Technology

The paper empirically examines differences in the technological and other characteristics of two ownership groups of firms, foreign multinational enterprises (FMEs) and domestic enterprises (DEs) in the Indian machinery industry (IMI). Analysis is performed with the help of data on a large sample of firms during a period in which FMEs enjoyed level playing field vis a vis DEs and India became the second most attractive destination for inward foreign direct investment (FDI). We apply three alternative techniques for comparison: univariate mean value (of a variable) method, multivariate linear discriminants analysis (LDA) and dichotomous probabilistic logit and probit models. The significant findings of the study are: (i) probabilistic models are most suitable for the study; (ii) FMEs have greater technical efficiency (TE), firm size (SZ), export intensity (XI), intensity to import intermediate goods (IMIG) and intensity to import disembodied technology (IMDT) but the lower advertisement and marketing intensity (AMI) and financial leverage (LEV); (iii) choice of techniques (CAPI), research and development intensity (RDI), gross profit margin (GPM) and market concentration (MC) do not differ significantly between the two ownership groups. The major recommendations of this study are that the current outward orientations of the economy with liberal and transparent FDI policy for IMI need to be continued. This would not only contribute towards the indigenous production of additional and better machinery products with the help of FMEs but also check the influx of import of final goods and improve the efficiency of the IMI. Besides, the domestic suppliers of intermediate goods need to improve the availability and quality of their products for achieving greater linkages with FMEs. To encourage FMEs to spend more on R&D, the Government of India (GoI) needs to take steps to improve R&D infrastructure, regulatory and legal framework and implementation of IPR regime in the country so that the FMEs find India attractive enough to locate their core R&D functions.

This paper applies a program evaluation technique to assess the causal effect of adoption of agricultural related technologies on consumption expenditure and poverty measured by headcount, poverty gap and poverty severity indices. The paper is based on a cross-sectional household level data collected in 2014 from a sample of 270 households in rural India. Sensitivity analysis is conducted to test the robustness of the propensity score based results using the “rbounds test” and the mean absolute standardized bias between adopters and non-adopters. The analysis reveals robust, positive and significant impacts of agricultural related technologies adoption on per capita consumption expenditure and on poverty reduction for the sample households in rural India.

The paper aims at examining impact of Information and Communication Technologies (ICT) on higher education and to identifying major impediments that have resulted in slow penetration of ICTs in higher education institutions in rural India. The study is based on primary survey of students studying at graduate and post graduate levels. A sample of 72 students come from four higher education institutions located in Sitapur, a district selected as one of the six e-districts by the Government of Uttar Pradesh. The survey was conducted during October 2012 and January 2013. Findings of the study suggest that while affiliating university is taking all possible measures to facilitate students to improving the quality of education and access to digitized critical literature needed for higher education, the technological and physical infrastructure in rural areas is still a major hindrance in capitalizing benefits of ICT revolution. The paper finds evidence to suggest that faculty also needs to be motivated to use more modern and effective ICT led teaching tools. Based on the findings of the study we recommend that cyber-café may be set up in the premises of the institutions on Public-Private-Partnership (PPP) model so that ICT could impact higher education in rural India in a more effective manner.