M.Com. (Economics) / This dissertation examines the level of trade between African states in general and West African states in particular. After discussing the background history of the continent and setting out the purpose and nature of the study in Chapter 1, the dissertation examined various international trade theories in Chapter 2. Economic and other arguments for and against free trade or more protection, as well as forms and examples of economic integration and co-operation are discussed in Chapter 3. There are very strong arguments in favour of free trade since both developed and developing countries undeniably benefit from trade, and specially from free trade. In Chapter 4, the performance of Africa in world trade and trade between various countries of the continent was examined. The formation of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS, the review of the economy of the ECOWAS region and the review of economies of some member states, were set out in Chapter 5. Chapter 6 examines intra-ECOWAS trade and assesses the successes and failures of the Community. Finally Chapter 7 contains a summary of the findings of the study. The dissertation draws some tentative conclusions based on the findings on intra-African trade in general, and intra-ECOWAS trade in particular. It seems that most African countries do not realise that it is necessary to unite in order to break away from the vicious circle of poverty in which they find themselves. The leaders of Africa today, unlike the leaders of the 1960s and early 1970s, fail to recognize the economic importance of the unity of the continent. It was a vision of the final economic emancipation of the African continent that led the earlier leaders to promote the idea of a continental unity ...

Call number: LD2668 .T4 1978 K45 / Master of Arts

The principal objective of this research was a critical examination of the Generalised System of Preference schemes as a form of special and differential treatment under the Enabling Clause with specific reference to the complaint brought against the European Union (EU) by India regarding the EU's granting of tariff preferences to developing countries with illegal drug trafficking problem.

The principal objective of this research was a critical examination of the Generalised System of Preference schemes as a form of special and differential treatment under the Enabling Clause with specific reference to the complaint brought against the European Union (EU) by India regarding the EU's granting of tariff preferences to developing countries with illegal drug trafficking problem.

Intra-industry trade is a recent development in international trade theory. This study attempts, for the first time, to measure the extent of intra-industry trade in South Africa. It is found that approximately a one-third of total South African trade is of the intra-industry type. The first chapter places theoretical developments accounting for intra-industry trade in relation to the conventional models of trade. This chapter is followed by a detailed coverage of seven models that allow for intra-industry trade, in order to ascertain the major determinants of intra-industry trade. A third chapter examines the "existence problem" and discusses measures of intra-industry trade and a fourth chapter estimates the level of intra-industry trade in South Africa. Statistical analyses of the major determinants of intra-industry trade were generally successful, except for the poor performance of product differentiation proxies. A final chapter concerns the commercial policy and welfare aspects of intra-industry trade, concluding that there are gains to be had, from social and political changes within South Africa, if such changes lead to greater economic integration and cooperation in the Southern Africa region. / Thesis (M.Com.)-University of Natal, 1987.

Rapid economic growth has always been one of the goals of the South African government after 1994. Despite the contradicting views of the theorists, the country considered the global market as one of the gateways to accelerated economic growth. In the early 1990s South Africa opened up to foreign markets by removing trade barriers. However, the results of such actions were not entirely as expected. Different economists suggest other barriers that may be the reason behind lower levels of national output. This study examined the causal relationship between exports and economic growth in South Africa using annual data from 1970 to 2014. However, in order to achieve the main objective of this study, it was necessary to include other variables in the model as suggested by both theoretical and empirical literature. The choice of these variables was informed by an extensive review of literature on both exports and economic growth. The VECM and Granger Wild test has been utilised to capture the short run and long run dynamics of the model. The results from those tests do not approve of the Export-Led growth hypothesis and did not approve any sort relationship between exports and GDP in the short run. In the long run however, using the VECM, the study proved that exports have a positive impact on GDP. The results further suggested a negative long run relationship between consumption and economic growth. Furthermore; the results suggested that government expenditure can be detrimental to the economy in the long run. With regards to private investments, the results of this study suggest a positive relationship between investments and economic growth. Therefore, if South African government seeks to increase economic growth it needs to dedicate a considerable amount of resources in promoting local markets to expand South African exports, cut on government expenditure and attracting investment into the county.

This study proposes to examme the significance of trade policy in promoting the international competitiveness of South African industry during the period from the early 1970s up until the present day. By providing a background of South Africa's past trade policies, it is argued that the origins of South Africa's low levels of competitiveness essentially lie in the apartheid years where trade policies were not linked to the attainment of international competitiveness and improved productivity. The study then reviews the development of South Africa's trade policies in the 1990s. In so doing, it reveals weaknesses in the areas of implementation which are critiqued in greater detail by using the clothing and textile industries as a case study, and other selected examples. The study finally concludes that trade policy is crucial to global competitiveness and that it is the responsibility of all parties concerned to ensure that trade policies enhance and not inhibit competitiveness.

The fundamental aim of this study has been to analyze the experiences of fifteen small South African companies that are currently trading with Africa. The sample included Durban based businessmen who frequently travelled to the respective countries in Africa. Their responses were analyzed against the major documented challenges that are faced when trading in Africa. A wide range of literature has been consulted in order to familiarize the researcher with current business strategies practiced in South Africa, the bodies that have been set up to assist free trade between Africa and South Africa and business practices that are inherent to Africa. The recommendations conclude that the small businessman battles with on-the-ground trading, and even though much has been done by the South African government to "get his foot through the door", the smaller businessman battles with the day to day intricacies of trading in African countries. These problems have to be addressed, as it is the private sector, which is the engine for growth in Africa. / Thesis (MBA)-University of KwaZulu-Natal, 2006.

