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Uncertainty and private sector response to economic development policy in post-genocide RwandaNsanzabaganwa, Monique 12 1900 (has links)
Thesis (PhD)--Stellenbosch University, 2012. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: This research explored factors underlying successful implementation of development policy. It
applied new institutional economic analysis to policy-making processes viewed from the
theory, methodology and practice perspectives. Two important results came out of the
analysis. Firstly, policy performance depends on private actors’ optimization processes that
may or may not end up in conflict with the policy prescriptions. This constitutes a major
source of uncertainty. Secondly, getting the policy content right is a necessary but not
sufficient condition for success. How policy actions are delivered (implemented by private
agents) matters a lot. The policy maker is therefore invited to devise an appropriate
mechanism design to that effect.
The study proposes the Connectedness model as a normative methodology to minimize
uncertainty and increase the likelihood of policy success. The model was inspired by a
retroductive inference from some Rwandan living experiments in policy management, which
have assisted the country to quickly recover from the 1994 Genocide of the Tutsi and achieve
high economic performance in a record time. The Connectedness model defines four actors of
a policy process – the politician, the policy expert/bureaucrat, the change
manager/consciousness nurturer and the private actor– and describes the nature of interactions
between and among them susceptible to guarantee success. The more role players are
coordinated, share the same vision and implement consensus building mechanisms, the higher
the likelihood for the policy to deliver according to plans.
The study proposes three recommendations. Firstly, further research is needed to
operationalize leadership, private sector spirit and connectedness institutions as endogenous
variables in the new growth theory models. Secondly, new methodologies are to be devised to
capture behaviour of individuals and the dynamic nature of policy making processes in macroeconomic modeling. Thirdly, economists and policy makers ought to value more the
contribution of social science disciplines such as sociology and psychology in gathering
evidence and tools to handle change effectively. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Hierdie navorsing het faktore ondersoek wat onderliggend is aan die suksesvolle
implementering van ontwikkelingsbeleid. Dit het nuwe institusionele ekonomiese analise op
beleidmakingsprosesse toegepas, gesien vanuit die perspektiewe van teorie, metodologie en
die praktyk. Daar het twee belangrike gevolge vanuit hierdie analise voortgevloei. Eerstens,
beleidsprestasie hang af van die private rolspelers se optimaliseringsprosesse wat aan die
einde van die dag in stryd met beleidsvoorskrifte mag wees – of dalk nie. Dit is dus ‘n groot
bron van onsekerheid. Tweedens is die regkry van die beleidsinhoud ‘n noodsaaklike maar nie
genoegsame voorwaarde vir sukses nie. Hoe beleidsaksies gelewer word (geïmplementeer
word deur privaatagente) is baie belangrik. Die beleidmaker word dus uitgenooi om ‘n
toepaslike meganisme-ontwerp te dien effekte te skep.
Die navorsingstudie stel die verbondenheidsmodel voor as ‘n normatiewe metodologie om
onsekerheid te minimaliseer en die waarskynlikheid van beleidsukses te verhoog. Die model is
geïnspireer deur ‘n retroduktiewe afleiding wat gemaak is na aanleiding van ‘n paar Rwandese
lewende eksperimente in beleidsbestuur wat die land gehelp het om vinnig te herstel na die
menseslagting van die Tutsi’s gedurende 1994 en om hoë ekonomiese prestasie in ‘n
rekordtyd te bereik. Die verbondenheidsmodel omskryf vier rolspelers van ‘n beleidsproses –
die politikus, die beleidskundige/burokraat, die veranderingbestuurder/bewussynsversorger en
die private rolspeler – en beskryf die aard van die interaksies tussen hulle wat na alle
waarskynlikheid sukses kan waarborg. Hoe meer die rolspelers gekoördineer word, dieselfde
visie deel en konsensusbouende meganismes implementeer, hoe hoër is die waarskynlikheid
dat die beleid volgens plan sal lewer.
Die navorsingstudie stel drie aanbevelings voor. Eerstens is verdere navorsing nodig om
leierskap, die gees van die privaatsektor sowel as die verbondenheidsinstellings te operasionaliseer as endogene veranderlikes in die nuwe groeiteoriemodelle. Tweedens behoort
daar nuwe metodologieë geskep te word om die gedrag van individue sowel as die dinamiese
aard van beleidmakingsprosesse in makro-ekonomiese modellering vas te vang. Derdens
behoort ekonome en beleidmakers die bydraes van dissiplines in die Sosiale Wetenskappe
byvoorbeeld Sosiologie en Sielkunde hoër aan te slaan wanneer bewyse en instrumente
bymekaar gemaak word om verandering op ‘n effektiewe manier te hanteer.
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Schumpeter se siening van die kapitalismeLourens, Johannes Jacobus 12 1900 (has links)
Thesis (MCom)--University of Stellenbosch, 1966. / 242 leaves typed on single pages, preliminary pages i-v and numbered pages 1-230. Includes bibliography. / Digitized at 330 dpi black and white PDF format (OCR),using KODAK i 1220 PLUS scanner.
