title: Corruption, Gender and Credit Constraints: Evidence from South Asian SMEs

authors: Wellalage, Nirosha Hewa

subjects: Social Sciences

abstract: This paper provides analyses of the effect of corruption in South Asia on (1) credit access for small- and medium-size enterprises (SMEs), and (2) credit constraints faced by female-owned and male-owned SMEs. By addressing potential endogeneity and reverse causality of corruption and credit constraints via instrumental variables, this study reports that corruption has a detrimental effect on credit access. Specifically, corruption increases the probability of SMEs credit constraints by 7.63%. However, gender differences emerge, indicating that bribery is slightly more effective when used by female SME owners. When male-owned SMEs pay bribes, they are on average 0.61% more credit-constrained than their counterparts. For female-owned SMEs paying bribes, they are on average 0.78% more likely to be less credit-constrained compared to female SME owners who do not pay bribes. Overall, bribery is not very effective in achieving the desired outcome and attitudes towards bribery as unethical may be more a question of culture than of gender

text: Corruption, Gender and Credit Constraints: Evidence from South Asian SMEs This paper provides analyses of the effect of corruption in South Asia on (1) credit access for small- and medium-size enterprises (SMEs), and (2) credit constraints faced by female-owned and male-owned SMEs. By addressing potential endogeneity and reverse causality of corruption and credit constraints via instrumental variables, this study reports that corruption has a detrimental effect on credit access. Specifically, corruption increases the probability of SMEs credit constraints by 7.63%. However, gender differences emerge, indicating that bribery is slightly more effective when used by female SME owners. When male-owned SMEs pay bribes, they are on average 0.61% more credit-constrained than their counterparts. For female-owned SMEs paying bribes, they are on average 0.78% more likely to be less credit-constrained compared to female SME owners who do not pay bribes. Overall, bribery is not very effective in achieving the desired outcome and attitudes towards bribery as unethical may be more a question of culture than of gender

year: 2019-09-01

title: Preliminary evaluation of tectonic geomorphological signals within the Hamilton Basin

authors: Spinardi, Francesca

subjects: tectonic geomorphology

abstract: Over the past year several fault traces have been discovered within the Hamilton Basin, prompting a need for further investigation for tectonic evidence in the basin in order to re asses seismic hazards of the basin. Examination of the most recently discovered fault revealed the trace cross cuts the 20,000 ka Hinuera Formation, indicating that the faults within the Basin are active and could potentially experience another seismic event. However, more information is needed to determine the rate of occurrence and potential magnitude of an event. LiDAR and geomorphic data indicates there are potentially up to ten more traces within the Hamilton Basin, but they have yet to be confirmed through geomorphical ground-truth mapping. Both the known fault traces and the potential traces are dominantly NE oriented and appear to be influenced by the surrounding fault systems, such as the Waipa Fault. A large basement depression located in the far northern area of the Hamilton Basin as revealed by seismic line and gravitational data indicates that extensional movement may be related to the faults. To better understand the risk and hazard potential of a seismic event, extensive study and information about the basement terrane and surrounding faults, such as the Waipa Fault, needs to be gathered. It is possible that the fault traces within Hamilton are transtensional splays that have formed to accommodate movement and space between the major fault systems. My project will be examining the inferred fault traces within the Hamilton Basin, as indicated by the geomorphology, seismic line data, existing borehole data, and geological and geomorphical ground-truth mapping. For this the history of the surrounding fault lines, such as their total offset and rate of occurrence, will be investigated in order to understand the behavior of the faults within the Hamilton Basin and the potential hazards they can cause.

text: Preliminary evaluation of tectonic geomorphological signals within the Hamilton Basin Over the past year several fault traces have been discovered within the Hamilton Basin, prompting a need for further investigation for tectonic evidence in the basin in order to re asses seismic hazards of the basin. Examination of the most recently discovered fault revealed the trace cross cuts the 20,000 ka Hinuera Formation, indicating that the faults within the Basin are active and could potentially experience another seismic event. However, more information is needed to determine the rate of occurrence and potential magnitude of an event. LiDAR and geomorphic data indicates there are potentially up to ten more traces within the Hamilton Basin, but they have yet to be confirmed through geomorphical ground-truth mapping. Both the known fault traces and the potential traces are dominantly NE oriented and appear to be influenced by the surrounding fault systems, such as the Waipa Fault. A large basement depression located in the far northern area of the Hamilton Basin as revealed by seismic line and gravitational data indicates that extensional movement may be related to the faults. To better understand the risk and hazard potential of a seismic event, extensive study and information about the basement terrane and surrounding faults, such as the Waipa Fault, needs to be gathered. It is possible that the fault traces within Hamilton are transtensional splays that have formed to accommodate movement and space between the major fault systems. My project will be examining the inferred fault traces within the Hamilton Basin, as indicated by the geomorphology, seismic line data, existing borehole data, and geological and geomorphical ground-truth mapping. For this the history of the surrounding fault lines, such as their total offset and rate of occurrence, will be investigated in order to understand the behavior of the faults within the Hamilton Basin and the potential hazards they can cause.

year: 2017

title: Boat electrofishing surveys of fish populations in the Ohau Channel in 2011 and 2012

authors: Hicks, Brendan J.

abstract: The aim of the survey was to provide on-going monitoring of the fish communities and abundance in the Ohau Channel, especially fish species that are taonga to Maori (eels, goldfish, and koura). In the current study we present the findings from the fifth and sixth years of sampling (2011 and 2012) in view of previous surveys using boat electrofishing in the Ohau Channel.

