Journal of Economic Insights and Research (JEIR)
type: channel
description: The Journal of Economic Insights and Research (JEIR) is a scholarly publication dedicated to advancing the understanding of economic phenomena through high-quality, original research. The journal aims to promote scholarly articles by providing a platform for both empirical and theoretical contributions that offer additional insights into contemporary economic issues. By encouraging rigorous research and fostering academic discourse, the journal seeks to contribute to the broader field of economics and inform policy-making processes. The journal offers a prestigious platform for researchers to publish their work, gain recognition, and contribute to the academic community. It provides opportunities for networking, collaboration, and staying updated with the latest research trends and developments in economics. This journal adheres to the policies and ethical standards prescribed by the UGC-CARE. By disseminating high-quality research, the journal helps inform policymakers, educators, and the public about important economic issues. This can lead to better-informed decisions, improved economic policies, and a deeper understanding of the economic challenges and opportunities facing society. Title Journal of Economic Insights and Research (JEIR) Frequency Quarterly ISSN Online 3107-9482 ISSN Print 3139-1982 Publisher Eduschool Academic Research and Publishers Chief Editor Dr. Sinitha Xavier Copyright Eduschool Academic Research and Publishers Starting Year 2025 Subject Economics Language English Publication Format Online Phone No 0484-2929383 Email Id jeir@eduresearchpublication.com, info@eduresearchpublication.com Website www.eduresearchpublication.com Address Eduschool Academic Research and Publishers Airport Road, Nayathode Kavala, Angamaly -72, Kerala, India.
publisher: Eduschool Academic Research and Publishers
language: en
publication name: Journal of Economic Insights and Research (JEIR)
issn: 3107-9482
items: Preface
items: The Impact of the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA) on Rural Household Welfare and Labour Market Outcomes in India: A Difference-in-Differences Analysis
items: The Causal Effect of Rural Road Connectivity on Household Welfare in India: A Regression Discontinuity Analysis of the Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana
items: Remittances and Economic Growth in Kerala, India: An Empirical Analysis Using the ARDL Bounds Testing Approach (2000–2023)
items: Returns to Education in India: An Instrumental Variables Analysis Using the District Primary Education Programme as a Source of Exogenous Variation in Schooling
items: Climate Change and Agricultural Productivity in Indian States: A Panel Data Analysis with Non-Linear Climate Effects (1990–2023)
items: The Gig Economy and Labor Market Restructuring: Platform Work, Worker Classification, and the Future of Employment Relations
items: Central Bank Digital Currencies and Monetary Policy Transmission: Evidence from Global Pilot Programs and Early Implementations
items: Carbon Pricing and Economic Performance: A Comparative Analysis of Emissions Trading Systems and Carbon Taxes Across Major Economies
items: The Debt Trap Paradox: How Financial Inclusion Exacerbates Poverty in Developing Economies
items: Artificial Intelligence and Labor Market Transformation: Employment Effects, Wage Inequality, and Policy Responses in the Era of Generative AI
items: Digital Financial Services and Economic Resilience in Sub-Saharan Africa: Evidence from Mobile Money Adoption
items: Gender Inequality and Economic Development: Evidence from Property Rights Reforms in India
items: Climate Change Impacts on Agricultural Productivity and Rural-Urban Migration in India
items: Agricultural Productivity and Structural Transformation in India
items: Financial Inclusion and Poverty Reduction in Developing Economies
items: Rural Economic Transformation in South Karnataka: An Analysis of Agricultural Diversification, Income Distribution, and Livelihood Patterns (2010-2023)
items: Return Migration and Remittance Use in Reshaping Kerala's Rural Economy: An Analysis of Economic Transformation and Rural Development Patterns (1998-2023)
items: Status of The Paint Industry in India
items: Internal Labour Migration and Economic Sustainability in India
items: Indian Construction Sector: Post COVID Scenario
items: Conservation of Kerala Mangroves: Economic and Environmental Relations

Preface
type: item
description: It is with great pleasure that we present the latest issue of the Journal of Economic Insights and Research (JEIR), a scholarly platform dedicated to advancing rigorous inquiry into contemporary economic challenges and policy transformations. The articles featured in this issue collectively engage with some of the most pressing developmental concerns confronting India today, climate vulnerability, educational inequality, migration and remittance economies, rural infrastructure, labour welfare, and inclusive growth. Through the use of sophisticated empirical methodologies and policy-oriented analysis, the contributors demonstrate how modern economic research can illuminate pathways toward equitable and sustainable development.
subject: Articles
  topic: section
creator: Sinitha Xavier
rights: Copyright (c) 2026 https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
date: 2026-05-25
publication date: 2026-05-25

