This thesis employs a dynamic form of the gravity model and data from 1988-2005 to estimate the effects of RTAs in SSA on intra-African trade. The thesis proposes a better approach to examining member-nonmember trade relations of RTAs. This thesis is unique because it uses System GMM estimator to overcome econometric issues associated with estimating dynamic models. The results suggest that COMESA and SADC has led to a significant increase in intra and extra-RTA trade. ECOWAS has increased intra-ECOWAS trade but decreased extra-ECOWAS trade. ECCAS has had a negative impact on both intra-ECCAS and extra-ECCAS trade flows. The proposed approach of examining member-nonmember relationships provides better estimates. A comparative analysis is made to shed light on how high or low the trade creation effect of RTAs in SSA are. The results of this thesis support the view that the impact of RTAs in SSA is higher than perceived. / x, 61 leaves ; 29 cm

What role can the commercialisation of natural resource products play in the efforts to reduce poverty and vulnerability and how can this be enhanced? With poverty alleviation at the top of the global development agenda, this is a question posed by many scholars, practitioners, donor agencies and government departments operating at the environment-development interface. However, recent commentary on this issue is mixed and ambiguous, with some observers being quite optimistic regarding the potential of these products, while others hold a counter view. This thesis explores the livelihood contributions and poverty alleviation potential of four products traded locally in the Bushbuckridge municipality, South Africa; namely traditional brooms, reed mats, woodcraft and a beer made from the fruits of Sclerocarya birrea. A common approach, employing both quantitative and qualitative methods, was used to investigate the harvesting, processing and marketing arrangements, sustainability and livelihood contributions of each product. The results illustrate that any inference regarding the potential of the trade to alleviate poverty depends on how poverty is defined and interpreted, and on whether the role of these products is assessed from a holistic livelihood perspective that includes notions of vulnerability, alternatives and choice, diversification and the needs of rural producers themselves. Overall, the products studied were key in enhancing the livelihood security of the poorest members of society, forming an important safety net and assisting in raising household incomes to levels equivalent to the wider population, but generally were unlikely, on their own, to provide a route out of poverty. However, there were notable exceptions, with marked variation evident both within and across products. Incomes often surpassed local wage rates, and a minority of producers were obtaining returns equivalent to or greater than the official minimum wage. Other benefits, such as the opportunity to work from home or to diversify the livelihood portfolio, were also crucial, with the trade representing different livelihood strategies for different households. When viewed within the context of rising unemployment and HIV/AIDS these findings assume greater significance. While the trades were complex and growth limited, livelihood benefits could be improved on a sustainable basis if the sector was given the attention and support it deserves.

LL.M. (Tax Law) / This dissertation seeks to analyse the phrase “carrying on a trade” in the context of South African income tax law. South African income tax law places emphasis on the phrase “carrying on a trade”. The Income Tax Act 58 of 1962 (hereinafter referred to as “the Act”) makes reference to the phrase in several different contexts. Trading is relevant to the tax treatment of both income (the amount that falls in the gross income of the taxpayer) and expenditure (the amount that qualifies for deduction). The importance of “carrying on a trade” within the income tax law can be seen in light of the following provisions of the Act that form the crux of this dissertation: section 1 defines trade; section 7 provides for the treatment of income from the trade of spouses married in community of property; section 11 deals with deductions; section 20(1) deals with setting off of assessed losses; section 23(g) deals with deductions not permitted in terms of the Act; and section 24H deals with the treatment of income derived by a partner carrying on a trade in a partnership. It is important to note that though it is not explicitly mentioned in the Act, the revenue receipts or accruals arising out of trade are included in the taxpayer's gross income provided that the trade constitutes a scheme of profit-making. Section 11(a) of the Act contains what is often described as the general deduction

