The Olympic Games have become one of the world’s largest and most popular sporting events. With its massive scale, the costs that come with hosting the Games are elevating to unprecedented levels, leaving host cities with massive financial debt. So why do cities continue to bid for the rights to host the Games? In this paper I will attempt to answer this question by providing an overview of the bidding process and the economic impact of the Games and I will argue that the costs of hosting the Olympics are often underestimated while the benefits are greatly overestimated. I will then provide an alternative direction for the Olympic movement.

Class of 2015 Abstract / Objectives: American residents travel to Mexico to purchase medications, like albuterol inhalers, for 1/3 to 1/5 of the US price without prescription requirements. A previous bioequivalence study found clinical differences (P less than 0.05) between Ventolin and Assal, two Mexican manufactured albuterol inhaler brands. What other differences are there among such inhalers when we test more brands and analyze pharmaceutical qualities like respirable mass? This study seeks to provide some reasonable expectations for a medical tourist of Mexico who purchases albuterol metered dose inhalers (MDIs) by comparing the product performance of some of the brands available to the consumers in Mexico. Methods: This study examined the performance of albuterol MDIs obtained from pharmacies in Nogales, Mexico. At least two units were purchased for each of the following brands: Xeneric-S, Victory, Ventolin (GlaxoSmithKline), Assal, and Sacrusyt. At least two lot numbers of each brand were included, with the exception of Sacrusyt, for which a second lot was unavailable at the purchase times. Sample MDIs were compared to US-purchased albuterol inhalers, Proventil and Ventolin. Total dose and respirable mass were determined for each MDI. These parameters were measured by actuating each inhaler into a USP throat, coupled to a cascade impactor, which separates drug particles based on aerodynamic particle size. Particles with an aerodynamic diameter larger than 4.7 micrometers are considered non-respirable, while particles less than 4.7 micrometers are considered respirable and the total of respirable and non-respirable particles is the respirable mass. The total dose delivered is determined by calculating the amount of drug that deposits onto the throat and the impactor. Quantification of albuterol was determined by high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). In brief, the HPLC assay utilized an Apollo C18 column with a mobile phase of 1 percent phosphoric acid:methanol (77:23) at a flow rate of 0.75mL/min; UV detection was at 225 nm. Results: Every inhaler was sold in a Spanish-labeled box containing a single page instruction insert and every inhaler label had a visible lot number, expiration date, and noted a 100 microgram dose. Listed manufacturing locations included China, Mexico, India, and Spain. All of the MDIs were purchased for about $3 to $5 each except for non-US Ventolin ($10-$20 each). The measurements of total dose and respirable mass among the five Mexican purchased brands of inhalers varied widely. The MDIs’ average total doses ranged from 57 to 75 micrograms per actuation, while the average total dose of the US purchased MDIs was 79 to 82 micrograms. The respirable mass of the non-US MDIs was more similar. Among the study MDIs, respirable mass ranged from 28 to 41 micrograms, which compares to 38 to 42 micrograms for the two US branded albuterol inhalers. To further investigate the variability among the study MDIs, student t-tests were performed to compare the mean respirable mass for each brand to that of the other four brands. All comparisons were significantly different (p less than 0.05) except for two (Sacrusyt vs Assal, p equals 0.89; Xeneric vs Ventolin, p equals 0.98). Conclusions: Since significant pharmaceutical variability was found among the albuterol MDIs evaluated in this study, clinicians and patients should be conscious of possible differences in quality, therapeutic efficacy, and safety for albuterol MDIs obtained in Mexico. Sample MDIs compared to each other were statistically different in total dose and respirable mass. Thus a patient who has used US MDIs before can’t necessarily expect to get the same dose from non-US brands.

