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The consequences of high population growth in developing countries: a case study of South Africa27 August 2012 (has links)
PhD. (Economics) / This thesis studies population, the causes of population growth and changes and consequences of high population growth for communities and the environment. The study is divided into 9 chapters. Chapter 1 comprises a general introduction to population issues, the research problems, objectives and the deployment of the study. Chapter 2 analyses various theories of population growth. Chapter 3 compares population growth rates and the composition and structure of developed and developing countries. Comparisons of population migration in developed and developing countries and the impact of migration on the population composition and structure on the sending and receiving areas are analysed in Chapter 4. Chapter 5 discusses the consequences of population growth on the economic development of developing countries. Chapter 6 and 7 outline the impact of demographic trends on a population and also the population growth in South Africa. Population policies in the developed and developing countries are discussed in Chapter 8 and Chapter 9 gives the summary of the main findings and some tentative conclusions of the study. The important link that exists between population growth and the environment are investigated on both the macro and micro levels in this thesis. On the macro level the worldwide historical population growth and trends in developed and developing countries are compared and analysed. On the micro level an analyses is done on specific communities and regions. South Africa represents a microcosm of the whole world as far as its demographic composition and trends are concerned. The population growth rate, fertility levels and socio-economic factors of the black population resemble those of developing countries, while the non-black populations resemble that of the developed countries. The level of development among black people is also much lower than that of the other three populations. This lower level of development among particularly black women is an important factor in their lower level of contraceptive use and relatively high fertility rate. Much of the debate about the global relationship between population and environment remains polarised between two extreme positions. A comprehensive analysis of global demographic trends indicates that the world population problems are predominantly a concern of the developing countries and of the black population in South Africa. The high population growth in these countries has a negative effect on economic growth and development. Increases in population cancel out increases in aggregate output, keep average incomes low and stagnant. It also puts significant pressure on agricultural land, employment creation, urban housing and other infrastructure, as well as on access to quality education and health facilities. HIV/Aids is currently the leading cause of mortality in Sub-Saharan Africa and has a significantly negative impact on economic growth and development, as it decreases the standard of living. The study has found that high levels of unemployment and a low standard of living among black people increase their risk and vulnerability to HIV/Aids. Population policies that include factors that are commonly associated with fertility decline, such as education, urbanisation, improved status of women, employment opportunities for women and increased practice of family planning all contribute to fertility differentials within developed and developing countries and within communities. These factors are also effective even in those areas where prevailing cultures give a disposition to high fertility.
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The dynamics and economic impact of foreign debt in South Africa04 October 2010 (has links)
D.Comm. / Foreign debt affects the economy through three main channels, namely: the debt overhang effect, the liquidity constraint effect and the uncertainty effect. The main aim of this study is to derive an optimal level of foreign debt relative to Gross Domestic Product (GDP) for South Africa by investigating these channels. Incurring foreign debt is like a double edge sword. On the one side the foreign debt is needed for economic development (from a demand perspective) and on the other side the level of debt impacts on the economy through higher domestic interest rates, via the sovereign risk spread, (from a supply perspective). The factors that impact on capital flows as shown by previous periods of financial distress in the global capital markets and debt sustainability were investigated. This study shows that risk spreads are driven by both internal and external factors. Investors will price into the secondary risk spread their perceptions of the sustainability of foreign debt. This is also impacted by external factors such as contagion and the credit rating of a country. The different objectives of government in the internal capital market since 1994 and the secondary objectives of building liquidity benchmarks, diversifying the foreign currency portfolio, broadening the investor base in RSA bonds and borrowing at the most effective rates, are also discussed. A number of equations were estimated using the Ordinary Least Squares (OLS) method and the values for government foreign debt were varied to test the impact on the familiar IS/LM/BP and AS/AD models. These models were further used to determine the debt overhang and liquidity constraint effect. It was found that foreign debt has an asymmetric impact on economic growth where it contributes to economic growth up to a level of approximately 35 per cent of GDP, where after it has a negative impact on economic growth.
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International capital flows and economic growth for Mozambique (1980-1996).Jamo, Gabriel January 1999 (has links)
A research report submitted to the Graduate School of Public and Development
Management, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, in partial fulfillment of
the requirements for the degree of Master of Management (in the field of Public and
Development Management). / The purpose of this study was to assess the effect of international capital flows on
economic growth and employment in Mozambique, a country that is heavily
dependent on foreign assistance. The aggregate expenditure sector was employed to
develop a model that is consistent with specific features of the Mozambican economy.
