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This study aims to investigate if there is any causal relationship between human rights and economic growth. The causality is tested in both directions, from human rights to economic growth and from economic growth to human rights, using a panel data Granger Causality test. The variable used to represent human rights is a human rights score and the variable used to represent economic growth is annual growth of real GDP per capita. Both of these variables are retrieved from Our World in Data. There is a total number of 81 countries included in this study with yearly observations from 1962 until 2017 on both variables. To achieve a greater depth the 81 countries were categorized into three different categories: low-income, middle-income and high-income countries. Previous studies and theories indicate that it is possible to expect a two-way causal relationship between economic growth and human rights. However, the results in this study indicate that there is no statistically significant causal relationship in any direction for any of the income categories.

Fördelarna med att förebygga avfall har visat sig vara många; besparingar i pengar och resurser, förbättrad arbetsmiljö etc. Trots det har utvecklingen gått trögt och få kommuner har prioriterat avfallstrappans översta steg. Under 2017 startades coachningsprojektet Översta steget för att få fler kommuner i Skåne att arbeta med förebyggande av avfall. Fokus ligger på kommunernas egna verksamheter. Inbjudan till projektet har gått ut till alla Skånes 33 kommuner men endast 4 har valt att delta. I studien har 13 kommuner intervjuats om deras beslut angående projektet samt om förebyggande av avfall i stort. Vi har identifierat tre huvudkategorier av hinder; kommunikativa hinder, organisatoriska hinder och hinder som rör vårt ekonomiska system. Förebyggande av avfall är på grund av att det är ett nytt arbetsområde inte lika konkret som återvinning och därmed svårkommunicerat. Det som har lockat kommuner att delta är de ekonomiska besparingar som kan göras samt att projektet erbjuder stöd i arbetet. Även förbättrad miljöprestanda lockar sekundärt. Vi anser att resultaten och fördelarna med att förebyggande av avfall måste spridas smart i olika typer av nätverk för att få igång samtalet kring förebyggande av avfall. På så sätt kan idéerna även konkretiseras och göras mer lättmottagliga för verksamheter och personal. / The advantages of preventing waste have proven to be many: savings in money and resources, improved work environment, etc. Despite this, development of waste prevention has been slow, and few municipalities have prioritized the top step of the waste management hierarchy. In 2017, the coaching project, Översta steget, was initiated to get more municipalities in Skåne to work on waste prevention. The project focus was on the municipalities' own activities. All of Skåne’s 33 municipalities in Skåne were invited to the join the project, but only 4 have chosen to participate. In the present study, 13 municipalities have been interviewed about their decisions regarding the project in general and waste prevention in particular. We have identified three main categories of obstacles; communicative barriers, organizational barriers and obstacles connected to our economic system. Prevention of waste is, because it is new area of work, not concrete enough and difficult mediated/experienced difficult. What has tempted the municipalities to participate in the project is the economic savings that can be made and that the project offers coaching. Improved environmental performance also is a secondly reason. We believe that the results and benefits of waste prevention must be spread smartly across different types of networks in order to initiate the call on prevention. This way it can also be more concrete and made more receptive to municipalities and their staff.

Yes / Whilst thinking on economic policy for development has undergone many shifts with the perceived weak results of earlier adjustment reforms a new donor consensus has emerged based around the central themes of economic growth, good governance and social development. This paper examines the logic behind this new Aid paradigm and discusses the empirical evidence to support it. A nuanced story is revealed with country circumstances playing a critical role and particular interventions varying in impact across countries. For example, growth does not always lead to gains for the poor that match the national average; public expenditure needs to be targeted to achieve social development but effective targeting is difficult; governance reform may be critical but there is no simple governance blueprint and the corruption-growth association need not always be negative.

Yes / Over last few decades, there has been a growing interest among researchers in understanding the link between trade liberalization and regional disparities within the context of an individual country. In this study, we develop the first ever single-country multiregional Computable General Equilibrium (CGE) model for the Indian economy to investigate this linkage. Overall our results suggest that, in the short run, trade liberalization has a beneficial impact on the rich and fast-growing middle-income states and a marginal or negative impact on the poor states.

This study investigates the influence of increased financial inclusion on entrepreneurship in South Africa, employing an interpretivist approach. It uses qualitative research on the personal experiences of consumers and entrepreneurs to establish the direct benefits and barriers of these changes. The research explores the experiences and perspectives of entrepreneurs regarding access to financial services, the role of financial inclusion in entrepreneurial growth, the impact of technology on financial inclusion, financial literacy, and awareness, as well as recommendations for policy and practice. Findings reveal that while there has been progress in enhancing financial access, challenges such as high bank charges, stringent documentation requirements, and limited financial literacy remain a problem, particularly among underserved populations. However, increased access to financial services has facilitated entrepreneurial activities, with entrepreneurs leveraging innovations like mobile banking and online payment systems. Policy implications suggest the need for targeted interventions to address barriers to financial inclusion and promote entrepreneurship, including simplifying banking processes, expanding financial literacy programs, and improving access to financing for new entrepreneurs and small businesses.  The findings offer valuable insights for economic agents, including consumers, financial firms, and policymakers, into fostering a more inclusive financial ecosystem that promotes entrepreneurial development and economic growth.

