Papers by Ruwan Jayathilaka
PLOS ONE
Renewable energy holds a remarkable role in clean energy adaptation due to the much lower carbon ... more Renewable energy holds a remarkable role in clean energy adaptation due to the much lower carbon footprint it releases compared to other fossil fuels. It also has a positive impact by slowing down the rate of climate change. The study has examined the links between renewable and non-renewable energy use, CO2 emissions and economic growth in developed, developing, and LDCs and Economies in Transition between 1990 and 2019 in 152 countries. Granger-causality has been used as the methodology to investigate the link between the variables. The findings of the existing studies on the relationship between the consumption of renewable and non-renewable energy sources and economic growth are inconsistent, indicating that there may or may not be a relationship between the two factors. Apart from having a few empirical studies so far have examined the link between the above-mentioned variables, analysis has yet to encompass all the regions in the four sub-groups discussed above. The results in...
PLOS ONE
This study explores the causal relationship between the economy and the elderly population in 15 ... more This study explores the causal relationship between the economy and the elderly population in 15 European countries. The economy was measured by the Per Capita Gross Domestic Product growth rate, while the population aged above 65 as a percentage of the total was considered the elderly population. The data were obtained from a time series dataset published by the World Bank for six decades from 1961 to 2021. The Granger causality test was employed in the study to analyse the impact between the economy and the elderly population. An alternate approach, wavelet coherence, was used to demonstrate the changes to the relationship between the two variables in Europe over the 60 years. The findings from the Granger causality test indicate a unidirectional Granger causality from the economy to the elderly population for Luxembourg, Austria, Denmark, Spain, and Sweden, while vice versa for Greece and the United Kingdom. Furthermore, for Belgium, Finland, France, Italy, Netherlands, Norway, P...
PLOS ONE, 2023
People's quality of life (QOL) has been disrupted globally in the wake of the pandemic in recent ... more People's quality of life (QOL) has been disrupted globally in the wake of the pandemic in recent times. This was mainly due to global economic crises fuelled by the coronavirus (COVID-19) and other related factors. Sri Lanka, too, was facing major social and economic constraints in the period 2021-2022. Thus, all communities islandwide have been economically disturbed. Among others, people with Visual Impairment and Blindness (VIB) have been pushed to severely disadvantageous positions, financially and otherwise. A sample from three geographical locations in Sri Lanka; and eleven individuals representing diverse cadres in Sri Lankan society were purposively selected for the study based on the existence of the majority of the visually impaired community using a mixed approach. Descriptive statistics were utilised to analyse the identified socioeconomic characteristics. Ordered probit regression was employed to determine the mediating effect of socioeconomic status on income levels. Word Cloud illustrates the factors affecting the QOL. Most severely impaired individuals are more likely to earn a lower rate of income. This situation has degraded their lives and poor QOL. Participants' responses elucidate that facilities, resources, education, opportunities, income, employment, and government activities would enhance their QOL. The study adds value to society by recognising VIB people, helping them gain financial independence and strengthening them without marginalising the impaired community. The proposed policies in this study would be valuable for these social groups to address their wealth concerns.
PLOS ONE
The elderly population and economic growth have been a contentious topic among researchers. Regar... more The elderly population and economic growth have been a contentious topic among researchers. Regardless of the economic growth rate, the population and its growth have a stimulating influence on economic development. This study aims to explore the relationship between the elderly population and economic growth in 15 Asian countries, based on secondary data gathered from the WDI (World Development Indicators) from 1961 to 2021. This research contributes to filling the empirical gap, capturing the Granger causality concerning the relationship between the elderly population and economic growth in the Asian context in a single study. The empirical findings highlighted a one-way Granger causality from economic growth to the elderly population for India, Japan, Malaysia, and Singapore while vice versa for Bangladesh, China, and Pakistan. Furthermore, for Nepal, there is a two-way Granger causality, while there is no Granger causality for remaining countries. To the best of the authors’ kno...
PLOS ONE, Feb 1, 2023
This study examines the impact of the Logistics Performance Index (LPI), Global Competitiveness I... more This study examines the impact of the Logistics Performance Index (LPI), Global Competitiveness Index (GCI) and Interest Rates (IR) on Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) for the Asia & Pacific region. The study is original as extensive evidence on the impact of LPI, GCI and IR on FDI in the Asia & Pacific region are examined initially. For the years 2007, 2010, 2012, 2014, 2016 and 2018, data was gathered for 33 nations in the Asia and Pacific area. Data analysis was performed using a panel regression model and multiple linear regression. The findings of the study reveal that LPI, GCI and IR are the three major factors influencing FDI inflows into the economies. However, the impact of these factors varies from country to country. The results concluded that LPI positively impacts FDI in India, Korea, Lebanon, and Oman. In contrast, a negative influence was observed for China, Kuwait and the Philippines. GCI positively impacts FDI in China, Korea, Kuwait, Pakistan and the Philippines, while a negative impact was observed in Armenia, India, Lebanon. Furthermore, IR has a positive impact on FDI flows in China and Egypt while in Korea and Lebanon, a negative impact was observed. Therefore, policymakers should focus more on improving the infrastructural requirements and macroeconomic factors while considering the other countrylevel variables that influence the FDI in flow.
