Effect of Depreciation on Trade Balances in Selected African Countries

- Balance of trade is a key indicator of the health of any open economy. Therefore, every developing economy strives to achieve this. Currency devaluation (depreciation) is seen as an opportunity for the achievement of trade surplus. This paper aims to examine the impact of depreciation and devaluation on trade balance in Algeria, Tunisia, Gabon, South Africa, Zambia, Nigeria, Morocco, Ghana, Malawi, and Burundi. Dynamic Panel Ordinary Least square (DOLS) method and Toda-Yamamoto for impulse response analysis are employed to predict the effect of depreciation on trade balances as well as the response of trade balances to shocks from depreciation. The results show that depreciation negatively affects the trade balance in the long run and shows that there is no evidence of the J-curve in the selected countries. Moreover, the result for the impulse response function shows that trade balances respond negatively to shocks in exchange rate. Abstract- Balance of trade is a key indicator of the health of any open economy. Therefore, every developing economy strives to achieve this. Currency devaluation (depreciation) is seen as an opportunity for the achievement of trade surplus. This paper aims to examine the impact of depreciation and devaluation on trade balance in Algeria, Tunisia, Gabon, South Africa, Zambia, Nigeria, Morocco, Ghana, Malawi, and Burundi. Dynamic Panel Ordinary Least square (DOLS) method and Toda-Yamamoto for impulse response analysis are employed to predict the effect of depreciation on trade balances as well as the response of trade balances to shocks from depreciation. The results show that depreciation negatively affects the trade balance in the long run and shows that there is no evidence of the J-curve in the selected countries. Moreover, the result for the impulse response function shows that trade balances respond negatively to shocks in exchange rate. Abstract- The study examined the effect of Boko Haram insurgency in the North East on the socioeconomic activities of Nigeria. Ex-post facto research design as the observations was used in the research to establish the relationship between the variables. The study made use of secondary data covering a period of twenty years; were 10 years were from 1994-2003 before the insurgency and 10 years were from 2004-2013 during the insurgency. The data from this study were obtained from World Bank on agricultural value added percentage of GDP from 1994 to 2013 a period of twenty (20) years to determine the extent of agricultural contributions to Gross Domestic Product (GDP) in Nigeria. It is necessary to use this data that had been generated to show the time series effect. ARIMA statistical method of analysis was adopted with the aid of Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) to test the hypothesis. It was found out that the sects’ activities in the North East had significantly affected the socioeconomic activities. The general conclusion was that Boko Haram insurgency in the North East had effect on socioeconomic activities of Nigeria. This study recommended that the federal government should embrace negotiation with the group since they ready to dialogue with the federal government but this can only be actual if the rebel group within the government cycle, which are ever ready to sabotage the strategy, are fished out, dislodged and prosecuted Abstract- The study examined the effect of Boko Haram insurgency in the North East on the socioeconomic activities of Nigeria. Ex-post facto research design as the observations was used in the research to establish the relationship between the variables. The study made use of secondary data covering a period of twenty years; were 10 years were from 1994-2003 before the insurgency and 10 years were from 2004-2013 during the insurgency. The data from this study were obtained from World Bank on agricultural value added percentage of GDP from 1994 to 2013 a period of twenty (20) years to determine the extent of agricultural contributions to Gross Domestic Product (GDP) in Nigeria. It is necessary to use this data that had been generated to show the time series effect. ARIMA statistical method of analysis was adopted with the aid of Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) to test the hypothesis. It was found out that the sects’ activities in the North East had significantly affected the socioeconomic activities. The general conclusion was that Boko Haram insurgency in the North East had effect on socioeconomic activities of Nigeria. This study recommended that the federal government should embrace negotiation with the group since they ready to dialogue with the federal government but this can only be actual if the rebel group within the government cycle, which are ever ready to sabotage the strategy, are fished out, dislodged and prosecuted accordingly. Abstract- Fintech is a multi-billion-dollar industry and it has been growing rapidly in India in the last