In a world that is increasingly united in time and distance, I examine why the world is increasingly divided socially, economically, and digitally. Using data for 35 variables from 93 countries, I separate the countries into groups of 31 each by gross domestic product per capita. These groups of developed, lesser developed and least developed countries are used in comparative analysis. Through a review of relevant literature and tests of bivariate correlation, I select eight key variables that are significantly related to information communication technology development and to human development. For this research, adoption of the Internet in the developing world is the innovation of particular interest. Thus, for comparative purposes, I chose Internet Users per 1000 persons per country and the Human Development Index as the dependent variables upon which the independent variables are regressed. Although small in numbers among the least developed countries, I find Internet Users as the most powerful influence on human development for the poorest countries. The research focuses on key obstacles as well as variables of opportunity for Internet usage in developing countries. The greatest obstacles are in fact related to Internet availability and the cost/need ratio for infrastructure expansion. However, innovations for expanded Internet usage in developing countries are expected to show positive results for increased Internet usage, as well as for greater human development and human capital. In addition to the diffusion of innovations in terms of the Internet, the diffusion of cultures through migration is also discussed in terms of the effect on social capital and the drain on human capital from developing countries.

Call number: LD2668 .T4 1979 A33 / Master of Science

The current study assesses the impact of health and education on labour force participation in Botswana using time series data from 1982-2007. To achieve this, stationary test; Johansson Co integration test and multi-collinearity test were conducted before using a dynamic ordinary feast square estimation. There are three labour force participation estimates each ·with four different models. These include: male, female and total labour force participation rate. The .findings were as follows: firstly, an increase of primary school enrolment reduces female participation in the labour force but increases the male participation rate. This increase in male participation rate could be as a result of size of male participants in the labour force or because of their role in the family, especially in the African settings. Secondly, an increase in contemporaneous education expenditure increases both female labour force participation and the total labour force participation rate but reduces their participation in the short-run. Thirdly, the study also shows that an increase in contemporaneous health expenditure increases male participation rate and reduces male participation rate in the long-run while overall labour force participation rate increases in the long-run. Finally. given the importance of health and education on labour force participation rate in Botswana, the study asserts that it is of paramount importance for government to incorporate strategies that encourage citizens to recognise the need to maintain good health and education. In absence of such interventions, Botswana might find it difficult to achieve most of her vision 2016 and MDG 's goals. / Thesis (M.Com.(Economics) North-West University, Mafikeng Campus, 2012

Despite recent phenomenal growth of non-governmental organisations (NGOs) in the developing world, especially in the field of primary health care (PHC), their performance currently witnesses many paradoxes. For example, a paradox between their growth in size and diversity, yet increasing concerns about their impact; another paradox is that of the intense questioning of their performance in development and health, and yet the increasing flow of support from most international agencies; and, a third paradox, is that of the increasing pressures for, and acceptance of the need for, performance evaluation, and yet a lack of institutionalisation within NGOs themselves, and the scarcity of models that can guide/help NGOs in that direction. Many explanations have been suggested for these paradoxes, and are likely to include the following: first, an NGO may lack the performance system which enables it to look at its own performance and analyse in a systematic way; second, an NGO, when undertaking a selfevaluation exercise, may confine itself solely to the project level (for accountability reasons) and overlook the other levels of analysis (namely, the organisation, service delivery, and individual levels); and, third, an NGO may not hold an holistic view as to what areas should be analysed, nor may it have the analytical tools readily available which help it to undertake such an analysis. Evidence from different literature supports each of these possible explanations. Accordingly, within this thesis, to help an NGO self-analyse its performance, a performance analysis framework (PAF) has been developed. This framework is structured to analyse the performance of an NGO service provider at three main levels: organisational; project; and, service delivery. Each level addresses an area for analysis, drawing upon a set of criteria for each area, raising a group of relevant questions for each criterion, and casting light on a cluster of possible investigative tools largely, but not exclusively, qualitative in nature. Theunderlying hypothesis of this framework is that the performance of an NGO in health and social development is the outcome of an interaction of many factors within both its external and internal environments. Hence, in the PHC setting, an NGO is confronted with an external environment composed of contextual elements (political, economic, legal, and socio-cultural), as well as a cluster of relationships with different stakeholders (donors, beneficiaries, government bodies, and other NGOs). On the other hand, the internal environment of an NGO is formed of a four-fold set of inter-related elements: its identity, its strategy, its operations, and its resources. Thus, the kinds of interactions taking place in both these environments are key determinants of the overall performance of the NGO. The PAF was then field tested in Egypt through a series of investigations, including focus group interviews as well as instrumental case studies. Four cases were selected from a pool of Egyptian NGOs (ENGOs) with different histories and geographic locations, but all being Community Development Associations (CDAs); participants in umbrella capacity building (CB) programmes sponsored by intermediary NGOs and funded by one bilateral donor; and, having service provision in the area of Maternal and Child Health (MCH). While the PAF was applied at the project level, the four PHC/MCH projects have also served as entry points to the analysis of the four organisations through a participatory self-assessment approach. The PAF, therefore, served as both research tool and conceptual frame of reference against all four cases, relying upon various triangulation techniques, in pursuit of research validation and quality control. The outcome is that of robustly testing the framework: by so doing, important lessons and insights have emerged both about the external and internal environment of ENGOs; and about the levels and kinds of performance CDAs operating in health currently attain, and can attain in the future. The research concludes with recommendations for a proposed capacity-building programme for CDAs guided by the PAF