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Labour market returns to educational attainment, school quality, and numeracy in South AfricaVan Broekhuizen, Hendrik 12 1900 (has links)
Thesis (MComm)--Stellenbosch University, 2011. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: This study investigates the extent to which educational attainment, school quality and numeric
competency influence individuals’ employment and earnings prospects in the South African labour
market using data from the 2008 National Income Dynamics Study (NIDS). While NIDS
is one of the first datasets to contain concurrent information on individual labour market outcomes,
educational attainment levels, numeric proficiency and the quality of schooling received
in South Africa, it is also characterised by limited and selective response patterns on its school
quality and numeracy measures. To account for any estimation biases that arise from the selective
observation of these variables or from endogenous selection into labour force participation
and employment, the labour market returns to human capital are estimated using the Heckman
Maximum Likelihood (ML) approach. The Heckman ML estimates are then compared to Ordinary
Least Squares (OLS) estimates obtained using various sub-samples and model specifications
in order to distinguish between the effects that model specification, estimation sample,
and estimation procedure have on estimates of the labour market returns to human capital in
South Africa.
The findings from the multivariate analysis suggest that labour market returns to educational
attainment in South Africa are largely negligible prior to tertiary levels of attainment and that
racial differentials in school quality may explain a significant component of the observed racial
differentials in South African labour market earnings. Neither numeracy nor school quality
appears to influence labour market outcomes or the convex structure of the labour market returns
to educational attainment in South Africa significantly once sociodemographic factors and other
human capital endowment differentials have been taken into account. Though the regression
results vary substantially across model specifications and estimation samples, they are largely
unaffected by attempts to correct for instances of endogenous selection using the Heckman ML
procedure. These findings suggest that the scope for overcoming data deficiencies by using
standard parametric estimation techniques may be limited when the extent of those deficiencies
are severe and that some form of sensitivity analysis is warranted whenever data imperfections
threaten to undermine the robustness of one’s results. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Hierdie studie ondersoek in watter mate opvoedingspeil, skoolgehalte en numeriese vaardighede
individue se werks- en verdienstevooruitsigte in die Suid-Afrikaanse arbeidsmark beïnvloed.
Die studie gebruik data van die 2008 National Income Dynamics Study (NIDS). Alhoewel
NIDS een van die eerste datastelle is wat inligting oor individuele arbeidsmarkuitkomste, opvoedingsvlakke,
numeriese vaardighede sowel as skoolgehalte bevat, word dit ook gekenmerk
deur beperkte en selektiewe responspatrone rakende skoolgehalte en die numeriese vaardigheidmaatstaf.
Die arbeidsmarkopbrengs op menslike kapitaal word deur middel van die Heckman
‘Maximum Likelihood (ML)’-metode geskat om te kontroleer vir moontlike sydighede wat
mag onstaan weens selektiewe waarneming van hierdie veranderlikes of as gevolg van endogene
seleksie in arbeidsmarkdeelname of indiensneming. Die Heckman ML-skattings word
dan vergelyk met gewone kleinste-kwadrate-skattings wat met behulp van verskeie modelspesifikasies
en steekproewe beraam is, om sodoende te bepaal hoe verskillende spesifikasies, steekproewe
en beramingstegnieke skattings van die arbeidsmarkopbrengste op menslike kapitaal in
Suid-Afrika beïnvloed.
Die meerveranderlike-analise dui daarop dat daar grotendeels onbeduidende arbeidsmarkopbrengste
is op opvoeding in Suid-Afrika vir opvoedingsvlakke benede tersiêre vlak, en dat rasseverskille
in skoolgehalte ’n beduidende deel van waargenome rasseverskille in arbeidsmarkverdienste
mag verduidelik. Indien sosio-demografiese faktore en ander menslike kapitaalverskille
in ag geneem word, beïnvloed syfervaardigheid en skoolgehalte nie arbeidsmarkuitkomstes
en die konvekse struktuur van die arbeidsmarkopbrengste op opvoeding in Suid-Afrika
beduidend verder nie. Terwyl die regressieresultate aansienlik tussen die verskillende modelspesifikasies
en steekproewe verskil, word die resultate weinig geraak deur vir gevalle van endogene
seleksie met behulp van die Heckman ML-metode te kontroleer. Hierdie bevindinge dui
daarop dat daar net beperkte ruimte bestaan om ernstige dataleemtes met behulp van standaard
parametriese beramingstegnieke te oorkom, en dat die een of ander vorm van sensitiwiteitsanalise
benodig word wanneer datagebreke die betroubaarheid van die beraamde resultate nadelig
kan raak.
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Utilisation of mineral rent and the diversified growth of the Botswana economy / ThesisMoribame, Thapelo Tebogo 12 1900 (has links)
Thesis (MComm)--Stellenbosch University, 2011. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: This study analyses the relationship between mineral rent and Botswana’s economic diversification. The analysis is done by; 1) providing an overview of Botswana’s economy and development, 2) explaining the economics of minerals, 3) describing Botswana’s mineral economy, 4) examining how mineral rent is generated and utilised in Botswana, 5) analysing the economic diversification of Botswana, 6) investigating constraints faced by Botswana in diversifying the economy, and 7) concluding by offering recommendations that can assist policy makers with decisions regarding economic diversification.
