Trade Liberalization and Poverty: A Macro-Micro Analysis in Ethiopia

Using a CGE model, this study analyses the impact of trade liberalization on poverty at the household level taking Ethiopia as a case. Two scenarios (complete tariff cut and uniform tariff scheme) suggest that further liberalization of trade has little short-run effect on the overall economy. However, the agriculture-based manufacturing sector (in particular, textile and leather) is likely to be strongly affected by further tariff reduction. Reductions in import prices of textiles and leather products increase imports of these goods implying that trade liberalization is likely to dampen domestic production of textile and leather products. Poverty shows a slight increase in both scenarios. At the national level, a complete tariff cut results in an increase in poverty by 2.8 percent, while a uniform tariff scheme raises poverty by 2.3 percent. Similarly, it is found that poverty gap and poverty severity indices show a slight increase. Comparing the effect of trade reform on different household groups, i.e. farm households, wage earner households and entrepreneur households, poverty in entrepreneur households increases by a higher percentage change (3.2 percent) in the complete tariff cut scenario. Poverty incidence increases by 1.7 and 1.5 percent for farm households and wage earners, respectively, under the complete tariff cut scenario. This comparison holds consistently when looking at the more realistic uniform tariff scheme. Entrepreneur households are at a disadvantage due to trade liberalization shown in the poverty gap and poverty severity indices. This is consistent with the theoretical argument that previously protected infant industries are highly affected by trade liberalization. --trade liberalization,poverty,CGE,import duties,macro-micro simulation

Trade Liberalization and Poverty: A Macro-Micro Analysis in Ethiopia

Using a CGE model, this study analyses the impact of trade liberalization on poverty at the household level taking Ethiopia as a case. Two scenarios (complete tariff cut and uniform tariff scheme) suggest that further liberalization of trade has little short-run effect on the overall economy. However, the agriculture-based manufacturing sector (in particular, textile and leather) is likely to be strongly affected by further tariff reduction. Reductions in import prices of textiles and leather products increase imports of these goods implying that trade liberalization is likely to dampen domestic production of textile and leather products. Poverty shows a slight increase in both scenarios. At the national level, a complete tariff cut results in an increase in poverty by 2.8 percent, while a uniform tariff scheme raises poverty by 2.3 percent. Similarly, it is found that poverty gap and poverty severity indices show a slight increase. Comparing the effect of trade reform on different household groups, i.e. farm households, wage earner households and entrepreneur households, poverty in entrepreneur households increases by a higher percentage change (3.2 percent) in the complete tariff cut scenario. Poverty incidence increases by 1.7 and 1.5 percent for farm households and wage earners, respectively, under the complete tariff cut scenario. This comparison holds consistently when looking at the more realistic uniform tariff scheme. Entrepreneur households are at a disadvantage due to trade liberalization shown in the poverty gap and poverty severity indices. This is consistent with the theoretical argument that previously protected infant industries are highly affected by trade liberalization

Effect of Different Levels of Cattle Manure on Biomass, Seed Yield and Crude Protein Content opf Rhodes Grass

The experiment was conducted at Adami Tulu Agricultural Research Center (ATARC) and Negele Arsi Farmers Training Center (FTC) with the objective of assessing the effect of different levels of cattle manure on biomass and seed yields and crude protein (CP) contents of Rhodes grass. The treatments were three levels of manure application (5, 10 and 15 t/ha) and a control (with no manure application). The result indicated the highest (p<0.05) biomass, seed yield and CP contents for the treatments with cattle manure as compared to the control, The values increased with the increment in the rate of the cattle manure. However, treatments with higher levels (10 t/ha and 15t/ha) of cattle manure application didn't produce significant differences in yields and CP contents as compared to the lower level (5t/ha) of manure application. The lower yields and CP contents of the control treatment indicates that the soil did not have enough nutrients to sustain optimal performance of the grass. Economic analysis also indicated that the benefits from Rhodes grass can be increased through application of cattle manure. The marginal rate of returns of 3.33 and 20.90 were produced for forage biomass and seed yields respectively at 5 t/ha of cattle manure application. This indicated that cattle manure application at the rate of 5 t/ha is the most economical when compared with the other rates. Further study is required to determine the seasons and manure application frequencies in the year for optimum yield, minimizing the risk of nutrient leaching, and environmental impact. Keywords: Biomass yield, Cattle manure, Seed yield, Rhodes grass DOI: 10.7176/JNSR/10-9-06 Publication date:May 31st 202

Effect of Seeding Ratio and Time of Planting of Cowpea (Vigna unguiculata) Intercropping with Maize (Zea Mays) on Agronomic Parameters, Forage Biomass and Grain Yield of Maize

