<p>Syftet med denna uppsats var att undersöka om och vilka faktorer som motverkar demokratisering inom oljeexporterande rentierstater. Med stöd av moderniseringsteorin och teorin om rentierstater har tre hypoteser formulerats som sammanlagt innehållit tre oberoende och elva beroende variabler vilka kodades som tidsserier i paneldata. Tjugo ett rentierland har identifierats vilket omfattar hela populationen. Hypotesen har sedan testats med hjälp av en OLS regressionsanalys med panelspecifika standardavvikelser. Hypotesen om att det uppstår en rentiereffekt kunnat bekräftas med två av totalt tre variabler. Hypotesen om att det uppstår en repressionseffekt har bekräftats med höga signifikansnivåer hos bägge oberoende variabler. Däremot kunde hypotesen om att det uppstår en moderniseringseffekt varken bekräftas eller avfärdas. Av de sex förklarandevariabler har tre exkluderats pga. låga signifikansnivåer samt en av de signifikanta variabler uppvisade en motsatt relation med demokrati än den som antogs av hypotesen. De erhållna resultaten måste ses i ljuset av ett bristande statistisk underlag, av vilket endast ett fåtal observationer kunnat användas i de olika regressionsanalyserna.</p>

A problem South-Africa is facing is that the wealth created by mines (also called economic rent) may not yet get distributed satisfactorily evenly between the nation and investors. In an attempt to find a solution to the abovementioned dilemma, government initiated a feasibility study for the nationalisation of mines. This proposal was however waived for two reasons: firstly that it would be unaffordable for government to buy out private companies and secondly, that it would create discontent amongst foreign investors, which would result in them withdrawing access to financing. Consequently, the ANC, during 2012 in the SIMS report proposed a possible implementation of a resource rent tax (RRT), akin to Australia’s, to ensure that the State receives a greater/more equitable share of the wealth. Developments in the mining industry since 2012, have drawn attention to two serious issues: labour related concerns and continued strikes as well as a reduction in foreign direct investment as a result of negative investor sentiment towards South Africa. These issues are directly related to the perception that the community (including mine workers) do not benefit fairly from the wealth created by mines, which results in ongoing labour unrests and subsequently in investment withdrawal. It would seem that even though no further consideration has been given to the implementation of a RRT since 2012, it may be regarded as a possible and sensible solution. This study focuses on the possible impact on the taxation payable by the South African mining industry, if a RRT were to be introduced. Research has been conducted in order to obtain an understanding of the working of a RRT, to analyse South Africa’s current tax regime, to develop a simple hypothetical case study to evaluate both the quantitative and qualitative impact of the introduction of a RRT system on South African mining tax (for both the investor and the state). The study concludes that the introduction of a RRT can potentially result in a more fair distribution of resource rents between the investor and the state (community - rightful owners of the natural resources). Research however proved that this is likely to influence the investor’s investment decisions which in turn may result in a general downturn in mining operations and profits. Based on the qualitative results of a case study, a RRT was proven to be inefficient due to the fact that it will only tax mining companies with a higher rate of return and in effect higher risk companies. As investors are prepared to take on high risk projects for the purpose of generating higher returns, the introduction of an RRT reducing this return might influence an investor’s decision. The potential impact on investors’ decisions may be counteracted through further research with regard to variables used in the RRT model namely the percentage of tax charged and the required rate of return. A RRT is therefore proven to have some benefits, even though some aspects will require further evaluation. / MCom (South African and International Tax), North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2015

A problem South-Africa is facing is that the wealth created by mines (also called economic rent) may not yet get distributed satisfactorily evenly between the nation and investors. In an attempt to find a solution to the abovementioned dilemma, government initiated a feasibility study for the nationalisation of mines. This proposal was however waived for two reasons: firstly that it would be unaffordable for government to buy out private companies and secondly, that it would create discontent amongst foreign investors, which would result in them withdrawing access to financing. Consequently, the ANC, during 2012 in the SIMS report proposed a possible implementation of a resource rent tax (RRT), akin to Australia’s, to ensure that the State receives a greater/more equitable share of the wealth. Developments in the mining industry since 2012, have drawn attention to two serious issues: labour related concerns and continued strikes as well as a reduction in foreign direct investment as a result of negative investor sentiment towards South Africa. These issues are directly related to the perception that the community (including mine workers) do not benefit fairly from the wealth created by mines, which results in ongoing labour unrests and subsequently in investment withdrawal. It would seem that even though no further consideration has been given to the implementation of a RRT since 2012, it may be regarded as a possible and sensible solution. This study focuses on the possible impact on the taxation payable by the South African mining industry, if a RRT were to be introduced. Research has been conducted in order to obtain an understanding of the working of a RRT, to analyse South Africa’s current tax regime, to develop a simple hypothetical case study to evaluate both the quantitative and qualitative impact of the introduction of a RRT system on South African mining tax (for both the investor and the state). The study concludes that the introduction of a RRT can potentially result in a more fair distribution of resource rents between the investor and the state (community - rightful owners of the natural resources). Research however proved that this is likely to influence the investor’s investment decisions which in turn may result in a general downturn in mining operations and profits. Based on the qualitative results of a case study, a RRT was proven to be inefficient due to the fact that it will only tax mining companies with a higher rate of return and in effect higher risk companies. As investors are prepared to take on high risk projects for the purpose of generating higher returns, the introduction of an RRT reducing this return might influence an investor’s decision. The potential impact on investors’ decisions may be counteracted through further research with regard to variables used in the RRT model namely the percentage of tax charged and the required rate of return. A RRT is therefore proven to have some benefits, even though some aspects will require further evaluation. / MCom (South African and International Tax), North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2015