The economic value of minerals is measured by the rent they earn. Rent is profit above the normal return on total investment and is due to the scarcity of minerals. Management of minerals to achieve sustainability requires that rent is recovered through various taxes and be invested in economic activities that can provide income and employment for the future generation. In Botswana, mineral rent is generated from royalty payments, profit taxes and withholding tax on remitted dividends. Total resource rent was estimated at P160 million in 1979, but by the 2008/09 financial year, rent had increased by more than tenfold and was estimated at P10.56 billion. Diamond mining generates most of the rent and accounts for most of all the economic value of minerals, between 98 percent and 99 percent from 2004 and 2009. Copper nickel is the second most important resource after diamonds with a contribution that is between 1.03 percent and 1.34 percent of total resource rent in the 2007/08 and 2008/09 financial years. Coal, gold and soda ash are much less valuable from an economic perspective.
In the 1973/74 financial year, the mining industry contributed about 34 percent to Gross Domestic Product (GDP) at current prices and a high of 48 percent in 2000/01, although contribution declined to 40 percent in 2007/08. The mining industry contributed about 90 percent to total exports in 2001. In the same year, diamonds contributed about 85 percent to total exports and about 95 percent to the mining sector’s exports.
Since minerals took centre stage in the economy of Botswana, rent has been utilised to acquire foreign reserves abroad and finance development priorities such as the provision of health care, education and infrastructure. Part of the rent is also used to develop economic diversification through targeted initiatives that increase private sector involvement in economic activity. Even though that is the case, the Ogive Index shows that from 1973 to 2009, economic diversification has taken place, but at a slow pace. Slow economic diversification is a result of structural problems such as; a small domestic economy, high transportation costs, high cost of doing business, not fully benefitting from regional trade and vulnerability to transitional challenges like the economic crisis’. To overcome these problems, Botswana should benchmark in other mineral-rich countries to address internal capacity problems and production deficiencies. The country should also strive to benefit from international trade at a bilateral, regional and multilateral level. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: In hierdie studie is die verhouding tussen mineraalontginningsurplus en Botswana se ekonomiese diversifikasie ontleed. Hierdie ontleding is gedoen deur 1) ’n oorsig te bied van Botswana se ekonomie en ontwikkeling; 2) die ekonomie van minerale te verduidelik; 3) Botswana se mineraalekonomie te beskryf; 4) die manier waarop mineraalontginningsurplus in Botswana gegenereer en benut word, te ondersoek; 5) die ekonomiese diversifikasie van Botswana te ontleed; 6) beperkings waarvoor Botswana te staan kom in die diversifikasie van die ekonomie te ondersoek; en 7) af te sluit met aanbevelings wat beleidmakers kan help met besluite oor ekonomiese diversifikasie.
Die ekonomiese waarde van minerale word gemeet deur die ontginningsurplus wat dit verdien. Ontginningsurplus is wins bo die normale rendement van die totale belegging en is in gebruik weens die skaarste van minerale. Die bestuur van minerale vir volhoubaarheid vereis dat ontginningsurplus deur verskeie soorte belasting verhaal word en in ekonomiese aktiwiteite belê word wat inkomste en werkverskaffing vir die toekomstige generasies kan verskaf. In Botswana word mineraalontginningsurplus uit tantièmebetaling, winsbelasting en terughoubelasting op geremitteerde dividende gegenereer. Die totale hulpbronontginningsurplus is in 1979 op P160 miljoen geraam, maar teen die 2008/09- finansiële jaar het die ontginningsurplus tienvoudig vermeerder en is dit op P10.56 biljoen geraam. Diamantontginning genereer die meeste van die ontginningsurplus en is verantwoordelik vir die grootste gedeelte van die totale ekonomiese waarde van minerale – tussen 98% en 99% vanaf 2004 tot 2009. Nikkeliet is die tweede belangrikste hulpbron ná diamante,met ’n bydrae van tussen 1.03% en 1.34% van die totale hulpbronontginningsurplus in die 2007/08- en 2008/09- finansiële jaar. Steenkool, goud en soda-as is aansienlik minder waardevol vanuit ’n ekonomiese perspektief.
In die 1973/74- finansiële jaar het die mynwese ongeveer 34% tot die bruto binnelandse produk (BBP) teen huidige pryse bygedra, met ’n hoogtepunt van 48% in 2000/01, alhoewel die bydrae tot 40% in 2007/08 afgeneem het. Die mynwese het ongeveer 90% tot totale uitvoere in 2001 bygedra. In dieselfde jaar het diamante ongeveer 85% tot totale uitvoere en ongeveer 95% tot die mynbedryf se uitvoere bygedra. Sedert minerale die kern van Botswana se ekonomie begin vorm het, is ontginningsurplus gebruik om buitelandse reserwes te verkry en ontwikkelingsprioriteite, soos die verskaffing van gesondheidsorg, opvoeding en infrastruktuur, te finansier. ’n Gedeelte van die ontginningsurplus word ook gebruik om ekonomiese diversifikasie te ontwikkel deur teikeninisiatiewe wat die privaat sektor se betrokkenheid by ekonomiese aktiwiteit bevorder. Ten spyte hiervan, toon die Ogive-index dat ekonomiese diversifikasie wel van 1973 tot 2009 plaasgevind het, maar dat dit teen ’n stadige pas geskied het. Stadige ekonomiese diversifikasie is ’n gevolg van strukturele probleme soos ’n klein binnelandse ekonomie, hoë vervoerkoste, hoë sakekoste, streekshandel waaruit voordeel nie ten volle verkry word nie en kwesbaarheid vir oorgangsuitdagings soos die ekonomiese krisis. Botswana moet met ander mineraalryk lande normeer om interne kapasiteitsprobleme en produksiegebreke die hoof te bied. Die land moet ook daarna streef om op ’n bilaterale, streeks- en multilaterale vlak uit internasionale handel munt te slaan.
