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The economic effects of the Coega mega-project on businesses in Motherwell: investigating the manner in which workers at Coega spend their incomeLande, Kwanda January 2016 (has links)
Research report submitted to the School of Architecture and Planning, University of the Witwatersrand, in fulfilment of the requirements for the Master of Science in Development Planning, 2016 / In South Africa, the promotion of economic zones by government is marked by a paradox. The Department of Trade and Industry promote economic zones in the promise of “regional development” (Department of trade and industry 2014). However, scholars including Chinguno (2009, 2011) and Robbins (pers. communication 2015) have argued that economic zones are not designed for this purpose. In particular, economic zones have been criticised for having minimal positive economic impact on adjacent communities (ibid.). This research as a result is located under the broad theme of economic impact or effects of economic zones, with a specific focus on induced economic effects of the Coega mega-project on businesses in Motherwell. In this research induced economic effects are understood in the context of income spending that result from direct effects (employment) of the Coega mega-project.
Income spending as a lens has been used to investigate the manner in which workers employed at Coega mega-project spend their income, with a particular interest on whether these workers do or not spend their income on businesses that are operating in Motherwell. Motherwell is one of the adjacent communities - to the Coega mega-project - that have been targeted by the Coega mega-project for development (Nelson Mandela Bay Municipality 2010a). This community as a choice or area of study is interesting since the existence of the Coega mega-project is encourage by the Nelson Mandela Bay Municipality because of its potential to create jobs and foster economic growth in Motherwell (see Nelson Mandela Bay Municipality 2010a, 2010b, 2014b). Primary data resulting from a survey that involved 30 workers demonstrates that there is about 10 different ways in which workers at Coega spend their income. This include renting accommodation - buying food, clothing/cosmetics, fuel - paying for medicine/doctor visits, child care, education, recreation and transportation. Moreover, workers at Coega who participated in this research also spend their income by sending it to family members and they also save their income with banks.
This research reveals that none of the workers who do not stay in Motherwell are spending their income on businesses that are operating in Motherwell. Moreover, this research also reveals that most of the income from the workers who stay in Motherwell is spent on businesses that are not operating in Motherwell. As a result of these challenges amongst other challenges for Motherwell - identified in this research - I have concluded this research by providing an intervention of what could be done to address issues of poverty and unemployment in Motherwell through income spending of workers at Coega. I have suggest that Motherwell should be developed to offer a safer and accessible urban structure/environment, characterised by mix of land uses at specific nodes that responds to income spending of workers at Coega. / MT2017
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Analysis of the determinants of poverty in South AfricaKgaphola, Hlali Kemedi January 2016 (has links)
A research dissertation submitted in partial fulfilment of a Master of Management in
Public Policy (MMPP)
The University of Witwatersrand
Wits School of Governance
26 February 2015 / This research dissertation investigates what factors drive poverty in South Africa using annual data from 1996 to 2013. In an attempt to contribute towards a better understanding of what contributes to poverty in South Africa, the researcher adopted three types of research questions: a contextual research question, a main research question and an applied research question. The central questions of this study was “what drives poverty in South Africa?” and “how do these drivers influence poverty trends in South Africa?” The study recognises poverty as a multi-dimensional phenomenon, in addition to the unidimensional money-metric definition of poverty for analysis purposes. Consequently although the study adopts the monetary definition of poverty as a framework to poverty analysis; it also incorporates other variables that capture the multi-dimensional nature of poverty relevant to the South African context. The study uses various data analysis tools including descriptive statistics, line graphs, bivariate analysis, and trend analysis to investigate the relationship between poverty and the variables in this study. Consistent with Klasen (2000) and Finn et al. (2013), the main findings were that there is a negative relationship between poverty and government expenditure on health, housing, energy, public order and safety, and access to credit in South Africa. On the contrary, government expenditure on education is found not to reduce poverty in South Africa, neither is unemployment found to increase poverty in South Africa. The research concluded that although certain variables are expected to reduce or increase poverty, remedial policy interventions by Government and country specific economic structure mitigate these a prior expectations. From these findings the researcher makes recommendations, contributing to how scholars (and government) can further their attempt to alleviate poverty in South Africa. / MT 2018
