This study aims to determine the main drivers of financial market development, with a specific interest in the relationship between the stock and bank credit markets, as proxies of financial market development, and the role of institutional quality, in ten African countries for the period of 2009 to 2017. A number of econometric techniques such as the General Methods of Moments (GMM) model for dynamic panel data, autoregressive distribution lag (ARDL) bound testing approach to cointegration, vector error correction model (VECM), and granger causality tests were applied in the study. We further developed a composite index for both financial market development and institutional quality using Principal Components Analysis (PCA). The results demonstrate that institutional quality, as well as infrastructure development, economic growth, and inflation are the main determinants of financial market development in our sample of ten African countries. Findings from the ARDL bound testing approach confirm the existence of a long-run association between institutional quality and financial market development. Although financial market development has no effect on economic growth, institutional quality was found to have a positive and highly significant effect on economic growth. Furthermore, employing the Granger causality test, we found uni-directional granger causality between financial market development and institutional quality, implying that financial market development is a significant causal factor for institutional quality. In consideration of these findings, policy formulation by governments should be designed towards enhancing financial and institutional quality development, and this can be possibly achieved by effective enforcement of law to encourage compliance, while simultaneously eliminating corruption and other institutional hindrances to development / Lolu cwaningo luhlose ukuveza izinhlaka ezingabaphembeleli abasemqoka ekuthuthukisweni kwezimakethe zezimali, kugxilwe kakhulu kubudlelwano obuphakathi kwesitoko kanye nezimakethe zamabhangi ahlinzekana ngezikweletu, njengabancedisi abathuthukisa izimakethe zezimali, kanye nendima emayelana nezinga leziko, emazweni ase-Afrika ayishumi esikhathini esiphakathi kuka 2009 ukufikela ku 2017. Inani lezindlela zokulinganisa izinga lomnotho ezinjenge-General Methods of Moments (GMM) model yedatha yephaneli eguquguqukayo, i-autoregressive distribution lag (ARDL) bound testing approach to cointegration, i-vector error correction model (VECM), Kanye negranger causality tests zisetshenzisiwe kucwaningo. Siqhubekele phambili nokwakha inkomba ehlangene yazo zombili izinhlaka; ukuthuthukiswa kwezimakethe zezimali Kanye nezinga leziko ngokusebenzisa uhlelo lwe-Principal Components Analysis (PCA). Imiphumela ikhombisile ukuthi izinga leziko, Kanye nokuthuthukiswa kwengqalasizinda, ukuhluma komnotho, Kanye nezinga lamandla email yizinkomba ezisemqoka zokuthuthukiswa kwezimakethe zezimali kusampuli yethu elula yamazwe ase-Afrika ayishumi. Ulwazi olutholakele ku-ARDL bound testing approach luqinisekisa ubukhona kobudlelwano besikhathi eside obuphakathi kwezinga leziko kanye nokuthuthukiswa kwezimakethe zezimali. Yize ukuthuthukiswa kwemakethe yezimali kungenawo umthelela kwezokuhluma komnotho, izinga leziko lona liye latholakala ukuthi linomthelela omuhle nosemqoka kakhulu ekukhuleni komnotho. Ngaphezu kwalokho, uma sisebenzisa uhlelo lweGranger causality test, sifumene i-uni-directional granger causality phakathi kwemakethe yezimali Kanye nezinga leziko, lokhu kuchaza ukuthi ukuthuthukiswa kwezimakethe zezimali kuyimbangela esemqoka yezinga leziko. Uma kubhekwa lolu lwazi olutholakele, imigomo eyakhwa uhulumeni kufanele yakhiwe ngenhloso yokuqinisa ukuthuthukiswa kwezinga lezimali Kanye nezinga leziko, kanti lokhu kungafinyelelwa ngokuqinisa