M.Com. (Transport Economics) / This study deals with the problem of road user cost recovery in a developing country. Two main problems areas have been identified. The first deals with the shortage of funds for financing road infrastructure. Secondly, the responsibility for financing road infrastructure needs to be established. The first objective of the study was to provide a theoretical discussion on the subject of road user cost recovery. The second objective was to establish how much the road users in the Republic of Transkei currently pay for the use of road infrastructure. Thirdly the study wished to establish how much the road 'users should pay, and the final objective was to find methods for u~ilizing existing and new sources for finance. The empirical data for the study was obtained from licence authorities, a border survey, state departments and municipalities in the Republic of Transkei. The literature study revealed that one of the most important decisions to be made in transport policy is the required level of expenditure on road infrastructure. The two techniques that are generally used to determine this level are earmarking of a fixed percentage of the total goverrunent budget for roads and the establishment of a dedicated road fund. The advantages and disadvantages of a road fund are discussed. The approaches that can be used to recover costs from road users may be divided into three categories: - Tax on vehicle usage that varies with the use of road infrastructure. - Methods aimed at vehicle usage which does not vary with the use of road infrastructure. - Methods that are not based on vehicle usage. The Republic of Transkei applies three methods of road user cost recovery, namely fuel tax, licence fees and levies on abnormal loads. These three methods are a combination of all the basic approaches that can be used to recover cost from road users. The N2 national route is identified as the most important road in the Republic of Transkei. The general condition of roads is poor and not enough funds are spent on maintenance. Costs allocated to road users are maintenance costs, capital costs, and administration costs. The existing method of cost recovery from road users is by means of the road fund levy, by licence fees, customs and excise duty and levies on abnormal loads. An evaluation of the existing recovery system in the Republic of Transkei revealed that the system is unfair, total cost is not recovered and there is no dedicated road funding program. In conclusion it is suggested that the following four elements should be added to the existing method of cost recovery from road users levels: - Increase the tax on fuel. - Reviewing of the existing licence fees. . - Implementation of a border toll system. - Levying of a tax on tyres. It is further recommended that a dedicated road fund is started into which all road user levies are paid. The fund should be administrated by either the Department of Works and Energy or the Department of Transport. The fund should be subjected to all the standard accounting and auditing principles.

D.Litt. et Phil. / The Western Cape and the UniCity of Cape Town are the only remaining province and metropolitan municipality that have not been won by the ANC since the advent of democratic elections in 1994. The ANC won the Cape Town substructure, one out of six former sub-councils of the Cape Metropolitan Area (CMA) in the 1996. It is the Cape Metropolitan Municipality (i.e. former CMA) which is referred to as the UniCity of Cape Town in this research. The first and only time the ANC controlled the UniCity of Cape Town was between 2002 and 2006. This was as a result of the floor-crossing and the coalition between the NNP and ANC in 2002. The Western Cape is also the only province in which the NNP, DA1, ANC and the DA2 have alternated between 1994 and 2008. These two factors make the Western Cape and the UniCity of Cape Town the most hotly contested areas in South Africa. This political competition has led to accusations and counter-accusations among political parties that parties that have governed the Western Cape and the UniCity of Cape Town have used the allocation of housing services with the intention of achieving personal or party-political interests. The objective of this research has been to apply a combination of both qualitative and quantitative methods to investigate whether there is evidence to suggest that those political parties that governed the Western Cape and the UniCity of Cape Town between 1994 and 2008 have used the allocation of housing services to further party-political interests. The two leading questions were whether the political parties that governed the UniCity of Cape Town between 1994 and 2008 skewed the allocation of low-cost housing in favour of their supporters, and, if so, how political-party affiliation has affected the access to the housing services of voters in the Western Cape and the UniCity of Cape Town. The methodology used by the researcher is mainly a combination of the analysis of all available electronic and printed material and extensive interviews with the residents of Joe Slovo and Delft areas. In-depth interviews have also been conducted with leaders of community-based organisations, unions, academics and leaders of political parties. The analysis shows that all political parties that governed the Western Cape and the UniCity of Cape Town between 1994 and 2008 have deliberately targeted those suburbs in which their supporters are in the majority and in which the supporters of their rival parties are in the minority. The analysis in this research also shows that affiliation to political party has affected respondents’ access to housing services. The main recommendation is that political parties should be encouraged not to use party affiliation to determine who get goods/services provided by government in a democratic society.

