International Journal of Economics & Management Sciences

The study estimated and analyzes technical efficiency indices in the sugar industry in Nigeria in the period 1970 to 2010. Secondary data were obtained from the sugar firms, Food and Agricultural Organization, Central Bank of Nigeria, National Bureau of Statistics and Federal Ministry of Finance. Unit root tests were conducted on the specified data to ascertain their stationarity and order of integration. Stochastic Cobb-Douglas production function for the sugar industry was estimated from which indices of technical efficiency were obtained by using frontier 4.1 software. Trend in the technical efficiency indices showed relatively unstable and fairly downward fluctuations with an average index of 50.80% and excess technical efficiency rate of 49.20%. Multiple-regression of various forms based on the ordinary least squares technique was used to determine the factors that influence technical efficiency in the industry. Empirical result revealed that technical efficiency in the sugar industry was influenced by the industry?s sales growth, capital-labour ratio, official tariff rate on sugar import, real exchange rate and the liberalization policy period. To increase the technical efficiency of resource use in the sugar industry, restrictive policy measure on sugar imports through periodic review of tariff rate and quantity restriction on sugar import is strongly advocated. Also, capital intensive method of production should be adopted as a means of promoting efficiency of resource use in the industry. Furthermore, effective marketing policy on the industry manufactures is strongly recommended. Finally, the industrial policy package for the industry during import substitution period should be promoted in the sugar sub-sector in Nigeria.

The purpose of this study was to assess the influence of firm characteristics on the effect of mobile phone services on firm performance. The study was carried out in Thika town in Kenya. It adopted an exploratory design where a two-stage, Stratified and Simple random sampling, technique was employed. A total of 120 questionnaires were self- administered yielding a response rate of 100%. Data was subjected to detailed exploratory analysis through descriptive procedures. Results revealed that firm characteristics have no statistical significant influence on the effect of Mobile phone services on firm performance.

This paper explores the economic value of ICT investment in Nigeria. Data were gathered from secondary sources after which different statistical packages were used to extract relevant information. Investigation revealed that ICT investment was on the increase from 2001 when the telecoms industry in Nigeria got their liberalization. The empirical results suggest that ICT investment has a significant impact on Nigeria?s economic growth during the period reviewed, suggesting good payoffs from the investment. R-squared result shows that a high proportion (95%) of total change in GDP is accounted by private investment in ICT, ICT contribution to GDP and number of subscribers. ICT investments made by the private sector seem to have contributed significantly to the country?s growth. However, in order to sustain economic growth leveraged against ICT, more concerted efforts need to be made to increase ICT investment diffusion in the country. Such initiatives will ensure that the value potential of ICT investments in the economy is maximized, due to greater ICT-enabled potential that can translate to economic growth.

The purpose of this study is to find out the strength of product portfolio of the insurance companies in Saudi Arabia and the participation of employees of insurance companies in development process of new insurance products. The study is based on primary data collected randomly from the executives of the insurance companies. Data has been collected through questionnaires from 80 executives in the category of Marketing executives, Salesman, and other executives. The questionnaires originally developed in English were translated into Arabic for better and positive response from the respondents. The results of the study show that the insurance companies from outside the country as well as indigenous companies both have strong portfolio of insurance products. The results also show that the executives of the insurance companies in Saudi Arabia actively participate in New Product Development (NPD) process of the company.

The purpose of this research was to determine the some differences level of job stress of permanent employees in public sector and private sector banks Islamabad, Pakistan. 6 banks in Islamabad selected at randomly for survey and collected data through structured and close ended questionnaire.7 dimensions were used for measuring job stress construct which developed by NIOSH (National Institute of Occupational Safety and Health). 200 questionnaires were distributed among the employees who were working in these public and private banks and 104 employees responded out of 200 employees. The results shown that there are some differences in over all job stress level of permanent employees in Private and Public sector banks. Results founded the public sector banks? employees significantly affected more by stress due to no control on their jobs, social unsupported by the mangers, and mechanistic and strict organizational structure than the private sector bank?s employees. So public sector banks managers and top management executive body should establish new rules and regulations as well as hire MBA qualified managers who increase the motivation level of their employees and subordinates. We are sure it would be first research which conducted in Pakistani public sector and private sector banks for examining the stress level differences of these banks? permanent employees.

The purpose of this study was to determine the relationships between leadership styles (transformational leadership style, transactional leadership style and laissez-faire leadership styles), and quality management practices in Saudi public hospitals. A quantitative research design was adopted to collect data, test hypotheses, and answer the research questions. A cross-sectional survey method was used to conduct this study. Results of the study revealed that the transformational leadership style has a significant, positive relationship with quality management practices. However, the transactional and laissez-faire leadership styles were found to significantly and negatively relate to quality management practices. Based on the results, it is recommended that hospitals recruit leaders with transformational style, and also hold seminars to train current leaders to become more transformational.

The evaluation of taxpayers? compliance costs has grown in significance within tax research over the last years. In 2007, a survey questionnaire of business taxpayers was conducted in Portugal to evaluate compliance costs for the fiscal year of 2004. This paper presents the findings of that survey, as well as the main determinants of business compliance costs in Portugal. Specifically, its goals are threefold: to estimate the magnitude of the cost of complying with the Portuguese corporate income tax; to investigate the determinants of these costs, including both aspects of the firm?s operations and aspects of the tax system and, finally, to discuss the policy implications of the findings. The results show that compliance costs of corporate income taxation are related to the size of enterprises, the market where they operate as well as the complexity variables.

In the finance literature, there has been growing interest in what determines the capital structure of firms. The existing literature is concerned with the determinants of capital structure in more developed economies. This paper aims to extend this literature by ascertaining the determinants of capital structure in an emerging economy like Nigeria. In this paper, it is hypothesized that there is no relationship between gearing (CAPSTR) and the size, growth, profitability, tangibility and age of a firm. Using a cross-sectional survey data from 110 firms listed on the Nigerian stock exchange and analysis of data by the OLS method, it was found that size has a positive and significant impact on capital structure while age has a negative and significant influence. Tangibility (TANG), growth of a firm (GROWTH) and profitability (PROF), on the other hand, do not have any significant impact on the capital structure of firms in Nigeria. Based on this finding, some recommendations were made; prominent amongst which was that, directors of companies in Nigeria should pay more attention to two key CAPSTR indicators (size and age) when taking financing decisions.