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Educational performance in Mozambique : an economic perspectiveBilale, Fernando Jorge Castanheira 03 1900 (has links)
Thesis (MComm (Economics))--University of Stellenbosch, 2007. / The aim of this study was to analyse educational performance in Mozambique by 1)
comparing the determinants of education in developing countries with the situation in
country, 2) understanding the supply factors that influence enrolments and education
attainment, 3) evaluating the efficiency of the current education system, 4) analysing the
importance to education of each of the demand determinants and of school quality on
education attainment, and 5) contributing information to assist policy makers with
decisions regarding education.
Mozambique is one of the poorest countries in the world. More than half of the
population lives below the poverty line and the general adult literacy is only 54%. The
education system is mainly characterized by weak performance as a whole, high grade
repetition, high dropout rates, low survival rates, high pupil-teacher ratios and a low
percentage of qualified teachers. In addition to this, there is a great deal of inequality in
education achievement by province, place of residence, income group and gender. After
this preliminary analysis, chapter II (literature review) highlighted critical inputs and
served as a guideline for the following chapters of this study. The dimensions analysed in
the followed chapters were: 1) Supply Factors, 2) Demand determinants and 3) School
Quality.
Chapter III therefore consisted of a descriptive analysis of the most important supply ...
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The demand for labour in South Africa : a theoretical and empirical approachHavemann, Roy Charles 04 1900 (has links)
Thesis (MComm)--Stellenbosch University, 2004. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: Nearly five million South Africans were unemployed in 2002 and creating
employment opportunities is a difficult challenge. Before this issue can be tackled,
however, it is critical to understand the problem. This thesis opts to contribute to this
understanding by considering aspects around the demand for labour. The analysis
considers a selection of the theoretical literature on the demand for labour, estimates
key labour market parameters and then undertakes a number of simulations using a
structural model.
There are many conflicting paradigms that can be used to analyse the issue:
microeconomic versus macroeconomic; neoclassical versus structuralist; theoretical
versus empirical and so forth. Some of these paradigms are considered as part of the
attempt to build an empirical framework that can be used to analyse the issue.
The empirical results of the thesis suggest that:
• Higher real wages lead to lowering of the quantity demanded of labour. The
thesis estimates an economy-wide wage elasticity of employment of
approximately -0,67;
• Higher output stimulates the demand for labour. The single equation estimate
of the employment elasticity of output is between 0,66 and 0,75, whilst the
economy-wide estimate is approximately 1,1. The latter takes into account
feedback effects from other macroeconomic variables, such as productivity
and wages;
• There is little evidence to show that the efficiency wage hypothesis holds -
higher productivity leads to higher wages, but the converse is not true;
• Union power increases real wages, indirectly leading to a fall in the demand
for labour. This suggests that the labour market has insiders and outsiders; and
• The relative price of labour is also important, with a fall in the cost of capital
leading to a decrease in the demand for labour.
Simulations suggest that job creation can be achieved through policies that encourage
wage moderation and increase economic growth. There is also a potential role, albeit
limited, for fiscal incentives such as a mooted earned income tax credit. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Byna vyf miljoen Suid-Afrikaners was werkloos in 2002 en werkskepping is 'n
moeilike uitdaging. Voordat hierdie kwessie aangepak kan word, is dit egter
noodsaaklik om die probleem te verstaan. Hierdie tesis dra by tot hierdie begrip deur
te fokus op punte rondom die vraag na arbeid. Die ontleding kyk na 'n verskeidenheid
van teoretiese literatuur oor die vraag na arbeid en identifiseer sleutel-parameters vir
die arbeidsmark.
Daar is soveel teenstrydige paradigmas wat gebruik kan word om die kwessie te
ontleed: Mikro-ekonomies teenoor makro-ekonomies; neoklassiek teenoor
strukturalisties; teoreties teenoor empiries, ensovoorts. Sommige van hierdie
paradigmas word bespreek as deel van die poging om 'n empiriese raamwerk te bou
wat gebruik kan word om die kwessie te ontleed.
Die empiriese resultate van die tesis toon:
• Hoër reële lone lei tot 'n verlaging van die hoeveelheid arbeid aangevra. Die
tesis beraam die ekonomiewye loonelastisiteit van indiensneming op sowat -
0,67;
• Hoër uitset stimuleer die vraag na arbeid. Die enkelvergelyking-raming van
die uitset-elastisiteit van indiensneming is tussen 0,66 en 0,75, terwyl die
ekonomiewye raming sowat 1,1 is. Laasgenoemde neem terugvoerinvloede
van ander makro-ekonomiese veranderlikes in ag, bv. produktiwiteit en lone.
