140 results
Search Results
Now showing 1 - 10 of 140
Item Restricted Fiscal decentralization and regional economic growth: the case for the Philippines(2016-12) Madridejos, Joanne Nicole Marie L.; Tipan, Aaron Cielo G. ; Escresa, Laarni C.In the past years, there has been an increasing policy trend towards fiscal decentralization, especially in developing countries. This practice is expected to promote rural economic development by increasing government efficiency and responsiveness, and for that reason, it became the subject of many empirical studies. However, the existing theoretical and empirical discussions which address the question whether decentralization accelerates economic growth portray mixed results. This study aims to fill this gap by measuring the effect of fiscal decentralization in regional economic growth in the context of the Philippine economy using the different measures of decentralization introduced by Uchimura and Suzuki (2009) and another innovative measure by the researchers. Using fixed effects model in the empirical analysis of the Philippine regions from 2001 to 2011, excluding National Caspital Region (NCR) and Autonomous Region of Muslim Mindanao (ARMM), this paper demonstrates that increasing the capabilities of the local government units to self-generate their sources of revenue and their fiscal autonomy until it reaches its optimal level of decentralization have a positive effect on regional economic growth. Moreover, among all the measures of fiscal decentralization, revenue decentralization has the largest economic significance which suggests its important role on regional growth.Item Restricted The impact of micro-banking offices on loan accessibility: empirical evidence in the Philippines(2019-05-28) David, Maria Khlya Lancelot C. ; Pilapil, Agatha C. ; Esguerra, Emmanuel F.Developing countries such as the Philippines have always aimed for sustainable development. A major aspect of this kind of development is poverty reduction and inclusion for all, a pro-poor growth. Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas has already specified targets, one of which is the implementation of BSP Policy No.694, “Amendment of Regulations on the Establishment of Other Banking Offices and Notes to Microfinance.” The policy includes a provision where the micro-banking offices are allowed to disburse or release micro-loans and collect loan payment and other charges. The objective is to cause household borrowers to shift from informal loan sources to formal loan sources, specifically to microfinance institutions. This paper evaluates whether the observed shift to formal loan sources between 2008 and 2014 can be attributed to the said policy. Using a multinomial probit regression, the researchers examine different socio-economic variables that could possibly affect the household head’s decision on loan source availment. Sex, total income, work type, insurance, and grants are among these. Micro-Banking Office (MBO) density per municipality is used as the policy indicator to determine if the BSP’s policy action, which took place in 2010, can explain the observed outcome in 2014. Findings show that the presence of MBOs decreases the probability of a household availing from informal sources (family and friends, informal lenders). This supports the view that the significant shift of loan availment source, informal to formal, can be attributed to the said policy. This indicates the effectiveness of BSP policy on establishment of MBOs, improving then the financial inclusion in the country.Item Restricted The medical and socioeconomic factors contributing to the incidence of births by caesarean section in the Philippines(2019-02-08) Aganinta, David S. ; Arboleda, Alec Rose G. ; Mendoza, Maria Nimfa F.The undergraduate paper will test which medical and socioeconomic factors can cause the incidence of Cesarean births based on Philippine data from a population of women who have experienced delivery by c-section. Using information gathered from the women’s childbearing experience, the thesis paper will aim to discern which of those recalled circumstances may substantially contribute to women having to go through c-section births. The tests aim to estimate impact of the factors in question on the likelihood that the aforementioned event will occur. The study will use the 2013 National Demographic Health Survey as data. Results run from the heckprobit model used show that delivery complications (sepsis and loss of consciousness during delivery), insurance, wealth status, number of alive children, the offspring in the womb being twins, and the mother’s age on birth are factors that contribute the incidence of caesarean births.Item Restricted A study on the influence of hunger and alcohol consumption on suicidal tendencies among Filipino high school students(2016-01) Gaborni, Alessandra Mae B. ; Layug, Kim M. ; Ravago, Majah-Leah V.Suicide and mental health are among the pressing issues that different nations from around the globe are trying to address. A previous