M. Comm. / The aim of this study was to analyse the trade between South Africa and Thailand. The relation between factor endowments and comparative advantage of the Heckscher-Ohlin (H-O) theory as well as the alternative theory of the modern international trade theory were used in the analysis. The trade opportunities and the future trade prospectives of both countries were being presented according to the theory on international trade. The relation between factor endowments and comparative advantage of Thailand and South Africa were presented in the case of labour cost, labour productivity, skilled labour, economic indicators, natural resources as well as technology, research and development. The methodology of the study was based on statistics obtained from different sources in South Africa and in Thailand. These included information from The Royal Thai Embassy in Pretoria. The data were obtained from institution like the Bank of Thailand, the South African National Productivity Institute and the Central Statistic Service of South Africa. The comparative advantage of factor endowments according to the H-O theory and the alternative theory were used in the comparison of both Thailand and South Africa. The result of this comparison clearly points to the fact that Thailand has a comparative advantage in labour intensive manufactures and agricultural land intensive products, while South Africa has a comparative advantage in minerals and higher technology. It is true to state that according to the findings of this study, Thailand has the potential to export labour intensive manufactures and agricultural land intensive products such as garments, fabrics, footwear & parts, computer & parts, rice and natural rubber. South Africa has the potential to export minerals and high technology products (raw material products, mineral products, steel & iron, pipe & parts, chemical products) to Thailand. The study succeeds in confirming the relation between comparative advantage and factor endowments of the H-O theory and the alternative theory. It is also clear that future trade prospects of the two countries are based on comparative advantage and factor endowment. Furthermore, the trade opportunities identified will be beneficial to South African and Thai businessmen.

The objective of the research was to determine the role which South African trade policy played in shaping the development of the domestic petrochemical industry. The focus of the study falls on the domestic development of the petrochemical industry in general, and the polymer industry in particular. Three broad stages are distinguished in the domestic development of the petrochemical industry. Prior to the early 1970's development occurred primarily on an ad hoc basis, with the establishment of domestic production plants for most major petrochemicals. The development of the domestic petrochemical industry over the period from the early 1970's to the early 1980's was characterised by rapid growth in the domestic production of petrochemicals, while the period from the early 1980's to the early 1990's saw a significant slowdown in the annual growth rate for the domestic production of petrochemicals. The role of trade policy in the industry's development over each of these three periods could not be established conclusively. In each period a number of factors were identified which may have impacted on the industry's development. However, two factors do appear to have played particularly important roles in the industry's development prior to the early 1980's, namely strong growth in domestic petrochemical demand and the provision of a substantial degree of protection through quantitative import controls and tariffs. with regard to the industry's development over the period from the early 1980's to the early 1990's, a number of factors were identified which may have influenced trends in domestic petrochemical production, including the withdrawal of quantitative import controls and the progressive lowering of import tariffs, the depreciation of the rand in the mid-1980's, a slowdown in the growth of the domestic demand for petrochemicals, the fall in the international prices of petrochemicals in the early 1980's, and the fall in the international oil price in the mid-1980's. In view of the small size of the domestic petrochemical market it is recommended that local petrochemical producers should continue to expand their focus beyond that of producing solely for the requirements of the domestic market. In light of the key role played by the petrochemical industry in a modern economy, it is also recommended that the industry in South Africa receive more attention from policy makers than it has in the past.

The General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade (GATT) 1994 has resulted in the GATT Contracting States making a renewed commitment to freer global trade and trade liberalisation. These Contracting States signalled their commitment to GATT policies and principles by undertaking to abolish all those non-tariff barriers which were not converted to tariffs and to decrease all tariffs applied by their domestic economies. The movement away from protectionism is intended to bring contracting states in line with the GATT most-favoured-nation and national treatment principles. The only exceptions to these principles are the regional trade arrangements which can be implemented in accordance with Article XXIV of GATT 1947 and the Understanding on the Implementation of Article XXIV of GATT 1947. Regional trade arrangements such as customs unions and free-trade areas have been allowed by the GATT as they are deemed to promote trade liberalisation through the removal of substantially all trade restrictions between countries party to these trade arrangements. In practice this has not been the case, however, as these regional trade arrangements have been known to apply very protectionist trade policies. This research determines whether regional trade arrangements are inherently protective ie does the nature of these regional trade arrangements encourage protectionism? The external trade policies of the European Union (EU), Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), Southern African Development Community (SADC) and the Southern African Customs Union (SACU) are analysed to determine whether the contracting parties to regional trade arrangements have corrupted the GATT provisions and so contributed towards the protectionist nature of these regional trade arrangements. The internal trade provisions relating to the implementation of these regional trade arrangements have also been discussed to determine their compliance with Article XXIV of GATT 1947. As all the selected regional trade arrangements have direct or indirect links to South Africa, the implications of the policies chosen by these parties for South Africa have also been discussed. Analysis of the EU, SADC, SACU and ASEAN has shown that prior to the adoption of the GATT 1994, the free-trade areas and customs unions were not implemented in accordance with Article XXIV provisions. These regional trade arrangements have been moulded to fit the economic aspirations of the relevant contracting states. Of the regional trade arrangements accepted by the GATT, free-trade areas have been found to be the least protectionist and are the least likely to be perverted by contracting parties. Customs unions, on the other hand, may encourage contracting parties to protect their economies as they rely on group participation rather than individual participation. Individual Member States become responsible to the group which provides these states with greater economic power. As a result Member States are motivated to protect the new group entity from outside competition. In this way, they are inherently protective. Safeguards are therefore necessary to protect individual non-Member States from such behaviour. The implications of protectionism for South Africa, SADC and SACU have also been discussed.