Annual aggregate time series data from 1980 to 1996 period was primarily used to
estimate of single equations which are components of the model, employing modem
time series techniques. The sample size is rather small to generate anything other than
tentative conclusions. Nevertheless, foreign capital flows appear to have had a far-reaching
effect in fuelling economic growth in Mozambique for the period studied.
The effects were largely dependent upon the magnitude of international capital flows.
However, there was a significant lag between economic growth and employment
generation. Due to high level of aggregation applied in the analysis, the impact of
foreign resources at a sectoral impact was not captured. In particular a more
desegregated analysis is required to discern the effect of intemational capital flaws on
economic growth and employment. / Andrew Chakane 2018
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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 overview of facilities management strategies employed in shopping centers in Johannesburg, South AfricaToe, Dadley D. January 2016 (has links)
A research report submitted to the Faculty of Engineering and the Built Environment, School of Construction Economics and Management, University of Witwatersrand, in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Science in Building (Property Development and Management) / Purpose- The purpose of this study is to identify the facilities management strategies employed in shopping centres in Johannesburg South Africa. Furthermore it allows owners, shareholders, facilities manager and property manager etc. of shopping centres to know the facilities management strategy that bring tenants satisfaction and encourage them to renew their lease. To conclude the research seeks to find out the underlying factors that determine the choice of facilities management strategy to be employed.
Key words – Facilities Management, In-House management, Out-sourcing, Out-tasking and Shopping Centers
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Ethiopia's accession to the World Trade Organisation: implications on market access and balance of payment disequilibriumTefera, Ejigayhu Sisay January 2016 (has links)
Thesis (M.Com. (Development Theory and Policy))--University of the Witwatersrand, Faculty of Commerce, Law and Management, School of Economic and Business Sciences, 2016 / The role of international trade in countries development process is well documented. In this era
of globalisation, the notion of free international trade has dominated both the political and
economic discourse. It is presumed that integration of poor countries into the world economy
will be advantageous to sustain economic development. A growing number of economists
however, doubted the benefit that could emanate by engaging in trade liberalisation most
importantly multilateral trade agreements. Primarily because membership necessitates opening
up their immature economy to stiff foreign competition. Nevertheless, many developing
countries have joined the WTO with its perceive benefits of increasing market access and
integration into the global market. Theoretically, both the Classical and Neo-classical trade
theories signify the benefits of unrestricted trade towards the development of economies.
This research report investigates the rationality or otherwise of Ethiopia’s accession into the
WTO. Specifically, the research has looked at the possible economic benefits of joining WTO as
a result of increased market access and pinpoint the challenges the country could face with
regard to current account BOP disequilibrium. The economic rationale of the integration of
developing countries has been closely linked to the benefits to be derived from increasing market
size. The study employed secondary data to answer the research questions and reach at
conclusion. The results indicate that for the country to be benefited from the increased market
access, there is a need to diversify the export basis as well as adding value to the existing export
commodities. The trend analysis with regard to BOP current account deficit illustrate that the
trade deficit is widening in the recent time. Appropriate measures should be in place to reduce
the aggravated BOP disequilibrium. / MT2017
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The efficient market hypothesis in developing economies: an investigation of the Monday effect and January effect on the Zimbabwe Stock Exchange post the multi-currency system (2009-2013): a Garch approach analysisParadza, Abba 04 August 2016 (has links)
A thesis submitted in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of
MASTER OF MANAGEMENT IN FINANCE AND INVESTMENTS
Of
WITS BUSINESS SCHOOL
March 2015 / The paper investigates the presence of two calendar anomalies; the day of the week or Mon-day effect and the Month of the year or January effect by modelling volatility of the industrial index returns on the Zimbabwe Stock Exchange (ZSE) pre and post the multi-currency sys-tem. The procedure is carried out by employing non-parametric models from the Generalized Autoregressive Conditional Heteroscedastic (GARCH) family; GARCH, Exponential GARCH (EGARCH) and Threshold GARCH (TGARCH). The models are better suited in modelling daily and monthly seasonality as they can capture the time-varying volatility of the stock return data. The period of analysis is from the January 2004 to April 2008 (pre-dollarization period) and the second period of analysis is from the post-currency reform which runs from February 2009 to December 2013.
The results obtained from the study are mixed. The day of the week test finds significantly negative returns on Monday, Wednesday and Friday pre the currency reform whilst a nega-tive Wednesday effect is found post the currency reform period. The TGARCH model is the only one that captures a negative monthly effects on all the months of the year with the ex-ception of January pre the currency reform period. No monthly effects are found on the ZSE post the currency reform period by all models employed. The absence of monthly seasonality effects and the reduced number of days of day of the week effects from all the GARCH mod-els employed can infer that the currency reform had a positive impact which translated to market efficiency.
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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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