M.Bibl. / The problem discussed in this study, is to determine whether information can be seen as a marketable product. Taking this into consideration, the study provides guidelines how to formulate a price strategy so that information products can be sold. In chapter one, concepts such as product, price and price strategy are described. The characteristics of products and services are used to describe information as a product. The marketing of information products is related to the pricing of information products and in chapter two the role of marketing and pricing of information products are described. Price as part of the marketing mix forms the highlight of this chapter. The methods of determing a pricing strategy are described in chapter three. Different authors' perceptions are taken into consideration with the emphasis on the work of G.H.G Lucas. Three scenarios forms the basis of chapter four. The scenarios are used to illustrate the formulation of different pricing strategies for different information products. The information products used as examples in these scenarios are a CD-ROM database, a training programme and a report on the involvement of mechanical engineers with the RDP project. The overriding purpose of this study is to provide guidelines to library and information services in determing a pricing strategy for information products.

Magister Economicae - MEcon / The main objective of this research was to measure and compare the influence of institutions (government laws, rules, regulations) on the transaction cost of establishing microenterprises in informal/township areas and suburbs. The research target area was Maitland (a suburb) and Joe Slovo (a township area). A research framework was developed using the theories of institutions and the TACE. In order to achieve the research objectives, both quantitative and qualitative research designs were used. A total research sample of 40 microenterprise owners were selected from these two areas. A random sampling technique was used to select half (twenty) microenterprise traders in Maitland and the other half (twenty) from Joe Slovo. The research also applied non-random sampling technique to select relevant government institutions that regulate microenterprises in these two areas. The research has collected both primary and secondary data. To collect the primary data, face-to-face interviews were held with the shop owners in the two research sites and government (City) officials. A questionnaire containing both open-ended and closed-ended questions was used in collecting the primary data. The secondary data was collected using desktop (internet) search and also physically searching government archives and publications. Descriptive statistics (frequency distributions and graphical representations) of the data were used to analyze and compare the data collected in a meaningful way. The research also used non-parametric independent samples t-test to compare the differences of the transaction costs of establishing microenterprises in Joe Slovo and in Maitland. The data collected was analyzed and compared using SPSS statistical research analysis software. The results show, to establish a microenterprise business, microenterprise owners in both formal and informal areas need to comply with the environmental health laws. In addition to complying with the environmental health laws, microenterprises in formal areas are obliged to comply with the City zoning scheme and seek permission to establish businesses in these areas. The application process for seeking the City zoning approval is cumbersome and subjective. The results show that entrepreneurs in informal/township areas are automatically allowed by the local government to establish microenterprises in these areas and need not comply with the Zoning Scheme. The main findings of the study reveal that microenterprises in formal suburbs face higher TACs in establishing businesses in these areas when compared to those in township areas.

Class of 2013 Abstract / Specific Aims: The objective of this study was to examine the availability of immunizations in community pharmacies and the out-of-pocket cost for those immunizations. Methods: Twelve community pharmacies in the Tucson area were examined and one pharmacist in each store was asked to complete a questionnaire. This questionnaire aimed to determine individual immunizations offered at each pharmacy and the out-of-pocket cost for those immunizations. Main Results: Differences in the availability and cost of immunizations were compiled for each category of community pharmacy. The categories included Supermarket/grocery store, chain, Mass merchant/big box, and independent pharmacy. Seven of the twelve (58%) pharmacies included in the analysis participated in pharmacist-based immunizations. Three out of the four (75%) supermarket based pharmacies, both chain pharmacies, and two of the four (50%) mass merchant pharmacies, provided immunizations. Neither of the independent pharmacies included in the analysis provided immunizations. The pharmacies that did not currently provide immunizations, none had plans in the future to provide immunizations. There were no other non-prescription immunizations provided at the pharmacies in the study. All seven pharmacies that provided immunization services stated they would accept insurance and only one of the chain pharmacies had a walk in clinic. Conclusion: Overall this study demonstrated that there are differences associated with cost and availability of immunization services offered between pharmacies. Further research is needed to determine what hinders community pharmacy from offering immunization services and how to develop a form of commonality between all immunizations offered.

