Pradeep Acharya

This study examines the environmental effects of remittances in the five largest remittance-receiving countries (India, Mexico, China, the Philippines, and Pakistan) using panel data from 1990 to 2022 sourced from the World Development Indicators. The study employed a quantitative and analytical research design. Remittances are a critical component of economic stability in these countries, yet their impact on carbon emissions and environmental sustainability remains underexplored. The study utilized a dynamic ordinary least squares (DOLS) method to analyze study variables. Unit root and cointegration tests were performed to assess long-run relationships. A dynamic ordinary least squares (DOLS) (pooled estimation) results revealed that GDP per capita and trade openness have significant positive influences on CO₂ emissions. On the contrary, urban population has significant negative influences on CO₂ emissions. In contrast, remittances show no notable effect on CO2 emissions. Furthermore, the results show significant long-run cointegration among the variables, with GDP per capita, trade openness, and urban population identified as major drivers of CO2 emissions. These findings indicate that economic growth, trade liberalization, and demographic expansion are key drivers of environmental degradation, while the direct environmental impact of remittances appears minimal. The study recommends policymakers prioritize environmentally sustainable investments to align remittance-driven economic growth with global climate goals.

This research investigates the impact of governance quality, political stability, corruption management, regulatory quality, and governmental effectiveness on economic growth in Nepal, utilizing annual time series data spanning from 1996 to 2022. Advanced econometric techniques, including Fully Modified Ordinary Least Squares (FMOLS), Dynamic Ordinary Least Squares (DOLS), and Canonical Cointegrating Regression (CCR), are employed to analyze both short- and long-term relationships. The results reveal a significant positive relationship between political stability and economic growth (FMOLS coefficient = 5.51E+09, p < 0.01), underscoring the importance of a stable political environment. Conversely, government effectiveness negatively correlates with GDP (FMOLS coefficient = -2.31E+10, p < 0.01), suggesting potential inefficiencies in governance. Corruption control exhibits mixed effects, showing a positive influence on GDP in some models (CCR coefficient = 1.11E+10, p < 0.10). Similarly, regulatory quality yields variable results, with a positive DOLS coefficient of 9.68E+09 (p < 0.05). Johansen's cointegration test confirms significant long-term relationships among the variables, while Granger causality tests identify political stability and government effectiveness as key drivers of GDP. These findings highlight the need for governance reforms that focus on enhancing political stability, improving regulatory quality, and addressing inefficiencies in public administration. Policymakers are urged to implement targeted strategies to promote sustainable economic growth in Nepal.

Wheat production in Nepal is highly sensitive to climatic variability, particularly temperature and rainfall. This study examines the asymmetric impacts of these climatic factors on wheat yields using the Nonlinear Autoregressive Distributed Lag (NARDL) model. A quantitative research design was employed, analyzing time-series data from 1990 to 2022. The NARDL model was used to capture both short- and long-term asymmetric effects of temperature and rainfall on wheat yield. Diagnostic and stability tests ensured the robustness of the model. The findings reveal that positive temperature changes significantly reduce wheat yields in the short term (coefficient: -2483.80, p < 0.01), followed by a compensatory positive effect in subsequent periods (coefficient: 2935.31, p < 0.01). Negative temperature changes and rainfall variability, both positive and negative, were statistically insignificant in their impacts. The model’s R-squared value of 0.972 highlights its strong explanatory power. The results underscore the critical role of temperature in influencing wheat productivity, with rainfall’s limited impact suggesting effective water management practices. These findings align with global studies on climate resilience but highlight unique adaptation mechanisms in Nepal. This study emphasizes the need for heat-tolerant wheat varieties and enhanced irrigation systems to mitigate climatic stressors. The use of the NARDL model offers novel insights into the asymmetric dynamics of climatic factors, advancing methodologies in climate-agriculture research.

The objective of this paper was to investigate the short-term and long-term effects of climatic and non-climatic factors on maize yield over a 33 year period (1990–2022) in Nepal using an Autoregressive Distributed Lag (ARDL) model. The study examines the role of temperature, rainfall, pesticide use, and carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions (per capita and agricultural) in shaping maize productivity. The results show that temperature has an insignificant long-run influence on maize yield. Rainfall shows a significant negative effect in the short-term (-0.861224, p = 0.0424) but a positive but insignificant long-run effect (1.963022, p = 0.1792). Pesticide use significantly increases maize yield, both in the short run (2.093082, p = 0.0095) and the long run (14.35734, p = 0.0000). CO2 emissions per capita (CO2PC) positively affect maize yield in the long run (18754.80, p = 0.0012), whereas agricultural CO2 emissions (CO2AG) exhibit a significant negative impact on maize yield (-22074.70, p = 0.0001). Granger causality tests indicate that rainfall, temperature, and CO2 emissions Granger-cause maize yield, with the feedback effect from agricultural emissions and productivity. These findings emphasize the need for sustainable farming practices to manage both climate change and agricultural input use effectively.