The Impact of the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA) on Rural Household Welfare and Labour Market Outcomes in India: A Difference-in-Differences Analysis
type: item
description: Enacted in 2005, the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA) provides a legal entitlement of up to 100 days of unskilled wage employment per year to every rural household in India. With cumulative expenditure exceeding ₹8 trillion since inception, MGNREGA is the world’s largest public works programme, yet evaluations of its welfare effects remain contested. Exploiting the phased roll-out of the programme across three district cohorts (February 2006, April 2007, and April 2008), this paper estimates the causal effect of MGNREGA exposure on rural household welfare and labour market outcomes using a Difference-in-Differences (DiD) framework. The empirical analysis combines unit-level data from the 61st (2004–05) and 66th (2009–10) rounds of the National Sample Survey Office (NSSO) with district-level programme implementation data from the Ministry of Rural Development. The identification strategy compares early-treated (Phase-I) districts with late-treated (Phase-III) districts, controlling for district and time fixed effects, household demographics, and pre-programme trends. Findings indicate that MGNREGA exposure raised real monthly per-capita consumption expenditure by approximately 6.8 per cent, increased real casual-labour wages by 4.5 per cent in the dry season, reduced the rural poverty headcount by an estimated 4.2 percentage points, and raised female labour force participation by 3.1 percentage points among scheduled-caste and scheduled-tribe households. Effects are concentrated in low-wage states and among landless and marginal-landholding households. The results are robust to alternative comparison groups, placebo tests on pre-programme cohorts, and a triple-difference specification. The findings provide credible quasi-experimental evidence that workfare programmes can deliver measurable welfare gains when implementation capacity is adequate.
subject: Articles
  topic: section
subject: MGNREGA
  topic: keywords
subject: Public Works
  topic: keywords
subject: Rural Wages
  topic: keywords
subject: Poverty
  topic: keywords
subject: Difference-In-Differences
  topic: keywords
subject: India
  topic: keywords
creator: Denny CM
rights: Copyright (c) 2026 https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
date: 2026-05-25
publication date: 2026-05-25
starting page: 51
ending page: 57
doi: 10.63090/JEIR/3107.9482.0021

The Causal Effect of Rural Road Connectivity on Household Welfare in India: A Regression Discontinuity Analysis of the Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana
type: item
description: Despite a long-standing presumption that rural road connectivity is essential for economic development, credible causal estimates of its household-level welfare effects remain scarce. This study exploits the population-threshold eligibility rule of the Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana (PMGSY)—the Government of India’s flagship rural road programme launched in 2000—to estimate the causal effect of new road connectivity on rural household welfare. Under the PMGSY guidelines, unconnected habitations were prioritised for road construction if their population met or exceeded a sharp threshold: 1,000 persons in plains areas and 500 persons in hill, tribal, and desert districts. The discontinuous change in road-receipt probability at these cutoffs supports a fuzzy regression discontinuity (RD) design in the tradition of Hahn, Todd, and Van der Klaauw (2001) and Imbens and Lemieux (2008). Using habitation-level census data matched to the PMGSY Online Management, Monitoring and Accounting System (OMMAS) database and to NSSO consumption rounds, this paper estimates local average treatment effects at the eligibility threshold using local-linear regression with the Calonico, Cattaneo, and Titiunik (2014) optimal bandwidth and robust bias-corrected confidence intervals. Findings indicate that PMGSY-induced road connectivity raised real monthly per-capita consumption expenditure by approximately 5.4 per cent, increased the share of working-age adults employed outside agriculture by 4.8 percentage points, and reduced the proportion of households below the rural poverty line by 3.7 percentage points. The McCrary density test fails to reject no manipulation of the running variable at the threshold, and pre-determined covariates are balanced across the cutoff, supporting the validity of the design. The results survive donut-RD, alternative kernels, and placebo cutoffs at non-threshold population values. The findings constitute robust evidence that rural transport infrastructure is a …
subject: Articles
  topic: section
subject: Rural Roads
  topic: keywords
subject: PMGSY
  topic: keywords
subject: Regression Discontinuity
  topic: keywords
subject: Cnsumption
  topic: keywords
subject: Structural Transformation
  topic: keywords
subject: India
  topic: keywords
creator: Anisha NG
rights: Copyright (c) 2026 https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
date: 2026-05-25
publication date: 2026-05-25
starting page: 44
ending page: 50
doi: 10.63090/JEIR/3107.9482.0020

Remittances and Economic Growth in Kerala, India: An Empirical Analysis Using the ARDL Bounds Testing Approach (2000–2023)
type: item
description: Kerala receives one of the highest per-capita inflows of international remittances in India, with the Kerala Migration Survey 2018 estimating remittance receipts of approximately ₹85,092 crore, equivalent to 19.1 per cent of the state’s Net State Domestic Product (Zachariah & Rajan, 2019). Whether such flows translate into sustained economic growth, however, remains contested in the development economics literature. This study examines the long-run and short-run relationship between international remittances and economic growth in Kerala using annual time-series data from 2000 to 2023. Drawing on the new economics of labour migration (Stark & Bloom, 1985) and endogenous growth theory (Romer, 1986), the paper specifies a multivariate model linking per-capita real gross state domestic product (GSDP) to remittance inflows, gross fixed capital formation, human capital, financial development, and trade openness. The Autoregressive Distributed Lag (ARDL) bounds testing procedure proposed by Pesaran, Shin, and Smith (2001) is employed to test for cointegration, complemented by the Toda–Yamamoto causality test. Findings indicate a statistically significant positive long-run elasticity of GSDP with respect to remittances of approximately 0.18, conditional on financial development. Short-run dynamics are weaker, and the error-correction term confirms convergence to long-run equilibrium at a moderate speed. The results support a complementarity hypothesis: remittances foster growth when intermediated through a developed financial sector, consistent with Giuliano and Ruiz-Arranz (2009). Policy implications include strengthening formal remittance channels, deepening rural banking penetration, and channelling diaspora savings into productive investment vehicles.
subject: Articles
  topic: section
subject: Remittances
  topic: keywords
subject: Economic Growth
  topic: keywords
subject: Kerala
  topic: keywords
subject: ARDL Bounds Testing
  topic: keywords
subject: Migration
  topic: keywords
subject: Financial Development
  topic: keywords
creator: Anna Maria Sunny
rights: Copyright (c) 2026 https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
date: 2026-05-25
publication date: 2026-05-25
starting page: 37
ending page: 43
doi: 10.63090/JEIR/3107.9482.0019