kahle umthetho ukukhuthaza ukulandelwa komthetho, kanti ngakolunye uhlangothi kuncishiswe izinga lenkohlakalo Kanye nezinye izihibhe eziphazamiso ukuthuthukiswa kweziko. / Maikaelelo a thutopatlisiso ke go swetsa ka ditsamaisi tse dikgolo tsa tlhabololo ya mebaraka ya ditšhelete, ka kgatlhego e rileng mo kamanong magareng ga mebaraka ya setoko le ya sekoloto sa dibanka, jaaka kemedi ya tlhabololo ya mebaraka ya ditšhelete, le seabe sa boleng jwa ditheo, mo dinageng di le lesome tsa Aforika mo pakeng ya 2009 go ya go 2017. Go dirisitswe dithekeniki di le mmalwa tsa ikonometiriki di tshwana le sekao sa General Methods of Moments (GMM) sa data ya phanele e anameng, molebo wa tekeletso e kopanyang ya autoregressive distribution lag (ARDL), sekao sa vector error correction (VECM) le diteko tsa sesusumetsi tsa Granger. Gape re tlhamile tshupane ya dikarolo ya tlhabololo ya mmaraka wa ditšhelete le boleng jwa ditheo re dirisa Tokololo ya Dikarolo tse Dikgolo (Principal Components Analysis (PCA)). Dipholo di bontsha gore boleng jwa ditheo, gammogo le tlhabololo ya mafaratlhatlha, kgolo ya ikonomi le infoleišene ke diswetsi tsa tlhabololo ya mebaraka ya ditšhelete mo sampoleng ya rona ya dinaga di le lesome tsa Aforika. Diphitlhelelo go tswa mo molebong wa teko e kopanyang ya ARDL di tlhomamisa go nna teng ga kamano ya paka e telele magareng ga boleng jwa ditheo le tlhabololo ya mebaraka ya ditšhelete. Le fa tlhabololo ya mebaraka ya ditšhelete e sa ame kgolo ya ikonomi ka gope, boleng jwa ditheo bo fitlhetswe bo na le ditlamorago tse di siameng e bile di le botlhokwa mo kgolong ya ikonomi. Mo godimo ga moo, ka go dirisa teko ya Granger ya sesusumetsi, re fitlhetse go na le sesusumetsi sa ntlha e le nngwe sa Granger magareng ga lhabololo ya mebaraka ya ditšhelete le boleng jwa ditheo, mo go rayang gore tlhabololo ya mebaraka ya ditšhelete ke ntlha e e botlhokwa ya sesusumetsi sa boleng jwa ditheo. Fa go lebelelwa diphitlhelelo tseno, go dirwa ga dipholisi ke dipuso go tshwanetse ga dirwa gore go tokafatse tlhabololo ya boleng jwa ditšhelete le ditheo, mme seno se ka fitlhelelwa ka tiragatso e e bokgoni ya molao go rotloetsa kobamelo mme go ntse go fedisiwa bobodu le dikgoreletsi tse dingwe tsa tlhabololo mo ditheong. / Business Management / M. Com. (Business Management (Finance))

Network reconstruction is the process of recovering a unique structured representation of some dynamic system using input-output data and some additional knowledge about the structure of the system. Many network reconstruction algorithms have been proposed in recent years, most dealing with the reconstruction of strictly proper networks (i.e., networks that require delays in all dynamics between measured variables). However, no reconstruction technique presently exists capable of recovering both the structure and dynamics of networks where links are proper (delays in dynamics are not required) and not necessarily strictly proper.The ultimate objective of this dissertation is to develop algorithms capable of reconstructing proper networks, and this objective will be addressed in three parts. The first part lays the foundation for the theory of mathematical representations of proper networks, including an exposition on when such networks are well-posed (i.e., physically realizable). The second part studies the notions of abstractions of a network, which are other networks that preserve certain properties of the original network but contain less structural information. As such, abstractions require less a priori information to reconstruct from data than the original network, which allows previously-unsolvable problems to become solvable. The third part addresses our original objective and presents reconstruction algorithms to recover proper networks in both the time domain and in the frequency domain.

