The Kashmir Research Review Journal (KRRJ)

The Formation of Onelga Security Peace Advisory Committee and Crime Trend in Ogba/Egbema/Ndoni Local Government Area, Rivers State, Nigeria

Omere Chinedu Nelson — 2024-12-20

This study examined the formation of Onelga Security Peace Advisory Committee (OSPAC) and crime trend in Ogba/Egbema/Ndoni Local Government Area, Rivers State. The study was anchored on deterrent and community participation approaches. The cross sectional and correlational designs were adopted. Taro Yamane formula was used to calculate a sample size of 419 at 5% attrition rate. The multi stage sampling technique was used in selecting eight communities. The mixed methods, comprising questionnaire, in-depth interview (IDI) and key informant interview (KII) were used in gathering primary data from residents of ONELGA and members of Onelga Security Peace Advisory Committee (OSPAC). Also, content and face validity type were adopted while Cronbach Alpha (0.78) was used to determine the reliability of questionnaire, 72.0% (302) copies of questionnaire were retrieved and analysed with Mean (, Simple Percentage, Polygon, Bar Chart, Chi-Square ( and Multiple Linear Regression at a threshold of (P<0.05). Analysis showed that cultism, killing, arm robbery, kidnapping, burglary and pilferage were high before the formation of OSPAC but declined after OSPAC formation. The study confirmed that OSPAC has recorded high level of success in crime management since 2017. The study recommends that OSPAC should be streamlined into community policing in accordance with Section 4(8) and (9) of 2020 Nigerian Police Act.

The Psychology of Decision-Making: Risk Aversion, Cognitive Biases, and Economic Behavior

Amal Murad Khan — 2024-12-20

Decision-making is a central theme in psychology and economics, reflecting the complex interplay of rational evaluation, emotional processing, and cognitive biases. This study investigates how risk aversion and cognitive biases shape economic behavior, particularly under uncertainty. Using a mixed-method approach that combines experimental behavioral tasks with econometric modeling, data were collected from 450 participants in urban South Asia. The results demonstrate that individuals exhibit strong risk aversion, often preferring certain but smaller gains over uncertain higher returns. Additionally, cognitive biases—including loss aversion, overconfidence, and framing effects—were found to significantly influence decisions in ways that deviate from standard rational choice models. Regression analysis revealed that risk aversion was positively correlated with conservative financial behavior, while overconfidence and optimism bias predicted higher engagement in speculative investments. Furthermore, gender and age moderated the influence of cognitive biases, with younger individuals and males displaying higher susceptibility to overconfidence effects. The findings highlight the inadequacy of purely rational economic models and underscore the need for policies that incorporate psychological insights into financial literacy programs, consumer protection, and behavioral nudges. By integrating psychological theories with economic analysis, this study provides valuable evidence on how cognitive processes shape real-world economic behavior, offering both theoretical and policy-level contributions to behavioral economics.

Resource Curse or Resource Blessing? Natural Resource Dependence and Economic Development in South Asia

Basharat Ali Khan — 2024-12-20

The relationship between natural resource dependence and economic development has long been debated, oscillating between the notions of a “resource curse” and a “resource blessing.” This study investigates the dynamics of resource dependence and growth in South Asian economies—Bangladesh, India, Pakistan, Nepal, and Sri Lanka—covering the period 1990–2022. Using a panel data approach with fixed-effects and generalized method of moments (GMM) estimations, the analysis explores the impact of resource rents (oil, gas, minerals, and forest) on GDP growth, while accounting for institutional quality, trade openness, human capital, and investment. The results reveal a nuanced picture: while resource rents exert a negative influence on growth in Pakistan and Bangladesh due to weak institutions, governance challenges, and rent-seeking behavior, India and Sri Lanka demonstrate a resource blessing effect, leveraging resources effectively through stronger governance and diversified economic structures. The findings highlight the conditional role of institutions in mediating the resource–growth nexus. This study contributes to the ongoing discourse by situating South Asia within the global resource debate, emphasizing that natural resources can be either a curse or a blessing depending on governance quality and economic diversification. Policy recommendations call for institutional strengthening, diversification of resource revenues into human capital and infrastructure, and regional cooperation to mitigate the risks of resource dependence.

Primary Health Care Financing in Pakistan: Bridging Policy and Practice

Noor Jehan — 2024-12-20

Background: Primary Health Care (PHC) remains the cornerstone of Universal Health Coverage (UHC), yet financing in low- and middle-income countries, including Pakistan, faces systemic challenges. Despite policy commitments, financing gaps and implementation inefficiencies undermine PHC access.

Objective: This study analyzes the financing structure of PHC in Pakistan, exploring the disconnect between policy frameworks and practice, and quantifies the relationship between financing and access outcomes.

Methods: A quantitative design was adopted using secondary panel data (2000–2022) from World Bank, WHO, and Pakistan Bureau of Statistics. Descriptive statistics traced trends in PHC financing. Regression analysis examined the effects of public health expenditure (% of GDP), donor contributions, and OOP expenditures on access indicators (immunization rates, maternal health coverage, and PHC utilization).

Results: The findings indicate that Pakistan’s PHC financing is heavily reliant on OOP expenditures (62%), while public health spending remains below 1% of GDP. Regression analysis confirmed a positive and significant association between public health expenditure and PHC utilization, whereas high OOPs negatively influenced equitable access. Provincial disparities in PHC allocations were also evident.

Discussion: The results underscore a persistent gap between financing policy and practice, reflecting inefficiencies in governance, fragmented resource flows, and inadequate fiscal prioritization. While donor funds contribute substantially, their vertical nature undermines sustainability and integration.

Conclusion: Bridging policy and practice in PHC financing requires scaling up domestic revenues, instituting equity-based fiscal transfers, reducing OOP expenditures, and enhancing accountability mechanisms.

Policy Implications: The study recommends performance-based financing, integration of donor contributions into pooled systems, community participation in budgeting, and prioritization of PHC workforce. These measures are essential to align Pakistan’s financing practices with its UHC commitments.

Cybersecurity and International Relations: Power, Sovereignty, and Global Security

Noor Ul Ain — 2024-12-20

Cybersecurity has emerged as a critical dimension of international relations, challenging traditional notions of power, sovereignty, and global security. This study examines how cyber deterrence, cyber norms, and the activities of state and non-state actors shape strategic behavior in cyberspace. Using a qualitative, case study–based methodology, the paper analyzes high-profile cyber incidents, including Stuxnet, SolarWinds, and major ransomware attacks, drawing on policy documents, academic literature, and think tank reports. The findings indicate that cyber deterrence remains fragile due to challenges in attribution, strategic ambiguity, and asymmetry of capabilities. The evolution of cyber norms is uneven, reflecting contestation between open internet advocates and proponents of cyber sovereignty. Non-state actors, including hacktivists and cybercriminals, further complicate state-centric governance and challenge traditional sovereignty. The study concludes that cybersecurity requires multi-dimensional strategies integrating resilience, norm-building, public-private cooperation, and international collaboration. Theoretical insights from realism, liberal institutionalism, and constructivism inform policy recommendations aimed at enhancing cyber stability and global security.