Returns to Education in India: An Instrumental Variables Analysis Using the District Primary Education Programme as a Source of Exogenous Variation in Schooling
type: item
description: Estimating the causal effect of schooling on earnings is a foundational challenge in labour economics because standard Mincerian regressions are confounded by unobserved ability bias and measurement error in years of schooling. This study addresses both concerns by exploiting the District Primary Education Programme (DPEP), launched by the Government of India in 1994 in 42 educationally-backward districts and subsequently expanded in phases to 271 districts by 2002. Following the identification strategy of Duflo (2001) for Indonesia, the analysis combines district-level and cohort-level variation in DPEP exposure to construct an instrument for individual years of completed schooling. Two-stage least squares estimates are obtained from a pooled sample of the 2018–19 and 2022–23 rounds of the Periodic Labour Force Survey (PLFS) covering wage-earners aged 23–37 years (cohorts born 1985–1995). The first-stage F-statistic of 28.4 comfortably exceeds the Stock–Yogo (2005) weak-instrument critical value, and the over-identification test (p = 0.42) supports the exclusion restriction. The IV estimate of the private return to a year of schooling is 9.6 per cent larger than the OLS estimate of 7.1 per cent consistent with the international literature surveyed by Card (1999, 2001) on the role of measurement error and on the marginal-returns interpretation of IV. The returns are substantially higher for women (12.4 per cent) than for men (8.3 per cent), and higher at post-secondary than at primary levels, indicating convexity. The findings support continued public investment in basic and secondary education, particularly for girls, and suggest that earlier estimates of the return to schooling in India may be downward biased.
subject: Articles
  topic: section
subject: Returns to Education
  topic: keywords
subject: Instrumental Variables
  topic: keywords
subject: School Construction
  topic: keywords
subject: Mincer Equation
  topic: keywords
subject: PLFS
  topic: keywords
creator: Anjana TK
rights: Copyright (c) 2026 https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
date: 2026-05-25
publication date: 2026-05-25
starting page: 30
ending page: 36
doi: 10.63090/JEIR/3107.9482.0018

Climate Change and Agricultural Productivity in Indian States: A Panel Data Analysis with Non-Linear Climate Effects (1990–2023)
type: item
description: Indian agriculture employs roughly 46 per cent of the workforce yet contributes only about 17 per cent of gross value added, leaving rural livelihoods sharply exposed to climatic shocks. According to the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC, 2022), South Asia has already warmed by approximately 0.7°C since 1950 and is projected to warm by a further 1.5–4.5°C by the end of the twenty-first century. Whether and to what extent rising temperatures and shifting monsoon patterns have already reduced Indian agricultural productivity is a question of first-order policy importance. Drawing on an unbalanced panel of twenty major Indian states over 1990–2023, this paper estimates the effect of temperature and precipitation on agricultural value added per hectare using a fixed-effects framework that includes a quadratic specification in climate variables, state fixed effects, year fixed effects, and a battery of agronomic and policy controls. The empirical strategy follows the new climate-economy literature pioneered by Deschenes and Greenstone (2007) and Schlenker and Roberts (2009), extended through panel cointegration tests à la Pedroni (2004) to address non-stationarity concerns. Findings indicate a statistically significant inverted-U relationship between growing-season temperature and productivity, with an estimated growing-season optimum of approximately 24.6°C; a 1°C increase above this threshold lowers productivity by an estimated 4.7 per cent. Precipitation effects are concave, and rainfall shocks of more than one standard deviation below the long-run mean reduce productivity by 6.3 per cent. Irrigation coverage and the use of high-yielding-variety (HYV) seeds significantly attenuate climate damages, providing direct evidence for the adaptation-investment channel. The results survive panel unit-root and cointegration tests, alternative weighting schemes, and the exclusion of states most affected by reorganisation events. The findings imply that India faces …
subject: Articles
  topic: section
subject: Climate Change
  topic: keywords
subject: Agricultural Productivity
  topic: keywords
subject: Panel Data
  topic: keywords
subject: Fixed Effects
  topic: keywords
subject: Non-Linear Temperature
  topic: keywords
subject: India
  topic: keywords
creator: Nivedhya C A
rights: Copyright (c) 2026 https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
date: 2026-05-25
publication date: 2026-05-25
starting page: 23
ending page: 29
doi: 10.63090/JEIR/3107.9482.0017

