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    Essays on natural resources, energy, and development : a thesis presented in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy in Economics, School of Economics and Finance, Massey University, Palmerston North, New Zealand
    (Massey University, 2022) Narantungalag, Odmaa
    This thesis examines the local economic and health impacts of natural resource extraction on communities and the effectiveness of large energy subsidies using microdata from Mongolia for 2008-2018. The results are presented in three stand-alone empirical chapters. Chapter 2 examines the economic impacts of the mining industry's indirect linkages on household expenditure patterns in a quasi-experiment setting. Households benefit from mining activities by increasing their expenditures on food, health care, and electricity by reducing their expenditures on education, non-food goods, and services. However, increased mining activities do not adversely affect health and educational outcomes because of improved access to health and education services. Chapter 3 investigates the impact of mining-induced pollution on individuals' likelihood of reporting illnesses, employing a novel instrumental variable. Individuals who reside within five kilometers of mining activities are more likely to report illness. This is true for all age groups, although the effect is most severe for younger children. Small-scale mines and gold mines cause greater health risks than larger and other types of mines. Chapter 4 evaluates the effectiveness of large electricity subsidies in reducing fossil fuel use, such as coal, and improving ambient air quality. The subsidy program achieves its intended goal of reducing illness, but it affects household electricity consumption behavior, which might further help the transition from coal to electricity and reduce air pollution. The results reported in this thesis generate findings important for policymaking in resource-rich developing countries. First, household disaggregated expenditure analysis can provide useful information about household consumption decisions, which can be used for policy formulation to increase the benefits of mining activities to local communities. Second, pollution control and mitigation are essential in resource-producing regions to reduce the population's health risks from mining activities and enhance welfare. Third, large energy subsidies may be useful for changing consumer behavior, further contributing to subsidy effectiveness.
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    The impact of the small and medium enterprise support programmes on the livelihoods of micro-entrepreneurs using sustainable livelihood framework : a case study of Enterprise Mongolia Project Phase 2 by United Nations Development Programme in Mongolia : a thesis presented in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Philosophy in Development Studies at Massey University, Palmerston North, New Zealand
    (Massey University, 2016) Ganbold, Mongoljin
    The aim of this research is to explore the impact of Enterprise Mongolia Project EMP-2 project on the livelihoods of the Small and Medium Entrepreneurs (SMEs) using Sustainable Livelihood Framework (SLF) in the context of Mongolia. Both qualitative and quantitative research methods are used in order to carry out this research. The study started firstly with the review of existing literature followed by field research to explore in depth rural livelihoods and SMEs in Mongolia. The research is conducted in two phases. The first phase comprises examining the case study of Enterprise Mongolia Project 2 (EMP-2) and discusses the role of SME support programmes in poverty reduction. The second phase of the research method comprised of conducting in-depth semi-structured interviews with 20 entrepreneurs. The overall objective of the research is to identify the changes resulting from the project intervention (EMP-2) using sustainable livelihood approach and to find out the relationship between the livelihood assets and enterprise of SME owners. The researcher uses Sustainable Livelihoods Framework (SLF) to explore the human, social, financial, and physical and natural resource based assets that enable the poor to enhance their capabilities and reduce their vulnerabilities. A qualitative study is conducted by consenting the SME owners who were beneficiaries of the EMP-2. Unstructured and in-depth interviews were conducted; interviews were taped, transcribed and thematically analyzed by using NVivo 10. Data has been collected from three major regions of Mongolia which are Selenge Aimag, Khenti Aimag and Uvurkhangai Aimag. Out of 20 respondents, 8 belong to Selenge Aimag, 6 belong to Khentii Aimag and 6 belong to Uvurkhangai Aimag respectively. Results are extracted from Nvivo 10, word frequencies, word trees, results previews and qualitative model is generated with the help of Nvivo 10. Results clearly demonstrate that the EMP-2 project provided support in terms of financial capital, human capital, physical capital, social capital and natural capital and this improves the livelihoods of the small and business entrepreneurs in Mongolia. Findings of the study also illustrates that EMP-2 project ease out the funding’s and loan processes, provide training to their workers and resolve the issues in regards to water shortage and energy shortage. The results of this study can be used by the NGO’s and other charity organizations to go in Mongolia and introduce projects like EMP to provide support to SME owners so that their livelihood can improve and poverty can be reduced or eliminated. Keyword: EMP, SMEs, Mongolia, Livelihoods, Sustainable Livelihood Framework