Potato production in Nepal is essential to its agricultural economy, yet is vulnerable to climatic variability and inefficient practices. This study utilized a Dynamic Ordinary Least Squares (DOLS) approach to analyze data from 1990 to 2022, incorporating variables such as temperature, rainfall, and pesticides. Data were sourced from the FAO and Climate Change Knowledge Portal. Temperature exhibited a significant positive impact on potato yield (β = 35707.52, p < 0.001), whereas rainfall’s effect was statistically insignificant (β = -28.65, p > 0.05). Pesticide use showed a strong positive correlation (β = 81.91, p < 0.001), highlighting its critical role. Nutrient management strategies, such as NPK fertilizers, were identified as effective in enhancing yields, particularly in high-altitude regions. The findings reveal the interplay of climatic factors and agronomic practices in shaping potato productivity. The dependency on pesticides raises environmental concerns, while insufficient rainfall adaptation underscores the need for supplementary irrigation systems. Region-specific, adaptive strategies such as precision irrigation and integrated pest management are recommended. Integrating climatic and agronomic factors into policymaking is crucial for enhancing potato production in Nepal. Sustainable farming practices and infrastructural support are key to ensuring economic resilience and food security.

This study examines the role of government expenditure on private sector investment in Nepal, utilizing a time-series approach. The research employs a quantitative methodology, analyzing 49 years of time-series data (1974/75-2022/23). The study uses the Autoregressive Distributed Lag (ARDL) model to explore both the long-run and short-run relationships between government expenditure and private investment. The dependent variable is private sector investment, while the independent variables include real GDP, government expenditure, foreign exchange rates, and the consumer price index (CPI). Unit root tests, the ARDL bounds test, and Granger causality tests were applied to analyze the data. The results indicate a significant positive long-run relationship between real GDP and private sector investment, while government expenditure shows mixed effects. Infrastructure-related government spending positively influences private investment, whereas non-infrastructure expenditure has a crowding-out effect. Inflation, represented by the CPI, has a negative impact on private sector investment, creating uncertainty and raising costs. The foreign exchange rate demonstrates a marginally significant positive effect on private investment. The findings align with previous research in developing countries where researchers observed the crowding-in effect of government spending on private investment. The role of inflation and foreign exchange stability was also highlighted as crucial for fostering a favorable investment environment.

Purpose: This study investigates the impact of trust on the intention of using mobile financial services, focusing on mobile payment platforms. It also explores how security andprivacy mediates this relationship. Methodology: A quantitative research approach was employed, utilizing a structured questionnaire to collect data from 384 respondents. The data were analyzed using Structural Equation Modeling (SEM) to test the hypothesized relationships between trust, security, privacy, and the intentionto use the mobile payment platform. Findings: The results indicate that trust significantly influences users' intention to adopt the mobile payment platform whereas security and privacy concerns play crucial mediating roles. TheSEM analysis confirmed that the model fit indices were within acceptable ranges, supporting the robustness of the proposed model. Implications: For service providers, enhancing security and privacy features is essential for fostering trust and encouraging user adoption of mobile financial services, and it can be a key driver in the growth of digital finance. Originality/Value: The study contributes to the literature on digital finance by highlighting the intertwined roles of trust, security, and privacy in shaping consumer behavior, offering insights for both academia and industry practitioners.

Mergers and acquisitions in Nepal's banking industry are experiencing a surge due to regulatory pressures and various other factors. However, these deals pose several challenges, including employee disengagement. Despite the upward trend in mergers and acquisitions, the researches on the factors influencing the engagement level of the employees, particularly among Nepalese commercial banks, are lacking. Nepalese commercial banks significantly neglect the level of the engagement of employees. Thus, this study delves into how various factors, such as leadership and communication styles, career development opportunities, incentives and benefits, health and safety provision impact employee engagement in the aftermath of mergers and acquisitions transactions. The study employs quantitative research design, utilizing structured questionnaires for data collection. A total of 372 responses from employees across various commercial banks, spanning different corporate hierarchies, who have remained employed in banks that underwent mergers and acquisitions since 2020, have been gathered and utilized for subsequent analysis. The study's findings shed light on different factors affecting employee engagement and the level of their impact on employee engagement during mergers and acquisitions in Nepalese commercial banks. These findings provide practical insights for management bodies, human resource professionals, and policymakers, underscoring the importance of considering these factors when planning and executing mergers and acquisitions activities.

This study investigates the relationship between secondary level private school enrollment and key economic indicators in Nepal, namely per capita GDP and remittances. The research uses quantitative techniques and secondary data analysis, applying a vector error correction model (VECM) to investigate dynamics over both long-term and short-term periods. This study used analytical and descriptive methodologies in a quantitative fashion. The variables were measured, and the effect of independent factors on the dependent variable was quantified, using secondary data. In order to investigate the main goal of the study, the time series method analyses were conducted. The EViews statistical tool, version 10, was then used to analyze and interpret the collected data. The findings reveal significant correlations between economic prosperity and private school enrollment, emphasizing the pivotal role of economic factors in shaping educational choices. While rising per capita GDP suggests improvements in living standards, remittances positively contribute to household income, potentially boosting school enrollment rates. On the one hand, increasing per capita GDP indicates higher standards of living and remittances represent an additional source of household income, which might help increase school enrollment rates. Still, there were also lessons in these data that are relevant today — and the game serves as a reminder of how much work we still have to do to eradicate inequities and make opportunities equal for all children. The findings point to the necessity of targeted policies in favor of the private education sector and towards broader economic growth, focusing on educational equity and access in Nepal. It also highlights the need for more academically rigorous outcome evaluations that investigate underlying mechanisms linking these relationships and for longer-term monitoring of uptake trajectories to better inform educational and economic development interventions.