We used the University of Waikato’s 4.5 m-long, aluminium-hulled electrofishing boat to catch a total of 399 fish (29.4 kg) from 10 sites in 2011 (2,420 linear m, 9,680 m² area) and 301 fish (12.8 kg) at 11 sites in 2012 (3,625 linear m, 14,500 m² area). Koura and 7 fish species were present in both years, with common bully the most abundant in 2011 and common smelt the most abundant in 2012. Common smelt were more abundant in 2012 (131 fish) than in 2011 (39 fish). Goldfish were most abundant at sites in the lower channel, especially at site 7.

As reflected in total numbers, common bullies had the highest densities of any fish species in 2011 (up to 7.4 fish 100 m⁻²), the majority of which were taken from edge habitats at sites 4, 5 and site 7. In 2012, common bully abundance was much reduced. However, despite the lower bully densities in 2012, mean bully biomass was higher in 2012 (1.00 g m⁻²) than in 2011 (0.04 g m⁻²) because bullies were smaller in 2011.

Common smelt had variable densities, the largest number of which was found in and around the excavated side branch at site 7 edge habitats (up to 14.7 fish 100 m⁻²) below the weir (site 1).

Mean density of rainbow trout in the Ohau Channel was similar in both years (0.27 fish 100 m⁻² in 2011,0.24 fish 100 m⁻² in 2012). Mean biomass of rainbow trout was much greater in 2012 (0.69 g m⁻² in 2011, 11.2 g m⁻² in 2012). Goldfish densities were greater in 2012, partly because goldfish at site 7 were targeted in 2012, and mean biomass was correspondingly greater (0.48 g m⁻² in 2011, 47.7 g m⁻² in 2012). Site 7 had 282 g m⁻² of goldfish biomass in 2012.

Catch per unit effort (CPUE) for common bullies in 2011 was twice that in 2012, reflecting lower densities in 2012. Common smelt CPUE in 2012, however, was 5 times greater than in 2011. Despite the much higher biomass of goldfish in 2012, CPUE was much the same.
The increased goldfish biomass in 2012 arose because of targeted fishing in the excavated side branch, which clearly offers good habitat for goldfish. In 2012, the first shortfin eel encountered in these surveys was caught. The abundance of common bully appears to have a clear trend of reducing abundance since these surveys started in 2007. The cause of this is not apparent, and not accounted for by water clarity expressed as black disk (BD) distance or water conductivity (Table 7). Poor water clarity can reduce the efficiency of electrofishing, but BD was greater in 2012 than in 2011. It is possible that smelt abundance has declined too, but the relatively inefficient sampling resulting from boat electrofishing must be considered. Independent verification is required.

text: Boat electrofishing surveys of fish populations in the Ohau Channel in 2011 and 2012 The aim of the survey was to provide on-going monitoring of the fish communities and abundance in the Ohau Channel, especially fish species that are taonga to Maori (eels, goldfish, and koura). In the current study we present the findings from the fifth and sixth years of sampling (2011 and 2012) in view of previous surveys using boat electrofishing in the Ohau Channel.

We used the University of Waikato’s 4.5 m-long, aluminium-hulled electrofishing boat to catch a total of 399 fish (29.4 kg) from 10 sites in 2011 (2,420 linear m, 9,680 m² area) and 301 fish (12.8 kg) at 11 sites in 2012 (3,625 linear m, 14,500 m² area). Koura and 7 fish species were present in both years, with common bully the most abundant in 2011 and common smelt the most abundant in 2012. Common smelt were more abundant in 2012 (131 fish) than in 2011 (39 fish). Goldfish were most abundant at sites in the lower channel, especially at site 7.

As reflected in total numbers, common bullies had the highest densities of any fish species in 2011 (up to 7.4 fish 100 m⁻²), the majority of which were taken from edge habitats at sites 4, 5 and site 7. In 2012, common bully abundance was much reduced. However, despite the lower bully densities in 2012, mean bully biomass was higher in 2012 (1.00 g m⁻²) than in 2011 (0.04 g m⁻²) because bullies were smaller in 2011.

Common smelt had variable densities, the largest number of which was found in and around the excavated side branch at site 7 edge habitats (up to 14.7 fish 100 m⁻²) below the weir (site 1).

Mean density of rainbow trout in the Ohau Channel was similar in both years (0.27 fish 100 m⁻² in 2011,0.24 fish 100 m⁻² in 2012). Mean biomass of rainbow trout was much greater in 2012 (0.69 g m⁻² in 2011, 11.2 g m⁻² in 2012). Goldfish densities were greater in 2012, partly because goldfish at site 7 were targeted in 2012, and mean biomass was correspondingly greater (0.48 g m⁻² in 2011, 47.7 g m⁻² in 2012). Site 7 had 282 g m⁻² of goldfish biomass in 2012.

Catch per unit effort (CPUE) for common bullies in 2011 was twice that in 2012, reflecting lower densities in 2012. Common smelt CPUE in 2012, however, was 5 times greater than in 2011. Despite the much higher biomass of goldfish in 2012, CPUE was much the same.
The increased goldfish biomass in 2012 arose because of targeted fishing in the excavated side branch, which clearly offers good habitat for goldfish. In 2012, the first shortfin eel encountered in these surveys was caught. The abundance of common bully appears to have a clear trend of reducing abundance since these surveys started in 2007. The cause of this is not apparent, and not accounted for by water clarity expressed as black disk (BD) distance or water conductivity (Table 7). Poor water clarity can reduce the efficiency of electrofishing, but BD was greater in 2012 than in 2011. It is possible that smelt abundance has declined too, but the relatively inefficient sampling resulting from boat electrofishing must be considered. Independent verification is required.

year: 2013