區域發展差異現象一直以來為國家政策所關注，而近年來台灣地區失業率有逐漸上升的趨勢，各縣市之表現亦大相逕庭，顯示各地區存在失業差異現象。過去研究較少以空間觀點觀察失業相關議題，此外，關於區域差異因素對失業率之影響鮮少納入政府規劃因素。因此，本研究以空間自相關分析方法檢測失業是否具有空間相關性及聚集性，並應用長期追蹤資料（panel data）迴歸模型，以人口、產業、所得、都市化程度及政府規劃因素，分析台灣22縣市1988至2008近二十年來各區域差異因素對失業率之影響，藉由實證結果提出相關都市及產業政策之建議。實證結果發現，台灣失業分佈具有一定程度的空間相關性，且高低失業率在各縣市間亦有聚集現象。再者，依固定效果模型實證結果發現人口數、工業及服務業就業者百分比、都市化程度、工業區面積百分比與失業率間呈現顯著正向關係；經濟發展支出百分比與失業率呈現顯著負向關係；區域固定效果，即排除自變數影響下，各縣市本身區域特質對失業率之影響，結果顯示台北縣及桃園縣之係數為負向，南投縣、嘉義縣、台東縣與花蓮縣之係數為正向；時間固定效果方面，大部分年度皆具顯著性，且係數有由負轉正之趨勢，代表特定時間衝擊會對失業率造成影響。 / Differences in regional development have been a focus on national policies. Recently, there is a increasing trend in the unemployment rate in Taiwan, and it also differs from cities and counties, indicating there exists differences in regional unemployment. Previous research rarely combined unemployment issues with spatial perspective. In addition, the effect of regional discrepant factors on the unemployment rate rarely take government planning factors into account. Therefore, this study uses spatial autocorrelation analysis to detect whether unemployment has spatial correlation and aggregation, and applies panel data regression model with population, industry, income, the degree of urbanization, and government planning factors to analyze the effect of regional discrepant factors on the unemployment rate in Taiwan's 22 cities and counties from 1988 to 2008. According to the empirical results, we come up with some urban and industrial policy proposals. Empirical results indicate that the distribution of unemployment in Taiwan has a certain degree of spatial correlation, and high or low unemployment rate also has aggregation among cities and counties. Furthermore, according to the results of the fixed effects model, population, the percentage of industrial and service sector employment, the degree of urbanization, and the percentage of industrial area show a significant positive relationship with unemployment rate. The percentage of expenditures for economic development shows a significant negative relationship with unemployment rate. Region-specific fixed effect, which exclude the influence of independent variables, is the effect of regional characteristics of counties and cities on the unemployment rate. This result shows the coefficient of Taipei County and Taoyuan County is negative, and the coefficient of Nantou County, Chiayi County, Taitung County and Hualien County is positive. As for time-specific fixed effect, almost all years are significant, and the coefficient has the trend from negative to positive, indicating that a particular time impact will affect the unemployment rate.

Thesis (M.Com. (Economics))--North-West University, Vaal Triangle Campus, 2005.

Thesis (M.Com. (Economics))--North-West University, Vaal Triangle Campus, 2005.

Thesis (M.Com. (Economics))--North-West University, Vaal Triangle Campus, 2006.

Thesis (M.Com. (Economics))--North-West University, Vaal Triangle Campus, 2006.

