• Journal of Forest and Environmental Science
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• v.25 no.2
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• pp.85-91
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• 2009

About 83% of the total population of Lao PDR lives in rural areas. People living near forest are highly dependent on the forest resources closed to their villages. Especially non-timber forest products (NTFPs) provide a wide range of subsistence needs and are the main source of their cash income. They also make a significant contribution to the country economy. The annual export value of NTFPs is considerably high. 708 edible NTFP species (238 edible plants and 470 animals) have been recorded so far, and about 400 plants have been reported and used as medicinal plants by Lao people. One hundred NTFP species are considered as commercial forest products. The striking trend in NTFP resources is the decline of some commercial species due to increased demand on them for commercialization, and the loss of forest by rapid population growth. To sustainablely manage the NTFPs resources, a number of new management systems are under development and support in progress by the government.

• Journal of Forest and Environmental Science
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• v.25 no.2
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• pp.101-109
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• 2009

The Hajong are the ancient tribal forest community among the ethnic minorities of the North-East region of Bangladesh. The study was carried out with respect to three income groups highlighting their indigenous knowledge. A total of forty-five households (fifteen from each income groups) were assessed using different participatory appraisals through semi-structured questionnaires. A special type of indigenous knowledge on food habit was explored in the Hajong community, which correspond to the severe dependence on forest resources. They collect their food resources from homestead forest (45%) followed by forest (40%), market and others. They have indigenous hunting procedure to trap the animal in the forest. Twenty three tree species were tremendously planted in their homestead forests which are the very important source of food. Male are highly responsible to collect the food materials from forest as well as other sources.

• Journal of Agricultural Extension & Community Development
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• v.10 no.1
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• pp.87-101
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• 2003

Recently, rice producers and related institutions have started to brand rice to increase sale. Despite such trend and the significance of rice branding to many parties including policy makers, no previous research has studied the relationship between consumers' psychological and socio-economic factors that underline consumer choice and judgment of branded rice. This paper discusses the variables related to branding through a survey based on 242 convenience consumer samples selected in Seoul metropolitan area in Korea, and presents the results and their implication for future research. The major findings are: 1) Consumers are reasonably well aware of rice-branding practices, and the main source of such information is in-store displays and packages, 2) It appears that consumers in general choose a rice brand based mainly on its taste and nutrition, and 3) the perceived difference among rice brands differs depending on some consumer characteristics. The perceived differences among rice brands in taste and in nutrition are relatively high for brand-loyal consumers and high-income consumers respectively. The perceived difference among rice brands in brand reputation is also relatively high for young, low-income, and brand-loyal consumers.

• Journal of the Korean Home Economics Association
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• v.35 no.4
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• pp.229-242
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• 1997

the purpose of this study is to investigate the effect of household type on human capital enhancement expenditures and to compare the difference in these expenditures between female-hemale-headed and married-couple households. Data for this study were from the 1990-91 Consumer Expenditure Survey(CES) and consisted of a sample of 7,225 married-couple and 1,391 female-headed households with children under age 18. The dependent variable to measure human capital expenditures was the sum of four sub-components-education reading leisure and health care expenditures. Tobit analysis with a dummy variable for household type was used to identify the effect of household type on the dollars spent on human capital expenditures. The effect of household type was significant in human capital expenditures indicating that female-headed households spent significantly less for this category than did married-couple household holding other factors constant. the findings of this study suggested that income from a public assistance program was associated with lesser expenditures on human capital while social security income source was associated with greater human capital expenditures, It was also found that the addition of family members between ages of 6 and 17 positively affected human capital expenditures. Understanding these factors is useful for family resource management professionals who work with female-headed households.

• International Journal of Industrial Entomology and Biomaterials
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• v.27 no.1
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• pp.166-179
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• 2013

In India, forest based insect enterprises has never been linked up with any forest management activity, either as a forest conservation strategy or to reduce the poverty in forested area. This investigation indicated that when forest dependent people are associated with forest insect industry (FII) like forest sericulture, lac culture or apiculture; this income generating activity links livelihood with forest conservation, and generates a viable model of collaborative forest management (CFM). In this model different stakeholders work together as a coherent entity for unified goal of managing the forest for well-being of the poor people in fringe areas. Article summaries and evaluates the prospect of India specific forest insect industry, and discusses how and to what extent integration of FII could be a viable livelihood component in CFM to conserve the forest and insect biodiversity. We analysed a case study on forestbased rearing of tropical tasar silkworm rearing in Central India from CFM perspective. Arguments in this communication are intended to provide forest managers and policy-makers with necessary input to consider location specific FII in CFM mode to provide a continuous source of small income to forest dependent people to ensure long lasting success of their forest management endeavours.

• Journal of Korean Clinical Nursing Research
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• v.17 no.1
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• pp.27-34
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• 2011

Purpose: The objective of this research was to measure health literacy level of the visitors of a university hospital's out patient clinic and to consider its influence factors. Methods: Subjects were 400 visitors in an outpatient clinic of a university hospital. By using self-report questionnaire which included Newest Vital Sign (NVS) and general information inquiry, the level of health literacy and its influence factors were measured. The data were analyzed by using t-test, ANOVA, and Pearson's correlation. Results: The NVS score of subjects was $3.54({\pm}1.91)$ out of maximum 6 scale. The factors that have significant relationships with the health literacy were age, sex, marital status, educational background, monthly income, health information source, number of diseases, number of medications and drinking status. Participants who are men, in old age, having lack of supportive relationship, having low levels of education, having low income, having more comorbid diseases & medications, tend to have lower NVS score compared to others. Conclusion: We suggest extending our research results for evaluating the risky group to improve the health literacy and to develop the strategic methods for better health outcomes.