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An exploratory study into factors affecting the motivation and performance of black South African managers.Yudelowitz, Jonathan Brian January 1991 (has links)
A research report submitted to the
Faculty of Business Administration
University of the Witwatersrand,
Johannesburg,
In partial fulfilment of the
requirements for the degree of
Master of Management. / The development of black managers is one of the most important
challenges facing South African companies as the society
undergoes a transition to a non-racial order. (Abbreviation abstract) / Andrew Chakane 2019
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Infrastructure, FDI and manufacturing exports in Africa: the firm level analysisMoyo, Busani 15 May 2015 (has links)
Thesis (Ph.D.)--University of the Witwatersrand, Faculty of Commerce, Law and Management, School of Economic & Business Sciences, 2011. / The primary aIm of this study is to investigate the role that is played by the quality of
infrastructure on export participation and on foreign direct investment using firm level data from
the World Bank and employing maximum likelihood techniques such as the Tobit and Probit
models. Results show that firm size, foreign ownership, internet access, international distance,
electricity, customs and generator ownership matter in influencing export participation. Thus the
reason why very few firms in Africa are outward oriented is partly because of poor market access
and poor electricity and customs infrastructure. Ln the case of foreign direct investment (FDI)
results show that foreign firms are attracted to a market, bigger in size and that market access is
also very important. FDI results also show that a big market in an environment characterized by
acute power problems negatively affects market seeking FDI. Customs problems generally have
a weak negative effect on the probability to be foreign invested particularly inward FDI, but days
to export matter to outward looking foreign producers. Water problems do not seem to matter for
both FDI firms and exporters in this study. In light of these findings, there is need therefore for
the government in collaboration with multilateral institutions like the World Bank, United
Nations and other donor agencies to mobilise resources to improve Africa's infrastructure
facilities particularly customs, power and international transport facilities . This could also be
done by involving the private sector through various Public Private Partnership arrangements.
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The role of local economic development agencies (LEDAs) in supporting local innovationNene, Ornet James 25 August 2016 (has links)
A research report submitted to the Wits Business School, University of the Witwatersrand, in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Management in Innovation Studies.
March 2015 / The purpose of the research is to identify interventions required for Local Economic Development Agencies (LEDAs) to achieve their role in supporting local innovation.
This study uses a qualitative research methodology of inquiry and analysis of LEDAs. The methodology is based on a process in which themes are developed from categories that emerge from the analysis of data collected through techniques such as unstructured discussions with most of the Industrial Development Corporation (IDC) grant-funded LEDAs’ management and administrative personnel; parent-municipalities’ management; political leadership (mayors and councillors); observations, documented case studies on the five (5) LEDAs under study (ILembe, ASPIRE, UMhlosinga, Mandela Bay, and Lejweleputswa); and other LEDAs within the South African context, and those in other developing and developed countries. Given that the IDC has to date funded almost thirty (30) LEDAs throughout the nine provinces of South Africa, the five (5) LEDAs sampled, have been purposively selected.
This study addresses the challenges that LEDAs face if they are to be successful. These challenges involve striking the right balance between operational freedom or agility and the need for effective policy and strategy leadership and supervision from the public bodies involved. There are also critical communication challenges that have to be addressed. Despite widespread acceptance within government of the need to pursue active economic development policies, it is not immediately apparent to citizens or media commentators that this is a natural arena for local government activity, and there is limited appreciation of what is appropriate local development activity or investment.