Exponential smoothing algorithms are very attractive for the practical world such as in industry. When considering bivariate exponential smoothing methods, in addition to the properties of univariate methods, additional properties give insight to relationships between the two components of a process, and also to the overall structure of the model. It is important to study these properties, but even with the merits the bivariate exponential smoothing algorithms have, exponential smoothing algorithms are nonstatistical/nonstochastic and to study the properties within exponential smoothing may be worthless. As an alternative approach, the (bivariate) ARIMA and the structural models which are classes of statistical models, are shown to generalize the exponential smoothing algorithms. We study these properties within these classes as they will have implications on exponential smoothing algorithms. Forecast properties are studied using the state space model and the Kalman filter. Comparison of ARIMA and structural model completes the study. / Mathematical Sciences / M. Sc. (Statistics)

Text in Afrikaans / Summaries in English and Afrikaans / Key terms in English and Afrikaans / Die doel van die studie was om organisasietraagheid as stremmende fenomeen te konseptualiseer en die manifestasie daarvan te ondersoek binne 'n tipiese werkorganisasie. Aandag is gegee aan organisasietransformasie binne die raamwerk van 'n diagnostiese model vir organisasie- en individuele ontwikkeling. Die empiriese studie bevestig die manifestasie van organisasietraagheid ten opsigte van die teikenorganisasie. Resultate bevestig dat respondente ten gunste is van veranderingsinisiatiewe, maar ondergeskiktes toon 'n emstige behoefte aan leierskap. Dit blyk ook dat die organisasie nie die vermoe het om vinnig op omgewingsveranderings te reageer nie. Gesonde bestuurspraktyke word nie gevolg nie en kreatiwiteit word nie aangemoedig nie. By ondergeskiktes bestaan ook twyfel oor veranderingsagente se vermoe om verandering te fasiliteer. / The purpose of the study was to conceptualise organisation inertia as a retarding phenomenon and to investigate its manifestation within a typical work organisation. Attention was given to organisational and individual development within the framework of a diagnostic model. The empirical study focussed on the manifestation of organisational inertia within the target organisation. Results confirmed that respondents are in favour of change initiatives but that the stimulation thereof do not exist. Subordinates are not encouraged to show creativity. The organisation demonstrates an incapability to respond to environmental changes and reflects a non-existence of healthy management practices. Little trust exists in the capability of change agents to facilitate change. / Economics and Management Sciences / M.A. (Industrial Psychology)

In the literature there are mixed results on the link between credit and agricultural output growth. Some authors argue that credit leads to growth in agricultural output. Others view growth as one of the factors that influence credit supply, thus growth leads and credit follows. By and large, studies have not endeavoured to establish the short-run impact of agricultural credit on output. They are generally limited in establishing the long-run relationship between credit and agricultural output and thus present a research gap in this respect. This study contributes to the existing body of literature by focusing on the finance-growth nexus at sectoral level as a departure from extant literature that has focused on the macroeconomic level. Using South African data, the study investigated the causal relationship between the supply of credit and agricultural output as well as whether the two are cointegrated and have a short-run relationship. The study found that bank credit and agricultural output are cointegrated. Using the error correction model (ECM), the results showed that, in the short-run, bank credit has a negative impact on agricultural output, reflecting the uncertainties of institutional credit in South Africa. However, the ECM coefficient shows that the supply of agricultural credit rapidly adjusts to short-term disturbances, indicating that there is no room for tardiness in the agricultural sector. The absence of institutional credit will immediately be replaced by availability of other credit facilities from non-institutional sources. Conventional Granger causality