• Daar is min bewyse dat die doeltreffende loon-hipotese water hou: Hoër
produktiwiteit lei tot hoër lone, maar die teendeel is onwaar;
• Vakbonde se mag verhoog reële lone, wat indirek lei tot 'n daling van die
vraag na arbeid. Dit dui daarop dat die arbeidsmark 'n binnekring en
buitestaanders het; en
• Die relatiewe prys van arbeid is ook belangrik: 'n Afname van die koste van
kapitaal veroorsaak 'n daling van die vraag na arbeid.
Simulasies toon dat werkskepping bevorder kan word deur beleid wat loonmatiging
en ekonomiese groei bevorder. Daar is ook 'n rol, alhoewel beperk, vir fiskale
insentiewe, b.v. 'n loonsubsidie.
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Die inkomstebelastinggevolge van verpoeling by landboukoöperasies met spesifieke verwysing na koöperatiewe wynkeldersEsterhuyse, Friedrich Hans 12 1900 (has links)
Thesis (MComm.)--Stellenbosch University, 1995. / Many co-operative societies make use of a system of pooling the produce
delivered to it by its members. The delivered produce is thrown into one
common stock and its identity is lost in the process. Each season's harvest
would normally form a separate pool. The co-operative keeps record of all the
pool transactions in the form of a pool account. In short these transactions
consist of the proceeds from the sale of the pooled mass, commission charged
by the co.:.operative, expenses incurred in the processing and marketing of the
products, as well as advances to the members. The surplus of the pool account
is divided among the members at the closing of the account, in proportion to
their contributions to that specific pool. Each member's share in the surplus is
reduced by advances already received.
In practice, only the advances and the final share of the surplus, reduced by
advances already received, are included in the taxable income of the members.
Realised sales, not yet distributed to the members are therefore not included in
the taxable income of the members, nor of the co-operative society. The value
of unsold pool stock at year end is further not included in the taxable income of
the individual members, nor of the co-operative society.
In this study, the treatment of co-operative pools from an income tax
perspective is investigated in order to determine whether the treatment in
practice is a correct reflection of the law.
The study first gives a general background of the co-operative society as a form
of a business enterprise. This is necessary in order to understand the creation
of co-operative pools. The study further deals specifically with co-operative pools and the income tax consequences thereof. The following aspects are
discussed:
(a) The legal nature and consequences of pooling are investigated. The rights
and obligations between the relevant parties will determine the income tax
consequences. The study concentrates on whether ownership of the
produce is transferred to the co-operative society as well as the
implications in law of the mixing of all the produce and the further
processing thereof. The capacity in which the co-operative processes and
disposes of the products are also investigated.
(b) A discussion is also given on whether the participants of a particular pool
form an association of persons. Certainty in this regard is necessary
before the income tax consequences of pooling for the co-operative
society or the individual members can be discussed. An association of
persons is regarded as a person for income tax purposes and is therefore
a separate taxpayer. A partnership will, however, not be a separate
taxpayer. As the circumstances with pooling resembles that of a
partnership, the legal requirements of partnerships are also investigated.
(c) The income tax consequences of pooling for the co-operative society as
well as the individual members are discussed in detail. The conclusions
are reached by applying the general income tax principals, as laid down
by the courts, on the circumstances that exist with pooling. The fact that
the members are co-owners of the pooled mass and the co-operative
society is regarded as the irrevocable agent of the members, has a
significant influence on the income tax consequences.
From the above, the conclusion is reached that the income tax treatment of
pooling in practice, is a correct reflection of the law, not only in respect of
receipts and accruals, but also in respect of the treatment of unsold pool stock.
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Assessing the validity of the Structure, Conduct and Performance paradigm as theoretical framework for the application of competition policy in the long-term insurance sector of South AfricaBlaauw, Petrus Arnoldus 12 1900 (has links)
Thesis (MComm.)--University of Stellenbosch, 2001. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: In the recent past the industrialised world bore witness to staggering growth in the
secondary and tertiary sectors of the economy. In the face of this growth process
economic theory had to confront new challenges in explaining and interpreting
economic phenomena. The complex nature of inter- and intra-firm relationships
forced a pragmatic stance on policy makers to ensure that all actions are efficient and
competitive.
Two prominent schools of thought with contradictory viewpoints emerged. The
Structuralists built upon the foundations laid by Bain (1951) and Mason (1939). This
implied a theoretical framework, namely the Structure, Conduct and Perofrmance
paradigm (SCP paradigm) that could be used to explain inter- and intra-firm relations
according to a simple forward causality argument. The Structuralists' interpretation
of the SCP paradigm provides strong support for the implementation of deconcentration
measures by competition authorities.
The Chicago School, however, developed a counter-argument inspired by Demsetz's
(1973) efficiency hypothesis. According to them, causality is reversed and deconcentration
measures are used at the expense of the most efficient firms.