La composition des parcs électriques nationaux est basée sur le classement des différents moyens de production par rapport à leur coût marginal de génération d’électricité. Ainsi, les réserves considérables d’hydrocarbure dans les pays producteurs de pétrole ont favorisé l’usage abusif du pétrole ou du gaz naturel dans le parc de production d’électricité. L’objectif de ce travail de recherche est d’analyser des parcs de production pour ces pays producteurs en construisant le parc optimal d’électricité concernant l’usage rationnel (du point de vue économique) des différents moyens de génération d’électricité. Dans ce travail, nous évaluons la situation actuelle et future de la production d’électricité en Arabie Saoudite, en Egypte et en Iran grâce à plusieurs approches de modélisation : linéaire, dynamique et statistique. Ensuite, nous allons mener une analyse de sensibilité afin d’évaluer l’optimalité et l’efficacité de la production d’électricité en tenant compte de l’intégration des autres ressources alternatives non-carbonées. / National power generation mix composition is based on the ranking (merit-order) of the various means of production from their marginal cost of electricity generation. Thus, significant reserves of hydrocarbons in oil-producing countries favoured the abusive use of oil or natural gas in the electricity mix. The purpose of this research is to analyze the power generation mix of these countries by constructing an optimal electricity mix based on the rational use (from an economic point of view) of various electricity production means. In this work, we assess the current and future situation of electricity production in Saudi Arabia, Egypt and Iran, thanks to linear, dynamic and statistical modeling efforts. Thereafter, we will conduct sensitivity analysis to measure the optimality and efficiency of electricity generation by taking into account the integration of alternative non-fossil-fuel based resources.

This diploma thesis describes a general view on the issue of rent and the chosen type of immovable property as a apartment building located in Brno, including determining the cost of basic values on which will be determined the cost rent. The next phase will be for cost rent plus a reasonable profit, which is detected by the actual amount of economic rent. For comparison, there is also an economic rents determined by comparison with similar immovable properties in the vicinity.

In 2001 the Gas Exporting Countries Forum (GECF) was created by some of the world’s leading natural gas producing and exporting countries in order to promote their mutual interests through cooperation, in particular with regard to extracting the maximum value from their natural gas exports. My core research question is: Does cooperation among GECF member countries explain those exporters’ market power in highly import-dependent natural gas consuming countries? To determine the influence of the GECF’s cooperative actions and policies, I study the GECF’s cooperative behaviour and measure the role of (collusive) producer conduct in terms of its contribution to achieving the main GECF objective: attaining gas prices that are measurably above the cost of production and hence help producers earn significant economic rents. I employ a variety of methods from the international relations literature on cooperation and cartelisation, collective action theory and an economic measurement model in three case studies. I find that cooperation among GECF members partly explains their market power in a number of import-dependent gas markets. This is so despite the GECF’s weak degree of institutionalisation. The reasons for the GECF’s influence on effective cooperative results are: first, conducive structural conditions in many gas importing markets favouring cartelisation; second, GECF members use methods such as artificial market entry barriers (e.g. long-term term contracts negotiated in a non-transparent way) to secure their market power and third, the GECF faces less severe internal procedural challenges that plague other cartels such as collective action problems, especially cheating. Cooperation among GECF exporters hence contributes to high(er) prices of natural gas. This causes economic inefficiencies and a transfer of wealth—and political power—from gas consumers to producers. It also hinders climate change mitigation as cleanerburning gas remains too expensive to replace ‘dirty’ coal in power generation.