The study was conducted at Adami Tulu and Dugda districts of Oromia regional state, Ethiopia to determine the optimum level of seeding ratio and planting time of cowpea under maize for optimum forage biomass production and maize grain yield. Combinations of four levels of cowpea seeding ratios and four different cowpea planting dates were laid out in a randomized complete block design in factorial arrangement with three replications. The levels of seeding ratios were 100%, 75%, 50%, 25%, 0% (sole maize) for the two districts. The four planting dates for cowpea were simultaneously planting with maize, 10 days after maize planting (DAMP), 20 DAMP and 30 DAMP. The results indicated that increasing seeding ratio of cowpea from 25% to the highest level (100%) resulted in significantly increased cowpea forage biomass yield. Time of cowpea planting in maize also influenced the plant height and biomass yield of cowpea. The highest forage biomass yield was recorded from simultaneously planting of the two crops. On the other hand, seeding ratio of cowpea has significantly influenced the grain yield of maize. It was also indicated that the time of cowpea planting in maize have significantly affected the grain yield of maize with simultaneously planting resulting in the lowest grain yield. The total LER in most of the intercropping system was more than one showing that intercropping of forage legumes with maize is more advantageous than sole cropping of maize. The optimum forage legume biomass yield (1.78 t/ha) was obtained from the combination of seeding ratio of 75% with 10 DAMP without significantly (p>0.05) reducing the grain yield of maize. Hence this combination was recommended for production of cowpea forage and maize grain from intercropping of the two crops in the study areas. From these results, it can be concluded that additional forage can be produced by intercropping cowpea with maize at their appropriate seeding ratio and planting time with a little or no sacrifice in maize grain yield. Moreover, it is important to further demonstrate and promote the recommended maize-cowpea intercropping practices for the end users of the study areas and similar agro-ecologies. Keywords: Biomass yield, cowpea, intercropping, planting date, seeding ratio DOI: 10.7176/JNSR/14-11-03 Publication date:September 30th 202

Security issues in adaptive distributed systems

Adaptive Distributed Systems (ADSs) are distributed systems that can evolve their behaviors based on changes in their environments. In this work, we discuss security and propose security metrics issues in the context of ADSs. A key premise with adaptation of distributed systems is that in order to detect changes, information must be collected by monitoring the system and its environment. How monitoring should be done, what should be monitored, and the impact monitoring may have on the security mechanism of the target system need to be carefully considered. Conversely, the impact of implementation of security mechanism on the adaptation of distributed system is also assessed. We propose security metrics that can be used to quantify the impact of monitoring on the security mechanism of the target distributed system

Performance Indicators of Investment and Business Environment (ICBE) Improvement in Private Higher Education (PHE) and Private Health Service Provision in Addis Abeba in the Post 1991 Period

Driven by the restructuring of the world economy with massive incremental output and demand in Asia by China and India in particular, in the last seven years or so, the Ethiopian economy has been experiencing a remarkable average growth rate of 10%.

Sistema web para la gestión de pedidos en la Empresa Representaciones Saldaña S.A.C. utilizando una plataforma de servicio y la metodología OpenUP

