Developing countries--Economic conditions

Balance of payments theories have been developed to examine the impact of various factors in a nation's payments position. This thesis sets out to investigate the impact of currency devaluation in small LDC nations, particularly the Gambia. The Gambia has been struggling with balance of payment deficits brought about by many factors, amongst which external debt service payments have played a very significant role. The models recommended by the various theories are very closely examined in this endeavour followed by an empirical analysis to specifically determine the exact nature of the impact of currency devaluation to the economy of the Gambia.

This thesis theoretically and empirically analyzes the effects of Foreign Direct Investment on Third World countries. The competing theories of the impact of FDI on developing countries are examined. The contradictory results of former econometric tests and empirical surveys measuring the impact of FDI on growth are compared and contrasted. A human development accounting model is employed as a new approach to study the effects of FDI on social indicators. Finally the resulting policy implications are discussed.

Privatization has been a major policy and administrative reform all over the world
for the last twenty-five years. Public bureaucracy is one of the first institutions of
government to be affected by privatization as a reform. The major purpose of this
dissertation was to examine the perception of the civil servants of Bangladesh towards
privatization with respect to national development. In order to examine the perception of
Bangladeshi civil servants, this dissertation has examined the answers to the question:
"What are the perceptions of civil servants in Bangladesh towards privatization with
respect to national development?" It has also examined the differences in the perceptions
of different levels of civil servants with respect to national development.
To examine the perceptions of the civil servants data were collected from 120
civil servants of six ministries in Bangladesh through a survey instrument and personal
interviews. The methodologies used in this dissertation were interviews and case studies. The 120 civil servants were randomly selected from six ministries and/or attached
departments or subordinate offices; they were interviewed to collect data for examining
their perceptions towards privatization with respect to national development. Using
government documents and examining some cases, this study also examined the earlier
success and failure of privatization programs in Bangladesh with respect to national
development as a means to explain the perception of civil servants of Bangladesh.
This dissertation has developed propositions about the perception of civil servants
of Bangladesh towards privatization with respect to national development. Analysis of
data reveals that the civil servants of Bangladesh have positive perceptions towards
privatization with respect to national development. The study also reveals that there is no
significant difference in the perceptions of different levels of civil servants of Bangladesh
towards privatization with respect to national development. The dissertation study reveals
that the majority of the civil servants in Bangladesh believe that privatization programs
will positively affect economic, social, political and administrative development in
Bangladesh.
Findings of the study also reveal that the civil servants of Bangladesh believe that
privatization program will increase accountability, skills, service delivery and
performance of employees, which help promote national development. The study,
moreover, shows that although the civil servants of Bangladesh have positive perception
towards privatization with respect to national development, many of them are also
doubtful about the implementation of privatization programs in Bangladesh. However,
the case studies indicate that privatization programs in Bangladesh have mixed results. Findings of this dissertation study will enrich the literature on privatization,
bureaucracy and development. Contribution to the theory of bureaucracy and reform is
also significant in that bureaucracy tends to survive no matter what reform takes place, as
long as there is a need to implement, oversee, and follow up on reforms. This study has
significant implications for understanding the perceptions of civil servants towards
privatization with respect to national development of not only third world countries, but
also of developed nations. Privatization is viewed as a form of change, which is embraced
as a positive reform effort toward national development. Students, academics and
practitioners of economics, public administration and business studies as well as business
entrepreneurs will also benefit from the findings of the study in understanding the
perceptions of civil servants of third world countries towards the effects of privatization
in development. This study has significant contribution not only to literature on
administrative change, but also to literature on bureaucracy and development. It rejects
the conventional negative perception about the role of bureaucracy in privatization. The
study shows that civil servants or civil bureaucrats in Bangladesh are generally not
inimical to privatization but they are in favor of privatization for national development as
they believe that privatization of public enterprises positively affects national
development-economically, socially, politically and administratively. Finally, this
dissertation study will enhance knowledge in the area of privatization, bureaucracy and
national development as the findings of the study provide new knowledge for explaining
the changing perception of bureaucracy toward privatization with respect to national
development. In spite of these important findings, one limitation of the study must also be
noted, and that is, it only focused on 120 civil servants of the bureaucracy, and that it did
not include employees of public enterprises subject to privatization. This shortcoming of
the study could serve as a subject for future research.