Adaptability of Kuwaiti Public Administration Employees to Total Quality Management Requirements

This exploratory study examines the infrastructure of total quality management （TQM） in Kuwaiti public administration. The research was based on a questionnaire administered to a random sample consisted of 600 government officials from various Kuwaiti ministries. The basic elements of TQM which were investigated relate to work relations, administrative procedures, and professionalism. The objective of the study is to improve quality of public services through diagnosing and strengthening positive points, shedding light on the negative aspects, and giving recommendations on how to enhance services＇ quality. The study results showed that public administration employees are highly adaptable to TQM requirements. Statistically significant variations were found in adaptability to TQM requirements due to gender, age, educational level, job level, and work relations with regard to many aspects. It is recommended that decision makers in Kuwaiti public administrators take some measures to enhance TQM orientation such as simplifying administrative procedures, making greater compatibility between employees and type of work, investing more resources on continuing education of public administration employees and conducting field studies concerning adaptability of other government bodies （public institutions, public companies, etc.） to TQM requirements to see similarities and differences between them and the ministries in this regard and draw appropriate lessons.     

Factors influencing the adoption of electronic commerce in Iranian SMEs： An integration of TAM2 and TPB with cost saving

E-commerce （EC） can be an important source of competitive advantage for most business organizations, especially small and medium enterprise （SME） businesses. This study examines the factors that influence e-commerce adoption in one Iranian SME. Inspired by the extended model of TAM2 and TPB and cost saving variable, 5 factors influencing intention to use e-commerce in Iranian SMEs were also identified as follows perceived usefulness, subjective norm, perceived behavior control, attitude for using EC, cost saving. To validate the research model, 82 questionnaires were collected from top managers/owners and experts of SMEs. The results indicate that the subjective norm, perceived usefulness, perceived behavioral control and cost saving have positive influence on attitude toward use, also the cost saving, perceived usefulness and attitude have positive influence on intention to use. Results can be used by developing countries, especially those in Middle East, to encourage the adoption of e-commerce among SMEs.     

Estimating the economic model of Hundi using micro-level data

Following Friedman et al. (2000), we have developed an economic model of Hundi (an informal money transfer system) behavior and is designated to identify the factors that determine the channels (formal or informal) used by remitters. The model is empirically tested using Tobit analysis for a sample of 132 returned migrants of greater Sylhet region in Bangladesh with work experience in 11 different host countries. Our findings suggest that sending remittances through Hundi first increases with age, peaks at one point, and then declines thereafter. It is observed that single or unmarried migrants are more likely to remit through Hundi, while relatively educated migrants have the opposite preferences. Cost and financing of migration have significant impact on an individual’s decision to choose the remitting channel. It is also found that the nature of the migration and type of job abroad affect an individual’s decision to use the remitting channel. Furthermore, migrants who have no ability to speak the language of the country of destination are generally more inclined to remit through an informal channel. Finally, migrants who receive low commission to remit, have families or relatives living in remote areas and mainly dependent on remittances, and have the opportunity to remit in holidays are more likely to remit through Hundi than their counterparts.     

A Theoretical Perspective on Human Trafficking and Migration-Debt Contracts

This article develops an economic model of human trafficking and migration-debt contracts. A key feature of the theoretical model is the payment of additional sums beyond the initial contracted price to alter the trafficker's queue order. These bribes are shown to be related to the level of effort applied by the trafficker. The types of data needed to rigorously test the model are discussed, together with policy implications.     

Consumption,savings and investment by social class in Bangladesh: Does the rural sector support the Urban sector?

This article employs input‐output analysis and information from a social accounting matrix and the concept of net savings to examine savings, consumption and investment behaviour by various social classes in Bangladesh in urban and rural areas. Considerable differences between social classes can be identified in all three respects. A majority of the social classes in the rural sector does not appear to generate enough savings to sustain its consumption whereas the urban social classes do. There seems to be little difference in consumption pattern of the rural rich and the urban rich. There is considerable urban‐rural difference in the import intensities of consumption. The findings of this study based on the Hazari model do not establish the existence of urban bias but the problem seems to be one of ‘rich‐bias’ rather than urban‐bias per se. However, the Hazari model cannot capture all possible sources of urban bias and circumstantial evidence indicates concentration of advantages in the urban areas.     

Correction to: Explaining regional inflation programmes in Indonesia: Does inflation rate converge?

Economic Change and Restructuring -     

Do public sector organizations ensure labor ethics? Perspectives from ethics and workplace spirituality in Bangladesh's garment sector

The suppression of labor rights is a matter of serious concern in developing countries. Yet little is known about the role of public agencies in protecting the rights of underprivileged employees. Hence, this study aims to examine the reasons behind the persisting labor exploitation in private enterprises despite the presence of public governance and labor codes. Data was collected through in-depth interviews as well as archives from different external and internal agencies of privately owned garment enterprises in Bangladesh including public administrators and multinational retailers. Kantian ethics and Islamic moral principles were used as theoretical lens to evaluate the labor practices of enterprises. This study contributes to the existing literature by introducing a process model of labor exploitation that depicts multinational power and poor governance to be the main drivers for the abuse of labor ethics. Specifically, political influence and institutional corruption drive poor governance. Public power is exercised to suppress marginalized labor institutions rather than enact labor codes. We found that ethical and spiritual values are not reflected in labor practices and practical suggestions on enacting labor ethics through which the fair enforcement of public power is offered.