El número de empresas en el Perú consideradas como pequeñas y que se dedican al sector comercio van creciendo año tras año así como la demanda y el mercado en donde se desarrollan. Por esta razón es que cada vez necesitan más recursos para manejar procesos eficientemente en diversas áreas es así que las empresas necesitan desarrollar una correcta gestión. Representaciones Saldaña S.A.C., es una empresa orientada al comercio por mayor y menor de productos perecibles entre los que destacan productos embotellados tales como gaseosas y lácteos, vende más de 400 tipos de productos y trabaja con 30 proveedores entre los que se encuentran Gloria, Ajeper y Coca Cola entre los más importantes. La solución que se propone con este proyecto es a la medida de una empresa en específico, la cual está orientada al comercio por mayor y menor de productos perecibles. Actualmente esta empresa es propietario de un punto de comercialización y de distribución, en donde se descarga la mercadería que compra; sin embargo, no tiene un personal estable en cada almacén para que controle el flujo de ingreso y salida de cada lote de productos. La empresa no dispone de un sistema de inventarios adecuado para administrar la información sobre sus adquisiciones ni con una correcta gestión sobre el abastecimiento y despacho de su mercadería. La metodología utilizada en la presente investigación es OPENUP, que luego de una indagación previa se determinó, que es la más idónea para el presente trabajo. Las fases en detalle son mencionadas en la presente tesis, tanto en el marco teórico, como en su respectivo desarrollo. La conclusión más relevante es la automatización de la gestión de pedidos de la empresa Representaciones Saldaña S.A.C. usando tecnología de última generación como es el caso de Amazon AWS. La recopilación de información fue posible siguiendo la metodología correspondiente, para identificar principalmente los procesos de la empresa y requerimientos de los usuarios para realizar el análisis y diseño para el desarrollo del sistema.The number of companies in Peru considered as small and that are dedicated to the trade sector are growing year after year as well as the demand and the market where they develop. For this reason is that they need more and more resources to manage processes efficiently in various areas so that companies need to develop a proper management. Representaciones Saldaña S.A.C., is a company oriented to the wholesale and retail trade of perishable products among which stand out bottled products such as soft drinks and dairy products, sells more than 400 types of products and works with 30 suppliers among which are Gloria, Ajeper and Coca Cola among the most important. The solution proposed with this project is tailored to a specific company, which is oriented to wholesale and retail trade of perishable products. Currently, this company owns a marketing and distribution point, where the merchandise it buys is unloaded; however, it does not have a stable staff in each warehouse to control the flow of entry and exit of each batch of products. The company does not have an adequate inventory system to manage the information on its acquisitions nor with a correct management on the supply and dispatch of its merchandise. The methodology used in the present investigation is OPENUP, that after a previous investigation was determined, that is the most suitable for the present work. The phases in detail are mentioned in this thesis, both in the theoretical framework and in their respective development. The most relevant conclusion is the automation of the order management of the company Representaciones Saldaña S.A.C. using the latest generation technology as is the case of Amazon AWS. The compilation of information was possible following the corresponding methodology, to identify mainly the processes of the company and requirements of the users to carry out the analysis and design for the development of the system.Tesi

Performance indicators of Icbe in private higher education and health in Addis Abeba in the post 1991 period

This article is about institutional development around Investment Climate and the Business Environment [ICBE] in the establishment and growth of segments of the vital two social services ‐ private higher education [PHE] and private health, in Addis Abeba, Ethiopia in the post 1991 period. ICBE encompasses aspects of institutions as they relate specifically to the start up, growth, development and performance or otherwise of businesses and their capacity to drive the pace of economic and social progress.While the broad objective of the study has been to gauge progress in this arena and compare levels and directions of development, the specific objectives of the study was to develop parameters of performance indicators, gauge the on‐going process as perceived by the market participants, derive issues for further fine tunings of ICBE, policy and serve as a baseline for further study.To meet the objectives of shedding light on the on‐going ICBE process, apart from desk research, the Data Collection Team interviewed 424 respondents including the managers and staff of private higher education [PHE] and private health service providers, the direct beneficiaries of the social services [employers, current students, graduate alumni and patients], the indirect beneficiaries [staff and parents] and the regulatory authorities [education and health bureaus of the City Government of Addis Abeba].Partly as a result of improved ICBE, noticeable positive changes in governance, expansion in private higher education [PHE] and private health provision, efficiency gains, more effectiveness in the physical and social infrastructure are reported. Moreover, there are trends towards improved regional & gender equity, accountability in PHE and health delivery services, some levels of innovativeness and development and sustainability. Notwithstanding these, the absolute quality and standard of education and health provision leave a lot to be desired. The noticeable achievements have been attained with some challenges which need to be addressed in the forthcoming fine tuning of ICBE improvement policies and institutional engineering.Genuine and effective partnership between Government, the private sector and employers need to be remodeled with a certain level of autonomy for each. Government needs autonomy to ensure that its social goals are not entirely subsumed by the profit objectives of PHE and private health firms. The latter require autonomy to tailor their services in order to meet the specific demand of the market. The ultimate beneficiaries of the process, employers and students can enrich the institutional packaging through bringing in their up to date need in the state of the art and the content of education.Ethiopian Journal of Economics vol 20 (1) 201

Prediction of beef marbling using Hyperspectral Imaging (HSI) and Partial Least Squares Regression (PLSR)

The aim of this study was to build a model to predict the beef marbling using HSI and Partial Least Squares Regression (PLSR). Totally 58 samples of longissmus dorsi muscle were scanned by a HSI system (400 - 1000 nm) in reflectance mode, using 44 samples to build the PLSR model and 14 samples to model validation. The Japanese Beef Marbling Standard (BMS) was used as reference by 15 middle-trained judges for the samples evaluation. The scores were assigned as continuous values and varied from 1.2 to 5.3 BMS. The PLSR model showed a high correlation coefficient in the prediction (r = 0.95), a low Standard Error of Calibration (SEC) of 0.2 BMS score, and a low Standard Error of Prediction (SEP) of 0.3 BMS score