Thesis (MA)--Stellenbosch University, 2004. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: This assignment investigates the bargaining relationship between multinational corporations (MNCs) and developing countries. The units of analysis of this study in Global Political Economy are MNCs (non-state actors) and nation-states. In the contemporary global production structure the 'balance of power' between MNCs and developing countries has shifted in favour of MNCs. Descriptive secondary sources were used to illustrate the MNC-State bargaining relationship in telecommunications privatisation in Sub-Saharan Africa. In the contemporary global economy nation-states only rarely still compete for territory, but rather for wealth-creating activities to be located within their borders. Important changes in the global production structure have resulted in the increased mobility and economic power of MNCs. These developments have affected the strategic relationship between MNCs and nation-states and the former have used their advantage to gain preferential treatment in the bargaining process. The nation-states are also competing amongst themselves for the investment and technology and knowledge transfers from these firms. Privatisation programmes in Sub-Saharan Africa have substantially increased MNC participation on the continent, which has been historically marginalised from global foreign direct investment receipts. Research has shown that MNC participation in infrastructure service provision is more efficient than government ownership. However, this does not constitute a loss of sovereignty, but rather emphasises the changing role of nation-states as facilitators of global market relations. On examination, the distinct bargaining relationship in telecommunications privatisation clearly illustrates the dependence of Sub-Saharan African countries on technologically advanced MNCs. Thus, the 'balance of power' has shifted more to MNCs in the global political economy. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Hierdie navorsingswerkstuk ondersoek die bedingingsverhouding tussen multinasionale korporasies (MNKs) en ontwikkelende lande. Die ondersoekeenhede in die studie van die Globale Politieke Ekonomie is MNKs (nie-staatrolspelers) en regeringstate. In die huidige globale produksiestruktuur het die mag tussen MNKs en ontwikkelende lande verander sodat die MNKs nou die magsoorwig het. Beskrywende sekondêre bronne is gebruik om die MNK-regeringstaat se bedingingsverhouding in telekommunikasie privatisering in Sub-Sahara Afrika te illustreer. In die teenswoordige globale ekonomie kompeteer regeringstate selde met mekaar om territoriale mag, maar oorwegend om welvaartskeppende bedrywe binne hul grense aan te moedig. Belangrike veranderings in die globale produksiestruktuur het MNKs se mobiliteit en ekonomiese mag verhoog. Hierdie ontwikkelinge het die strategiese verhouding tussen MNKs en regeringstate verander. MNKs gebruik hierdie invloed om voordeel te trek uit regeringstate wat kompeteer vir belegging en die tegnologie- en kennisoordrag van hierdie korporasies. Privatiseringsprogramme in Sub-Sahara Afrika het MNK-deelname op die kontinent verhoog, wat histories gemarginaliseer is van buitelandse direkte belegging. Navorsing dui daarop dat MNKs se deelname in infrastruktuurdienslewering meer doeltreffend is, as wanneer dit onder staatsbeheer is. Dit lei egter nie tot 'n verlies aan soeweriniteit nie, maar beklemtoon die regeringstaat se veranderde rol as fasiliteerder van globale markverhoudinge. Die ondersoek na die uitsonderlike bedingingsverhouding in die privatisering van telekommunikasie beklemtoon Sub-Sahara Afrika se afhanklikheid van tegnologies-ontwikkelde MNKs. Die magsbalans het gevolglik na die MNKs oorskuif in die globale politieke ekonomie.

