Analysis of the Implications of Climate Change on International Trade : Case Dominican Republic

MAIJELYN, QUEPI QUEXADA Graduate School of International Studies Ajou Univ 2017 국내석사

Climate change is a topic that has been discussed for decades and up to this day there still are some people who remind skeptical about this matter being something that should really be taken serious, is no secret that whether it is in fact a problem related to human behavior or not, climate has changed and global temperature has risen over the years, many believe that it will continue to do so unless we take some action.

Bangladesh’s Garments Industry : a SWOT Analysis and Comparative Study with Vietnam

ALAM, MOHAMMAD KHAIRUL Graduate School of International Studies Ajou Univ 2017 국내석사

Garments industry is considered the life line of the economy and an important area in the development policy of Bangladesh. Bangladesh has set its vision in 2014 to achieve 50 billion US dollar exports earnings from garments sector by 2021.In recent years; global clothing export market has become very competitive. On the other hand, the growth of Bangladesh’s garments sector has been surrounded by a number of difficulties. This study has identified several issues linked to weak infrastructures, low labour productivity, poorly performed compliance, instability in politics as the key challenges to achieve the goal .After analyzing the rapidly growing garments industry of Vietnam, the findings have suggested that only based on low wage rate, cheaper price and better market access facilities, garments sector could not gain expected growth rate. Like Vietnam, Bangladesh’s garments exporters and Governments policy makers should take necessary steps in order to reduce lead time and power crisis, increase labour productivity, and improve compliance standards and political situation.

CHALLENGES OF SME FINANCING IN GHANA : A CASE OF THE GPSDF

ABANKWA, SAMPSON Graduate School of International Studies Ajou Univ 2017 국내석사

ABSTRACT This study examined the challenges Small and Medium-Scale Enterprises face in accessing funds from financing schemes initiated by the government of Ghana. The study adopted quantitative research approach. The study used questionnaires to collect data from 50 SMEs which participated in the Ghana Private Sector Development Faculty through the Ministry of trade and Industry. Descriptive statistics such as pie chart, bar chart, frequency tables and percentages where used to present the results of the data. The size of establishment affected the SMEs access to fund. Small firms with average low turnover could not receive funding from the scheme because of their inability to meet funding requirements. Locating the office of the GPSDF project was also difficult and time consuming for SMEs which were located outside Accra. It was noted that the banks also shy away from SMEs involved in Agro businesses. Therefore, streamlining these limitations will be integral to the development of the sector. For example, the government of Ghana can offer training and education in SMEs development to both administrators of credit facilities and SMEs operators. Specific financing tools such as venture capital, leasing and factoring can be useful in facilitating greater access to finance. The government can use these schemes to address the precise financing needs and expectations of SMEs which the traditional banks ignore.

Development of SMEs in Egypt : Lessons from South Korea SMEs

ABDELGHANY, NANCY AHMED MAMDOUH HUSSEIN Graduate School of International Studies Ajou Univ 2017 국내석사

This research discusses the importance of SMEs which denote an obvious source of growth for the Egyptian economy and underwrite greatly to its GDP. The presence of a high number of SMEs workers indicates that this type of business can help to cope with Egypt’s unemployment crisis. Within the SME sector, Egypt tolerate from the existence of informal sector. SMEs in normal modify inexpensive casting and services according to the needs of the consumers at rational prices and with rapid response times. One of the greatest advantages of SMEs for the Egyptian economy is that they offer jobs at low cost. However, SMEs depend on their own saving and private resources which represent the network of small saving investments. At that point, we will discuss the actual situation of the Egyptian economy and why it is too hard to develop SMEs in Egypt. Then, we will provide some insights based on our regression results concerning the basic factors which influence the development of SMEs and suggest some recommendations. Therefore, we will overview the evolution of SMEs sector in Korea, it demonstrates how the industrial structure of Korea has changed over the years to contribute more in employment and value added realized through SMEs. The example of South Korea in their experience to develop the SMEs to help on economy growth can give us some perceptions to develop SMEs in Egypt.