Educational technology research and development
This research investigates rural area students' online adoption during the fourth wave of the cor... more This research investigates rural area students' online adoption during the fourth wave of the coronavirus 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. The main objective of this study was to identify the factors affecting the adoption of online education in rural areas in Sri Lanka. This case study was carried out based on data gathered from the online survey during the pandemic covering 16 districts in Sri Lanka. Using the ordered probit regression model through the stepwise technique, the study investigates the factors affecting the adoption of online education in rural areas in Sri Lanka. According to the results generated, attitude, perceived use, awareness, and new technology adoption have a positive impact on student adoption of online education in Sri Lanka. Online education so far is one of the effective and feasible solutions for providing education in a pandemic situation in any country. These findings are helpful for responsible educational institutions to address and contribute to key issues such as low perceived use, poor attitude, low awareness, and poor technology adoption. The study will also assist policymakers in preparing a roadmap, at the policy level with the perceived benefits of online education during similar future crises in Sri Lanka.
PLOS ONE, 2023
People's quality of life (QOL) has been disrupted globally in the wake of the pandemic in recent ... more People's quality of life (QOL) has been disrupted globally in the wake of the pandemic in recent times. This was mainly due to global economic crises fuelled by the coronavirus (COVID-19) and other related factors. Sri Lanka, too, was facing major social and economic constraints in the period 2021-2022. Thus, all communities islandwide have been economically disturbed. Among others, people with Visual Impairment and Blindness (VIB) have been pushed to severely disadvantageous positions, financially and otherwise. A sample from three geographical locations in Sri Lanka; and eleven individuals representing diverse cadres in Sri Lankan society were purposively selected for the study based on the existence of the majority of the visually impaired community using a mixed approach. Descriptive statistics were utilised to analyse the identified socioeconomic characteristics. Ordered probit regression was employed to determine the mediating effect of socioeconomic status on income levels. Word Cloud illustrates the factors affecting the QOL. Most severely impaired individuals are more likely to earn a lower rate of income. This situation has degraded their lives and poor QOL. Participants' responses elucidate that facilities, resources, education, opportunities, income, employment, and government activities would enhance their QOL. The study adds value to society by recognising VIB people, helping them gain financial independence and strengthening them without marginalising the impaired community. The proposed policies in this study would be valuable for these social groups to address their wealth concerns.
PLOS ONE
Employee turnover is one of the topical issues worldwide. The impact of factors affecting employe... more Employee turnover is one of the topical issues worldwide. The impact of factors affecting employee turnover varies occasionally and new factors are considered. Many countries have examined various factors that affect employee turnover. The main objective of this research is to consider psychographics and socio-demographic factors in one study and analyse the impact on employee turnover. A Probit regression model through the stepwise technique was used to analyse the collected data. Using ventures in Sri Lanka as a case study, this study demonstrates that employee turnover occurs in different stages and independent factors impact differently in each stage. The study population was professionals who have been a key part of Sri Lankan startups, which involved 230 respondents. Data analysis was performed through a forward stepwise technique through STATA. The results verified that job satisfaction and co-worker support negatively impact employee turnover, whereas leader member exchange ...
Sri Lanka Journal of Economic Research
The primary goal of any economy is to achieve long-term economic growth while maintaining a stabl... more The primary goal of any economy is to achieve long-term economic growth while maintaining a stable rate of unemployment, which is a macroeconomic factor. Moreover, when unemployment rises, real Gross Domestic Product (GDP) falls short of potential GDP. Accordingly, the purpose of this study is to examine the impact of unemployment on the economic growth of Sri Lanka. By using data from the first quarter (Q1) of 2000 to the fourth quarter (Q4) of 2021 and Vector Error Correction Model (VECM) and Granger Causality are applied to analyse the impact of unemployment on economic growth. The findings indicates that there is a unidirectional causality between unemployment and economic growth, and that there is a long run relationship between these two variables, with both long-term and short-term negative impacts on economic growth in Sri Lanka. Macroeconomic policies need to be formulated to sustain the unemployment rate in line with the current economic realities of Sri Lanka for sustainable economic growth and significant contribution to the creation of new jobs and the expansion of existing employment in Sri Lanka.