tests show unidirectional causality from (1) bank credit to agricultural output growth, (2) agricultural output to capital formation, (3) agricultural output to labour, (4) capital formation to credit, and (5) capital formation to labour, and a bi-directional causality between credit and labour. Noteworthy and significant for South Africa is that for the agricultural sector, the direction of causality is from finance to growth, in other words supply-leading, whereas at the macroeconomic level, the direction of causality is from economic growth to finance, in other words, demand-leading. Applying a structural equation modelling approach to survey data of smallholder farmers, the positive relationship between bank credit and agricultural output observed from analysis of secondary data was confirmed. / Business Management / DCOM (Business Management)

This study provides evidence of the relationship between bank-granted credit and business cycles in South Africa. The study is conducted in three phases, namely qualitative research (Phase I), quantitative research (Phase II) and econometric analysis (Phase III). A sequential (connected data) mixed methodology (Phase I and II) is used to collect and analyze primary data from market participants. The qualitative research (Phase I) involves structured interviews with influential or well informed people on the subject matter. Phase I of the study is used to understand the key determinants of bank credit in South Africa and to appreciate how each of the credit aggregates behaves during alternate business cycles. Qualitative survey results suggest key determinants of commercial bank credit in South Africa as economic growth, collateral value, bank competition, money supply, deposit liabilities, capital requirements, bank lending rates and inflation. The qualitative results are used to formulate questions of the structured survey questionnaire (Quantitative research- Phase II). The ANOVA and Pearman’s product correlation analysis techniques are used to assess relationship between variables. The quantitative results show that there is direct and positive relationship between bank lending behavior and credit aggregates namely economic growth, collateral value, bank competition and money supply. On the other hand, the results show that there is a negative relationship between credit growth and bank capital and lending rates. Overall, the quantitative findings show that bank lending in South Africa is procyclical. The survey results indicate that the case for demand-following hypothesis is stronger than supply-leading hypothesis in South Africa. The econometric methodology is used to augment results of the survey study. Phase III of the study re-examines econometric relationship between bank lending and business cycles. The study employs cointegration and vector error correction model (VECM) techniques in order to test for existence of long-run relationship between the selected variables. Granger causality test technique is applied to the variables of interest to test for direction of causation between variables. The study uses quarterly data for the period of 1980:Q1 to 2013:Q4. Business cycles are determined and measured by Gross Domestic Product at market prices while bank-granted credit is proxied by credit extension to the private sector. The econometric test results show that there is a significant long-run relationship between economic growth and bank credit extension. The Granger causality test provides evidence of unidirectional causal relationship with direction from economic growth to credit extension for South Africa. The study results indicate that the case for demand-following hypothesis is stronger than supply-leading hypothesis in South Africa. Economic growth spurs credit market development in South Africa. Overall, the results show that there is a stable long-run relationship between macroeconomic business cycles and real credit growth in South Africa. The results show that economic growth significantly causes and stimulates bank credit. The study, therefore, recommends that South Africa needs to give policy priority to promotion and development of the real sector of the economy to propel and accelerate credit extension. Economic growth is considered as the significant policy variable to stimulate credit extension. The findings therefore hold important implications for both theory and policy. / Business Management / D.B.L.

