M. Comm. / The aim of this dissertation was to investigate the current tariff structure applicable to the South African clothing industry and use this information to formulate recommendations on the tariff and trade policy that would best benefit the industry and the economy. Chapter 1 provided an introduction to the analysis of the tariffs applicable to the clothing industry by defining the problem statement, the relevance of the study and the method of research. Analysis of the tariff structure is important to both the government and the private sector. The government needs this type of information to assist in their policy formulation as regards tariffs and trade and the private sector needs to be aware of the implications of government policy on their profits and performance. Chapter 2 provided a literature study of tariff theory and an international comparison, particularly as regards clothing tariffs. Chapter 3 provided background information on the South African clothing industry. Chapter 4 represented the body of the analysis and provided a detailed investigation into the current tariff structure applicable to the South African clothing industry. The aim of Chapter 2 was to outline theory relevant to tariff protection, particularly as regards the clothing industry. In order to achieve this, various aspects of tariff theory, the implications of protection, and the relationship between protection and trade policy were discussed. Prerequisites for successful tariff protection include the existence of effective domestic rivalry, the potential for a favourable 'diamond' (strategy, structure and rivalry; demand conditions; related and supporting industries; and factor conditions) and that the protection is limited in duration. The effective tariff rate (or effective rate of protection) expresses the tariff as a percentage of the value added by the exporting industry in question. Effective tariff rates are very important as the nominal tariff can be deceptive. Most industrial nations have a cascading tariff structure with low nominal tariffs on raw materials and higher rates the greater the degree of processing. Thus, exports like clothing which use partially processed materials (textiles or fabrics) can face substantially different effective tariff rates in comparison to their nominal tariff rates (in the case of clothing in South Africa, the effective rate is about three times higher than the nominal rate). Theory shows that positive effects of tariff protection include protecting employment, changing the distribution of income (this could be positive or negative, depending on who benefits), protection of infant industries or young economies, protection of strategic industries, providing income for governments (from a source that is less controversial than most income taxes) and protection from dumping. Dumping protection is a questionable point and is seen by many economists as an excuse for higher protection to make more profit, rather than as a legitimate effort to prevent a negative activity. Most of the positive effects of protection are accompanied by negative effects or may not achieve their desired outcome. Negative results of tariff protection include that protection often fails to stimulate exports and domestic output, protection tends to promote inefficient firm scale and entry, protection may be anti-competitive and it may encourage corruption. The most important of the negative factors is the promotion of inefficient firm scale and entry, the promotion of anti-competitive behaviour and the encouragement of corruption both on the part of tariff officials at points of entry, and politicians. All of these negative effects encourage businesses to behave in a complacent and inefficient manner. The impact of protection on the cost position of the clothing and textile industries in South Africa was discussed.

M.A. / Please refer to full text to view abstract

M.A.

D.Com. (Transport Economics) / Countries throughout the world suffer from uneven regional economic growth which can be caused by social, political, economic or geographical problems. The promotion of economic growth on a broad national basis is the method adopted by most countries to lift the standard of living of their people and to eventually eliminate poverty ...

M.A. ( Information studies) / Information and knowledge are the new wealth of our time. Knowledge is a resource that is valuable to an organisation's ability to innovate and compete. As every business has to operate in an increasingly competitive and dynamic environment, business managers should base all decisions on their competitive standing in the world economy and the competitiveness of their knowledge competencies. The ability of a company to mobilise and exploit its intangible and invisible assets has become far more important than investing and managing physical, tangible assets ...

D.Litt.et Phil. (Social Work) / The need for this study arose from the researcher's work with regard to marriage and family life, as well as from her need to understand the specific problems that racially mixed couples have to cope with in the South African context, in this day and age. Further motivation for the researcher was the fact that she has a specific interest in the history of South Africa, especially political history. The two spheres of interest could be successfully combined in this study. In reading on the subject, it became clear to the researcher that this topic lends itself to qualitative methodology, which also appeals to the researcher's mode of thinking and working. The grounded theory approach was new and fresh in the context of Social Work and, as such a challenge to the researcher. In addition to contributing to the Social Work profession, this study could also contribute to the development of research methodology in the Social Work discipline. The goals for the study were as follows: The overall aim formulated was to determine the feelings, experiences and needs of racially mixed couples in the South African context, by utilizing the grounded theory approach.

M.Com. / Please refer to full text to view abstract

M.Ed. (Education) / Please refer to full text to view abstract

M.Com. (Economics) / Please refer to full text to view abstract

D.Com. (Business Management) / The aim of this thesis is to develop and apply a method to measure and evaluate the productivity performance of the branch offices of a financial institution. The thesis has two focal points. The first focal point is the development of a method for productivity measurement and the evaluation of productivity performance based on existing productivity measurement methods. The second focal point is the application of the method and thereafter the interpretation of the productivity measurement results. The unique characteristics of branch offices that had to be taken into consideration and provided for in productivity measurement y!ere highlighted. The requirements for sound productivity measurement, such as the validity and consistency of productivity measurement methods, techniques and models were pointed out. A wide range 0: existing productivity measurement methods and models were researched. The existing methods and models for productivity measurement were found to be lacking in respect of their inability to reflect the effect of free products and services or the effect of resource substitution in the case of multiple resources. The productivity measurement method proposed in this thesis is based on productivity accounting, standard costing and baseline rate analysis.