(THE) EFFECT OF FOREIGN DIRECT INVESTMENT (FDI) ON ECONOMIC GROWTH : A STUDY CASE OF INDONESIA

ASBAR, ALBERT RAHMAT 아주대학교 국제대학원 2017 국내석사

The need for investment as factors triggering the development of a country has a very important role. But with limited funds owned by a state, the role of foreign investment may be necessary to achieve the economic growth target that was set. Foreign Direct Investment is one form of foreign investments that are considered to have a more significant impact than foreign investments in portfolio. FDI (Foreign Direct Investment) is believed to be one important source of financing for developing countries including Indonesia. The presence of FDI is expected to provide a substantial contribution to development through the transfer of assets, science and technology, and managerial skills to improve an economic growth. The main purpose of this study is to examine the relationship FDI on economic growth in Indonesia by using time series data from 1987 to 2014. This was quantitative study. The analysis of this study is using Ordinary Least Square (OLS) Regression. The result of the study obtained show FDI inflow has positive and significant impact on economic growth in Indonesia, while total of employment and infrastructure have a negative effect and not significant to economic growth. In order to boost economic growth, Indonesia should attract more FDI inflow, improvement of infrastructure and enhance the quality of human resources.

(The) effect of foreign direct investment (FDI) on economic growth (GDP) : Case of Ecuador

MUNOZ, VASQUEZ EDISON DANIEL Graduate School of International Studies Ajou Univ 2017 국내석사

Foreign Direct Investment (FDI), theoretically speaking, is one financing source to accelerate economic development. It helps to improve the welfare of a country throughout the generation of employment, transfer of technology, capital accumulation, etc. However, several empirical studies have suggested that there is either a negative or positive impact on the economic growth. Those different results can be explained because of the particular characteristics of each study such as the period of time, methodologies, type of data, etc. Despite the facts that Ecuador's economy was ranked as eighth in the largest economies in Latin America with an average of 4.6% of GDP Growth during the period from 2000 to 2006, the development of the country is restricted. For instance, Ecuador adopted the US dollar as a national currency, the economy is highly dependent on oil exportation and a populist and protectionist governmental framework was imposed during the last 10 years. Consequently, there are few incentives for foreign investors and competitive disadvantages due to the cost opportunity in comparison to similar economies in Latin America. This research conducts a theoretical and empirical approach. It uses an adapted estimated model and econometric techniques in order to understand the positive contribution of FDI to the economic growth specifically in the case of Ecuador. In addition, it provides a precise interpretation of its interaction with human capital, capital accumulation and transfer of technology. Finally, this research provides enough evidence and suggestions to modify governmental policies to promote foreign direct investment as a way to develop the country.

(THE) ASSESSMENT OF THE IMPACT OF THE EAST AFRICAN COMMUNITY CUSTOMS UNION ON THE INTRA-REGIONAL TRADE

MWAFYELA, NOEL ANDREW Graduate School of International Studies Ajou Univ 2017 국내석사

Abstract Regional trade arrangements have gained high level of popularity among various groups of stakeholders including scholars, business communities and government officials as being an important engine for liberalization of trade and growth. East Africa is not exceptional to this global belief, which as a response to this decided to form an East African Community Customs Union with the aim of liberalizing trade and increasing intra-regional trade. This study analyzes the implementation of EAC-CU since its inception in 2005 and its impact on the intra-regional trade. The analysis based on three phases which are the time when there was no customs union, the time when there was customs union but not fully fledged and the time when there was customs union and was fully fledged. The analysis of intra-regional trade reveals that, since the establishment of the EAC-CU, East African countries have recorded an increase in intra-regional imports, intra-regional exports and intra-regional total trade. However the study further reveals that the region trade more with the rest of the world than how it trade with itself by importing more from the rest of the world (petroleum products, machinery and equipments, intermediate goods for use in further production and finished goods) and exports more to the rest of the world (cotton, tea, coffee, cashew nuts, tobacco, gold, fish products and horticulture products). The study concludes that as the region imports more from the rest of the world, and then it is an opportunity for the EAC companies to improve their production efficiency and start producing some of the products which are currently imported as they are assured of the market. As big percent of the raw materials and intermediate inputs used in the EAC factories are imported from the rest of the world, the study also see this as an opportunity for the region to come up with a regional value chain strategy through identifying raw materials and intermediate goods which can be produced in the region and linking suppliers and buyers of those raw materials and intermediate inputs. The study recommends some measures with the aim of further liberalizing trade and realizing the best in intra-regional trade. Some of these measures include the investment in infrastructure (roads, railways, ports, airways, electricity, water and telecommunication), improvement of technical education through building more and high quality trade schools, improvement of the regional financial market, integration of domestic production chains, awareness creation, development and implementation of regional technology transfer strategy, development and implementation of import substitution strategy, further elimination of NTBs and improvement of security in the region.