From the study, it is evident that, since local economies respond best to integrated approaches that combine physical, social, economic, and environmental interventions, and these are activities where responsibility is usually widely dispersed amongst a range of bodies and authorities, it is critical that there is effective leadership both within the LEDAs and within the wider range of bodies to achieve co-
ordination. Leadership overcomes institutional rigidities and gaps in mandates by fostering an integrated vision and collaborative organisations. At the same time, the possible absence of leadership in local government, in the business community of a locality, and in the LEDAs themselves, would make an integrated approach and public confidence very difficult to achieve and sustain.
Drawing on the results of the study on the five (5) IDC-funded LEDAs, it is evident that there is overwhelming confidence in the LEDA model across local municipalities within the South African landscape. This is also pertinent in most developing countries, as is also the case in Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) countries. Through analysing the findings of the study, it has emerged that research consistently proves that historically, numerous developed and developing countries have opted to use the LEDA models as a preferred vehicle to implement local economic development at local and district municipality levels. However, for all LEDAs, there is a primary need to first define what value the LEDA will add, with clear goals and roles to its locality, before it is established.
Furthermore, the analysis does not focus only on the LEDA in isolation, but focuses on the coherence and efficiency of how all the relevant institutions and formations in a locality work together in a ‘local innovation system’ (LIS). There is a tendency in the economic development arena to expect that a LEDA should succeed ‘on its own’ rather than by working within a local innovation system (LIS). This study has observed that, for LEDAs to be effective, they should operate within the well designed and co-ordinated local innovation system. This implies that the system of organisations for local governments must be well managed and integrated. This requirement must not be placed on LEDAs alone, but on all the relevant institutions and formations within a particular LEDA’s locality.
It can be concluded from the findings mentioned in Chapter 4 that there is a ‘golden-thread’ that is characteristic of the five (5) LEDAs discussed in the study. This ‘golden-thread’ serves as a recommendation for LEDAs to adopt for them to be successful in achieving their mandates.
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A comparison of the economic status of mothers by marital status : an analysis of South African survey data.Hatch, Michelle. January 2009 (has links)
In the post-apartheid period, little research has focused on the economic welfare of South
African mothers. In particular there are few studies that compare the economic status of
mothers by marital status. Many children in South Africa live in households without
fathers (Posel and Devey 2006), which indicates that there is a high incidence of single
motherhood in South Africa. Previous research has shown that South African women are
more likely to be poor than their male counterparts and female-headed households, on
average, are poorer than male-headed households (Posel and Rogan 2009a; Armstrong et
al. 2008; Hoogeveen and Özler 2006; Budlender 2005; Rose and Charlton 2002; Woolard
and Leibbrandt 1999). These results suggest that single mothers and their children would
be more likely to be worse off than families that include men.
Historically, insufficient data on motherhood made it difficult to identify a national
sample of mothers; however recent household surveys have made it easier to do so.
Using the General Household Survey (GHS) 2006 I am able to identify all women aged
from 19 to 65 who are co-resident with at least one of their children aged 18 or younger.
A disadvantage of this sample is that it excludes not co-resident mothers who have left
their household of origin – often in pursuit of better work opportunities. Consequently
the sample underestimates the extent of motherhood as well as the labour force
participation rate of African single mothers in particular.
Despite this limitation, I am able to gain useful insights into the economic welfare of
South African mothers. By undertaking a descriptive and poverty analysis I show that on
average, African and White single co-resident mothers have an inferior economic status
compared to African and White married co-resident mothers respectively. I also show
that disparities in income exist between the two races with White mothers, on average,
having greater access to resources compared to African mothers.
A benefit of the GHS 2006 is that it includes individual information on the receipt of
social grant income. Thus I am able to quantify the impact of public transfers, as well as
other categories of income, on poverty alleviation. I show that African single co-resident
mothers, in particular, are highly dependent on grants. The study also explores the Child
Support Grant (CSG) specifically and notes that the grant is limited in coverage and
value. Furthermore, I highlight that the only other formal method for single mothers to
obtain financial assistance, is via the private maintenance system, which is fraught with
inefficiencies and often the costs of engaging with the system far outweigh the benefits.