Preface
type: item
description: The forthcoming issue of the Journal of Economic Insights and Research (JEIR) brings together a collection of rigorously researched and policy-relevant studies that address some of the most pressing economic transformations of our time. Spanning themes of technological disruption, financial systems, climate policy, monetary innovation, and labor market restructuring, this issue reflects the dynamic and interconnected nature of contemporary global economies. A central theme emerging from this volume is the profound restructuring of labor markets under technological change. The article on artificial intelligence and labor market transformation provides a nuanced, cross-country empirical assessment of AI adoption across OECD economies. By examining employment shifts, wage inequality, and the mediating role of active labor market policies, the study advances the understanding of skill-biased technological change in the era of generative AI. It highlights both productivity gains and distributional tensions, underscoring the necessity of coordinated policy responses in education, social protection, and workforce development.
subject: Articles
  topic: section
creator: Dr Sinitha Xavier
rights: Copyright (c) 2026 https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
date: 2026-02-25
publication date: 2026-02-25

The Gig Economy and Labor Market Restructuring: Platform Work, Worker Classification, and the Future of Employment Relations
type: item
description: This study examines the growth, characteristics, and labor market implications of platform mediated gig work across 24 OECD countries from 2015 to 2025. Using administrative data, labor force surveys, and platform transaction records, we document that gig work has grown to represent 4.2% of total employment and 12.8% of labor income for participants. We find substantial heterogeneity in worker experiences: approximately 35% of gig workers use platforms as primary income sources with limited alternative opportunities, while 65% engage in platform work as supplementary income alongside traditional employment or education. Earnings analysis reveals that median hourly compensation after accounting for expenses and unpaid time averages $14.20, approximately 22% below comparable traditional employment, though top decile earners achieve premium wages. Worker classification reforms significantly affect platform labor markets: jurisdictions implementing employee classification requirements experience 18% reductions in platform labor supply but 31% increases in hourly compensation for remaining workers. Social protection gaps remain substantial, with only 23% of gig workers reporting access to employer provided health insurance and 12% participating in retirement savings programs. The findings suggest that gig economy expansion reflects both genuine labor market innovation enabling flexibility and cost shifting from firms to workers that policy intervention may appropriately address.
subject: Articles
  topic: section
subject: Gig Economy
  topic: keywords
subject: Platform Work
  topic: keywords
subject: Labor Markets
  topic: keywords
subject: Worker Classification
  topic: keywords
subject: Independent Contractors
  topic: keywords
subject: Employment Relations
  topic: keywords
subject: Social Protection
  topic: keywords
creator: V. Basil Han
rights: Copyright (c) 2026 https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
date: 2026-02-25
publication date: 2026-02-25
starting page: 19
ending page: 22
doi: 10.63090/JEIR/3107.9482.0016

Central Bank Digital Currencies and Monetary Policy Transmission: Evidence from Global Pilot Programs and Early Implementations
type: item
description: This study examines the effects of Central Bank Digital Currency (CBDC) implementation on monetary policy transmission and financial inclusion using data from 23 pilot programs and 8 full scale implementations spanning 2020 to 2025. Employing synthetic control methods and event study analysis, we assess whether CBDCs enhance monetary policy effectiveness and expand access to financial services. Our findings indicate that retail CBDCs modestly improve interest rate pass through from policy rates to deposit rates, with transmission coefficients increasing by 12% in jurisdictions with active CBDC programs. Financial inclusion effects are substantial in emerging economies, where CBDC adoption is associated with a 7.3 percentage point increase in formal financial account ownership among previously unbanked populations. However, we find evidence of bank deposit outflows averaging 3.2% in the first year following CBDC introduction, raising concerns about financial stability and bank funding costs. Design features matter considerably: interest bearing CBDCs with holding limits demonstrate superior monetary transmission properties while mitigating disintermediation risks. The results suggest that CBDCs represent a potentially valuable addition to the monetary policy toolkit, though successful implementation requires careful attention to design choices balancing multiple policy objectives.
subject: Articles
  topic: section
subject: Central Bank Digital Currency
  topic: keywords
subject: Monetary Policy
  topic: keywords
subject: Financial Inclusion
  topic: keywords
subject: Digital Payments
  topic: keywords
subject: Bank Disintermediation
  topic: keywords
subject: Payment Systems
  topic: keywords
creator: Shivashankar Bhat
rights: Copyright (c) 2026 https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
date: 2026-02-25
publication date: 2026-02-25
starting page: 15
ending page: 18
doi: 10.63090/JEIR/3107.9482.0015

Carbon Pricing and Economic Performance: A Comparative Analysis of Emissions Trading Systems and Carbon Taxes Across Major Economies
type: item
description: This study conducts a comprehensive comparative analysis of carbon pricing mechanisms across 47 jurisdictions implementing either emissions trading systems or carbon taxes during the period 2015 to 2025. Employing synthetic control methods and difference in differences estimation, we assess the effectiveness of these instruments in reducing greenhouse gas emissions while evaluating their economic consequences for output, employment, and competitiveness. Our findings indicate that carbon pricing at current levels achieves meaningful emissions reductions averaging 8.2% relative to counterfactual trajectories, with no statistically significant negative effects on aggregate GDP growth. Emissions trading systems demonstrate greater emissions reduction effectiveness (9.7% versus 6.4% for carbon taxes) but exhibit higher price volatility and administrative complexity. Carbon taxes provide more stable price signals and raise greater government revenue per ton of emissions reduced. Revenue recycling mechanisms significantly moderate economic impacts, with jurisdictions returning carbon revenues through dividend payments or tax reductions experiencing employment gains of 0.4% compared to those using revenues for general spending. The results support the economic viability of carbon pricing as a climate policy instrument while highlighting the importance of complementary policies addressing competitiveness concerns and distributional impacts.
subject: Articles
  topic: section
subject: Carbon Pricing
  topic: keywords
subject: Emissions Trading Systems
  topic: keywords
subject: Carbon Tax
  topic: keywords
subject: Climate Policy
  topic: keywords
subject: Environmental Economics
  topic: keywords
subject: Greenhouse Gas Emissions
  topic: keywords
subject: Revenue Recycling
  topic: keywords
creator: Sindhu P.J
rights: Copyright (c) 2026 https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
date: 2026-02-25
publication date: 2026-02-25
starting page: 11
ending page: 14
doi: 10.63090/JEIR/3107.9482.0014