This thesis explores the transformative potential of eco-cultural tourism in revitalizing post-industrial cities, with a focus on the network of towns along the Ohio River in West Virginia. The research seeks to understand the multifaceted impacts of tourism on urban development, social infrastructure, and economic growth in small towns. The core concept is to create a tapestry of connectivity along the river, celebrating the region's natural beauty and promoting shared experiences and community cohesion. The proposed initiative envisions a Master Plan featuring a well-integrated network that connects cities along the Ohio River. This network includes walking and biking trails, ATV routes, camping areas, water activities like kayaking and motorboating, accommodations, restaurants, local shops, and a dedicated rail corridor for travel. The proposed development primarily targets Parkersburg, a small city in Wood County, West Virginia, located at the confluence of the Ohio and Little Kanawha Rivers. The second phase of the project focuses on two critical sites within Parkersburg, essential for implementing the revitalization plan. Parkersburg is envisioned as the catalyst and starting point for the entire network, positioning it as the epicenter of urban regeneration and community development. Overall, the thesis investigates the potential benefits and challenges of implementing a comprehensive tourism-driven urban revitalization strategy. Through an interdisciplinary approach to planning and design, it examines the ecological, cultural, tourism, and environmental impacts on development, envisioning a sustainable future where West Virginia's post-industrial cities prosper as interconnected nodes. / Master of Science / Discover the transformative power of eco-cultural tourism in breathing new life into West Virginia's post-industrial cities. This research delves into the intricate impacts of tourism on urban development, social fabric, and economic resurgence in suburban areas, focusing on the picturesque towns lining the Ohio River. Imagine a meticulously planned network seamlessly connecting these towns through a myriad of experiences: tranquil water trails, adventurous ATV paths, historic rail lines, and scenic biking routes. This master plan not only celebrates the region's natural splendor but also cultivates a sense of community and shared heritage. At its heart lies Parkersburg, strategically positioned to spearhead this revitalization effort. As a nexus for urban renewal and communal growth, Parkersburg is poised to serve as the gateway to a vibrant tourism destination, breathing vitality into once-dwindling local economies. Through interdisciplinary analysis, this thesis explores the numerous benefits and challenges of implementing such a comprehensive tourism-driven strategy. By envisioning a future where West Virginia's post-industrial cities thrive as interconnected hubs along culturally enriched eco-trails, it paves the way for sustainable growth and shared prosperity.

This is the first book on the transformations wrought by Cambodia's 2002-08 economic boom. It explores the impact of the boom on governance, economic structure, and opportunities for the poor. It provides new insights into the relationship between economic growth and political stability in post-conflict societies. It is a cross-disciplinary study involving Cambodian and foreign scholars. From 2002, Cambodia underwent a visible economic transformation driven largely by such external factors as increased Chinese demand for primary commodities and a strong international demand for Cambodian garments. Apart from dramatic rates of economic growth, the boom involved the disappearance of forests and the decline of logging, the inflow of Chinese investment and the rise of indigenous capital, and the increased significance of remittances from garment workers and labour migrants. In addition, the impact of government policies on land registration and concessions transformed relations of production and, with them, the socio-economic and political environment in rural and urban Cambodia. "Cambodia's Economic Transformation" examines the political economy of the Cambodian boom, analysing the changing structure of the economy, the relationship between state and market, and outcomes for the poor. Not least, it focuses the role of the state in facilitating and controlling the market, and the way that this has affected the life chances of the poor. In so doing, it situates Cambodian experience within key debates in the wider political economy of Eastern Asia, scrutinizing the relationship between class formation, structures of governance and resource distribution.

Yes / Studies find that oil-rich African countries (OACs) suffer slow socio-economic growth and development. The petroleum operations in these countries are also primarily in the hands of multinational corporations (MNCs). Motivated by their profit maximisation prospects (PMPs), the MNCs face significant corporate social responsibility (CSR) dilemmas with reference to their contribution to the socio-economic growth of these African economies. Even though there are few studies on CSR and corporate financial performance (CFP) within the African context, little or no attention has been paid to how and the extent to which MNCs' PMPs, CSR and CFP interact to affect the socio-economic growth of OACs. Drawing from legitimacy, institutional, and agency theories we employ a panel data approach covering 14 years (2003–2017) to understand the drivers of these PMPs, how PMPs affect corporate ethical considerations, and CFP and their implications on OACs' socio-economic growth. We find that PMPs of MNCs within OACs impede their CSR commitment. There is a significant positive relationship between CSR and CFP; efficient CSR practices impact CFP positively, and MNCs' contribution to OACs' socio-economic growth is significantly constrained by weak institutional environments. We conclude that institutional reforms and strategic investment in CSR could foster rapid socio-economic growth and development within OACs. Our study contributes to policy and knowledge on MNC's PMPs, CSR practices, CFP and literature on business ethics and the natural resource-curse.