This dissertation studies the role of clothing manufacturing co-operatives in job creation and poverty alleviation in Sharpeville. Ttie study focuses on three areas, namely, the theories of unemployment, poverty and clothing manufacturing, the state of unemployment and poverty in Sharpeville and clothing manufacturing co-operatives as one of the contributors to the solution to unemployment and poverty. Unemployment is identified, among others, as a major determinant of poverty; therefore, the main component of any policy aimed at eradicating poverty should focus on employment creation. The clothing industry being the most labour-intensive industry in South Africa with low capital entry requirement creates opportunities for entrepreneurially driven employment creation in Sharpeville. The approach in the dissertation was to define and measure unemployment and poverty and determine the profile of the poor in Sharpeville. This is done by employing household-level indicators. For measuring poverty the following tools are used: the Household Subsistence Level (HSL) as poverty line, the, headcount index, the poverty gap and the dependency ratio. Unemployment is also used to determine poverty levels. The dissertation shows that Sharpeville experiences high unemployment rates and low levels of poverty based on the indicators employed. Compared to Bophelong, most indicators (except for unemployment) show that Sharpeville is better off. Comparing the operations of clothing businesses in Sharpeville and Mitchell's Plain, the dissertation shows that clothing manufacturing has the potential to create job opportunities in Sharpeville if assistance could be offered. Assuming that assistance is offered to form clothing manufacturing cooperatives. The dissertation shows that 374 jobs could be created and that the unemployment rate could decrease from 59.2 percent to 52.9 percent. The expenditure of the whole population of Sharpeville on clothing (also considering nearby communities) shows a potential big market for clothing manufacturing co-operatives in the township. At an average income of R600 per month the impact will be that the poverty rate will be reduced from 43.1 percent to 40.8 percent and at an average income of R1 500 the impact will be that the poverty rate decrease from 43.1 percent to 39.1 percent. Finally, the dissertation concludes that clothing manufacturing co-operatives can indeed create job opportunities and alleviate poverty, but assistance from different structures is needed. The dissertation suggests major support systems like involvement by industry and training institutions, the formation of associations working directly with operators, the addressing of the problem of geographic location of service providers and government involvement. / Thesis (M.Com. (Economics))--North-West University, Vaal Triangle Campus, 2005.

This dissertation studies the role of education and training in job creation and poverty alleviation in the Sicelo Township. The study focuses on three areas, namely, unemployment, poverty and education and training. The actual state of unemployment and poverty in Sicelo is determined and the role of education and training in solving the problems of unemployment and poverty is discussed. Unemployment is identified, amongst others, as a major determinant of poverty. The main component of any policy aimed at eradicating poverty should therefore focus on employment creation. Education and training is found to be important in labour force participation, finding employment and, therefore, in alleviating poverty. Across both genders, individuals with a low level of education have less chance of finding employment than those with a higher level. Both unemployment and poverty is measured and a profile of the poor in Sicelo is given in terms of several household-level indicators. To measure poverty, the following tools are used: the household subsistence level (HSL) as poverty line, the headcount index, the poverty gap and the dependency ratio. The dissertation shows that Sicelo, compared to Bophelong, experiences lower unemployment rates as well as lower levels of poverty. Most of the indicators show that households in Sicelo are better off than Bophelong. From the analysis it is clear that a high percentage of the poor population have only a primary or incomplete secondary education, which could therefore imply that the lack of education (especially higher education) is a contributing factor to unemployment and poverty in Sicelo. Hence this study shows that access to education is clearly a key component, not only for human resource development, but also of an individual's ability to cope with modern living and to benefit from available opportunities. The unemployment rate amongst the poor was determined at 61.7 percent for Sicelo and the number of poor unemployed persons estimated at 908. If the poor unemployed with skills could be assisted in acquiring further training in the same field in which they already have skills, job opportunities could possibly be found in catering, retail trade, building construction, sewing and welding. Assuming that jobs for all 908 unemployed poor persons in Sicelo could be created at an average monthly income of R600 per month, the impact on the Sicelo community would be that the headcount index would be reduced from 0.50 to 0.23 and the poverty gap index from 0.37 to 0.22. This implies that the percentage of households below their poverty lines would be reduced from the present 50 percent to only 23 percent, and the average shortfall in income of the poor households would be reduced from 37 percent to 22 percent. More training and/or higher qualifications may lead to an increase in the average income, which will result in the reduction of the headcount index. Finally, the dissertation concludes that investing in education and training indeed can create job opportunities and reduce unemployment. This conclusion was drawn from the contention that uneducated individuals have fewer employment opportunities than their educated counterparts. Educated people have also a higher income earning potential, and are better able to improve the quality of their lives. / Thesis (M.Com. (Economics))--North-West University, Vaal Triangle Campus, 2006.