The Debt Trap Paradox: How Financial Inclusion Exacerbates Poverty in Developing Economies
type: item
description: Prevailing development orthodoxy holds that expanding financial inclusion is a reliable pathway to poverty reduction. This paper challenges that assumption. Analyzing panel data from 38 developing countries over 2015–2024, we find that a 10% increase in formal financial inclusion is associated with a 1.8% increase in household debt distress and no statistically significant reduction in extreme poverty once we control for digital infrastructure quality, labor market conditions, and pre-existing informal financial networks. Our instrumental variable estimates suggest that the causal effect of financial inclusion on poverty is near zero and, in the poorest quartile of countries, marginally positive (i.e., poverty-increasing). We identify three mechanisms driving this paradox: consumer debt traps from unregulated digital lending, displacement of effective informal risk-sharing networks, and extraction of savings through high-fee formal financial products. These findings directly contradict the optimistic consensus-exemplified by studies reporting that financial inclusion reduces extreme poverty by over 2%-and call for a fundamental reorientation of development policy away from inclusion-first strategies toward regulation-first and capability-first frameworks.
subject: Articles
  topic: section
subject: Financial Inclusion
  topic: keywords
subject: Debt Traps
  topic: keywords
subject: Poverty Paradox
  topic: keywords
subject: Digital Lending
  topic: keywords
subject: Informal Finance
  topic: keywords
subject: Developing Economies
  topic: keywords
subject: Over-Indebtedness
  topic: keywords
creator: Shripathi Kalluraya
rights: Copyright (c) 2026 Shripathi Kalluraya (Author) https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
date: 2026-02-25
publication date: 2026-02-25
starting page: 5
ending page: 10
doi: 10.63090/JEIR/3107.9482.0013

Artificial Intelligence and Labor Market Transformation: Employment Effects, Wage Inequality, and Policy Responses in the Era of Generative AI
type: item
description: This study examines the employment and wage effects of artificial intelligence adoption across 38 OECD countries from 2019 to 2025, a period encompassing the transformative emergence of generative AI technologies. Using a comprehensive AI Adoption Index constructed from enterprise investment data, patent filings, and workforce surveys, we employ instrumental variable estimation to identify causal labor market effects. Our findings indicate that a one standard deviation increase in AI adoption is associated with a 2.3% reduction in employment in routine cognitive occupations but a 1.8% increase in employment requiring complex problem solving and interpersonal skills. Wage effects exhibit substantial heterogeneity: workers in the top income quintile experience wage gains of 3.8%, while middle quintile workers face modest declines of 1.4%. We find that countries with robust active labor market policies and portable benefits systems demonstrate significantly smoother workforce transitions. The results suggest that AI represents a skill biased and task displacing technological change requiring coordinated policy responses encompassing education reform, social protection modernization, and strategic public investment in complementary human capital formation.
subject: Articles
  topic: section
subject: Artificial Intelligence
  topic: keywords
subject: Labor Markets
  topic: keywords
subject: Technological Unemployment
  topic: keywords
subject: Wage Inequality
  topic: keywords
subject: Skill Biased Technical Change
  topic: keywords
subject: Generative AI
  topic: keywords
subject: Employment Policy
  topic: keywords
creator: Aswani T D
rights: Copyright (c) 2026 https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
date: 2026-02-25
publication date: 2026-02-25
starting page: 1
ending page: 4
doi: 10.63090/JEIR/3107.9482.0012

Preface
type: item
description: The Journal of Economics Insights and Research is pleased to present its upcoming issue, which brings together a diverse set of empirical investigations addressing some of the most pressing economic challenges facing developing and emerging economies today. The articles in this volume are grounded in rigorous data analysis, innovative econometric approaches, and policy-oriented perspectives, reflecting JEIR’s mission to advance evidence-based economic scholarship for global development.
subject: Articles
  topic: section
creator: Dr Sinitha Xavier
rights: Copyright (c) 2025 https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
date: 2025-11-25
publication date: 2025-11-25