time trend study in the Philippines found that the younger age groups, especially females, are not only susceptible to suicides, but also to non-fatal self-harming and failed suicide attempts. While it is no surprise that people suffering from depression are at most risk of committing suicide, existing literatures from other countries have linked alcohol consumption and experiencing hunger to suicidal behavior. Hence, our paper aims to examine how these factors could influence high school students in the Philippines into exhibiting suicidal behavior. Our paper found that although experiencing hunger is not a very strong predictor for whether a student will seriously consider suicide, it is a strong predictor for actual suicide attempts. Alcohol consumption, on the other hand, has a positive relationship with both suicidal thoughts and actual attempts. Our paper also found that increasing frequency of both experiencing hunger and consuming alcohol could increase the probability that the student will attempt suicide. In addition, females have higher likelihood of exhibiting suicidal behavior than males regardless of levels of hunger and alcohol consumption.Item Restricted Impact of dynasty and local resource mobilization capacity on the likelihood of reelection of provincial governors in the Philippines(2016-05) Mantes, Angela Camille M. ; Ramos, Pamela Lorraine S. ; Magno, Cielo D.The government plays a significant role on promoting the general welfare of its constituents that is why determining the factors affecting voting behavior is important. This study aims to determine the effects of political dynasties and local resource mobilization to the probability of re- election. Using a panel data of elected provincial governors during the 2007, 2010 and 2013 election years, results show that the dynastic indicator and the share of local sources in total income are both significant at the 5 percent level. Increasing the percentage of the local sources with respect to the total income will lead to a higher likelihood of re-election. Moreover, belonging to a political family increases the likelihood of re-election of provincial governors. With these, the study suggests a review of the provision of term limits, the necessity of the Anti-Dynasty Bill, the creation of a better definition of political dynasties for better implementation and efforts to strengthen the local resource mobilization capacity of local government units in the Local Government Code.Item Restricted Determinants of housing starts in the Philippines: a stock-flow model(2016-12) Oblefias, Zyralyn A.; Velasco, Charmaine T. ; Debuque-Gonzales, MargaritaThe Philippines has experienced a large housing deficit over the years. One of the major causes of low housing supply has been high housing costs brought about by high construction costs relative to wages (Ballesteros 2002, 5). This paper investigates the various factors affecting housing starts in the different regions of the country from 2006 to 2014. Using a stock–flow model, this paper finds that construction cost, wages, lending rates, population, topography and typhoon vulnerability, but not total income, significantly induce a shift in the supply schedule of new residential construction projects in the country.Item Restricted The effects of mass media on risky sexual behaviors of adolescents in the Philippines(2019-01-04) Faraon, Franceska Louise T.; Versoza, Cielo S. ; Pajaron, Marjorie C.This paper examines the relationship of risky sexual behavior outcomes and exposure to mass media, specifically cable and satellite television and the internet, as guided by Harry Triandis’ Model of Interpersonal Behavior or the idea that behaviors are determined by different factors that could be based on the resources available to the people. Using data from the 2015 National Youth Assessment Study, we examine how mass media exposure influences an individual’s engagement in unprotected sex, transactional sex, sex outside relationship, and sex with multiple partners. Other factors affecting risky sexual behavior, such as access to pornographic websites and materials, membership in religious organizations, sexual orientation, educational attainment, living conditions with parents, financial assistance, and age were also explored. Using Ordinary Least Squares (OLS), Logistic, and Probit Regressions, and analyzing marginal effects, comparing across respondents with access to only internet, only traditional media, and both media forms, the results show a positive relationship between exposure to the internet and types of risky sexual behavior. Contrarily, exposure to traditional media, specifically television, has a negative effect on the risky sexual behavior outcomes. Moreover, access to pornographic websites and materials, finishing up to secondary education only, heterosexuality, receiving financial assistance and age are other factors contributing to the likelihood of engaging in risky sexual behaviors. Finally, members of religious organizations and those living with both their parents are less likely to involve in risky sexual activities. Key findings suggest that access and exposure to the internet lead to a high chance of being engaged in risky sexual activities, as opposed to access and exposure to traditional media. Through perceived adverse health outcomes from exposure to mass media, this thesis suggests the need for better media regulation, better sexual and health education, and the need for a genuine reproductive healthcare system in the Philippines.Item Restricted #Metoo: what factors affect the decision of abused Filipina women to break their silence?