D.Com. / When low cost carriers are introduced into domestic or regional scheduled air transport markets, the effects tend to be profound. In most markets where they have been introduced, lower prices have tended to lead to the stimulation of demand. As the scope of the market increases, so too does the number of entrants in the market, resulting not only in higher levels of competition but also lower prices and services. The success of the low cost model is indicated by the uptake in the air transport markets, where low cost carriers sometimes account for as much as 50% of the total air traffic movements. The presence of the low cost carriers is not necessarily a guarantee of success and the market failure rates tend to be high...

A research report submitted to the Faculty of Commerce, Law and Management, University of the Witwatersrand, in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Management in Strategic Marketing Johannesburg, April 2016 / The study hypothesized a relationship between the dependent variable, consumers’ intention not to purchase, with four independent constructs, namely, health concerns, perceived price, restricted availability and subjective norms, as de-marketing indicators. The study targeted just over two hundred consumers, aged eighteen and above, who had consumed alcohol in the last seven days, in the greater Gaborone area. The respondents were chosen using random simple sampling and quota sampling. Because of this and the fact that the greater Gaborone area makes up about fifty percent of alcohol sales, the results of the quantitative study are reasonably representative. The data was collected using structured questionnaire. The hypotheses and models were tested, and structural equation modelling performed, using SPSS and AMOS software. The study aims to address the gap of body of knowledge on alcohol policy in Botswana and other developing countries. The undertaken literature review revealed that it is only the developed countries that have implemented and evaluated their policies. The developing countries recently followed suit because their economic growth has increased consumers’ buying power and appetite for aspirational brands. The liquor industry’s advertising, promotion and sponsorships grew consumption significantly, along with socio-economic costs, such as absenteeism, alcohol abuse, car accidents, alcohol-related diseases, and the spread of HIV. Botswana’s alcohol policy has been in effect since 2011, under the Ministry of Health. Among others, legislature was revised, government imposed a tax, liquor trading days and hours amended, health-related alcohol public campaigns rolled out, and the legal blood alcohol level lowered. The study has found that the four independent constructs all influence consumer’s intention not to purchase. The biggest opportunity revealed is the effect of subjective norms, which should be exploited going forward. It is hoped by the researcher that this study, not only adds to the body of knowledge, but stimulates more research on the same. / MT2017

A DISSERTATION Submitted in full fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of MASTERS OF COMMERCE (Marketing) at the UNIVERSITY OF THE WITWATERSRAND 2016 / In the retail sphere of coffee shops, the increase in competition has led retailers to revert to alternative methods of capturing the attention of customers. By means of multi-sensory branding, retailers aim to stimulate consumers‟ emotions towards a brand, which ultimately influences buying behaviour. Although the success of multi-sensory branding is still relatively low, there seems to be an increased awareness of involving the five senses into the retail sphere. Its successful implementation can help marketers benefit financially through increased sales, profits and market share. The purpose of the present study is therefore to fill this void by exploring the effect of multi-sensory branding on purchase intention at coffee shops in Johannesburg. For the purpose of this study, the five senses (sight, touch, taste, smell and sound) are the predictor variables, with customer satisfaction as the mediating variable, and purchase intention as the outcome variable. Despite a number of studies that have been conducted in this field, little research has focused on the South African coffee shop industry, which is gaining increased attraction from global investors. This study follows a quantitative approach in which 400 surveys were distributed among male and female students at University of the Witwatersrand to explore the influence of multi-sensory branding on purchase intention at coffee shops. Although the findings indicate that all six proposed hypotheses are supported, the strongest relationships were found to be between customer satisfaction and sound, taste, and smell respectively. Thus indicating that sound, taste and smell have the most significant influence on customer satisfaction. Likewise, customer satisfaction has a significant influence on purchase intention. The contribution of this paper is firstly, to expand the contextual knowledge multi-sensory branding and its factors that are used to influence consumer purchase intentions. Secondly, it will add to existing literature on multi-sensory branding. Theoretically, it also contributes to the consumer behaviour literature in marketing and retail branding. Lastly, the investigation completed on the influences of purchase intentions, provides marketing practitioners with a proper understanding of techniques and strategies that can be employed to influence buying behaviour through manipulation of multiple sensory cues. / MT2017