The thesis aims to study these contradictory arguments as well as their evolution in
South Africa. Various researchers in South Africa have built on the arguments of the
Structuralists and the Chicagoans regarding the manufacturing sector. The theoretical
methods implemented by them will be applied to the long-term insurance industry to
assess the validity of the SCP paradigm as a theoretical framework for the application
of competition policy. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Fenomenale groei in die sekondêre en tersiêre sektore van die ekonomie het nuwe
uitdagings ter verklaring en interpretering van inter- en intra-ondernemingsverhoudinge
verskaf. Die komplekse aard van die verhoudinge het 'n pragmatiese
aanslag ter versekering van effektiwiteit deur beleidmakers genoodsaak.
Twee prominente denkskole met teenstrydige argumente het ontstaan. Die
Strukturaliste het hulle sieninge op die werk van Bain (1951) en Mason (1939)
gebaseer. Hierdie teorieë verwys na 'n teoretiese raamwerk, naamlik die Struktuur,
Gedrag en Prestasie paradigma (SGP paradigma), wat gebruik kan word om inter- en
intra-ondernemingsverhoudinge aan die hand van 'n kousaliteitsvloei van struktuur na
prestasie, te verklaar. Die Strukturaliste se interpretasie van die SGP paradigma
verskaf ondersteuning Vir die implementering van 'n dekonsentrasiebeleid deur
mededingingsowerhede.
Die Chicago Skool het 'n argument ontwikkel wat op die effektiwiteitshipotese van
Demsetz (1973) gebaseer is. Volgens hulle beweeg kousaliteit in die teenoorgestelde
rigting as wat die Strukturaliste beweer en straf dekonsentrasiemaatreëls die mees
effektiewe ondernemings.
Hierdie werkstuk het ten doelom hierdie argumente sowel as die evolusie daarvan in
die Suid-Afrikaanse konteks te ondersoek. Verskeie navorsers in Suid-Afrika het op
argumente van dié twee denkskole ten opsigte van die vervaardingingsektor
voortgebou. Die teoretiese metodiek wat deur hulle ontwikkel is, sal aangewend word
om die geldigheid van die SGP paradigma as die teoretiese raamwerk vir die
aanwending van 'n mededingingsbeleid in die langtermyn-versekeringsbedryf van
Suid-Afrika vas te stel.
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The macro-economic impact of HIV/AIDS in South AfricaVisagie, Linette (Linette Louise) 12 1900 (has links)
Thesis (MComm)--Stellenbosch University, 2002. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: South Africa faces one of the world's most severe HIV/AIDS epidemics. Whereas the
disease was initially only regarded as a serious health crisis, it is now clear that the epidemic
will also have economic repercussions. The objective of this study is to project the extent of the
macro-economic impact of HIV/AIDS in South Africa over the next 10 to 15 years.
The study commences with a discussion of the key characteristics of HIV/AIDS and
the current status of the epidemic in South Africa. The demographic inputs used are based on
projections produced by the HIV/AIDS model of Metropolitan Life (the Doyle model). The
methodology and key assumptions behind the Doyle model are described briefly, after which
the demographic projections are presented and discussed.
The paper contains a summary of previous approaches to modelling the economic
impact of HIV/AIDS, as well as a presentation and discussion of their simulation results. In
reviewing the available literature on the economic impact of HIV/AIDS, it becomes apparent
that researchers have not yet reached consensus on the economic impact of HIV/AIDS in
South Africa - estimates of the impact on GDP growth range anywhere between a reduction of
0.3 and 2.0 percentage points over the next 10 to 15 years.
The approach that is used in modelling the economic impact of HIV/AIDS in this
study comprises the following: Firstly, a no-AIDS forecast of the South African economy is
generated using the annual macro-econometric forecasting model of the Bureau for Economic
Research. Secondly, the channels through which the epidemic would likely impact on the
economy are identified and modelled. These include slower growth in the population and the
labour force; higher employee benefit contributions by employers and employees; indirect
costs to the private and public sectors (e.g. lower productivity and higher recruitment and
training costs); and higher health and welfare expenditure by the government, as well as an
increase in tax rates. The economic effects of each impact channel are analysed
independently, after which the different impact channels are combined in the model for the
aggregated AIDS inclusive simulation. The results are presented in the form of comparisons
between "no-AIDS" and "AIDS" projections for key economic variables for the period 2001 to
2015. The paper also contains results from a macro-economic sensitivity analysis, in which seven of the key assumptions are altered in order to test the sensitivity of the model to these
changes.
Simulation results indicate that the epidemic will have a negative impact on
economic growth in South Africa - real GDP growth could fall from a projected average of
3.7% over the period 2002-2015 without HIV/AIDS to between 3.4% and 3.1 % per year with
HIV/AIDS. In contrast, real per capita GDP growth is projected to be 0.7 to 1.0 percentage
points higher compared to a no-AIDS scenario, as the adverse impact of the epidemic on the
population will outweigh the negative impact on real GDP. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Suid-Afrika staar een van die wêreld se ernstigste MIV/VIGS epidemies in die gesig.
Aanvanklik is die siekte slegs as 'n erge gesondheidskrisis beskou, maar vandag is dit duidelik
dat die epidemie ook ekonomiese gevolge sal hê. Die oogmerk van hierdie studie is om die
omvang van die makro-ekonomiese impak van MIV/VIGS oor die volgende 10 tot 15 jaar in
Suid-Afrika te beraam.
