Socio-Economic Conditions of Home-Based Working Women: A Qualitative Study in Hyderabad, Sindh

This research paper focuses on socio-economic conditions of home-based working women in Hyderabad Division, of Sindh Pakistan. Main objectives of this research are (i) to analyze the Socio-economic condition of home-based working women (ii) to assess the poverty and home-based work (iii) to find out the illiteracy and home-based work (iv) to investigate the role of handicrafts and home-based work in cultural and economic development (v) to unearth the Sindhi culture of handicrafts in Hyderabad Division. To achieve research objectives qualitative research approach is adopted and data is collected by four case studies in Hyderabad division. All cases are selected randomly and analyzed by using thematic analysis method. Present study concluded that researched area is rich in handicrafts business. Women engaged themselves in home-based work due to poverty, unemployment and poor financial conditions of their families. This business has very low profit but female preferred this work due less skills and education required to carry handicrafts business. Home-based workers felt empowered due to having their own income and took part in decision making. In last it is recommended for policy makers and government agencies to give priority to this business because it has potential. It is necessary for economic development of families, culture and country.

Effect of Family Control on Firm Value and Financial Performance Evidence From Non-Financial

Effect of Family Control on Firm Value and Financial Performance (Evidence From Non-Financial Sector of Pakistan) This study is conducted to analyze the relationship of Ownership Structure with Firm Performance in non- financial companies listed at Karachi Stock Exchange during the period 2008 to 2013. The basic focus in this study was related to the performance of family firms as compared to non-family firms. The distinction between both types have been explained in literature review with the help of definitions given by different authors and scholars. Keeping in view the research aims and objectives the researcher has taken non-financial sector of Pakistan as population/ unit of analysis. Afterward, the researcher has adopted simple random sampling technique in accordance to research requirements and extracted a sample of 120 firms for analysis purpose. All these firms are listed on Karachi Stock Exchange (KSE). Tobin's Q, ROA and ROE have been used as a proxy variable to explore the firm value and firm's financial performance. The researcher has incorporated 8 independent variables i.e. firm type (family/ non-family), ownership concentration, founder/ descendent firm, age, size, growth, leverage, and interest coverage ratio. Sophisticated data analysis techniques such as descriptive, correlational, panel data regression analysis have been used. Panel Data technique has also been employed to identify the significant relationships among the variables. Results showed that Family firms are negatively correlated and Non-Family firms gives better performance. Whereas Concentrated Ownership has shown significant relationship but negative correlation with proxy variables (ROA = -0.1627; ROE = -0.0381; Tobin's Q = -0.0938). On the basis of results obtained through data analysis it is concluded that Firm Performance critically depends on Managerial Ownership. Panel data analysis has shown that firm leverage and size has no relationship with proxy variables while remaining independent variables have significant relationship with performance variables. Agency problems arise due to increase in Managerial Shareholdings in Pakistani context, which ultimately affects the performance of the firms.