A Research Report Submitted to the Faculty of Commerce, Law and Management, Witwatersrand University School of Economics and Business Sciences, In partial fulfilment of the requirements of a Master Degree in Marketing, May 2017 / The consumer market of Smart wearable technology has shown a massive growth, therefore convincing that Smart wearable technology will be the next great thing, with market analysts forecasting its market to be worth over $30 billion by 2020. However this belief is mainly driven by major new technology manufacturers to produce Smart wearable devices that commoditise cellphones, tablets, and portable computers to influence consumer purchase intention. Consumers purchase intention is crucial for every business survival, therefore cannot be overemphasised. With the increasing number of Smart wearable technology brands on the electronics market, South African consumers have to make a choice on which brands to purchase. This study examines the factors influencing the purchase intention of Smart wearable technology in South Africa, with a special focus on product quality, design, price, and consumer attitude. From the academic side, the study makes a significant contribution by exploring the impact of product price and consumer attitude on consumer purchase intention. As a result, manufacturers in the wearable technology industry may apply this study information to develop proper strategies that will help influence more people to purchase wearable devices and ensure Smart wearable technology market growth. The study data were collected through the aid of a self-administered hardcopy questionnaire, which was circulated by the researcher in the University of the Witwatersrand Johannesburg. The research findings show that both consumer attitude and product price have a significant positive effect on the intention to purchase Smart wearable devices. Nevertheless, to be more precise, the effect of consumer’s attitude on purchase intention goes through the positive effect of a product design on consumer’s attitude. Both product quality and price are found to extend the effect of positivity of consumer’s attitude toward the product or brand, and the price tag of the product. These scenarios are fully supported in hypotheses one, two, and three. Although both quality and design positively influence product price, Product design is found to have an enlarging effect on product price. Generally, it can be stated that the design of a product successfully influence the price set for product. / XL2018

This dissertation is part of requirement for the completion of the Master of Commerce in Marketing within the School of Economic and Business Science, January 2017 / The purpose of the study was to investigate the factors that influence young consumer’s acceptance of electronic cars in South Africa. A modified technology acceptance model was adopted in order to develop the research conceptual model that was used to test hypothesised relationships. The research examined the effect that perceived usefulness has on perceived trust and value. Further the relationship that potentially existed between perceived value and trust was also assessed. Lastly the effect of perceived trust, value and risk on the intention to potentially use electric cars was examined. The study was quantitative in nature whereby 380 surveys were self-administered to willing participants selected through probability sampling at the University of the Witwatersrand. To analyse research data structural equation modeling approach was adopted whereby AMOS 23 and SPSS 23 were utilised. A key finding of the study revealed that the perceived usefulness of electric cars was positively related to its perceived value and perceived trust. However it was important to note that the influence that the perceived usefulness had on perceived value was significantly greatly than that of perceived trust. The main implication of this finding was that potential customers of electric car were of the notion that if they were to purchase the vehicle it would be based more on the potential value and less on their trust. The overall finding of the study was that all proposed hypotheses were supported whereby it was clearly indicated that the youths sample had favourable attitudes towards the use of electric cars. This TAM was indeed a model that could be used to predict users’ acceptance of a new technology. The chief contribution of this study was introducing a unique approach through a modified TAM to assess youth’s potential acceptance of electronic cars. / XL2018

A research report submitted to Wits Business School, Faculty of Commerce, Law and Management, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, in partial fulfilment of the Degree of Master of Management in Strategic Marketing November 2015 / Building, maintaining and measuring consumption frequency over a specific period of time has become the primary driver of success for nonalcoholic beverage organisations; however, there is limited research on youth consumption frequency within South Africa. Using the Theory of Planned Behaviour, the study aimed to investigate the impact of brand association, flavour variety, peer influence and perceived value on consumption frequency intention in the sparkling soft drink (SSD) category amongst youth in South Africa. A quantitative research design was followed and data collected from 300 research participants aged between 16 and 24 years in Soweto, Gauteng Province in South Africa. The collected data was analyzed using SPSS 22 and AMOS 21 statistical packages for structural equation modelling. All four hypotheses are supported, with results indicating a positive relationship between brand association, flavour variety, peer influence, perceived value and consumption frequency intention. Peer influence and perceived value have a significantly stronger influence on consumption frequency intention. The results also indicate that flavour variety “ambiguous SSD flavour names” scored higher amongst 16 to 18 years olds. Ambiguous flavour naming strategies have proven to be successful in other beverage categories. Quantity-frequency (QF), a consumption frequency measurement instrument has been used, with consumption skewed towards “sharing” with friends or family. This study contributes significant new knowledge to the existing body of marketing literature in Africa and consumer behaviour in emerging markets. This study has implications for practitioners, academicians and public policy makers. / MT2017

Research report submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree Master of Commerce in Development Theory and Policy at The University of the Witwatersrand 2016 / This study investigates the nature of labelling and regulation in South African free-range dairy production. It aims to reveal the complexities of designing and implementing regulation on process characteristics and policy’s failure to address the heterogeneous needs of consumers and producers. In parallel, the tensions that arise in the policy-production interaction are considered. This research addresses a gap in the theoretical and industry literature regarding understanding and explaining labelling, certification and regulation of credence attributes, such as animal welfare, within food systems. It provides interesting and important insight into regulation’s role in developing alternative production structures and niche markets as a response to variety in consumers’ needs and tastes. It is therefore relevant more broadly for understanding drivers for and governance of other niche production structures such as organic, fair-trade and religious or cultural influences. / MT2017