five years and is expected to grow further in the near future. Due to the current situation of pandemic, Fintech companies are leading the way in a world where digital transactions are at an all-time high. According to the National Investment Promotion and Facilitation Agency- "The Indian Fintech market is currently valued at $31 Bn and is expected to grow to $84 Bn by 2025, at a CAGR of 22%. The current state of the Indian FinTech industry is the result of a unique mix of technical enablers, governmental interventions, and economic prospects, as well as certain additional characteristics exclusive to India. Over 67 percent of India's 2,100+ FinTechs were founded in the last five years. In the quarter of June 2020, 33 new FinTech investment deals worth US$647.5 million were closed in India, compared to US$284.9 million in China. Overall, the FinTech market in India is already worth US$31 billion and is expected to grow to US$84 billion by 2025. By 2023, the value of FinTech transactions is expected to increase to US$138 billion, up from US$66 billion in 2019. In this paper an attempt has been made to explain and analyse the reasons for the growth of Fintech industry, potential challenges and prospects this industry is experiencing in current time period in the Indian context. Abstract- Fintech is a multi-billion-dollar industry and it has been growing rapidly in India in the last five years and is expected to grow further in the near future. Due to the current situation of pandemic, Fintech companies are leading the way in a world where digital transactions are at an all-time high. According to the National Investment Promotion and Facilitation Agency- "The Indian Fintech market is currently valued at $31 Bn and is expected to grow to $84 Bn by 2025, at a CAGR of 22%. The current state of the Indian FinTech industry is the result of a unique mix of technical enablers, governmental interventions, and economic prospects, as well as certain additional characteristics exclusive to India. Over 67 percent of India's 2,100+ FinTechs were founded in the last five years. In the quarter of June 2020, 33 new FinTech investment deals worth US$647.5 million were closed in India, compared to US$284.9 million in China. Overall, the FinTech market in India is already worth US$31 billion and is expected to grow to US$84 billion by 2025. By 2023, the value of FinTech transactions is expected to increase to US$138 billion, up from US$66 billion in 2019. In this paper an attempt has been made to explain and analyse the reasons for the growth of Fintech industry, potential challenges and prospects this industry is experiencing in current time period in the Indian context. Abstract- The objective of this research paper is to investigate the process and obstacles that new business start-ups face. The identification of entry barriers is critical because the removal of these restrictions and the development of small businesses may lead to the development of the country, as small businesses are the lifeblood of our economy. These serve as engines for developing countries such as Sri Lanka, which is now a lower-middle emerging market. The objective of this research is to identify and investigate the most fundamental issues that new businesses encounter. Our country's government aims to reduce unemployment, with the higher unemployment rate among fresh graduates. For more than three decades, graduate unemployment has been a major issue in Sri Lanka. We investigated the challenges, difficulties, and obstacles that graduating entrepreneurs have faced or would face while launching a startup through this study. For this study, 184 newly graduated business faculty students from private tertiary educational institute provided data. Abstract- The objective of this research paper is to investigate the process and obstacles that new business start-ups face. The identification of entry barriers is critical because the removal of these restrictions and the development of small businesses may lead to the development of the country, as small businesses are the lifeblood of our economy. These serve as engines for developing countries such as Sri Lanka, which is now a lower-middle emerging market. The objective of this research is to identify and investigate the most fundamental issues that new businesses encounter. Our country's government aims to reduce unemployment, with the higher unemployment rate among fresh graduates. For more than three decades, graduate unemployment has been a major issue in Sri Lanka. We investigated the challenges, difficulties, and obstacles that graduating entrepreneurs have faced or would face while launching a startup through this study. For this study, 184 newly graduated business faculty students from private tertiary educational institute provided data. The instrument for data collection was a structured questionnaire. The analysis of the study was conducted using correlation and regression analysis further using factor analysis. The study findings will aid