally significant impact on savings while foreign direct investment have negative but significant impact on national and private savings. Public savings are directly and insignificantly influenced. Trade openness has positive and insignificant impact on national saving but it has negative and insignificant impact on private and public savings. Keeping in view the role of Globalization and saving behavior in Pakistan it is suggested that Government should provide enabling environment and fiscal incentives for enhancing the foreign direct investment. This will increase the savings in the country. For this purpose, the industrial and agricultural sectors of the country must be stable. Moreover, there is a need of creating an investment friendly business environment in Pakistan. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Education and health are considered most significant measures of human capital. The economics of education and especially the role of education in economic growth and development has become the prominent issue for discussion and research since the 1960's. The major objective of this paper is to examine the effects of health and education on female earnings in Pakistan. The study is based on primary source of data that were collected by authors through field survey by selecting district Vehari as a study area purposely. A sample of 200 working females is selected, out of which 100 from urban areas and 100 from rural areas. Descriptive analysis and OLS techniques are employed for analysis. The log-linear model is estimated for empirical analysis. The empirical results provide ample evidence in favor of human capital investment as a productivity enhancing device for women. Therefore, the study concludes that education and health have positive and significant impact on female earnings. It is suggested that the government should provide good educational and health facilities to females. Consequently they will contribute to the households' income and would lead to reduce poverty levels. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Education plays a pivotal role in human capital formation. Labor has core position in production. The targets of growth and development are attained through educated labor force. The main purpose of the study is to explore the impact of education on female labour force participation. Data is collected through field survey about various educational levels, closed relative educational status and other education related variables. District Bahawalpure is selected as study area, the under-developed district of the Punjab. The sample consists on One hundred and Sixty four Females. The analysis is made at two stage levels. First, we have presented the preliminary analysis of data. Secondary, an econometric analysis is made by using Logistic Regression model. The results of the preliminary analysis have indicated that there is positive trend between education and Female Labour Force participation. The coefficients of all the levels of education except basic education up to middle level are significant in the Logit Regression equation. The role of parents' education turns out to be insignificant while the spouse educational status has positive and significant impact on female labour force participation. Thus study concludes that educated female is successful in attaining employment, raising output and growth. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]