Category Issue 2

Endless Circle of Self-Determination Rumbling: When the Stick-and-Carrot Strategy Fails, Is Nigeria’s Collective Journey Still Non-Negotiable?

Abstract – Agitation for self-determination is as old as the Nigerian State. On a large scale, it has led to a civil war, and subsequently, a pocket of ethnic insurgencies across all regions of the federation. The Federal Government strategy has often been oscillating between wielding the stick of force through military engagement in combating the often militant agitators and pacifying them at other time with a round-table carrot via monetary inducement, contract awards or superficial bogus amnesty package. These strategies have always served an interim purpose because the gamut of trigger-root causes for further agitation has not been fundamentally addressed. Even series of National Conferences organized by successive administrations were often necessitated by political exigency with a Nigeria’s-Unity-not-Negotiable caveat for the handpicked conferees. This essay seeks to interrogate those artificial and natural variables that may have held the country together since independence in 1960 in the face of violent agitations and the prospects, or otherwise, of its continued inseparableness amidst wobbling strategies and seemingly exclusive governance. In this essay, I explore the essence/thesis of self-determination in the current wave of ethnic militancy in Nigeria and argue that political decentralization which has been successful in reducing ethnic conflict and secessionism in some democracies has proved otherwise in democratic countries like Nigeria. Thus, the need for state-organized referendum with a view to giving all aggrieved ethnic groups the opportunity to determine their status within the Nigerian State. Keywords: Self-Determination, Agitation, Fragile Union, Federation, Stick-and-Carrot [Cite as: Omilusi, M. (2020). Endless Circle of Self-Determination Rumbling: When the Stick-and-Carrot Strategy Fails, Is Nigeria’s Collective Journey Still Non-Negotiable? Diverse Journal of Multidisciplinary Research, Vol. 2, Issue 2, Pages 45-58.]

Significant China Government Efforts Slow Down the Covid-19: Evidence from the Ordinary Least Square Method

Abstract – As dated 23 February, China’s newly recovered corona-virus patients outnumber new infections for 5th consecutive day while 18 new infections on mainland regions outside Hubei with 21 province level regions recording zero new infections. The present study is focusing on evaluating the daily and weekly percentage marginal change for the Covid-19’s Confirmed Cases, Recovered Cases, and the Death Cases from the period dated 20 January 2020 to 23 February 2020 in China. To find the desired results, the study applied the Ordinary Least Square Method (OLS) to assess the daily marginal average percentage change for the Covid-19’s Confirmed Cases, Recovered Cases and the Death Cases from the week dated 20 January 2020 to 23 February 2020 in China. Daily reported time series data from China statistics from 20 January 2020 to 23 February 2020 were used to make the study’s objective accomplished. To evaluate the percentage marginal change for the Covid-19 Confirmed cases, recovered cases, and the death cases, the study calculated the daily and weekly marginal average percentage change for the sub divided weeks that are (20 Jan 2020-26 Jan 2020), (27 Jan 2020 – 2 Feb 2020), (3 Feb 2020 – 9 Feb 2020), (10 Feb 2020 – 16 Feb 2020), and (17 Feb 2020 – 23 Feb 2020). The findings of the study were in actual fact interesting. The study findings revealed that the Covid-19 Confirmed cases and Death cases weekly marginal average percentage change is continuously declining from the week dated 20 January 2020 to 23 February 2020 in China. However, the Covid-19 recovered cases weekly marginal average change is increasing at decreasing rate. Evidence of the   study findings justified the fact that significant China Government efforts and measures to fight the battle of Covid-19 has a positive outcome and meaningful within the period…

