NSC Newsletter, Issue 3:2006

Greetings from Nepal Study Center, U. of New Mexico!

In our third issue of the NSC Newsletter (Issue 3: 2006), we are pleased to announce

1. Report on NSC’s first annual conference (HPRC) at the U. of Wisconsin ( Oct 19, 2006),
2. Editorial Insight columns on community forest and goverment's role in promoting development areas,
3. A Special tribute to Dr. Harka Gurung by Dr. Pitambar Sharma, Dr. Devendra R. Panday, Dr. Shankar Sharma, and Dr. Ambika P. Adhikari
4. Call for papers for the two journals (HJDD and LDNB),
5. Subscribe/unsubscribe

In this issue we present summary descriptions of two research papers written on Nepal.

In this issue of Insight we present two papers, one related to the management of community forests and another related to efforts of a local government to promote industrial development in its area. Below are our introductory notes on the papers.

1. "How Costly is the Collective Action? Transaction Costs of Community Forestry in Nepal" Bhim Adhikari and Jon C. Lovett ( IUCN- The World Conservation Union).

Abstract:
Based on a household survey conducted in Kavrepalanchok and Sindhupalanchowk districts of Nepal, Bhim Adhikari and Jon C. Lovett show that incidences of transaction costs of community forestry schemes on different income groups (monetary and time expenditure on participation in meetings, information collection, travel, etc.) is regressive when measured as a percentage of resource appropriating costs (costs incurred by households during collecting, harvesting and transporting forest products from community forest to their house) . The incidences are estimated as less than 15 percent on the rich, but up to 26 percent on the poorer users. The authors recommend a special attention to address this equity issue to ensure success of community-based approaches towards natural resource management.

2. Benchmarking Alabama Governments' Commitment to Foreign Companies in the Auto Industry
Hyunjoo Yang (College of Northeast Asian Studies University of Incheon)

Abstract:
Another paper summarizes Hyunjoo Yang’s astute and enlightened observations on approaches used by the Alabama state, city, and county governments to promote establishment of foreign auto manufacturers in Montgomery City . From these observations, the author draws lessons for his home town in Korea , the Incheon City , which has established a free economic zone to promote foreign investment in the city. The author also points out interesting cultural differences among American and Korean businesses. We think that the author’s recommendations to the Incheon City can even be used by other cities in other ountries, including Nepal , to attract foreign investment.

Click below for the full papers:
http://nepalstudycenter.unm.edu/Viewpoint.htm

(We encourage scholars to submit policy pieces for Insight column.)

Column Editors
Vijaya R. Sharma, Ph.D. U. of Colorado, Boulder, vijaya.Sharma@colorado.edu
Biswo Poudel, U. of California, Berkeley, bpoudel@berkeley.edu

Remembering Dr. Harka Gurung and his legacy:
by Dr. Pitambar Sharma, Dr. Devendra R. Panday, Dr. Shankar Sharma, and Dr. Ambika P. Adhikari
http://nepalstudycenter.unm.edu/Viewpoint.htm

We solicit articles for the following two journals.

HIMALAYAN JOURNAL OF DEVELOPMENT AND DEMOCRACY (HJDD), a peer-reviewed interdisciplinary academic journal invites high quality papers on development, democracy, conflict, and environmental issues relating to the Himalayan or the South Asian region. The submitted papers should provide robust analysis of issues and yield significant policy implications. We consider development issues in a broad socio-economic perspective to include growth, poverty, income distribution, education, environment, industrial and labor issues, trade, technology, regional development, health care, gender and ethnicity, and child labor. HJDD also welcomes papers on democracy, conflict resolution, and political transition.
http://nepalstudycenter.unm.edu/journals/hjdd.htm

LIBERAL DEMOCRACY NEPAL BULLETIN (LDNB) focuses on the contemporary political economy, democratic development, good governance, international relations, and conflict resolution in Nepal and invites high quality non-technical essays and commentaries for publication.
http://nepalstudycenter.unm.edu/journals/LDNB/ldnb.htm

Electronic submissions are accepted for journals. For detailed guidelines on submission and related matters, please visit the respective sites.

