Culture, Economic Development, and Quality of Life: A Speculative Comment on the Case of Kerala, India

Abstract . Kerala State, India, had a per capita income of abott $290 for 1985, about the same as other Indian states. But Kerala has a Physical Quality of Life Index of 79 (compared to 43 for India). Saudi Arabia has a per capita income of $8,850 for 1985 but a PQLI of 28. How come? Of course, per capita income does not measure income distribution and India is a plural democracy while Saudi Arabia is an authoritarian monarchy. But the critical factor may well be culture.     

Decision-making in soil conservation: application of a behavioral model to potato farmers in Sri Lanka

Soil erosion is one of the most devastating problems in the upper watershed areas in Sri Lanka. Erosion-prone cultivation of vegetables (especially potatoes) on steep slopes, without soil conservation measures, has become a major problem in the recent past. Soil erosion has significant impacts on on-farm as well as off-farm activities. Although various institutions have launched programs to introduce soil conservation techniques, these have not yielded expected results mainly due to a lack of understanding of the potato farmers’ behavior on investment decisions on soil conservation. Hence the conceptual model on investment decisions on soil conservation was tested in this paper. The analytical results of the generalized least square model indicated the importance of personal and economic, as well as institutional, factors in decision-making in soil conservation. Therefore, obtaining farmer adoption of erosion-control practices will require the use of various implementation tools such as education, subsidies, and technical assistance. Low willingness to invest in soil conservation indicated the necessity for public installation of conservation structures if they are to be widely used in potato farmlands in the upper watersheds in Sri Lanka.     

Multinational Corporations,Nation-States and Ocean Resource Management: The Impact of the World's 200-mile Economic Zone on Multinational and National Development*

The extension of coastal State jurisdiction to 200-nautical miles—a ‘fact of international law’ about to receive juridical status—would lead to a unique situation in the ownership of ocean resources, viz. 15 coastal states would receive among them approximately 42 percent of the world's 200-mile economic zone area. At least 8 of these countries are less-developed coastal states (LDCS) which lack the key factors, capital, technology and managerial skill, necessary to tap these resources. As a result, the reliance of the LDCS on marine multinational corporations will markedly increase since a significant part of marine technology exists in the private sector. Concurrently, a dramatic rise in the control of coastal states over MNCs engaged in ocean resource development will occur. Thus, under the new regime of ocean resource management, the relationship between MNCs and Nation-States is likely to be one of constructive partnership in development, rather than one of conflict and discord.     

Transnational Corporations and Ocean Technology Transfer: New Economic Zones Are Being Developed by Public/Private Partnerships but Deep Sea Miners Balk on Royalties

A bstract . Coastal state jurisdiction at 200-nautical miles is today a fact of international law. This has led to a unique situation in the ownership and control of ocean resources; thus 15 coastal states have received among them approximately 41 percent of the world's 200 mile economic zone area. At least half of these are less-developed coastal states (LDCS) which lack the key inputs, capital, technology , and managerial skill , essential to tap their ocean resources. A significant part of ocean technology in offshore oil, fisheries, aquaculture , and deep seabed mining exists in the private sector. Consequently, the transnational corporations (TNCs) are the major providers of ocean technology to the LDCS by a process of transfer through service contracts, turnkey operations, co-production agreements and, most importantly, Joint ventures. All evidence points to a continued constructive partnership between the LDCS and the TNCs under the new regime of ocean resource management.