Thesis (MA)--Stellenbosch University, 2003. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: The HIPC Initiative offers qualifying heavily indebted poor countries the opportunity to renege on their debt obligations in return for an emphatic commitment to poverty reduction and reform. This dissertation assesses the effectiveness of the HIPC Initiative in light of the fact that one third of the world's population continues to live on an average of US$1 per day. In evaluating the HIPC Initiative one simple question is posed: taking into consideration the abject poverty experienced by over a billion people in the developing world, and the urgency with which it must be addressed, is the HIPC Initiative extensive enough, deep enough or broad enough to effectively challenge worldwide poverty? Using quantitative and qualitative research methods, the dissertation investigates this question by examining the divergent points of view offered by the World Bank and IMF on the one hand, and NGOs on the other as they comment on the most hotly debated issues surrounding the effectiveness of the HIPC Initiative. The analysis leads us to an evaluation of the following issues: establishing debt sustainability to qualify for HIPC relief; the issue of conditionality and the use of poverty reduction strategy papers; funding the HIPC Initiative; the likelihood of HIPCs escaping the debt trap after HIPC relief; and finally, how the HIPC Initiative is contributing to attaining the Millennium Development Goals is evaluated. After probing the stances of the World Bank and IMF, and the contrasting views of NGOs the conclusions indicate that the HIPC Initiative is neither extensive, deep nor broad enough to effectively challenge poverty, or to provide indebted poor countries with a lasting escape from the burden of unsustainable debt. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Die Heavily Indebted Poor Countries (HIPC) Inisiatief bied aan arm lande met 'n groot skuldlas, wat kwalifiseer vir hulp, die geleentheid om hul skuldverpligtings af te las in ruil vir 'n definitiewe verbintenis tot armoede-vermindering en -hervorming. Hierdie verhandeling evalueer die doeltreffendheid van die HIPC Inisiatief teen die agtergrond van die feit dat een derde van die wêreld se bevolking op 'n gemiddelde van een Amerikaanse Dollar per dag oorleef. Hierdie evaluering van die HIPC Inisiatief stel 'n eenvoudige vraag: Is die HIPC Inisiatief voldoende en uitgebreid genoeg om die uitdaging van wêreldwye armoede aan te spreek indien 'n mens die uiterste armoede van meer as 'n biljoen mense in ontwikkelende gebiede in ag neem, sowel as die dringendheid waarmee dit aangespreek moet word? Deur van kwantitatiewe en kwalitatiewe navorsingsmetodes gebruik te maak, ondersoek die verhandeling hierdie vraag deur uiteenlopende gesigspunte van die Wêreldbank en die Internasionale Monitêre Fonds (IMF) aan die een kant, en Nie- Regerings Orginisasies (NRO's) s'n aan die ander kant, te ondersoek aan die hand van hul kommentaar op die belangrikste kwessies oor die doeltreffendheid van die HIPC Inisiatief. Hierdie ontleding lei tot 'n evaluering van die volgende kwessies: bepaling van lande se potensiaal om met terugbetalings vol te hou ten einde vir hulp deur die HIPC te kwalifiseer; die kwessie van voorwaardelikheid en die gebruik van armoedeverligtingstrategieë; befondsing van die HIPC Inisiatief; die moontlikheid dat die HIPC's die skuldstrikke na toepassing van HIPC-bystand sal ontsnap; en laastens, hoe die HIPC Inisiatief se bydrae tot die bereiking van die Millenium Ontwikkelingsdoelwitte geëvalueer word. Die standpunte van die Wêreld Bank en die IMF sowel as die teengestelde sienings van die NRO's word ondersoek. Die gevolgtrekking toon dat dat die HIPC Insiatief nie uitgebreid, diep of breed genoeg is om armoede doeltreffend hok te slaan nie, of om skuldlastige arm lande te help om finaal van hul skuldlas te ontsnap nie.

This thesis focuses on how trade openness influences the average annual growth rates of developing countries in Latin America and Asia. We find that there is a positive correlation between trade openness and economic growth and this indicates the positive impact that can be made by governments through efforts to stimulate growth with trade. We construct a simple regression model to highlight the positive association between trade openness and economic growth and add several control variables such as initial GDP per capita and gross domestic investment. We use a sample of 33 developing countries in Asia and Latin America to test the relationships. Our results confirm a positive relationship between trade openness and growth, as well as a negative correlation between initial GDP per capita and economic growth which means that poorer countries grow faster. We also find a positive correlation between the level of investment and growth. In addition to testing the relationship between trade openness and rate of growth generally, we also conduct a regression to examine if there is a significant difference in this effect between Asia and Latin America. We introduce regional dummy variables and interaction terms into the new regression and find that the impacts of trade on growth are not significantly different between these two regions.

<p>In this thesis, trade with waste between developed countries and the third world will be presented to analyze whether waste‐trading can create a possible win-win situation. To carry on this question problem, three theories have been considered to explain why and how developing countries can be affected by international waste-trade. A few case-studies regarding waste-trade in developing countries such as, India, China and Vietnam, will show the situation of waste-trade today. These theories and case-studies will set the foundation for analysis and conclusion. To sum up, trade with waste is a complex problem that can affect the importing country in both positive and negative ways. If the negative externality that is caused by handling waste is controlled with a tax or regulation, trade with waste can be a win-win situation for the trading countries.</p>

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