Trade liberalization in Kenya started in the early 1980s with the structural adjustment programmes, and continued under the multilateral framework of the WTO. During the same period, the incidence of poverty and level of inequality also worsened. The government’s focus on trade negotiations has been to ensure that there is policy space for the daily running of the economy even though welfare impacts are also important. Non-state actors have argued that trade liberalization has negatively affected the poor; particularly the farmers, since they cannot compete with the developed countries whose farmers enjoy significant government support through subsidies, making their products much cheaper in the world market. Government officials, on the other hand, contend that trade liberalization is good as it brings in competition and transfer of technology which is good for an economy. It is important to examine how trade liberalization has affected household’s welfare in Kenya, given that this kind of analysis has not been conducted in Kenya. This study is unique because it does not assume the existence of a trade liberalization– poverty relationship, unlike most studies. It uses a multi-method approach to first test the hypothesis that there is no statistically significant relationship between trade liberalization and poverty, it further tests for multiplier effects of trade liberalization on poverty determinants. Trade Liberalization and poverty is found to have a stochastic relationship, furthermore investments and capital stock were found to significantly affect poverty determinants in the stochastic model. Due to unavailability of household welfare measure data in time series, a CGE model was used to establish the dynamics of trade liberalization on poverty at a point in time using the 2003 Social Accounting Matrix Data for Kenya. Overall, trade liberalization accompanied by FDI had the greatest impact on household welfare. Trade liberalization had a positive impact on household welfare since household incomes and consumption increased. Micro simulations results, based on changes in consumption, also showed that poverty incidence reduced for all households, even though the urban households experienced higher decreases. The study found that there was little difference in protecting sensitive products and not protecting them; secondly, trade liberalization accompanied by foreign direct investment had greater impact on improving the household welfare. Consumption and incomes increased, resulting in overall poverty reduction. The welfare of urban households was much higher than rural households in terms of income and consumption increases. However, income inequality was much higher in urban than rural areas. / Economics / D. Litt. et Phil. (Economics)

本論述為找出國際化與績效的互動關係。首先，討論銀行國際化誘因，接著建立一國際化指標衡量台灣銀行業國際化程度，再檢驗兩者的關係。 採取1998年到2007年底台灣銀行業各年銀行資料，共計樣本數達486筆。由於資料為縱橫資料，故一般迴歸方式，加入固定效果與隨機效果以檢視不同的銀行特點是否有影響結果。另外檢驗國際化與績效和其他國際化誘因之間是否有互動的因果關係。 將國際化指標定義為海外資產比、海外營收比及海外費用比三者的一般加權指標。國際化誘因則採取：規模、績效、依循客戶、營收市占率、國內外利差、模仿跟風、市場開放與否等八項。結果發現，規模、依循客戶、國外利差等因素都顯著正向影響國際化程度，其中規模及依循客戶又與國際化程度有顯著的因果關係，故可推論國內銀行業國際化的誘因確實有擴大規模及依循客戶的考量。 以實證結果看來，國際化與績效確實會互相影響。另外，考量個別銀行的特性後，台灣銀行業符合固定效果模型。結果顯示，影響銀行績效的因素在不同銀行間沒有很大的差異，然而各銀行所屬的固定特性不同，確實會深刻影響銀行國際化程度的差異，亦即個別銀行的固定特性是影響國際化的重要因素。可見，銀行利用國際化策略而提升銀行績效的做法是有其前提所在，也就是本身條件要好。 銀行國際化、績效、規模等因素就像是一個迴圈，彼此影響。也可以說銀行要提升績效的方式有很多，國際化、併購、擴大市場都是策略之一，只是目前在國內銀行業市場有限的關係，造成國際化策略的自然形成，銀行國際化是一種過程、是一種手段，並不一定與績效有因果關係，只是現在剛好走到這裡。 / This paper examines the relationships between bank performance and DOI(degree of internationalization). We start with explore the incentives for banks to internationalize themselves. Then we structure an index to measure the degree of internationalization and finally examine the relationships between various variables and performance. This study uses unbalanced panel data of the Taiwan bank industry from 1998 to 2007. Besides the often-used regression method, this paper also tests both fixed effect and random effect models with panel data, and examines Granger causality between bank internationalization, performance and incentives of internationalization. We find that variables such as scale, customers-following and foreign interest rate spread positively affect bank internationalization; moreover scale and customers-following factor Granger cause bank internationalization. So we can conclude that utilizing-economies-of-scale and following-customers are two incentives justifying the internationalization strategy of Taiwan’s banks.