by Chi-heng Chan. / Thesis (M.Phil.)--Chinese University of Hong Kong, 1996. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 70-71). / Chapter 1 --- Introduction --- p.4 / Chapter 1.1 --- Existing models on purchase intentions --- p.4 / Chapter 1.2 --- Objective --- p.7 / Chapter 2 --- Modelling --- p.9 / Chapter 2.1 --- Beta Distribution --- p.9 / Chapter 2.2 --- Beta-binomial Distribution --- p.16 / Chapter 2.3 --- A new model without the binomial assumption --- p.17 / Chapter 2.3.1 --- Difficulties of the binomial assumption --- p.17 / Chapter 2.3.2 --- A new measure of stated purchase intentions --- p.18 / Chapter 2.3.3 --- Modelling the True purchase intention --- p.19 / Chapter 3 --- Methodology --- p.21 / Chapter 3.1 --- Two Approaches of Estimation --- p.21 / Chapter 3.1.1 --- Least Square Approach --- p.21 / Chapter 3.1.2 --- Maximum Likelihood Approach --- p.23 / Chapter 3.2 --- Estimation Procedures --- p.24 / Chapter 3.2.1 --- Least Square Estimation --- p.26 / Chapter 3.2.2 --- Maximum Likelihood Estimation --- p.27 / Chapter 3.2.3 --- Difference between DUNLSF and DUMPOL --- p.27 / Chapter 3.2.4 --- Evaluation of the Two approaches --- p.28 / Chapter 3.3 --- Results --- p.28 / Chapter 3.4 --- Simulation Study --- p.37 / Chapter 3.4.1 --- Procedure --- p.37 / Chapter 3.4.2 --- Simulation Results --- p.37 / Chapter 3.4.3 --- Evaluation of performance --- p.41 / Chapter 4 --- An Example --- p.42 / Chapter 4.1 --- Review on Usage of survey --- p.42 / Chapter 4.2 --- The Survey --- p.43 / Chapter 4.2.1 --- Details of the survey --- p.44 / Chapter 4.2.2 --- Results and Findings --- p.45 / Chapter 4.2.3 --- Interpretation --- p.47 / Chapter 5 --- Discussions and Conclusions --- p.51 / Chapter 5.1 --- Discussions --- p.51 / Chapter 5.2 --- Further Implications --- p.52 / Chapter 5.3 --- Conclusion --- p.54 / Chapter A --- Beta Distribution --- p.55 / Chapter B --- Programmes of estimation --- p.57 / Chapter B.l --- Minimization of (??) by the algorithm DUNLSF --- p.57 / Chapter B.2 --- Minimization of (??) by the algorithm DUMPOL --- p.60 / Chapter C --- Programmes of simulation --- p.63 / Chapter C.1 --- Simulation 1 (Refer to P.39) --- p.63 / Chapter C.2 --- Simulation 2 (Refer to P.40) --- p.67 / Chapter C.3 --- Simulation 3 (Refer to P.41) --- p.67 / Chapter D --- Programmes for figure drawing --- p.68 / Bibliography --- p.69

by Lee Man-Ho, Peter. / Thesis (M.Phil.)--Chinese University of Hong Kong, 2002. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 119-125). / Abstracts in English and Chinese. / Chapter Chapter 1. --- The Literature Review --- p.1 / Chapter Chapter 2. --- "Revealed Preference, Differentiable Demand, and Expenditure Function" --- p.9 / Chapter I. --- Introduction --- p.9 / Chapter II. --- Results --- p.12 / Chapter III. --- Proof of Proposition 1 --- p.30 / Chapter IV. --- Proof of Proposition 2 --- p.53 / Appendix --- p.64 / Chapter Chapter 3. --- Revealed Smooth and Homothetic Preferences --- p.67 / Chapter I. --- Introduction --- p.67 / Chapter II. --- Result --- p.68 / Chapter Chapter 4. --- Excess Demand and Homothetic Economy --- p.77 / Chapter I. --- Introduction --- p.77 / Chapter II. --- Results --- p.79 / Chapter III. --- Proofs --- p.84 / Chapter Chapter 5. --- Conclusion --- p.95 / Appendix. Validating SARP by Computer Programs --- p.98 / References --- p.119

The key underlying question of this dissertation is how individuals develop informed views about the open international economy and make informed decisions as consumers, workers and voters. Globalization has generated competing interest groups that are highly informed about its effects. Each of these groups can exploit its informational advantage and strategically provide information to less informed individuals in order to shape their policy preferences and economic and political behavior. Focusing on this informational discrepancy among domestic actors, this dissertation investigates the mechanisms and the effects of information dissemination from three different angles. The first chapter examines the role of product-related information provided by the news media, biased in favor of domestic firms, in shaping consumer behavior. In the second chapter, I examine the role of trade-related information provided by interest groups in altering the trade preferences of workers. In the third chapter, I examine the role of trade-related information provided by political elites in shaping their constituents' attitudes toward trade. These essays contribute to the extant international political economy literature by introducing an actor that has been largely neglected, illuminating new causal mechanisms with information at the center, and clarifying the causal effect of certain economic groups in trade policy preference formation.