Analysis of the Impact of the Covid-19 to the Petrol Prices in China

Abstract – Recent literature evidence shows that the Oil Price trends in China is declining since the outbreak of the Covid-19. This study is aiming to investigate the impact of the Covid-19 confirmed cases on petrol prices from the period dated 20 January 2020 to 23 February 2020 in China. With that regard, the present study used the Simple regression linear model to evaluate the impact of the Covid-19 confirmed cases on petrol prices during the period from dated 20 January to 23 February 2020 in China. Time series data from Global Petrol Prices and China daily Statistics from the period dated 20 January to 23 February 2020 for China were used to evaluate the impact of the Covid-19 confirmed cases on petrol prices in China. To investigate the impact of the Covid-19 confirmed cases on petrol prices in China, the study assumes the Covid-19 confirmed cases to be the independent variable while the petrol price to be a dependent variable of the study. The findings of the study were in actual fact catching up the attention. The study findings revealed that there is a negative and insignificant impact of the Covid-19 confirmed cases on petrol prices from the period dated 20 January 2020 to 23 February 2020 in China. Keywords: China, Covid-19, confirmed cases, petrol prices, impact [Cite as: Sansa, N. A. (2020). Analysis of the Impact of the Covid-19 to the Petrol Prices in China. Diverse Journal of Multidisciplinary Research, Vol. 2, Issue 2, Pages 33-37.]

Effects of Corruption on Tax Revenues in Zimbabwe (1998-2018)

Abstract – The study sought to establish the effects of corruption on tax revenues in Zimbabwe. Using the robust Ordinary Least Squares (OLS) regression methodology, annual time series data ranging from 1998 up to 2018 was used. During the period under review, the Zimbabwe Revenue Authority (ZIMRA) missed revenue collection targets on numerous occasions especially due to inefficiencies in revenue collection. Corruption has been identified to be one of main causes leading to inefficient collection of revenue in Zimbabwe. As a result, the variable tax revenue was used as the depended variable whilst the variable corruption was included amongst explanatory variables together with other control variable which are fiscal deficit, inflation and Gross Domestic Product. The results from the empirical findings revealed that an inverse relationship exists between tax revenue and corruption. Stated differently, a rise in the level of corruption in Zimbabwe negatively affects tax revenues. The study concluded by recommending the government of Zimbabwe to reduce corruption through modernisation and simplification of the entire tax system. The study also encouraged the government to impose stiffer penalties to the perpetrators of corruption and to arrest every public official engaging in corrupt activities despite one’s political muscle. Keywords: corruption, corruption perception index, tax revenue, tax system [Cite as: Nyabunze, A., and Siavhundu, T. (2020). Effect of Corruption on Tax Revenues in Zimbabwe (1998-2018). Diverse Journal of Multidisciplinary Research, Vol. 2, Issue 2, Pages 18-23.]

An Econometric Test of the Zimbabwe Stock Exchange’s Micro-Efficiency (2009-2017)

Abstract – Issues related to stock market efficiency have been part of researchers’ playground particularly in Africa and the world in general. This study had an objective of ascertaining whether or not the Zimbabwe Stock Exchange (ZSE) follows a random walk. Using monthly data for the ZSE from February 2009 to September 2017, the study employed normality and unit root tests to answer the major research question of whether the ZSE follows a random walk. The Jarque-Bera and the Augmented Dickey Fuller Test, normality test and unit root test respectively, both revealed evidence of micro-inefficiency of the ZSE. The study recommended the establishment of strong institutions aimed at improving information flow and availability to all interested economic agents. Keywords: ADF, bourse, jarque-bera, micro-efficiency, random walk, stock market, unit root [Cite as: Siavhundu, T., and Nyabunze, A. (2020). An Econometric Test of the Zimbabwe Stock Exchange’s Micro-Efficiency (2009-2017). Diverse Journal of Multidisciplinary Research, Vol. 2, Issue 2, Pages 7-17.]

Study on the Need of a Green Transport System in Thimphu City

Abstract – Green transport system is recognized as one of the solutions to mitigate climate change. There is an enabling policy for a green transport system in Bhutan. The research was conducted in a right time as we are concern of emission from the transport sector that contributes to global warming. By switching urban transport system to green transport, an emission from the transport sector would reduce, thereby reducing global warming potential. Hence, this study analyzed the possibilities of establishing alternate mode of transport to an existing transport system with the emerging threat from climate change. A total of 1100 survey questionnaire was administered to different age groups in Thimphu city. The participants were from ten different sub-area of the study area. The willingness of people to use green transport and its fare were analyzed so that this study will not only inform people of Bhutan about demand of green transport system, but also serve as guidelines to policy makers and bureaucrats. Keywords: Climate change, Green transport, Thimphu city, Willingness [Cite as: Nidup, T., and Dorji, Y. (2020). Study on the Need of a Green Transport System in Thimphu City. Diverse Journal of Multidisciplinary Research, Vol. 2, Issue 2, Pages 1-6.]