(The) Effect of Trade Openness on Economic Growth of Myanmar

KYAW, KAY KHAING 아주대학교 국제대학원 2017 국내석사

Since policy makers of Myanmar regard trade as a tool for economic development and poverty reduction, they are transforming nation’s economy into one that addresses higher growth through improved trade openness. This thesis analyze the effect of trade openness in economic growth in the case of Myanmar by using annual time data set from 1990 to 2014 and OLS regression model is applied in the study. The economic growth is measured by real GDP and the share of trade in GDP (exports plus imports divided by GDP) is taken as the measure of trade openness instead of other openness measures. FDI and inflation rate are also put into the model as control variables. The empirical evidence indicates that trade openness negatively effects on economic growth (GDP) of Myanmar due to the low share of trade in GDP, non value-added or low quality export products and low capacity in export diversification in term of products and market and the long run effect of inward oriented economy. FDI has positive impact on the country’s economic growth. However, the effect of inflation is not significant in 5% but it is significant in 10% critical value and the relationship is positive. In order to boost economic growth through trade, the government of Myanmar needs to accelerate economic reforms through trade liberalizations for more open, transparent and favorable business environment.

FUTURE TRADE FROM ECUADOR TO SOUTH KOREA

CUEVA, ZUNIGA JUAN JOSE 아주대학교 국제대학원 2017 국내석사

Commerce is one of the main human activities towards the development of economy across the globe. The importance of trade are plentiful and varied, primary it allows individuals to own products and service that it could not be finding in the local market, it also allows to trade the goods that countries are specializing on, and it allows humans to be in interaction with other societies. Every country has developed diverse products and services, depending on the factors that favor their situation like weather, location, education, and development. Hence it is necessary to trade these goods, in order to give people the opportunity to enjoy products that are not produced in their local country and vice versa. Therefore trade is a key factor for individuals, development of countries and growth of the economy. Hence countries have made an emphasis on the importance of having Free Trade Agreements between them. The process of trade, which involves imports and exports among nations by having Free Trade Agreements they can exchange with affordable prices their goods or services. Hence with commerce people can access all kind of products; for instance, people in South Korea with a Free Trade Agreement in South American countries opens the opportunity for Koreans to enjoy products like fruits and Latin America people can have access to cellphones or Televisions made by Korean companies. Furthermore, Ecuador is a country rich in its biodiversity and it has certain products that South Korea does not have, at the same time Korea has products that Ecuador requests like technology and developed goods. Currently Ecuador and South Korea don’t have a Free Trade Agreement, thus the main matters encountered in this research is that there are a lot of products that Ecuador is looking forward to export to Korea, however, because there is not an agreement the tariffs are high especially compared with neighbors countries that have already signed a Free Trade Agreement with Peru, Chile and Colombia. Therefore this thesis studies the exports process since the year 2000 from Ecuador, Chile, and Peru, to South Korea, by doing a comparative analysis of how the exports of Ecuador would be to Korea if both nations sign a Free Trade Agreement.

(THE) IMPACT OF AIR TRANSPORT TO UGANDA’S TRADE VOLUME

MAGUMBA, MOSES BAZIRA Graduate School of International Studies Ajou Univ 2017 국내석사

A lot has been said and speculated about Uganda Airlines since its closure in May 2001. Scholars, businessmen, politicians and many other categories of people have come up with mostly unqualified schools of thought about the role the Airline was playing or would have played to the plight of the country especially towards trade benefits. My quest for some of the answers to ascertain the gravity the airline was/would provide therefore led me to an analysis of a number of literature reviews. This prompted me to examine the effects of some of the determinants of Air transport to Uganda’s trade volume. In my probe, trade volume (TV) which in my case was the summation of total exports to total imports in a given period was the dependent variable while air departures (AD),air exports (AX) and terms of trade (TOT) were taken as the independent variables. I therefore collected data for each of the explanatory variables for the period 1991 to 2014. Unit root test was done to avoid non stationarity otherwise referred to as the trending behavior of variables over time. This was done using the ADF tool and TOT was found to be stationary at level while the other variables were found to be stationary at first difference. The ordinary least squares (OLS) method was used to estimate the relationship between trade volume and its determinants using STATA software. The regression process indicated that air departures and terms of trade have a very small almost insignificant bearing to trade volume. On the other hand, air exports have more gravity to trade volume at 10% level of significance. Finally, a review of the Uganda’s freight charges to the commercial airlines as well as improvement and expansion of the cold storage facilities at the airport would improve the air trade process and consequently the trade volume.