NSC Newsletter, Issue 2:2006

Greetings from Nepal Study Center, U. of New Mexico!

In our second issue of the NSC Newsletter (Issue 2: 2006), we are pleased to announce

1. NSC’s first annual conference at the U. of Wisconsin ( Oct 19, 2006),
2. Editorial Insight columns on Education and Health,
3. Call for papers for the two journals (HJDD and LDNB), and
4. Miscellaneous: Nepal Planning Commission Vice Chairman Dr. S. Sharma’s seminar presentation at UNM ( Feb 24, 2006)

In this issue we present summary descriptions of two research papers written on Nepal.

1. “Returns to Education in Nepal” by Yubraj Acharya (Graduate of Swarthmore College, Pennsylvania).

Abstract:
This paper examines the impact of education on poverty reduction by using few social indicators, like encouragement to use of latrine and encouragement to immunization against diseases, and finds that primary education gives the highest marginal payoff, compared to the payoffs of secondary and post-secondary education.

2. “Does Exposure to Indoor Cooking Smoke Increase the Risk of Cataracts? Can We Prevent Cataracts by Introducing Improved Cooking Stove? by Amod Pokhrel (Graduate student, Department of Public Health at University of California, Berkeley.)

Abstract:
This paper explores the relationship between use of different types of cooking stoves and the incidence of cataract among women and finds that the most effective measure of preventing cataracts among women would be to replace unflued stoves with flued stoves, which vent cooking smoke directly to the exterior of the house, and to ideally use stoves with cleaner burning fuels.

Click below for the full papers:
http://nepalstudycenter.unm.edu/Viewpoint.htm

(We encourage scholars to submit policy pieces for Insight column.)

Column Editors
Vijaya R. Sharma, Ph.D. U. of Colorado, Boulder vijaya.Sharma@colorado.edu
Biswo Poudel, U. of California, Berkeley, bpoudel@berkeley.edu

We solicit articles for the following two journals.

HIMALAYAN JOURNAL OF DEVELOPMENT AND DEMOCRACY (HJDD), a peer-reviewed interdisciplinary academic journal invites high quality papers on development, democracy, conflict, and environmental issues relating to the Himalayan or the South Asian region. The submitted papers should provide robust analysis of issues and yield significant policy implications. We consider development issues in a broad socio-economic perspective to include growth, poverty, income distribution, education, environment, industrial and labor issues, trade, technology, regional development, health care, gender and ethnicity, and child labor. HJDD also welcomes papers on democracy, conflict resolution, and political transition.

LIBERAL DEMOCRACY NEPAL BULLETIN (LDNB) focuses on the contemporary political economy, democratic development, good governance, international relations, and conflict resolution in Nepal and invites high quality essays and commentaries for publication.

Electronic submissions are accepted for journals. For detailed guidelines on submission and related matters, please visit http://nepalstudycenter.unm.edu/journals/. Send your inquiries to Professor Alok K. Bohara, Nepal Study Center, Department of Economics, University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, NM 87131, U.S.A. (505) 277-5903, Bohara@unm.edu.

Talk program:

Economic Development and Conflict in Nepal by Dr. S. Sharma
(Vice Chairman, National Planning Commission of Nepal)

U. of New Mexico, Department of Economics, Feb. 24, 2006
Room SSCI 1052, 3:00 PM.

Examination of the development challenges resulting from conflict in Nepal and highlights of some of the reform initiatives introduced to improve the socio-development activities in the country.

Nepal Study Center is pleased to announce the release of its newsletter that will carry information about the call for paper for its journals, editorial pieces, seminars, discussion forums, working paper archive and research activities related to issues affecting Nepal and the surrounding Himalayan region.

It will strive to have a regular feature called Insight where research notes and short analytical opinion pieces would be published. Those interested in sending your pieces for publication consideration, please visit the site and follow the guidelines.

We feel that activiies like these will enhance the debate on development, democracy, and policy issues affecting the region. Many of you have been referred to us for your interest on the region. We would appreciate your kind help in disseminating the works of the NSC.

In case if you prefer not to receive the occasional newsletter, then you may unsubscribe from the mailing list by following the instruction given below.