Digital Financial Services and Economic Resilience in Sub-Saharan Africa: Evidence from Mobile Money Adoption
type: item
description: This paper examines the relationship between digital financial services adoption and economic resilience across 28 Sub-Saharan African countries from 2010 to 2023. Using panel data analysis and difference-in-differences estimation exploiting staggered mobile money rollouts, we find that a 10 percentage point increase in mobile money adoption enhances household resilience to economic shocks by 18%, measured through consumption volatility and asset retention following adverse events. The effects are strongest in rural areas and among female-headed households, suggesting that digital financial services disproportionately benefit economically vulnerable populations. These findings have important implications for financial inclusion policies and development strategies in resource-constrained environments.
subject: Articles
  topic: section
subject: Mobile Money
  topic: keywords
subject: Digital Financial Services
  topic: keywords
subject: Difference-In-Differences
  topic: keywords
subject: Household Welfare
  topic: keywords
subject: Consumption Smoothing
  topic: keywords
subject: Remittances
  topic: keywords
creator: Sajitha P P
rights: Copyright (c) 2025 https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
date: 2025-11-25
publication date: 2025-11-25
starting page: 71
ending page: 81
doi: 10.63090/JEIR/3107.9482.0011

Gender Inequality and Economic Development: Evidence from Property Rights Reforms in India
type: item
description: This paper examines the causal relationship between women's property rights and economic development using staggered adoption of inheritance reforms across Indian states (1976-2005) as natural experiments. Exploiting within-state variation in reform timing and intensity, we find that equalizing daughters' inheritance rights increased women's educational attainment by 0.9 years, reduced child marriage by 26%, increased female labor force participation by 7.2 percentage points, and accelerated district-level GDP growth by 0.8% annually. The reforms generated these effects through increased bargaining power, human capital investment, entrepreneurship, and productivity gains. Our estimates suggest that eliminating gender gaps in property rights could increase Indian GDP by 12-18%, representing $420-630 billion in annual output.
subject: Articles
  topic: section
subject: Women's Property Rights
  topic: keywords
subject: Inheritance Reform
  topic: keywords
subject: Gender Equality
  topic: keywords
subject: Economic Development
  topic: keywords
subject: Female Labor Force Participation
  topic: keywords
subject: Human Capital Investment
  topic: keywords
creator: Vandana Aravindan
rights: Copyright (c) 2025 https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
date: 2025-11-25
publication date: 2025-11-25
starting page: 63
ending page: 70
doi: 10.63090/JEIR/3107.9482.0010

Climate Change Impacts on Agricultural Productivity and Rural-Urban Migration in India
type: item
description: This paper examines how climate change-induced agricultural shocks affect migration decisions in India using district-level panel data from 640 districts across 28 states (2005-2024). Combining climate data with household surveys and migration records, we implement an instrumental variables approach where climate anomalies serve as exogenous productivity shocks. We find that each 1°C temperature increase above optimal growing season temperatures reduces agricultural yields by 8.7% and increases rural-urban migration by 4.2%. Rainfall variability intensifies these effects. Approximately 24 million people migrated due to climate-induced agricultural stress during our study period. We project that under moderate climate scenarios, climate-induced migration could reach 45-55 million in India by 2050, with significant implications for urban infrastructure, labor markets, and poverty dynamics.
subject: Articles
  topic: section
subject: Climate Change
  topic: keywords
subject: Agricultural Productivity
  topic: keywords
subject: Migration
  topic: keywords
subject: India
  topic: keywords
subject: Rainfall Variability
  topic: keywords
creator: Sabu P J
rights: Copyright (c) 2025 https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
date: 2025-11-25
publication date: 2025-11-25
starting page: 53
ending page: 62
doi: 10.63090/JEIR/3107.9482.0009

Agricultural Productivity and Structural Transformation in India
type: item
description: This study examines the relationship between agricultural productivity growth and structural economic transformation across Indian states from 2000 to 2024. Using shift-share analysis and dynamic panel estimation, we find that agricultural productivity growth averaged 2.8% annually at the national level but varied substantially across states, ranging from 1.2% in Bihar to 5.4% in Gujarat. States achieving higher agricultural productivity growth experienced accelerated structural transformation with manufacturing and services sectors growing 2.3 times faster than in low-productivity states. We identify irrigation infrastructure, agricultural research investment, land tenure security, and market connectivity as primary determinants of productivity growth.
subject: Articles
  topic: section
subject: Agricultural Productivity
  topic: keywords
subject: Structural Transformation
  topic: keywords
subject: India
  topic: keywords
subject: Irrigation Infrastructure
  topic: keywords
subject: Dynamic Panel Estimation
  topic: keywords
creator: Meritta M Johnson
rights: Copyright (c) 2025 https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
date: 2025-11-25
publication date: 2025-11-25
starting page: 46
ending page: 52
doi: 10.63090/JEIR/3107.9482.0008

Financial Inclusion and Poverty Reduction in Developing Economies
type: item
description: This paper examines the relationship between financial inclusion and poverty reduction across 45 developing countries from 2015 to 2024. Using panel data analysis and instrumental variable estimation, we find that a 10% increase in financial inclusion correlates with a 2.3% reduction in extreme poverty rates. The effects are strongest when combined with digital infrastructure and financial literacy programs.
subject: Articles
  topic: section
subject: Financial Inclusion
  topic: keywords
subject: Poverty Reduction
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subject: Developing Countries
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subject: Digital Financial Services
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subject: Financial Literacy
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creator: Joshin Joseph
rights: Copyright (c) 2025 https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
date: 2025-11-25
publication date: 2025-11-25
starting page: 36
ending page: 45
doi: 10.63090/JEIR/3107.9482.0007