Thesis (MBA)--University of Stellenbosch, 2011. / The South African clothing and textile industry has historically benefited from import substitution industrialisation which protected the industry through tariff and non-tariff barriers from foreign competition. Factors such as the impact of globalisation, our accession to the World Trade Organisation and the associated effects on trade liberalisation changed South Africa‟s trade policy to move towards export lead growth at the threshold of South Africa‟s democracy, which paved the way for increased imports from foreign countries. The opening up of the South African economy to foreign competition negatively impacted on the competitiveness of these industries. The clothing and textile industry has been plagued by various challenges, amongst others, cheap imports especially from China (often illegal), South Africa‟s accelerated tariff reduction programme and currency fluctuations (especially the appreciation of the Rand), which culminated in factory closures and huge job losses. South Africa has since 1994 developed unstructured and uncoordinated sectoral responses to these challenges in the absence of a comprehensive industrial policy. The government‟s response to deal with the challenges facing the clothing and textile industry was to re-impose protectionist measures via import quotas on certain categories of products from China. These measures were intended to protect the industry and provide it with breathing space to reposition itself and regain its competitiveness, retain existing jobs and create additional jobs. The quest to regain global competitiveness should be founded on a combination of measures (e.g. the legislative and institutional environment, infrastructure, skilled workforce, innovation and networking) designed to satisfy consumer tastes and preferences that aims to improve the potential for growth in the medium to long-term. The objective of this research report was to assess whether the introduction of import quotas on Chinese goods positively contributed to the South African clothing and textile industry in regaining a measure of competitiveness and growth. The basis of the study is informed by a series of personal interviews with the key industry stakeholders which focused on examining the state of the industry, especially the impact of import quotas of certain categories of Chinese goods. The results revealed that the impact of import quotas on Chinese goods failed to provide any significant benefits to the clothing and textile industry since: (i) although there was a reduction in imports from China into South Africa in the quota categories, importers merely sourced their products from other low cost countries (e.g. Pakistan, Vietnam, Mauritius); (ii) there was no significant increase in local output and purchases; and (iii) there was no significant reduction in the number of jobs lost and none created during this period. These results although supported by business and other academic literature are contested by both labour and government. One conclusion was that a comprehensive approach should be pursued to arrest the challenges faced by the clothing and textile industry to reposition itself within the global environment to regain its competitiveness. This requires the active participation of all industry stakeholders and the implementation of appropriate strategies and tactics which is sequenced and coordinated to enhance their collective outcomes.

Thesis (MBA)--Stellenbosch University, 2008. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: Clear Blue International (pty) Ltd (CBI) is a swimming pool construction company that is in need of a high performance swimming pool pump in order to offer a competitive tender for the construction of an intricate swimming pool at a prestigious resort. There is one supplier of this particular pump in South Africa and due to their sole distributorship and the pump's technical specifications, it is sold at a very expensive price. The result being that CBI can't offer a competitive tender by this means, instead they need to source the pump from another source at a lower price. It was decided to develop a project plan to facilitate the importation process, which is the outcome of this study. A thorough analysis of project management is conducted and incorporated into the importation process. The study takes into consideration the intricacy of the importation process and how this can be facilitated by project management that will lead to success for CBI. CBI recognises that in order to stand out in a highly competitive industry they need to re-invent themselves by new and innovative means in order to stand out from the rest. Project management has proven to be the means by which they can add value to their corporate image. This study provides a useful template that can be of benefit to other importers that wish to use project management and it can be adjusted accordingly to a particular commodity and importers requirements. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Clear Blue International (Edms) Bpk (CBI) is 'n swembad konstruksie-maatskappy. Hulle benodig 'n hoe verrigting pomp met die oog op 'n mededingende tender vir die bou van 'n ingewikkelde swembad-konstruksie by 'n toonaangewende oord. Daar is huidiglik net een verskaffer van hierdie spesifieke pomp in Suid-Afrika en vanwee hulle alleen-verspreiding, plus die pomp se spesifieke tegniese spesifikasies, word dit teen 'n baie hoe prys verkoop. CBI kan tans nie 'n mededingende tender verskaf nie en wil daarom die pomp eers teen 'n laer prys vanuit 'n ander oord bekom. Die besluit was dus om 'n projek-plan te inisieer om die invoer-proses te vergemaklik, wat die resultaat van hierdie studie is. 'n Deeglike analise van projek bestuur is aangevoer en by die invoer-proses geinkorporeer. Hierdie studie neem ook die ingewikkeldheid van die invoer-proses in ag en hoe projek bestuur dit kan vergemaklik en sodoende kan bydra tot die sukses vir CBI. CBI besef dat, om uit te staan in 'n hoogs mededingende industrie, hulle hulself moet vernuwe op 'n innoverende wyse. Projek bestuur is bewys as die metode waarby hulle hul korporatiewe beeld kan verhoog. Die studie verskaf 'n waardevolle profielvorm waarby ander invoerders wat projek bestuur wil implementeer, ook kan baat vind. Dit kan aangepas word volgens spesifieke handelsartikels en invoer-voorskrifte.