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    Development of a method for optimal detection of emerging disease incursions : a thesis presented in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy at Massey University, Institute of Veterinary, Animal and Biomedical Sciences, Massey University, Palmerston North, New Zealand
    (Massey University, 2016) Wang, Shiyong
    Emerging and re-emerging infectious diseases (ERID) are capable of generating sizable economic loss, and causing loss of life and social instability. To prevent and mitigate the negative impacts of ERID, it is imperative to have a sensitive surveillance system for early disease detection. Furthermore, from the economic perspective, resources are always scarce and have opportunity cost, so investment in surveillance programs has to demonstrate that it can maximize the utility of available resources. The thesis was focused on development and application of a software toolbox, Human and Animal Disease Response Program (HandiResponse), designed for (i) visualizing the disease risk landscape and representing spatial variation in the expected occurrence of a zoonotic disease both quantitatively and visually; (ii) evaluating economic benefit and costs of a single surveillance activity or a multi-component portfolio; (iii) identifying optimal use of resources for surveillance. It comprises four modules: (i) risk map development – HandiMap; (ii) surveillance portfolio development – HandiSurv; (iii) economic impact assessment – HandiEcon and (iv) surveillance optimization – OptiSurv. The modules developed were tested on a number of data sets from various countries. The experience demonstrated that using satellite-derived data in combination with national statistical data to produce a disease risk map improved spatial prediction of avian influenza H5N1 outbreaks in southern Vietnam. Development of a risk map from satellite data for Crimean Congo Haemorrhagic Fever for Mongolia guided a field surveillance program which provided the first evidence that this disease is present in both animals and people in Mongolia. Finally an invented disease affecting pigs and people was used to investigate the likely consequences of an incursion of such a novel disease into Australia, involving both domestic and feral pigs and transferring to people. Risk-based and classical disease surveillance options were then tested for disease detection, and modelling work confirmed that a portfolio consisting of different options was the most technically and economically appropriate. HandiResponse is a practical tool that could promote the implementation of risk-based surveillance approaches, and improve both technical and economic efficiency of surveillance programs for infectious diseases, particularly those affecting both people and animals.
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    Examining the relationship between shift pattern, risk perception, fatigue, subjective well-being and stress among Mongolian air traffic controllers : a thesis presented in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Aviation at Massey University, Manawatu, New Zealand
    (Massey University, 2012) Togtokhbayar, Lkhagvasuren
    The relationship between shift pattern, fatigue, unrealistic optimism, stress and subjective well-being, may affect the safety of air traffic controllers and their likelihood of continuing in the occupation. The aim of this thesis was therefore to investigate the effect of shift pattern (fixed or rotating) on fatigue, unrealistic optimism, stress and subjective well-being among Mongolian air traffic controllers. A battery of four separate questionnaires (and nine demographic items) was completed by 124 Mongolian air traffic controllers (response rate 71%), of whom there were 31 females and 93 males. Length of employment ranged from two months to 28 years. The main findings were that air traffic controllers who work rotating shifts reported higher subjective fatigue, lower subjective well-being and higher stress compared to their colleagues working in fixed shifts. In addition, there was strong evidence of unrealistic optimism towards both general life and air traffic control specific events. Subsequent investigation revealed that unrealistic optimism towards an air traffic control specific events, was approximately two times less than that towards general life events. There was no evidence that shift pattern, fatigue, unrealistic optimism, stress and subjective well-being were related to the length of employment of participants or the likelihood of continuing in their chosen profession. As unrealistic optimism may affect judgment and decision-making (and it can lead to unnecessary risk-taking in aviation), this lower level of unrealistic optimism towards air traffic specific negative events is considered to be a positive finding. However, it was noted that the overall mean of the perceived stress score of Mongolian air traffic controllers was higher than that of New Zealand air traffic controllers, although lower than New Zealand college students and a smoking-cessation sample. Mongolian air traffic controllers are prey to both unrealistic optimism and the effect of shift pattern on their fatigue, stress and well-being. This thesis highlights the need to be aware that this might lead to compromised decision-making and subsequently, unnecessary risk taking.