Empirical Economic Review

Perceived Work Readiness among Graduates: A Case Study from Pakistan

2025-10-01T11:53:45+00:00

The current study aimed to examine graduates’ perceptions regarding their career readiness.
Moreover, it focused on gaps in digital literacy, technical skills, and labor market alignment. The
study collected data from 800 university students from all major provinces, such as Punjab,
Sindh, KPK, Baluchistan, Gilgit Baltistan (GB), and Kashmir. Using advanced methodologies,
such as correspondence analysis, factor analysis, and decision tree models, the results revealed
critical gaps in Artificial Intelligence (AI) awareness, practical competencies, and career
guidance among university students. It implied that Pakistan's traditional education system is
unable to equip graduates for the technology-driven job market. The study recommended an
urgent need for educational reforms, emphasizing the integration of digital literacy,
entrepreneurship training, and enhanced career guidance.

Impact of Mansehra-Muzaffarabad-Mirpur (M3) Expressway on Tourism in Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJ&K)

2025-10-08T10:44:55+00:00

Roads serve as the major means of transportation for goods, services, and
mobility across Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJ&K), which also has
significant tourism potential. The construction of the M3 expressway
under China Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) is currently awaiting
government approval. Literature indicates that no study has examined the
impact of the CPEC project on tourism growth so far. Therefore, it is
essential to investigate its effect on tourist arrivals in AJ&K. The current
study aimed to explore residents’ perceptions regarding the impact of
constructing the Mansehra–Muzaffarabad–Mirpur (M3) expressway on
tourist inflow in AJ&K. Moreover, it assessed whether the M3 expressway
would improve connectivity in AJ&K. This research was motivated by the
existing gap in studies and the importance of understanding public opinion
on megaprojects. Furthermore, it helped in assessing local perspectives as
to how the construction of the M3 expressway influences tourist
movement and is valuable for policymakers to forecast the effects of new
road projects on tourism development in AJ&K. The study gathered
primary data from 200 local respondents across all three divisions of
AJ&K via a structured questionnaire, and the Binary Logit regression was
estimated using the Maximum Likelihood method. The findings suggested
that the construction of the M3 expressway under CPEC enhances
connectivity and boosts tourism in AJ&K.

How Political Competition and Political Institutions Influence Inflation: Empirical Evidence from Developing Countries

2025-11-28T06:38:11+00:00

The study empirically explores the impact of political competition and political institutions on inflation rates in emerging economies, taking into account political institutions' moderating role. This study examined data from 57 developing countries spanning 2000 to 2018.The empirical analysis was performed using a two-step System Generalized Method of Moments (system-GMM) estimation technique. The analysis yields two key findings. In a democratic regime, effective competition among politicians lowers inflation. However, the effect of political competition on inflation is conditional on political institutions. Nations with strong institutional structure and balanced competition are associated with better inflation performance.

Analyzing Global Economic Disparities and Growth

2025-12-03T07:47:07+00:00

The current study aimed to analyse global economic disparities through the
lens of international classification systems, such as those of the United
Nations, World Bank, and International Monetary Fund (IMF). Countries
are grouped into developed, emerging, developing, and least developed
economies based on indicators, such as Gross Domestic Product (GDP) per
capita, GDP adjusted for Purchasing Power Parity (PPP), industrialization
level, and human development indices. The research highlighted how such
classifications reveal structural imbalances in global wealth, production,
and living standards. Using 2022–2023 data, the study compared economic
performance across major regional and institutional groups including the
European Union (EU), the Group of Seven (G7), and fuel-exporting nations
to identify key patterns of inequality and growth potential. Findings showed
substantial variation in income distribution and productivity, underscoring
the importance of targeted policy, investment, and development strategies.
These insights contribute to a clearer understanding of how global
classifications inform sustainable growth and international cooperation.

Impact of Financial Independence and Societal Expectations on the Role Played by Women in Household Dynamics

2025-12-12T04:20:39+00:00

This study analyses how societal issues and financial independence affect women's domestic relationships in Islamabad, Pakistan. Using Structural Equation Modelling (SEM), the study evaluates how factors such as financial independence, societal expectancy, job discrimination, and financial decision-making affect dynamics in general, family roles, and decision-making of women. The results demonstrate how financial independence and sound financial judgment of women may greatly enhance household dynamics, highlighting their revolutionary potential. But more importantly, societal barriers that include occupational discrimination and demographic characteristics such as ageing, marital status, as well as educational attainment, all had no direct impact on household dynamics for women. These show the need for legislation, which removes structural obstacles of structural factors to women's empowerment in just family dynamics. Similarly, having economic independence is crucially important in just family dynamics.