Die proefskrif begin met 'n bespreking van die belangrikste eienskappe van
MIV/VIGS en die huidige stand van die epidemie in Suid-Afrika. Die demografiese insette wat
gebruik word, is gebaseer op projeksies van Metropolitan se MIV/VIGS model (die Doyle
model). Die metodiek en die sleutel aannames van die Doyle model word kortliks bespreek,
waarna die demografiese projeksies aangebied en bespreek word.
Die studie bevat 'n opsomming van benaderings wat van te vore gebruik is om die
ekonomiese impak van MIV/VIGS te modelleer, asook 'n voorlegging en 'n bespreking van
hul resultate. 'n Oorsig van beskikbare literatuur oor die ekonomiese impak van MIV/VIGS
bring aan die lig dat daar in werkilikheid nog geen konsensus oor die omvang van die impak
op die Suid-Afrikaanse ekonomie bereik is nie. Beramings van die impak op BBP groei oor die
volgende 10 tot 15 jaar wissel van 'n vermindering met 0.3 tot 2.0 persentasie punte.
Die benadering wat in hierdie studie gevolg word om die ekonomiese impak van
HIV/VIGS te modelleer behels die volgende: Eerstens word 'n vooruitskatting van die Suid-
Afrikaanse ekonomie sonder MIV/VIGS gegenereer met die hulp van die makroekonometriese
vooruitskattings model van die Buro vir Ekonomiese Ondersoek. Die tweede
stap behels die identifisering en die modellering van die verskillende kanale waardeur die
epidemie moontlik die ekonomie kan affekteer. Dit sluit onder andere die volgende in:
stadiger groei in die populasie en die arbeidsmag; hoër bydraes deur werkgewers en
werknemers aan werknemer-bystandfondse; indirekte onkostes vir die privaat en openbare
sektore (bv. laer produktiviteit en hoër werwings- en opleidings koste); 'n toename in
staatsbesteding op gesondheids en welsyns dienste; asook 'n styging in belastingkoerse. Die
ekonomiese implikasies van elkeen van die kanale word individueelontleed, waarna die verskillende kanale saamgevoeg word vir die oorkoepelende simulasie. Die resultate word
aangebied in die vorm van vergelykings tussen "geen-VIGS" en "VIGS" projeksies vir sleutel
ekonomiese veranderlikes oor die periode 2001-2015. Die proefskrif bevat ook 'n
voorlegging van die resultate van 'n makro-ekonomiese sensitiviteits ontleding, waarin sewe
van die sleutel aannames verander is met die doelom die gevoeligheid van die model vir
hierdie veranderinge te bepaal.
Die resultate toon dat die epidemie 'n negatiewe uitwerking op ekonomiese groei in
Suid-Afrika sal hê - die gemiddelde groeikoers in die reële BBP oor die periode 2001-2015
mag daal van 'n geprojekteerde 3.7% sonder MIV/VIGS tot tussen 3.4% en 3.1 % met
MIV/VIGS. In teenstelling toon die resultate dat die gemiddelde groeikoers in per capita reële
BBP tussen 0.7 en 1.0 persentasie punte hoër mag wees vergeleke met die "geen-VIGS"
scenario. Die toename in per capita BBP groei kan toegeskryf word aan die skerp daling in
die groei van die populasie as gevolg van MIV/VIGS.
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State provision of social security : some theoretical, comparative and historical perspectives with reference to South AfricaKruger, Johannes Jacob 12 1900 (has links)
Thesis (MComm)--Stellenbosch University, 1992. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: Societies are imaginative when setting up non-marl\et responses to deal v1ith insecurity and deprivation. The
result is that there are many different services (such as income support, personal welfare services, education,
health care and housing) catering for the very general objective of providing security. In addition, a variety of
institutions can, and do, provide these services. While the traditional theory of public goods and e::...1ernalities
does not provide clear justification for increased state provision of these services (in contrast to market, family,
community and employer provision), increased state provision and coordination do seem to be a clear trend
both from historical and comparative perspectives. Furthermore, this increased role of the state can be
interpreted as representing a reassignment of the traditional roles of other institutions (noted above) to the state.
The above trend can be rationalized on economic grounds as being the result of the changing nature of
societies which affects the viability of different institutions In the provision of social services. Economic
devt~lopment affects the cost of production of social services by different institutions differently. Taking a more
in depth view of the costs of production, there are grounds to believe that the comparative advantage of the
state in the provision of these_ services grows- a-s economic development takes place. "Nationalization" of the
provision of services providing social security as economic development takes place can thus be seen as a
stylized fact of economic development, and as representing an adjustment which can be efficiency enhancing.
lt is from this perspective that the issue of the affordabiiity of increased social provision in developing countries
should be approached.
The South African experience provides further evidence of the increasing pressures, over time, for greater state
provision of social security. The experience also, how . .:wer, furnishes examples of how in a specific situation
these forces can be obstructed by speciric political institutions and how social policy can fail to adjust to
changing circumstances. This resulted in the current unequal access to social services, the inequality of benefit
levels and the incomplete coverage of risks faced by people in the South African economy.