Preface
type: item
description: It is with great pleasure that we present the forthcoming issue of the Journal of Economics Insights and Research (JEIR), which brings together a diverse range of scholarly contributions examining critical intersections of environment, industry, migration, and rural transformation within the Indian economy. The articles featured in this issue reflect both pressing contemporary challenges and long-term structural shifts, providing empirical insights and conceptual reflections that are invaluable to researchers, policymakers, and practitioners alike.
subject: Articles
  topic: section
creator: Sinitha Xavier
rights: Copyright (c) 2025 https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
date: 2025-08-25
publication date: 2025-08-25

Rural Economic Transformation in South Karnataka: An Analysis of Agricultural Diversification, Income Distribution, and Livelihood Patterns (2010-2023)
type: item
description: This study examines the rural economic transformation in South Karnataka, focusing on the districts of Bangalore Rural, Ramanagara, Mandya, Mysore, Chamarajanagar, Hassan, and Chikmagalur from 2010-2023. Using comprehensive primary and secondary data, the research analyzes agricultural diversification patterns, income distribution changes, and evolving livelihood strategies among rural households. The study employs econometric analysis including Gini coefficient calculations, diversification indices, and regression modeling to assess economic transformation. Findings reveal significant shifts from traditional crops to high-value agriculture, with coffee and horticulture showing robust growth rates of 4.2% and 5.8% annually respectively. However, income inequality has widened with the Gini coefficient increasing from 0.42 to 0.51 during the study period. Non-farm employment has grown substantially, contributing 38% of total rural household income by 2023, up from 22% in 2010. The research provides evidence-based recommendations for inclusive rural development strategies that can address growing inequality while maintaining agricultural competitiveness.
subject: Articles
  topic: section
subject: Rural economics
  topic: keywords
subject: agricultural diversification
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subject: income distribution
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subject: South Karnataka
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subject: livelihood transformation
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subject: non-farm employment
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creator: Shripathi Kalluraya
rights: Copyright (c) 2025 https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
date: 2025-08-25
publication date: 2025-08-25
starting page: 29
ending page: 35
doi: 10.63090/JEIR/3107.9482.0006

Return Migration and Remittance Use in Reshaping Kerala's Rural Economy: An Analysis of Economic Transformation and Rural Development Patterns (1998-2023)
type: item
description: This study examines the association between return migration, remittance utilization, and Kerala's rural economic transformation from 1998 to 2023, utilizing data from nine rounds of the Kerala Migration Survey (KMS). Findings reveal that remittances increased from ₹13,652 crores in 1998 to ₹216,893 crores in 2023, representing 23.2% of the state's Net State Domestic Product (NSDP). Return migration reached 1.79 million individuals by 2023, with 38.3% increase from 2018, coinciding with COVID-19 economic disruptions. Remittance utilization patterns have shifted from consumption-oriented spending to productive investments, with 15.8% allocated to housing renovation, 14% to loan repayment, and 10% to education. Rural households with migration experience exhibit superior asset ownership, with emigrant households showing 39.7% motor car ownership compared to 23.7% among non-migrant households. The agricultural sector has transformed from traditional farming toward cash crop cultivation and service sector activities. These findings highlight the complex nature of migration-led development, offering economic benefits while creating challenges for sustainable rural development and agricultural productivity.
subject: Articles
  topic: section
subject: Return migration
  topic: keywords
subject: Remittances
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subject: Rural economy
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subject: Kerala model
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subject: Gulf migration
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subject: Agricultural transformation
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creator: Sinitha Xavier
rights: Copyright (c) 2025 https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
date: 2025-08-25
publication date: 2025-08-25
starting page: 23
ending page: 28
doi: 10.63090/JEIR/3107.9482.0005

Status of The Paint Industry in India
type: item
description: The Indian paint industry has experienced significant growth and transformation, propelled by urban sprawl and industrialisation, growing disposable revenue, real estate expansion, and infrastructural growth and expansion. This sector includes both decorative and industrial paint segments, catering to the needs of residential, commercial, automotive, construction, packaging, and manufacturing industries. Leading domestic and international paint companies compete on quality, variety, innovation, and eco-friendliness, introducing low-VOC paints to address environmental concerns. Regulatory compliance, digital integration for marketing and distribution, and a shift toward sustainable practices are shaping the industry's landscape.The purpose of this research is to assess the present situation of the paint industry in India and to draw conclusions about its role in the country's economy. The research focuses on three main objectives: To begin, we will examine the competitive landscape, major trends, and market dynamics to get a feel for the paint industry as a whole. The second objective of the research is to put a number on the industry's impact on the Indian economy in terms of things like export potential, job creation, and income. The study concludes by illuminating the paint industry's critical function in the building and automotive sectors. By delving into the industry's effects on form, function, and security, it highlights the industry's influence on these areas. With these goals met, the study sheds light on the many ways in which India's paint industry contributes to the country's economy and industry.
subject: Articles
  topic: section
subject: Paint industry
  topic: keywords
subject: Indian economy
  topic: keywords
subject: Employment opportunities
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subject: Decorative
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subject: Automotive paints
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creator: Aswani T D
rights: Copyright (c) 2025 https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
date: 2025-08-25
publication date: 2025-08-25
starting page: 18
ending page: 22
doi: 10.63090/JEIR/3107.9482.0004