PLOS ONE
Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) occurs when one country invests in another. Multiple factors have... more Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) occurs when one country invests in another. Multiple factors have contributed to fluctuations in FDI flows globally. This study investigates the impact of the Logistics Performance Index (LPI), Global Competitiveness Index (GCI) and Interest Rates (IR) on FDI in the African region. The study is significant because the African region is underdeveloped and with an unstable macroeconomic environment. Data were collected for 26 countries in the African region for the years 2007, 2010, 2012, 2014, 2016 and 2018 and analysed using Panel Regression and Multiple Linear Regression models. The study’s findings concluded that LPI, GCI, and IR are three major macroeconomic factors impacting FDI inflows. The results indicated that LPI positively impacts FDI in Gambia, Lesotho and Rwanda, while in contrast, LPI impacts FDI negatively in Mauritius. GCI has a positive impact on FDI in Algeria and Lesotho with a negative impact in Rwanda, Mauritius and Namibia. Moreov...
Vidyodaya Journal of Management
The purpose of this paper is to examine the factors influencing saving behavior among households ... more The purpose of this paper is to examine the factors influencing saving behavior among households in a developing country. Sri Lanka being a developing country, has recorded a relatively lower households’  saving rate when compared with its peer regional counterparts. The study approximates the socio-economic and demographic factors towards the level of saving of households in Sri Lanka using a quantile regression approach based on the Household Income and Expenditure Survey, conducted by the Department of Census and Statistics of Sri Lanka. Results were obtained by using the stepwise quantile regression technique. The findings of this study conclude that when Sri Lankan households have a higher per-capita income, they tend to have a higher saving level. Moreover, age and marital status have a significant impact on the level of saving in Sri Lankan households. Additionally, poverty and employment status have a significant impact to the level of saving on Sri Lankan households. This r...
PLOS ONE
Timely completion is a crucial factor for the success of a construction project, especially in th... more Timely completion is a crucial factor for the success of a construction project, especially in the Sri Lankan context. This study aims to identify the most influential factors that affect the timely completion of construction projects in Sri Lanka. Thirty-nine factors were identified through a comprehensive literature review and experts’ opinions. A questionnaire incorporating the 39 project delay factors was distributed among 163 Civil Engineers, and responses were obtained. Random sampling method was adopted to select the sample. The Relative Importance Index (RII) analysed and ranked the project delay factors. The top ranked significant project delay factors were identified as shortage of skilled subcontractors/suppliers, shortage of labourers (Skilled, semi-skilled, unskilled), financial difficulties of contractors, delay in delivering materials to the site, and Covid-19 pandemic situation. According to the main three respondent types, i.e., clients/owners, contractors and consu...
PLOS ONE
This study examines the causal nexus between Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) and the economic gro... more This study examines the causal nexus between Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) and the economic growth of seven (7) regions encompassing 117 countries. A more recent panel dataset over the period 2010–2020 was analysed using the Granger causality approach and panel VAR/block exogeneity test to conduct predictive analysis among the panel series. Wavelet coherence techniques too were adapted in bringing novelty and further justifications to the research in exploring the interaction effects of the variables, which are yet to be popularised in the studied discipline. The empirical results indicate the presence of bi-directional causality between FDI and economic growth globally and in the Asian region. In contrast, the causality is uni-directional in the American region. A non-directional causality was discovered in European, Oceanian, Mediterranean, and African regions, and the findings were consistent with the outcome of the wavelet coherence technique results. The study further classif...
PLOS ONE
Economic growth becomes a critical component in the development of every country since it enhance... more Economic growth becomes a critical component in the development of every country since it enhances living standards and other related concerns while eliminating poverty. As a developing country, Sri Lanka must place more emphasis to achieve sustainable economic growth. In addition, various factors have positive and negative impacts on economy’s growth. As such, the specific goals of any economy are to sustain long-term economic growth and low inflation. As a result, generally, high inflation is destructive for an economy and low inflation is beneficial. Therefore, it is worth investigating the impact of inflation on economic growth concerning a stable inflation level. This study examines the impact of inflation on economic growth in Sri Lanka by employing the Auto Regressive Distributed Lag model as the estimation technique. Furthermore, the findings illustrate a negative relationship between inflation and economic growth in the short run; when inflation increases by 1%, economic gr...