本研究針對七個國家包括：美國、加拿大、英國、法國、日本、香港、與澳洲。檢驗各國主成分為REITs商品在內的不動產證券指數，對於該國的消費者物價指數與國際原油價格是否具有正向的通貨膨脹避險效果。並比較各國的普通股價指數對該國的消費者物價指數與國際原油價格的通貨膨脹避險效果。本研究首先檢驗各國不動產證券指數/普通股價指數之月增率與消費者物價指數/原油價格之月增率之間是否具有正相關性。並將消費者物價指數/國際原油價格之月增率以HP濾波分解成永久性部分與暫時性部分，以迴歸估計消費者物價指數/國際原油價格之月增率的永久性與暫時性部分對於不動產證券指數/普通股價指數之月增率是否有正向的解釋能力。並以Granger因果關係檢定通貨膨脹像消費者物價指數或原油價格的月增率是否會Granger影響不動產價格的月增率。最後在進行單根檢定確認各數列皆為I(1)數列之後，檢驗不動產證券指數/普通股價指數與消費者物價指數/國際原油價格是否存在共整合關係，亦即代表是否具有長期的均衡狀態。 結果發現，幾乎所有國家不動產證券指數的月增率不管是對物價指數的月增率或原油價格的月增率的相關係數大多為無相關，在美國、加拿大、與澳洲甚至有些微的負相關，沒有支持通貨膨脹避險的證據。而在迴歸分析的結果，在加拿大、英國、法國，與日本，物價指數月增率的永久性部分對不動產證券指數月增率有負向影響；在美國與香港則是物價指數月增率的暫時性部分對不動產證券指數月增率有負向影響。至於原油價格月增率的暫時性部分則在美國、法國、與澳洲找到對不動產證券指數存在負向影響的證據。其他國家則無法找到支持物價指數月增率或原油價格月增率的永久性或暫時性部分對不動產證券指數月增率具有正向影響。此外Grnager因果關係檢定中，只有美國的消費者物價指數月增率Granger影響不動產證券指數月增率。 而在假設無時間趨勢的共整合檢定之中，所有國家皆有顯著證據支持不動產證券指數與該國物價指數存在共整合關係，但若假設具有時間趨勢，只有加拿大，英國，日本與香港具顯著證據支持共整合關係的存在。而不動產證券指數與原油價格的共整合關係，不論有無時間趨勢，只有在加拿大、日本與澳洲這三個國家找到共整合關係存在的證據。 而普通股股價指數與消費者物價指數或原油價格實證結果顯示，相關係數檢定與不動產證券指數檢定結果相似，大多為無相關；只有美國、法國、與澳洲有些微負相關存在。迴歸分析中，物價指數月增率的永久性部分在加拿大、法國、與日本對普通股價指數月增率有負向影響；暫時性部分則在美國與澳洲對普通股價指數月增率有負向影響。原油價格月增率的暫時性部分在美國與法國對普通股股價指數存在負向影響的證據。而Grnager因果關係檢定中，在較多國家找到顯著證據支持原油價格月增率Granger影響不動產證券指數月增率。共整合檢定中，若不考慮時間趨勢，所有國家的股價指數均對物價指數存在共整合關係，但若考慮時間趨勢，則只有日本與香港有共整合現象；至於股價指數與原油價格的共整合檢定，不論有無時間趨勢，只有在日本、香港與澳洲找到些微共整合關係存在的證據。 整體而言，並無顯著證據存在支持不動產證券指數的報酬會隨著通貨膨脹的增加而增加；或是通貨膨脹的增加可以解釋不動產證券指數的報酬。然而不動產證券指數與消費者物價指數之間的確存在共整合關係，代表長期之下，兩者會往均衡方向調整，具有部分通貨膨脹避險能力。而普通股價指數與不動產證券指數的結果相同，但在檢設具有時間趨勢的共整合檢定上，不動產證券指數在四個國家存在共整合關係，普通股價指數則只有在兩個國家找到共整合存在的證據。不動產證券指數長期而言較普通股價指數具有較好的通貨膨脹避險效果。

Selon des thèses développées au cours des années 1990 et 2000, le développement économique constitue à la fois la source et la solution aux problèmes environnementaux. Au sujet des forêts, les transitions forestières (c’est-à-dire le passage de la déforestation à la reforestation) documentées dans certains pays développés seraient causées par des dynamiques universelles intrinsèques au développement et à la modernisation des sociétés. Nos travaux ont porté sur l’application de cette vision optimiste et controversée à l’évolution des superficies forestières en Thaïlande. S’appuyant sur une recension de la littérature, sur des données secondaires ainsi que nos travaux de terrain dans la région de Phetchabun, la thèse offre les apports suivants. Elle démontre que contrairement à l’idée répandue en Thaïlande, le ralentissement de la déforestation a été suivi par une expansion forestière substantielle entre environ 1995 et 2005. Ce regain forestier est lié à la disparition presque complète de l’expansion agricole, à l’établissement de plantations sylvicoles et, surtout, à l’abandon de terres agricoles. Cet abandon agricole découle d’abord et avant tout de la faible et incertaine rentabilité de l’agriculture dans certaines zones non irriguées. Ce phénomène s’explique, entre autres, par la dégradation des sols et par l’incapacité des agriculteurs à contrer l’impact des transformations économiques internes et externes à la Thaïlande. L’accroissement de la pression de conservation n’a pu contribuer à l’expansion forestière que dans certains contextes (projets de reforestation majeurs appuyés par l’armée, communautés divisées, terres déjà abandonnées). Sans en être une cause directe, l’intensification agricole et la croissance des secteurs non agricoles ont rendu moins pénibles la confiscation et l’abandon des terres et ont permis que de tels phénomènes surviennent sans entraîner d’importants troubles sociaux. Dans un contexte d’accroissement des prix agricoles, notamment celui du caoutchouc naturel, une partie du regain forestier aurait été perdu depuis 2005 en raison d’une ré-expansion des surfaces agricoles. Cela illustre le caractère non