Internal Labour Migration and Economic Sustainability in India
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description: Purpose: Economic sustainability denotes practices that foster enduring the growth of the economy while preserving the societal, ecological, and cultural dimensions of community life. Kerala has experienced a significant influx of migrant laborers from diverse regions of India in the past several years. Kerala presents an appealing marketplace for external workers due to elevated wages, abundant possibilities for work, and a deficiency of resident workers. This article's objective is to examine the labor market in Kerala and the effects of temporary migrant workers on the economic health of the state. Additionally, we examined how migration raises the societal and financial situation of migrants and how domestic labor flow can lead to financial stability. Design/Methodology/Approach: This research, which relies on secondary sources of information, used descriptive research methods. Public and private organizations' websites, as well as scholarly publications, daily newspapers, and journals publications, are sources of secondary data. Originality/Value: The study will facilitate the evaluation of the socio-economic advancement of migrant workers resulting from migration by examining the liquidity of migrant workers, workforce participation rate, labor population ratio, and the rate of pay. Findings: Recruiting migrants helps to regulate the workforce availability in these fields and avert ambiguities resulting from manufacturing and unoccupied positions. When it comes to industries that require labor, the monetary advantages of migration are especially noticeable. Migrants also fix marketplace breakdowns caused by ambiguity regarding manufacturing output. The study concludes that businesses are more likely to hire migrant workers to fill untrained open positions when they experience manufacturing hours lost due to job delays and halts.
subject: Articles
  topic: section
subject: Migrant workers
  topic: keywords
subject: Economic sustainability
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subject: internal migration
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subject: labour market
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subject: financial upliftment
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creator: Nithin Thomas
rights: Copyright (c) 2025 https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
date: 2025-08-25
publication date: 2025-08-25
starting page: 11
ending page: 17
doi: 10.63090/JEIR/3107.9482.0003

Indian Construction Sector: Post COVID Scenario
type: item
description: The COVID-19 outbreak has had a devastating effect on India's construction industry, causing many problems and setbacks. Examining the industry from multiple angles, including social, economic, and environmental concerns, this paper seeks to assess the post-COVID situation in India's construction industry. The study examines the immediate and future consequences of the global outbreak on India's construction industry by conducting an in-depth review of the literature. It delves into the difficulties encountered by construction companies as a result of shutdown restrictions, interruptions in the supply network, scarcity of workers, and budgetary restrictions. This research also delves into what the construction industry in India can expect from the post-COVID age in terms of developments and possibilities. Sustainable and resilient building practices are becoming more important, and this article looks at how digital technologies like Building Information Modeling (BIM) and remote collaboration tools are being used. The results of this study add to our knowledge of the situation in the construction industry of India after COVID. It helps researchers, professionals in the field, and lawmakers understand the opportunities and threats posed by the dynamic construction industry. In the wake of the COVID-19 global outbreak, India's construction industry has an opportunity to help the country achieve its sustainable development goals, create jobs, and boost the economy by adjusting to new circumstances.
subject: Articles
  topic: section
subject: Construction sector
  topic: keywords
subject: post-covid era
  topic: keywords
subject: employment
  topic: keywords
subject: economic development
  topic: keywords
subject: real estate sector
  topic: keywords
creator: Sajitha P
rights: Copyright (c) 2025 https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
date: 2025-08-25
publication date: 2025-08-25
starting page: 6
ending page: 10
doi: 10.63090/JEIR/3107.9482.0002

Conservation of Kerala Mangroves: Economic and Environmental Relations
type: item
description: Purpose: Research is the systematic investigation into and study of materials and sources to establish facts and reach new conclusions. This study aims to analyze mangrove forests' socio-economic and ecological systems and their linkages for their conservation and identify important mangrove ecosystem values. Methodology: This investigation aims to utilize a Descriptive Research design, relying on secondary information sources. The secondary data is obtained from books, journals, newspapers, articles, and government websites. Findings: Extreme scientific information is lacking regarding the utilization of mangroves as a natural nursery for migrating fishes and other species. An absolutely necessary research.It's clear that native inhabitants have relied on mangrove ecosystems for a number of products made from animals and plants, and that this practice continues today. Preserving and managing the remaining mangrove stretches in the manner that guarantees their ability to produce, is essential if these activities are to continue. Further research might investigate the usefulness and significance of managing numerous purposes as a means to boost efficiency.There is a dearth of research that provides foundational understanding of mangrove settlements, including their demographics, economic status, and how they use resources. This makes it harder to put a strategy in place to protect this ecological system effectively. Because of this, thorough investigation into mangrove communities is required, as these people rely on the mangrove for their survival.The valuation of goods and services offered by this ecological system is necessary for greater preservation of mangroves because of the numerous advantages they offer. Conserving them to the fullest extent possible is important because of the many ways in which they contribute to society, including economically, ecologically, scientifically, and culturally both for the current and subsequent generations. Therefore, in orde…
subject: Articles
  topic: section
subject: conservation of mangroves
  topic: keywords
subject: natural nursery
  topic: keywords
subject: ecosystem
  topic: keywords
subject: economic valuation
  topic: keywords
creator: Sr. Sindhu P.J
rights: Copyright (c) 2025 https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
date: 2025-08-25
publication date: 2025-08-25
starting page: 1
ending page: 5
doi: 10.63090/JEIR/3107.9482.0001