In spite of the incompleteness of the South African social safety net and the inequality which it reflects, fiscal
and macroeconomic constraints seem to limit the possibilities for eAtending the safety net and for making it
more just These constraints imply, and have resultoo in, the lowering of benefits to the previously privileged _;-(
and an adjustment in the nature of benefits, leading to a focus on lower cost services which offer high rates
of return. Current demands and envisaged changes in the spht?re of social policy, especially those surrounding
a national pension system with universal coverage and G:·.tensive speci31 employm.3nt programmes, however,
indicate the strength of the forces making for increase:d "nationali:ation" of income support and other social
services. How the perceived fiscal constraints can be reconciled with the alleged rationality of a growing role
for the South African state in social provision remains a question. The very general response of this study
needs to be evaluated by looking in more d.:.tail at specific programmes and specific aspects of insecurity. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Samelewings is verbeeldingryk met die daarstelling van nie-markgeorienteerde installings om armoede en 'n
gebrek aan bestaanssekerheid die hoof te bied. Daarom is daar 'n verskeidenheid dienste (soos inkomsteversekering,
persoonlih:e welsynsdienste, gesondheid, onderwys en behuising) om die baie algemene behoefte aan
bestaanssekerheid aan te spreek. Daar is dan ook 'n hele verskeidenheid instellings wat hierdie dienste
voorsien, en kan voorsien. Alhoewel die tradisionele teorie van publieke goedere en ekstemaliteite nie
voldoende regverdiging vir groeiende staatsvoorsiening van hierdia dlenste (in teenstelllng met verskafflng deur
markte, families, gemeenskappe en werkgewers) daarstel nie, blyk dit dat toenemende staatsvoorslening uit 'n
historiese sowel as vergelykende perspektief 'n duid&like tendens verteenwoordlg. Verder kan die groeiende
rol van die staat in hierdle steer oak gesit:m word .:ts die gevolg van die hertoewysing van tradisionele rolle van
ander instellings (soos hierbo genoem) aan die staat.
Hierdie tend ens kan op ekonomiese gronde gerasionaliseer word as die gevolg van die veranderende aard van
samelewlngs wat die ekonomiese lewensvatbaarheid van instellings in die voorsiening van sosiale dienste
beinvloed. Ekonomiese ontwikkeling affekteer verskillende instellings, en daarom die produksiekoste van sosiale
dienste deur die instellings voorsien, op uiteenlopende maniere. lndien 'n bree konsep van produksiekoste
gebruik word is dit moontlik am te argumenteer dat die ataat se vergelykende voordeel in die voorsiening van
hierdie dienste toeneem soos 'n land ekonomies ontwikkel. "Nasionalisering" van die dienste wat sosiale
sekuriteit daarstel kan dan gesien word as een van die basiese neigings wat met ekonomiese ontwikkeling
geassosieer kan word. sowel as 'n aanpassing wat ekonomiese doeltreffendheid verbeter. Hierdle perspektief
Is die gewensde een wanneer die kwessie van die bekostigbaarheid van toenemende sosiale voorsiening in
ontwikkelende lande aangespreek word.
Die Suid-Afrih:aanse ondervlnding in hierdie verband verskaf verdere getuienis van toenemende kragte, oar tyd,
wat groeiende staatsvoorsiening van sosiale sekuriteit (sekerheid) In die hand werk. Die ondervinding voorsien
egter oak voorbeelde van hoe hierdie kragte deur spesifleke politieke instellings omvorm kan word en hoe
sosiale beleid 1\an agterbly by veranderende omstandighode. Hierdie faktore het aanleiding gegee tot die
huidige ongelyke toegang tot sosiale dienste, ongelyke voordele en onvoldoende dekking teen die rlsiko's wat
die Suid-Afrikaanse ekonomie inhou.
Ten spyte van die tekortkominge van die Suid-Afrik3.anse stelsel van bestaansbeveiliging en die ongelyh:heid
daarin gereflehteer, kom dit voor asof fiskale en makro-ekonomiese beperkinge die moontlikhede am die stelsel
te omvorm streng beperk: Hierdie beperkinge impliseer, en het aanleiding gegee tot, 'n verlaging van die
voordele van die bevoorregte groepe en 'n aanpassing van die aard van voordele, veral in die rigting van
goedkoper dienste met steeds hoe opbrengskoerse. Huidige eise en voorsit3ne veranderinge in die sfeer van
sosiale beleid. veral ten opsigte van 'n univo3rsele sto::l3o:.l van 3osiale pensioene en spesiale werkskeppingsprogramme,
dui egter op die sterkte van die kragte wat to8n8m-:mde "nasionalisering" van sosiale dienste
in die hand werk. Hoe die klaarblyklike fish:ale bepalings ta versoen is met die beweerde rasionaliteit van 'n
grater rol vir die Suid-Afrikaanse staat in sosiale voorsiening bly 'n vraag. Dit is nodig am die bree perspektief
van hierdie studie te evalueer deur in meer detail te kyh: na spesifiek programme en spesifleke oorsah:e van
'n gebrek aan bestaanssekerheid.
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