(2018) Cruz, Danielle Anne A. ; Mendiola, Maxinne Marie C. ; Pajaron, Marjorie C.This paper primarily aims to examine the factors that affect the likelihood that an abused woman will disclose of the abuse and will seek help. The analysis is contingent on the types of abuse experienced, the evidence of abuse, and the types of help employed. This paper is very timely given the current political climate on violence against women and the global attention given to this issue. We hope to contribute to this issue by analyzing the data from the Philippines (Women’s Safety Module of the National Demographic and Health Survey in 2013) and controlling for the characteristics of the abused woman and the household she belongs to. Using Probit, multinomial logit, and Heckman Probit selection models, we find that while a measure of a woman’s decision-making power (control over the use of her own earnings) is positively correlated with the probability that she will seek help, her education and wealth are negatively correlated with this probability. We recommend future research on other factors that hinder abused women from seeking help, such as the frequency of abuse, behavior of partner and religious affiliation, in order for policy makers to improve the availability and effectiveness of help-seeking services in the Philippines.Item Restricted Investments and tax a study on the effective average and marginal tax rates in the Philippines(2018-05) Calma, Danielle B. ; Jeong, HannahThis paper is about the effective average and marginal tax rates in the Philippines and the 9 ASEAN countries plus 3 other countries namely China, India, and Hong Kong. In this paper, the EATR and the EMTR of each country will be calculated using the model developed by Devereux and Griffith, and compared with one another to identify and rank which country is more tax-wise competitive in business and investments (whether domestic or foreign). This paper also includes simulations of different tax policies in the Philippines and a study on which compete with Thailand, Malaysia, Indonesia, and Vietnam in investments.Item Restricted Does tobacco and alcohol consumption crowd-out household expenditures in the Philippines?(2016-06) Banuelos, Kevin Joshua A. ; Mella, Dustin Jacob H. ; Pajaron, Marjorie C.Tobacco and alcohol consumption has two major adverse health effects: (1) direct effects to consumers who experience different illnesses such as lung cancer, and cerebro- vascular, heart and liver diseases (World Health Organization, 2003; National Institutes of Health, 2016); and (2) indirect effects brought about by negative externalities in the form of second-hand, third-hand smoking, and accidents related to drunk-driving, for example. There are also two types of costs related to the consumption of these two goods – direct costs through their purchase and indirect costs attributable to possibly crowding out the purchase and consumption of other goods such as food and education, which may lead to malnutrition, lower daily caloric intake, reduced human capital investment, and financial instability. The purpose of this study is to examine these indirect costs, in particular we aim to determine whether expenditures on tobacco and alcohol crowd-out expenditures on other goods. Using the 2009 Family Income and Expenditure Survey (FIES), we construct a system of Conditional Engel Curves from the Quadratic Almost Ideal Demand System (QUAIDS) to formulate the demand functions of 11 household expenditure categories. Ordinary Least Squares (OLS), Seemingly Unrelated Regressions (SUR), and Fractional Logit (Flogit) results show that the nature of the crowding-out effect differs across income groups, gender of the household head, and household location. Low-income households are the most severely affected, with their budget for food decreasing by almost 50% and other critical expenditures on basic needs also crowded-out. Although food expenditures are unaffected, middle-income households are still worse-off with their budget for education and rent on housing each crowded-out by more than 30%. The wealth of high-income households is also adversely affected, with their rate of saving declining by about 78% to compensate for tobacco and alcohol purchases. Further analysis also shows that male-headed households and urban households possibly experience the crowding-out effects more than female-headed households and rural households, respectively.