Browsing by Author "Pathiranage, H.S.K"

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Embargo
Focus on Middle East and Central Asia: rationale of IMF assistance seeking
(Springer Science and Business, 2025-11-08) Wisenthige, K; Pathiranage, H.S.K; Jayathilaka, R
This study delves into the rationale behind the tendency of nations in the Middle East and Central Asia (MECA) to seek aid from the IMF. The IMF supports global financial stability, aiming to foster economic growth and prosperity across its member countries by promoting policies that encourage monetary cooperation and financial resilience. The study employs a conditional fixed-effects logit model, the analysis spans 22 years of data from twenty-five MECA countries to identify the factors driving these nations to seek IMF assistance. It focuses on six determinants: Current Account Balance (CAB), Inflation (INF), Corruption (CORR), General Government Net Lending and Borrowing (GGNLB), General Government Gross Debt (GGGD), and Gross Domestic Product Growth (GDPG). The fixed-effects logit shows that slower GDP growth raises the odds of an IMF programme, while short-run changes in corruption control and public debt ratios are not significant once country and year effects are absorbed. Inflation is weakly positive; the current account balance is still insignificant. A post-GFC and an income-group robustness check confirm the pattern. Furthermore, the study identifies Lebanon, a lower-middle-income country, as a leading example of seeking IMF assistance during the study period. Overall, this research highlights the importance of policymakers understanding the dynamics and rankings within the MECA region to effectively address economic challenges, provide financial support, and foster a more sustainable economic structure.
Open Access
Impact of climate change on agricultural production efficiency in leading agriculture-producing economies: A DEA Malmquist Productivity Index
(Elsevier B.V., 2026-01-06) Ahmad, J; Wang, Y; Zhang, L; Shah, W.U.H; Yasmeen, R; Pathiranage, H.S.K
Climate change significantly impacts global agricultural productivity, making it essential to examine its precise influence on production efficiency. This study evaluates the impact of climate change on agricultural production efficiency among the global leading agriculture-producing economies from 1990 to 2021. Using a DEA–Malmquist Productivity Index, the study estimates total factor productivity change (TFPC) and decomposes it into efficiency change (EC) and technological change (TC), both without and with explicit climate variables (temperature, precipitation). Average TFPC without climate factors is 1.0428, indicating 4.28 % productivity growth over the period, primarily driven by technological change. When climate variables are incorporated, the average TFPC is 1.0409; the mean difference of −0.0019 (≈ −0.18 %) shows a small but non-negligible climate impact on productivity growth. Regional variations are heterogeneous: South America and Africa exhibit diverse climate impacts, while Oceania shows the least climate effect. Mann-Whitney U and Kruskal-Wallis tests confirm significant differences in TFPC (and components) between climate and non-climate specifications and across regions. The findings underscore technology's key role in sustaining productivity under climate stress and highlight the need for region-specific adaptation policies to complement technological diffusion.
Open Access
Socioeconomic impacts of adolescent pregnancy on education and future employment in Batticaloa District, Sri Lanka
(BioMed Central Ltd, 2025-10-01) Senaratne, P; Pathiranage, H.S.K; Jayawardhana, D; Kaluarachchi, K; Gaspe, S
Background: Adolescent pregnancy remains a main concern in Sri Lanka, particularly in the Batticaloa District where the rate is nearly double the national average. Adolescent pregnancy has leads to school dropout and long-term socioeconomic disadvantage for teenage mothers. Because there has been minimal research done within a Sri Lankan context, especially in rural area like Batticaloa, the research aimed to assess how social conditions, accessibility of education, and accessibility of health affect the levels of education and the eventual work opportunities of adolescent mothers. Methods: A quantitative cross-sectional design was followed with a structured questionnaire being administered among 107 adolescent mothers in Batticaloa who became pregnant between the ages of 15–19 years. The research followed a deductive approach, and data analysis was conducted using Partial Least Squares Structural Equation Modeling (PLS-SEM) with the help of SmartPLS. The model examined the influence of social support, access to education, and access to health on educational attainment and its subsequent influence on labor outcomes. Results: Findings indicated that low social support, lack of access to education, and lack of access to healthcare significantly derailed the education of adolescent mothers. Level of education was found to be a significant mediator between the three variables and future job opportunities. The majority of the participants had previously dropped out of school by Grade 10, and merely 10.3% were employed, mostly at low-skilled jobs. Analysis confirmed that derailed education directly limits job opportunities and continues to contribute to economic instability among adolescent mothers. Conclusion: The study brings to the forefront the need for comprehensive, context-sensitive interventions among teen mothers. There has to be reintegration of education, adolescent-friendly healthcare, and vocational training. Reducing stigma and economic and social protection can enhance education and labor market outcomes. Intervention in these domains through a multi-sectoral approach is required to interrupt the inter-generational transmission of poverty and promote the long-term well-being of teen mothers in Batticaloa and similar settings.