<?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-8"?><documents><rss version="2.0"><channel><title>Current Issues - Economicaffairs</title><link>https://economicaffairs.co.in</link><description>Generated by Economicaffairs.Source page: https://economicaffairs.co.in</description><language>en</language><mycatch><item><title>Governance Quality and Stock Market Development in Africa: A Panel ARDL Approach</title><link>https://economicaffairs.co.in/journal/current</link><description><p style="text-align: justify;">
	This study examines the impact of regulatory quality, government effectiveness, and the rule of law on stock market performance in selected African countries over the period 1991-2024. The analysis employs a panel Autoregressive Distributed Lag (ARDL) model to capture both short-run dynamics and long-run equilibrium relationships, integrating governance indicators with key macroeconomic variables such as gross fixed capital formation, inflation, exchange rate, and market liquidity. The long-run results reveal that stock market development exhibits strong persistence, while weak regulatory frameworks and institutional inefficiencies significantly constrain market growth and investor confidence. In contrast, gross fixed capital formation and exchange rate stability positively influence market performance, highlighting the importance of investment and macroeconomic stability. Inflation exerts a mild negative effect, whereas liquidity contributes marginally over time. The short-run findings indicate a significant and rapid adjustment toward long-run equilibrium, although governance indicators show limited immediate effects, suggesting that institutional reforms yield results primarily in the long term. Country-specific estimates further reveal substantial heterogeneity in governance effectiveness and market responses across African economies. Overall, the findings underscore that strengthening regulatory quality, improving institutional effectiveness, and maintaining macroeconomic stability are critical for fostering resilient and sustainable stock market development in Africa. The study contributes to the literature by providing a dynamic, multi-country analysis that integrates governance dimensions into stock market modelling and offers policy-relevant insights for financial sector development.</p>
</description><guid>https://economicaffairs.co.in/journal/current</guid></item></mycatch><mycatch><item><title>Impact of Self Help Groups on Rural Women Empowerment: A Case Study of Mokokchung District, Nagaland, India</title><link>https://economicaffairs.co.in/journal/current</link><description><div style="text-align: justify;">
	This study investigates the socio-economic impact of SHGs on rural women based on primary data collected from 180 respondents. The demographic profile indicates that 51.11% of participants belong to the 30-40 years age group and 40% to the 40-50 years category, reflecting high participation among economically productive women. Educational attainment remains low, with 92.22% having only primary education and 7.22% being illiterate, highlighting the inclusive nature of SHGs in reaching marginalized sections. The findings reveal a significant transformation in occupational patterns. Prior to SHG participation, 35.55% of respondents were housewives and 43.34% engaged in low-income miscellaneous activities. Post-SHG, 100% of respondents became economically active, with 43.33% involved in vending and 37.22% in daily wage labour, alongside universal participation in agriculture. A substantial improvement in income levels is observed, with mean annual income increasing from ` 62,966.67 to ` 1,28,300. Income distribution shifted entirely from below ` 1,00,000 to higher brackets, with 83.89% earning above ` 1,20,000 post-SHG. The paired sample t-test confirms this increase as statistically significant (t = -95.625, p andlt; 0.05). Expenditure patterns reflect enhanced living standards, with food expenditure rising from ` 1,847.22 to ` 2,841.67 and education spending increasing from ` 1,168.87 to ` 1,832.31. Healthcare and housing expenditures also show notable growth. Additionally, 63.33% of respondents invested in livestock, indicating asset creation. Savings behaviour improved markedly, with all respondents reporting average annual savings of ` 19,000, compared to no savings prior to SHG participation. The study also highlights improvements in socio-economic empowerment, with 93.89% of respondents participating in household decision-making and 100% reporting enhanced entrepreneurial skills, mental well-being and social awareness.</div>
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