This thesis covers the further development of smooth transition regression models and their applications in finance. Smooth transition regression models are used to model nonlinearity of regime-switching type in empirical applications. Usually, smooth transition regression models are used with...

Income inequality has become one of the major economic policy issues in developed and developing countries alike. Among ASEAN countries we have witnessed rising income inequality in Indonesia, Lao, Singapore and Vietnam over the recent years while the other ASEAN countries, such as Cambodia,...

The demand for agricultural land is globally increasing due to population growth and dietary diversification. As the availability of agricultural land is limited, much of the cropland expansion is occurring at the expense of tropical forests. During the past few decades, oil palm has become one...