One of the new trends in the building construction industry is designing for environmental-friendly buildings, a.k.a. Green Buildings. Planners and designers are therefore trying to accommodate these new environmental practices into existing design criteria. Selection of building materials is one of the key decisions need to be made by building designers. However, due to the strong influence of costs on the building industry, making material-selection decisions solely based on their environmental impacts could be both inadequate and impractical. These factors therefore complicate the building design process, especially pertaining to material selection. Accordingly, the present study is aimed at providing much needed support to the decision-making process of residential building design. To this end, the study evaluates and analyzes the environmental and cost impacts of several building assemblies and material alternatives for the building exterior walls. The Technique of Order Preference Similar to Ideal Solution (TOPSIS) is used to evaluate and rank different material alternatives used in walls based on their environmental impacts. In addition, the environmental data used in this study were extracted from commonly used databases that considered the lifecycle impacts of different residential building materials and assemblies. The environmental and cost impacts of several exterior wall assemblies are then aggregated for different building material alternatives to allow for an objective comparison of these assemblies and facilitate proper building design decision- making. The study results show that wood and exterior insulation finishing system (EIFS) provided the best environmental performance of wall structural and wall finishing materials, respectively. This research is expected to prove useful in supporting building design decision- making. In addition, this research can improve pre-construction estimation and support screening of building materials.

This dissertation analyzes hospital efficiency using various econometric techniques. The first essay provides additional and recent evidence to the presence of contract management behavior in the U.S. hospital industry. Unlike previous studies, which focus on either an input-demand equation or the cost function of the firm, this paper estimates the two jointly using a system of nonlinear equations. Moreover, it addresses the longitudinal problem of institutions adopting contract management in different years, by creating a matched control group of non-adopters with the same longitudinal distribution as the group under study. The estimation procedure then finds that labor, and not capital, is the preferred input in U.S. hospitals regardless of managerial contract status. With institutions that adopt contract management benefiting from lower labor inefficiencies than the simulated non-contract adopters. These results suggest that while there is a propensity for expense preference behavior towards the labor input, contract managed firms are able to introduce efficiencies over conventional, owner controlled, firms. Using data for the years 1998 through 2007, the second essay investigates the production technology and cost efficiency faced by Florida hospitals. A stochastic frontier multiproduct cost function is estimated in order to test for economies of scale, economies of scope, and relative cost efficiencies. The results suggest that small-sized hospitals experience economies of scale, while large and medium sized institutions do not. The empirical findings show that Florida hospitals enjoy significant scope economies, regardless of size. Lastly, the evidence suggests that there is a link between hospital size and relative cost efficiency. The results of the study imply that state policy makers should be focused on increasing hospital scale for smaller institutions while facilitating the expansion of multiproduct production for larger hospitals. The third and final essay employs a two staged approach in analyzing the efficiency of hospitals in the state of Florida. In the first stage, the Banker, Charnes, and Cooper model of Data Envelopment Analysis is employed in order to derive overall technical efficiency scores for each non-specialty hospital in the state. Additionally, input slacks are calculated and reported in order to identify the factors of production that each hospital may be over utilizing. In the second stage, we employ a Tobit regression model in order to analyze the effects a number of structural, managerial, and environmental factors may have on a hospital's efficiency. The results indicated that most non-specialty hospitals in the state are operating away from the efficient production frontier. The results also indicate that the structural make up, managerial choices, and level of competition Florida hospitals face have an impact on their overall technical efficiency.

This paper investigates the rationale of using standard costing in modern manufacturing organisations. Researchers argue that standard costing does not easily fit in with the modern idea of continuous improvement. The benefits and limitations of standard costing and other modern alternative approaches in Eastern Cape manufacturing organisations are examined. Furthermore the factors affecting the accuracy of standards are investigated. Lastly, it is concluded that standard costing is used in Eastern Cape manufacturing organisations and those organisations using standard costing have considered the benefits and limitations.