Thesis (MBA)--Stellenbosch University, 2002. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: South African exports increased substantially during recent years and were assisted by the depreciation of the Rand. During this time exports to the European Union and the United States blossomed, but proportionally exports to the growing region of South East Asia still remained at a low level. The major global players consider the Association of South East Asian Nations (ASEAN) as an important trading partner in global trade, but the South African market share is minimal in the ASEAN market. The question that now has to be answered is: do opportunities exist for South African exporters in ASEAN or is it due to a lack of opportunities that exports are at the current level? In investigating the opportunities for South African exporters in ASEAN, it is important to know what approach should be followed to select an attractive country for a product or a product group. Therefore this study is aimed at proving an insight into the concept of international market selection and to highlight the approaches in international market selection that could benefit South African exporters. This study also investigates the influence of ASEAN as a regional organisation in global trade and its relationship with South Africa. An overview is given of the regionalism trend and the major regional organisations important in this regard. The political approaches that ASEAN's major trading partners followed to enhance trade are also investigated in order to re-evaluate the South Africa's current relationship with ASEAN. In order to enhance trade, the advantages ASEAN has to offer are also highlighted. Based on previous research literature on international market selection and against the background of the regionalism trend in global trade, a new international market selection model will be developed in this study for South African and international use. This will provide SA exporters with a systematic approach that will enable them to select the most attractive countries for their products or product groups in the global arena. In order to understand the practical application of the model, South Africa as the exporting country and ASEAN as the importing region will be used as a case study. The model will identify the most attractive countries for each of South Africa's product groups according to the 96 chapters of the Harmonised Commodity Description System (HS) linked to product groups and industries based on actual trade data. Based on South Africa's competitive export advantage in the 96 chapters of the HS linked to product groups and industries, opportunities will be identified in the most attractive countries in ASEAN selected by the international market selection model. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Suid-Afrikaanse uitvoere het aansienlik gestyg die afgelope paar jaar en was veral bygestaan deur die depresiasie van die Rand. Gedurende hierdie tydperk het uitvoere na die Europese Unie en die Verenigde State van Amerika die hoogty gevier, maar proporsioneel het uitvoere na die groeiende streek van Suidoos-Asië nog steeds op 'n lae vlak gebly. Die vernaamste globale spelers beskou die Assosiasie van Suidoos-Asiese Nasies (ASEAN) as 'n belangrike handelsvennoot in globale handel, maar Suid-Afrika se markaandeel in die ASEAN mark is minimaal. Die vraag wat nou beantwoord moet word is as volg: Bestaan daar geleenthede vir Suid-Afrikaanse uitvoerders in ASEAN of is dit as gevolg van 'n tekort aan geleenthede dat uitvoere huidiglik op hierdie vlak is? In die ondersoek na geleenthede vir Suid-Afrikaanse uitvoerders in ASEAN, is dit belangrik om te weet watter benadering gevolg moet word om die mees aantreklike land te selekteer vir 'n produk of produkgroep. Daarom is die studie daarop gerig om insigte te verskaf oor die konsep van internasionale markseleksie en om die benaderings uit te lig in internasionale markseleksie wat Suid-Afikaanse uitvoerders kan bevoordeel. Die studie ondersoek ook die invloed van ASEAN as 'n regionale organisasie in globale handel en hul verhouding met Suid-Afrika. 'n Oorsig word gegee oor die regionale tendens in internasionale handel en die vernaamste regionale organisasies wat belangrik is in hierdie verband. Die politieke benaderings van ASEAN se vernaamste handelsvennote om hul handel te bevorder word ook ondersoek om Suid-Afrika se huidige verhouding met ASEAN te herevauleer. Om handel te bevorder word die voordele wat ASEAN kan bied ook uitgelig. 'n Nuwe internasionale markseleksie model word ontwikkel in hierdie studie vir Suid- Afrikaanse en internasional verbruik teen die agtergrond van regionalisme en wat gebaseer is op vorige navorsings literatuur oor internasionale markseleksie. Dit sal Suid-Afrikaanse uitvoerders 'n sistematiese benadering verskaf wat hulle in staat sal stel om die mees aantreklike lande vir hulle produkte en produkgroepe globaal te selekteer. Om die praktiese toepassing van die model te verstaan, sal Suid-Afrika as die uitvoerland en ASEAN as die invoerstreek gebruik word as 'n gevallestudie. Die model sal die mees aantreklike lande identifiseer vir elk van Suid-Afrika se produkgroepe volgens die 96 Hoofstukke van die "Harmonised Commodity Description System" (HS) wat verbind kan word met produkgroepe gebaseer op bestaande handelsdata. Geleenthede in die mees aantreklike lande in ASEAN wat deur die internationale markseleksie model selekteer is, word identifiseer gebaseer op SUid-Afrika se kompeterende uitvoervoordeel in die 96 Hoofstukke van die HS wat verbind kan word aan produkgroepe.