• The Journal of Asian Finance, Economics and Business
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• v.8 no.5
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• pp.885-896
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• 2021

The general role of commercial banks is to provide financial services to the general public and business, ensuring economic and social stability and sustainable growth of the economy. Commercial banks play an important role in mobilizing and channelizing funds for investment activities. This study analyzes the impact of the key financial variables on the net profit of the selected commercial banks in Oman. The study employs times series panel data - cross-sectional analysis of the key financials of five leading commercial banks for a period of 13 years from 2007 to 2019. The results reveal that the correlation matrix of the selected variables has a positive relationship with net profit, assets, deposits, loans, and interest income. However, the findings also shows a negative relationship between net profit and net loans to total deposits ratio. The study found net loans is the main independent variable that influences the profitability of the banks since the key source of revenue comes from the lending operations. The assets, total capital adequacy ratio have a mixed effect on the profitability of commercial banks. The total deposits and capital adequacy ratio have a negative effect on profitability mainly because excessive liquidity will increase the cost of capital and reduce the return on investment. Focusing on lending operations with a sound credit portfolio will improve profitability.

• The Journal of Asian Finance, Economics and Business
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• v.9 no.7
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• pp.109-121
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• 2022

The study aims to examine the interaction of formal and informal institutions for strengthening economic development, particularly entrepreneurship growth. The research will also assess the impact of control variables on political index within the formal and informal markets. The research is quantitative, which analyses panel data of 6 years in 22 countries comprising middle and high-income countries with diversified and unique political, economic, and social systems. The findings suggested that reducing the entry regulation and promoting the social capital within the formal and informal institutions would grow formal and informal entrepreneurship and be a greater source for new venture creation. Moreover, the political index, a control variable, was found significant in the relationship of institutional mix with formal and informal entrepreneurship. Entry regulations in formal and informal institutions are a complex phenomenon in the entrepreneurship literature, moderated by the political development index as tested by the current study. The time horizon for this paper is much longer since it analyzes 6 years (2014-2019) of data on 22 developing and developed countries to see the entrepreneurial growth across multiple regions on different income levels, geographic conditions, and contrasting political and social systems.

• Journal of Society of Preventive Korean Medicine
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• v.16 no.2
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• pp.41-52
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• 2012

Objectives : This study aimed to analyze the trend of financial balance of Korean medicine clinics during 20 years, and to provide basic information for adjusting the fee schedule of Korean medicine procedures in national health insurance(NHI). Methods : We collected 6 financial analysis reports for Korean medicine clinics from the Association of Korean Oriental Medicine(AKOM). The data on incomes, costs and EBIT(earning before interests and taxes) of subject clinics were abstracted, and their long-term trends were evaluated. Results : The proportion of insurance income in total income increased from 23% to 56% during 20 years. Among 5 treatment groups, 'non-insurance medication' took up 65~67% of total incomes in 1997, but its proportion decreased to 42.4% in 2007. 'medical procedure, physical therapy and others' increased from 12.4% in 1987 to 29.2% in 2007. The labor cost was major part of total cost and its proportion maintained from 52% to 54%. Cost of 'non-insurance medication' was on the decline from 41% in 1996 to 31.6% in 2007. EBIT were -17.4 million won in 1996, and 18.4 million won in 2007. Conclusions : Financial balance of Korean medicine clinics improved until early 2000, but it became worse in 2007. Though deficits from NHI procedures has been covered up by profit from 'non-insurance medication', health insurance became a major source of income during last two decades.

• Health Policy and Management
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• v.6 no.1
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• pp.110-143
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• 1996

The purpose of this study is to assess the extent of inequality in health outcomes and the distribution of health services according to health need under National Health Insurance System in Korea. For the empirical analysis, data were collected through an interview survey during one month of October, 1994. Interview were conducted with a total of 10, 875 of the employees and the self-employed selected through cluster, systematic sampling. The major findings of this research are as follows: 1. The analysis of the differentials in morbidity rates by socio-economic group showed that health inequality in the pro-higher groups existed in all self-reported morbidity indicators. 2. The findings of the conventional use measures showed that the lower socio-economic groups had more ambulatory and inpatient services than the higher groups. In contrast to the level of the medical care utilization, however, the higher socio-economic groups were more likely to use the high-quality source of care in terms of their treatment place compared to the lower groups. 3. By using the need-based use measures, the results were different from each use-disability ration indicator. Using the use-disability ration measured by physician visits per 100 restricted-activity days in the population, it was found that there was no evidence favoring the higher socio-economic groups. In contrast, the use-disability ration based on physician visits per a chronic patient in one year displayed that there was remarkable relative difference by income group as well as the evidence of the pro-higher income groups. 4. The results of logistic regression analysis and two-stage estimation method indicated that although the utilization is significantly affected by type and duration of insurance coverage, the use or nonuse of service and the volume of physician care consumed is determined by health need and demographic characteristics rater than economic status. In sum, these findings suggest that physician service is equitably distributed according to health need under national health insurance system in Korea. As there were some evidences of inequality including the differential in physician visits of chronic patients by income group, however, the government should strengthen the activities to guarantee the equity of health services utilization.