M.Com. (Financial Economics) / The main objective of this mini dissertation is to examine the effect of exchange rate volatility on international trade. The finding of this mini dissertation is however that the impact of exchange rate volatility on international trade could be either positive or negative depending on various reasons that will be discussed when the arguments of the theorists that have either found a positive, negative and sometimes indeterminate effect of exchange rate volatility on international trade are discussed. The focus of this mini dissertation will be on the manufacturing trade between the Republic of South Africa with the United States and China. The need for an analysis of exchange rate volatility on international trade arises from the fact that firstly no consensus has been reached on the true effect of exchange rate volatility on international trade and secondly knowledge of what the true effect of exchange rate volatility is on international trade could assist in drafting the appropriate policies at government level. The finding of this mini dissertation represents a challenge for policy recommendations as it reflects the fact that various industries, sectors and subsectors of the economy of the Republic of South Africa are impacted differently by the volatility of the Rand/Yuan and Rand/Dollar exchange rates, respectively, therefore any policy that is drawn up to improve international trade needs to be done on an individual basis for each industry, sector and subsector respectively taking into account the various dynamics and characteristics of each. Firstly in the literature review a detailed discussion of both sides of the exchange rate volatility debate will be outlined. It would be shown why there is a lack of consensus when it comes to the issue of what effect exchange rate volatility has on international trade. On the one hand the argument of those suggest that exchange rate volatility hampers international trade or has a negative effect on international trade, such as Sekantsi, (2008); Onafowora and Owoye, (2008); Chit, (2010); Vergil, (2008); Arize et al, (2000); Arize and Malindretos, (2002); Klaasen, (2004) and Doganlar, (2002), will be reviewed. The argument of those that say that in fact exchange rate volatility has no impact on international trade, such as Raddatz, (2008); Frankel, (2007); Arize and Malindretos, (2002); Arize et al, (2000); Klaasen, (2004); Chowdhury, (1993) and Hassan and Sukar, (1999), will also be reviewed. This discussion and the results that arise from exploring this debate have very important implications on the recommendations that are passed on to government to be considered when drafting policies, such as the New Growth Path (NGP). Secondly when the background of the manufacturing industry in South Africa is discussed, all the initiatives and policies such as the NGP that government has planned and put in place in order to rejuvenate the manufacturing industry will be outlined. The impact of exchange rate volatility on international trade has a direct impact on these policies. Recommendations regarding how best enhance the policies to rejuvenate the manufacturing industry cannot be possibly made when consensus about the impact of exchange rate volatility has not be reached. For this reason it was it imperative that the true impact of exchange rate volatility on international trade be made clear.

South Africa, in common with many other developing countries, embarked on an import substitution policy to promote development and industrialisation. Although initially successful, it was recognised in the late 1960s that the scope for further import substitution was limited and that alternative development strategies should be embarked upon. Unfortunately, the years of import substitution resulted in high levels of protection and consequently an anti-export bias. In 1972, under the leadership of Dr Reynders, a commission found that South Africa should embark upon a policy of export promotion. In 1980 a new form of export incentive was introduced, viz. Category A and B. Category A incentives were aimed at neutralising the effects of import substitution and compensated exporters fifty per cent of the duty payable on inputs, regardless of whether the inputs were imported or not. Category B incentives compensated exporters for the consequences of cost increasing on non-intermediate inputs because of the import substitution policy and was calculated on the value added. Exporters also enjoyed various grants and tax breaks to enable them to undertake export marketing. The schemes were unsuccessful and were replace by a General Export Incentive Scheme (GElS) in 1990. The main aim of the GElS was to encourage the export of manufactured products. With the means of an econometric model, the success of GElS is evaluated on a sectoral basis. GElS brought with it rent seeking, corruption, lobbying, and threats of countervailing duties. In addition to the enormous costs, exceeding R6 billion, there were other bureaucratic costs. In general, the GElS was not successful. The sectors that did benefit from receiving GElS benefits were the tobacco industry, footwear, furniture, metal products, and electrical machinery. In most cases, exporters would have exported with or without GElS. GElS was simply a windfall. Policy-makers failed to recognise the dynamics of exporting. GElS contributed neither to additional exports, export capacity nor to a sustained competitive advantage. import substitution policy to promote development and industrialisation. Although initially successful, it was recognised in the late 1960s that the scope for further import substitution was limited and that alternative development strategies should be embarked upon. Unfortunately, the years of import substitution resulted in high levels of protection and consequently an anti-export bias. In 1972, under the leadership of Dr Reynders, a commission found that South Africa should embark upon a policy of export promotion. In 1980 a new form of export incentive was introduced, viz. Category A and B. Category A incentives were aim.ed at neutralising the effects of import substitution and compensated exporters fifty per cent of the duty payable on inputs, regardless of whether the inputs were imported or not. Category B incentives compensated exporters for the consequences of cost increasing on non-intermediate inputs because of the import substitution policy and was calculated on the value added. Exporters also enjoyed various grants and tax breaks to enable them to undertake export marketing. The schemes were unsuccessful and were replace by a General Export Incentive Scheme (GElS) in 1990. The main aim of the GElS was to encourage the export of manufactured products. With the means of an econometric model, the success of GElS is evaluated on a sectoral basis. GElS brought with it rent seeking, corruption, lobbying, and threats of countervailing duties. In addition to the enormous costs, exceeding R6 billion, there were other bureaucratic costs. In general, the GElS was not successful. The sectors that did benefit from receiving GElS benefits were the tobacco industry, footwear, furniture, metal products, and electrical machinery. In most cases, exporters would have exported with or without GElS. GElS was simply a windfall. Policy-makers failed to recognise the dynamics of exporting. GElS contributed neither to additional exports, export capacity nor to a sustained competitive advantage. / Thesis (M.Com.)-University of Natal, 1996.