Graduate Program
Economics
Degree Name
Master of Arts (MA)
Semester of Degree Completion
2012
Thesis Director
Assande Des' Adom
Thesis Committee Member
Ahmed Abou-Zaid
Thesis Committee Member
Tesa Leonce
Abstract
This paper makes an attempt to assess the transformation process of the service sector in South Asian Free Trade Area (SAFT A) by using a panel data over the period 1990 to 2010. Based on the regression analysis, the study investigates the existence and association between the output of the service sector and per capita national output by applying panel least squares along with fixed effects and random effects. The generalized least squares (GLS) approach with fixed effect estimation comes in handy in our analysis. The study reveals that the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) have a meaningful positive effect whereas urban population growth have a significant negative effect on the transformation process of the service producing sector in the SAFT A region. On the other hand, unlike some other papers, population does not appear to be significant factor of growth in service for the members of SAFT A. The study also observes that factors such as debt services on external debt are negatively related to the share of services while it is positively related to the gross fixed capital formation.
Recommended Citation
Pavel, Md. Tanvir, "An empirical analysis of the service sector transformation in SAFTA member countries" (2012). Masters Theses. 956.
https://thekeep.eiu.edu/theses/956