Thesis (MPhil (Information Science))--University of Stellenbosch, 2006. / Research Problem: Research commences at the point where within our department we begin to reflect on penetrating a new market. At first this reflection can be a very unstructured thought, a conjecture, a question, or hypothesis. In our case, it was about entering the Brazilian telematics or more commonly known the ‘tracking’ market. One of the most competitive markets in the world in terms of lower margins and a high number of competitors. Thus, the need to conduct research and CI analysis was paramount; this was because we had no idea about the Brazilian Telematics market. Therefore, we used research primarily to identify key issues relating to telematics (segment, competitors, customers etc) in Brazil. Like most companies however, our resources was limited in terms of investment and manpower. Apart from commissioning a very specific research, a great deal of desk, or secondary research was undertaken, this proved very valuable when formulating our strategy and achieving actionable results. Overall Objectives: The aim was to utilise mostly Competitive Intelligence and Market Research, two key components within Knowledge Management, to obtain and analyse competitive information from multiple sources to aid DigiCore’s international expansion. For the International team Competitive Intelligence was more than analyzing competitors - it was about making DigiCore more competitive relative to its existing set of competitors and potential competitors in international markets. Predictive analysis - analysing and documenting the likely moves of foreign markets and competitors was a key objective, especially in aiding our final strategy in Brazil. Various aspects of CI and Knowledge Management became indispensable to formulate and implement our strategy in Brazil. Research Design/Methodology: sampling, representativeness and data collection, CI, analysis and interpretation were key activities we conducted. In essence, for DigiCore a well-defined research problem is a precondition for our Brazilian project. The development of a research design thus follows logically from the research problem. A set of guidelines and instructions needed to be followed in order to address our research problem. Main Results: there is the misconception that CI and market research duplicate activities, whilst there may be some truth, for DigiCore CI was undertaken to understand our environment better – beyond percentages, graphs and statistic analysis. CI helped us to forecast, validate industry rumours and ultimately make effective decisions and thus being able to act rather than react. In fact, beginning any competitive intelligence project is a daunting task, but the end results made the whole process worth it. A further component was Managing Information Systems - Our technology is based on ‘complicated’ internal and external environments that need to be considered. So whilst, market research and competitive analysis may aid in the final decision making and ongoing strategies, without juxtaposing these efforts within an information systems environment, the whole project would be futile. Conclusion: there is no doubt in our minds, that by using CI, Market Research, and Knowledge Management in all of our key stages and activities we came closer to our overall objective of penetrating the Brazilian telematics market. Whilst it is too soon to evaluate our success and overall long-term growth, without the above tools we know for certain that there would not have been any success at all.