PLOS ONE, Jul 28, 2022
This article investigates alcohol consumption attributable burden of diseases. The present study ... more This article investigates alcohol consumption attributable burden of diseases. The present study considers the overall effect of Human Development Index (HDI), Socio Demographic Index (SDI) and Gross Domestic Product (GDP) for income to measure how these variables impact Global Burden of Diseases (GDB), bringing a different perspective to the results. Data from over 177 countries mainly including European, Asian, North American, South American, African and Australian regions were analysed from 2000 to 2019. A Panel regression technique was applied, and Fixed Effects (FE) and Random Effects (RE) estimations were chosen to derive outcomes of the Hausman test. The findings reflected that alcohol consumption (wine, beer, spirit and other alcohol) has a positive significant relationship with the Global Burden of Diseases (GBD) globally and in the African continent excluding North America and South America. Human Development Index (HDI) have a negative impact on GBD on all countries. Particularly HDI have a negative impact on GBD in African continent except other continents. Also, in the African continent and globally, GBD has a significant positive and in Europe, a significant negative impact on the Socio Demographic Index (SDI). The findings demonstrate the overall picture of the impact of alcohol consumption and other variables on GBD and provide suggestions on how these variables should be tackled in the future to reduce GBD. This is the initial empirical study that investigates the impact of alcohol consumption, analysing the combined effect of HDI, SDI and income on the GBD of continent wise and globally.
PLOS ONE
This paper empirically investigates the relationship between tourism and economic growth by using... more This paper empirically investigates the relationship between tourism and economic growth by using a panel data cointegration test, Granger causality test and Wavelet coherence analysis at the global level. This analysis examines 105 nations utilising panel data from 2003 to 2020. The findings indicates that in most regions, tourism contributes significantly to economic growth and vice versa. Developing trade across most of the regions appears to be a major influencer in the study, as a bidirectional association exists between trade openness and economic growth. Additionally, all regions other than the American region showed a one-way association between gross capital formation and economic growth. Therefore, it is crucial to highlight that using initiatives to increase demand would advance tourism while also boosting the economy.
TOURISM REVIEW, 2020
Purpose-The purpose of this study is aimed at analysing the contributors of consumer confusion fr... more Purpose-The purpose of this study is aimed at analysing the contributors of consumer confusion from the perspective of both information providers and recipients. Design/methodology/approach-Using Sri Lanka as a case study, this study demonstrates views of consumer confusion in terms of information and its contributors in light of the framework adopted by Lu and Gursoy (2015). Findings-The results ascertain that too much, too similar and too ambiguous information from information providers' perspective have a significant impact on consumer confusion in the context of the inbound tourist industry in Sri Lanka. Most importantly, it is evident that the information recipients' knowledge and behaviour attributes, namely, internet experience, learning orientation, tolerance for ambiguity, price consciousness and requirement for cognition have no significant impact on consumer confusion. Furthermore, the quality and quantity of information provided are crucial for the minimisation or avoidance of consumer confusion. Practical implications-The practical implications drawn from this study could influence all stakeholders of the inbound online tourism trade including managers, advertising executives and marketing experts in providing good quality information to promote tourism. Originality/value-The contribution of this research is related to the analysis from a theoretical and an empirical perspective of both the information providers' and decision-making of recipients.
PLOS ONE, 2022
This article investigates alcohol consumption attributable burden of diseases. The present study ... more This article investigates alcohol consumption attributable burden of diseases. The present study considers the overall effect of Human Development Index (HDI), Socio Demographic Index (SDI) and Gross Domestic Product (GDP) for income to measure how these variables impact Global Burden of Diseases (GDB), bringing a different perspective to the results. Data from over 177 countries mainly including European, Asian, North American, South American, African and Australian regions were analysed from 2000 to 2019. A Panel regression technique was applied, and Fixed Effects (FE) and Random Effects (RE) estimations were chosen to derive outcomes of the Hausman test. The findings reflected that alcohol consumption (wine, beer, spirit and other alcohol) has a positive significant relationship with the Global Burden of Diseases (GBD) globally and in the African continent excluding North America and South America. Human Development Index (HDI) have a negative impact on GBD on all countries. Particularly HDI have a negative impact on GBD in African continent except other continents. Also, in the African continent and globally, GBD has a significant positive and in Europe, a significant negative impact on the Socio Demographic Index (SDI). The findings demonstrate the overall picture of the impact of alcohol consumption and other variables on GBD and provide suggestions on how these variables should be tackled in the future to reduce GBD. This is the initial empirical study that investigates the impact of alcohol consumption, analysing the combined effect of HDI, SDI and income on the GBD of continent wise and globally.
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Papers by Ruwan Jayathilaka