permanent de la transition forestière et la faiblesse des mesures de conservation lorsque les perspectives de profit sont grandes. La thèse montre que, pour être robuste, une théorie de la transition forestière doit être contingente et reconnaître que les variables macro-sociales fréquemment invoquées pour expliquer les transitions forestières (ex. : démocratisation, intensification agricole, croissance économique) peuvent aussi leur nuire. Une telle théorie doit également prendre en compte des éléments d’explication non strictement économiques et souvent négligés (menaces à la sécurité nationale, épuisement des terres perçues comme arables et libres, degré d’attachement aux terres et capacité d’adaptation et résilience des systèmes agricoles). Finalement, les écrits sur la transition forestière doivent reconnaître qu’elle a généralement impliqué des impacts sociaux et même environnementaux négatifs. Une lecture de la transition forestière plus nuancée et moins marquée par l’obsession de la seule reforestation est seule garante d’une saine gestion de l’environnement en respect avec les droits humains, la justice sociale et le développement durable. / Recent popular ideas and theories portray economic development as both a cause and a solution to environmental degradation. Concerning forest cover, many authors view forest transitions (the passage from deforestation to reforestation) as resulting from near-universal causal dynamics linked to economic development. The thesis evaluates the validity of these controversial ideas and their relevance to the Thai case. Based on an analysis of secondary literature and official data as well as extensive fieldwork in Phetchabun region, the thesis makes the following points. Contrary to the dominant view, forest cover did expand significantly between ~1995 and 2005. Forest regrowth is linked to the near-interruption of agricultural expansion, the establishment of forest plantations, and, most importantly, agricultural abandonment. The latter derives first and foremost from the declining and currently uncertain profitability of agriculture in non-irrigated zones. These agricultural problems are linked to declining soil fertility and the incapacity of some farmers to counter the impact of rapid economic changes occurring within and outside Thailand. Conservation efforts contributed to forest expansion only in some contexts (ex.: military-backed projects, divided communities, land already abandoned). Agricultural intensification and the growth of non-agricultural sectors made land confiscation and agricultural abandonment less distressing and allowed these land transformations to occur without leading to major social troubles. Since 2005, part of the forest regrowth has been lost to the rubber boom. This illustrates both the potentially non-permanent nature of the forest transition and the limited power of forest conservation in the face of major politico-economic interests. A robust forest transition theory must be contextually-bounded and recognize that forest transitions can be encouraged, blocked or countered by the same frequently invoked macro-social variables: economic growth, agricultural intensification, and democratisation. It must also take into account neglected causal factors, such as geopolitical threats, the resilience of agrarian systems, the perception of land scarcity and the degree of attachment to the land and an agrarian life. Typically, social distress, violence and, in some cases, negative environmental impacts have accompanied forest transitions. Human rights, social justice and sustainable development principles require that a more nuanced view of forest transitions be adopted.