This dissertation therefore highlights the plight of South African single co-resident
mothers and concludes by suggesting methods for improving their economic status. / Thesis (M.Com.)-University of KwaZulu-Natal, 2009.
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The impact of South Africa's economic diplomacy on Africa's developmentMlaba, Lindokuhle Hendrick January 2016 (has links)
South Africa has become a significant role player in the international relations since being readmitted into the world community after the first democratic election in 1994. The primary focus of country’s international relations is the African continent. South Africa has played a pivotal role in bringing peace across the continent. There has also been an increase in South Africa’s engagement with the continent on economic and trade issues. South Africa’s economic diplomacy has been scrutinized from different angles. There has been perceptions of a South Africa with imperialists or hegemonic tendencies resembling those of the West. There are also those who view South Africa’s economic role in the continent in the positive light as a contributor to economic growth and development. The South African governments have always preached the notion of the “African agenda” and the interest in fair trade and engagement with the continent. This study assesses different debates regarding South Africa’s economic diplomacy in Africa and explores if this is benefiting the continent’s development. The study also considers if such economic diplomacy has positive spin off for the South African economy. Since economic diplomacy is operated at government level the study also considers how economic diplomacy is coordinated in South Africa. There are a number of recommendations presented for the improvement of economic diplomacy in South Africa.
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A history of Grahamstown, 1918-1945Torlesse, Ann Catherine Marjorie January 1993 (has links)
This study in local history describes socio-economic developments in Grahamstown between 1918 - 1945, and analyses the extent to which these developments mirrored trends in the macrocosm. During these years the city failed to become ndustrialised, but enhanced her reputation as an eminent educational centre. Despite being financially handicapped, the City Council undertook large public works schemes for the provision of essential services, such as electricity and an adequate supply of water. In addition a water-borne sewerage scheme was introduced, and roads were repaired and tarred. The influx of a large number of poor rural Blacks into the urban area placed a considerable strain on the city's health services, and housing projects had to be implemented. Local political affiliations and race relations are examined against the background of national developments, especially the growing entrenchment by the State of the policy of segregation. Attention is also devoted to the impact upon the community of international political crises. The cultural and sporting pursuits, as well as the entertainments enjoyed by Grahamstonians, are investigated; and a picture of the local "mentalite" is presented.
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Economic growth and development approaches of South Africa and South KoreaZinn, Augusta Annette 08 August 2012 (has links)
M.B.A. / This study aims to assess the economic growth and development approaches that have been used by South Africa and South Korea. With this in mind, a brief overview at the socio-economic history of each country is given and the various plans implemented by both countries are considered. In chapter one, a brief comparison between the histories of the two countries was made. The intent of this comparison is to highlight the disparities between two countries who were once economically on par. In chapter two, the different approaches to economic growth and development is discussed. The role of human capital and its effects on a countries economy is highlighted. The question of which approach to use is also considered. Should it be purely one approach or can it be a combination from the various models? Chapters three and four deals with the various programmes that have been implemented by South Korea and South Africa, respectively. The approach used and also the outcomes (where possible) are evaluated. In the South Korean situation the difficulties that have shaped the nation and the lingering effects that are still prevalent in its policies (budget allowance for defence and education) can be discerned. In the South African situation it is apparent that the government is also trying to deal with the lingering effects of apartheid. The true results of the programmes (RDP, GEAR) implemented thus far is not clear. The aim was to explore, by means of a literature review, what the economic growth experiences are of both South Africa and South Korea for their respective time periods under review, namely, from 1995 to 2003/4 and 1960 to 2003. the objectives of the study were, to explore the social and economic history of South Korea and of South Africa in order to determine, by means of comparison, policies and or strategies that South Africa might be able to use (if any) in order to establish and maintain economic growth.
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Aspects of the theory of human capital and its application to South African economic developmentBates, Terrence January 1974 (has links)
Human capital is an important economic concept. The significance of human resource development, in the form of both education and health, has long been realised and was stressed even in the writings of the early economists. Introduction, p.1
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