Browsing by Author "Kimunio, Isaac"

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    Non-Tariff Barriers on Intra-Common Market for Eastern and Southern African Trade
    (ATCR, 2023-11) Sewe, Charles Ochieng; Kimunio, Isaac
    This study, aimed to shed light on the magnitude of the effects of non-tariff barriers on IntraCommon Markets for Eastern and Southern African trade, the impact of gross domestic product, population, distance, tariff rate and common language on intra Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa trade, and determinants of non-tariff barriers in the Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa region. The study used the gravity model and simple ordinary least squares regression model as its overarching analytical framework. Bilateral imports between trading partners were used as the dependent variable, while the distance between trading partners, common language, population, gross domestic product, tariff rates, and non-tariff barriers were used as independent variables to achieve the project's objectives one and two. The third goal of the study was to examine the unemployment rate, gross domestic product, tariff rates, political institutions, and Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa members as they relate to achieving objective three. The study confirmed that the imposition of non-tariff barriers has a negative effect on bilateral trade. An increase of one percent in nontariff barriers is associated with a 34.3 percent decrease in the Intra-Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa bilateral imports, an increase of one percent in gross domestic product is associated with a 30.8 percent increase on the intra-Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa bilateral imports, and one percent increase in tariff rate is associated with 38.8 percent decrease in bilateral imports. Therefore the study recommends that the Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa should encourage trade facilitation measures, promote economic growth, encourage bilateral trade negotiations, strengthen political institutions, promote good governance and accountability, and implement public sector reforms among other recommendations.
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    Per Capita Income, Public Health Expenditure, Maternal Care Utilization and their Effects on Infant Mortality Rate in Kenya
    (AJOEI, 2024-05) Nduta, Beatrice; Kimunio, Isaac
    Purpose of the Study: The study aimed to determine the effects of per capita income, public health expenditure, and maternal care utilization on the infant mortality rate in Kenya. Problem Statement: Despite significant strides in reducing the infant mortality rate, many families in Kenya still face challenges in accessing high-quality medical care due to factors such as distance to healthcare facilities, lack of transportation, and poverty. Methodology: The research utilized time series data from the World Bank database spanning from 1991 to 2020. The Autoregressive Distributed Lag Model (ARDL) is estimated using the STATA software tool. The Grossman Health Capital Model is applied in the study. Key components include the dependent variable (infant mortality rate) and factors such as public health spending, per capita income, and maternal care utilization. The mother’s educational level serves as the control variable. Results: Contrary to other studies, this research finds no correlation between maternal care utilization (i.e., births attended by trained medical professionals and pregnant women who utilize prenatal care) and infant mortality. However, public health expenditure and per capita income show statistically significant positive effects on infant mortality rates, diverging from existing literature. Conclusion and Policy Recommendation: Policies aimed at improving the efficiency of public health spending and the distribution of per capita income, while addressing barriers to maternal care access, are essential for achieving faster reductions in infant mortality in Kenya.