This dissertation studies the social cost of pollution in Leitrirn, which is a township in the Vaal Triangle area. Policies and technologies that may be implemented to reduce pollution inc poor communities are also discussed. The study focuses on three areas namely pollution unemployment and poverty. Leitrim experiences a high rate of both unemployment and poverty. Residents in this area also experience high levels of pollution. Compared to Rathanda township which is more rural. Leitrim is worse off in terms of unemployment poverty and pollution. Unemployment is a major determinant of povert in Leitrim. The main component of a policy aimed at alleviating poverty in Leitrim should therefore focus on employment creation. Unemployment and poverty are defined and measured in this dissertation and the poor in Leitrim are profiled in terms of their gender qualification employment, unemployment and their spending methods. For measuring poverty the Household Subsistence Level (HSL) is used as poverty line to determine the headcount index and the poverty gap. Pollution is identified as one the factors which affect the wellbeing of the poor negatively. Reducing the k\el pollution will therefore also reduce the depth of poverty in poor communities. This dissertation focuses on the following types of pollution: land-based pollution (littering), dust pollution, noise pollution and air (indoor smoke pollution & air pollution from coal fire) pollution. Alternative technologies such as BM implemented in full scale can reduce the level of air pollution by more that 50 percent. It will also reduce the monthly household expenditure of poor households on coal by at least J.5 percent. / Thesis (M.Com. (Economics))--North-West University, Vaal Triangle Campus, 2006.

Thesis (M.Com. (Economics))--North-West University, Vaal Triangle Campus, 2005.

This dissertation studies the role of clothing manufacturing co-operatives in job creation and poverty alleviation in Sharpeville. Ttie study focuses on three areas, namely, the theories of unemployment, poverty and clothing manufacturing, the state of unemployment and poverty in Sharpeville and clothing manufacturing co-operatives as one of the contributors to the solution to unemployment and poverty. Unemployment is identified, among others, as a major determinant of poverty; therefore, the main component of any policy aimed at eradicating poverty should focus on employment creation. The clothing industry being the most labour-intensive industry in South Africa with low capital entry requirement creates opportunities for entrepreneurially driven employment creation in Sharpeville. The approach in the dissertation was to define and measure unemployment and poverty and determine the profile of the poor in Sharpeville. This is done by employing household-level indicators. For measuring poverty the following tools are used: the Household Subsistence Level (HSL) as poverty line, the, headcount index, the poverty gap and the dependency ratio. Unemployment is also used to determine poverty levels. The dissertation shows that Sharpeville experiences high unemployment rates and low levels of poverty based on the indicators employed. Compared to Bophelong, most indicators (except for unemployment) show that Sharpeville is better off. Comparing the operations of clothing businesses in Sharpeville and Mitchell's Plain, the dissertation shows that clothing manufacturing has the potential to create job opportunities in Sharpeville if assistance could be offered. Assuming that assistance is offered to form clothing manufacturing cooperatives. The dissertation shows that 374 jobs could be created and that the unemployment rate could decrease from 59.2 percent to 52.9 percent. The expenditure of the whole population of Sharpeville on clothing (also considering nearby communities) shows a potential big market for clothing manufacturing co-operatives in the township. At an average income of R600 per month the impact will be that the poverty rate will be reduced from 43.1 percent to 40.8 percent and at an average income of R1 500 the impact will be that the poverty rate decrease from 43.1 percent to 39.1 percent. Finally, the dissertation concludes that clothing manufacturing co-operatives can indeed create job opportunities and alleviate poverty, but assistance from different structures is needed. The dissertation suggests major support systems like involvement by industry and training institutions, the formation of associations working directly with operators, the addressing of the problem of geographic location of service providers and government involvement. / Thesis (M.Com. (Economics))--North-West University, Vaal Triangle Campus, 2005.