The thesis deals with the valuation of the house, including land and all accessories under various conditions. The theoretical part explains the basic terminology and summarises the valuation methods used in this thesis. The practical part begins with the valuation of the house and land including all accessories, according to Ordinance for Valuation and Market Valuation Methods, specifically the Asset Value Method and the Comparative Method. The next section considers the existence of a life-use easement by a co-owner of part of the house, gardens and common areas, and sets the value of the property burdened by this easement. At the end, the property is valued as two separate apartments. All costs necessary to achieve the income from rent and property redevelopment are estimated, as well as the net annual return which would result from letting the two apartments. Final assessment of the benefit of the project is implemented through an Economic Rent Method and its comparison with the annual rent income.

Syftet med denna uppsats var att undersöka om och vilka faktorer som motverkar demokratisering inom oljeexporterande rentierstater. Med stöd av moderniseringsteorin och teorin om rentierstater har tre hypoteser formulerats som sammanlagt innehållit tre oberoende och elva beroende variabler vilka kodades som tidsserier i paneldata. Tjugo ett rentierland har identifierats vilket omfattar hela populationen. Hypotesen har sedan testats med hjälp av en OLS regressionsanalys med panelspecifika standardavvikelser. Hypotesen om att det uppstår en rentiereffekt kunnat bekräftas med två av totalt tre variabler. Hypotesen om att det uppstår en repressionseffekt har bekräftats med höga signifikansnivåer hos bägge oberoende variabler. Däremot kunde hypotesen om att det uppstår en moderniseringseffekt varken bekräftas eller avfärdas. Av de sex förklarandevariabler har tre exkluderats pga. låga signifikansnivåer samt en av de signifikanta variabler uppvisade en motsatt relation med demokrati än den som antogs av hypotesen. De erhållna resultaten måste ses i ljuset av ett bristande statistisk underlag, av vilket endast ett fåtal observationer kunnat användas i de olika regressionsanalyserna.

Ce travail propose une analyse de l’évaluation des capitaux propres de l’entreprise obtenue des modèles d’évaluation de la rente économique. La qualité des estimations dépend de la pertinence des hypothèses et du calibrage empirique de ces modèles. Dans un premier temps, les fondements théoriques des différentes hypothèses sur la croissance et/ou la persistance de la rente économique et de son influence sur l’évaluation des fonds propres sont analysés. S’appuyant sur le modèle des accroissements anormaux du résultat, nous montrons que la rente économique du nouvel investissement ou de l’accroissement anormal du résultat devrait converger vers zéro du fait des forces concurrentielles. Cette proposition, différente de ce qui est couramment admis suite au travail d’Ohlson et Juettner-Nauroth, apparaît influencer sensiblement l’estimation des fonds propres de l’entreprise. Une analyse asymptotique des multiples présentés dans le deuxième chapitre de cette thèse souligne ces aspects en dehors des biais et des difficultés que pourraient amener les mesures empiriques du phénomène. Le travail propose notamment une explication de la surévaluation systématique des fonds propres obtenue par le modèle des accroissements anormaux du résultat. Par la suite, une méthode d’estimation de la persistance de l’accroissement anormal du résultat par firme est proposé afin d’améliorer le calibrage de ce modèle. Dans le dernier chapitre, un modèle analytique synthétisant les deux grands types d’approche concernant la modélisation de la rente, le modèle des résultats résiduels et le modèle des accroissements anormaux du résultat, est proposé. Une équation de valorisation linéaire en est dérivée et est mobilisée afin de caractériser le contenu informationnel des prévisions de la variation du bénéfice à court terme avancées par les analystes financiers. / This research proposes an analysis of equity valuation of firm, obtained from the models valuing economic rents. The quality of the estimations depends on the pertinence of the hypothesis and the empirical calibration of these models. In the first place, the theoretical foundations of different hypotheses on the growth rate and/or the persistence level of economic rent and the influence of these hypotheses on equity valuation are analyzed. Through the abnormal earnings growth model, we show that the economic rent of the new investment or the abnormal earnings growth should converge towards zero due to the market competition. This proposition, different from Ohlson and Juettner-Nauroth’s assumption often adopted in prior studies, is found having sensitive influence on equity valuation. The asymptotic analysis of valuation ratios in the second chapter of this thesis underlines these aspects while being immune from the bias and the difficulties that the empirical studies on this issue could induce. This research notably proposes an explanation for the problem of systematic overvaluation of equity by the abnormal earnings growth model. In the second place, to improve the calibration of the abnormal earnings growth model, a method is proposed to estimate the firm-specific persistence level of the abnormal earnings growth. In the last chapter, an analytical model is proposed to synthesize the two main approaches concerning rent modeling: the residual income valuation model and the abnormal earnings growth model. A linear valuation equation is derived from the analytical model and mobilized to characterize the value relevance of the short-term earnings variation forecasted by financial analysts.

The task of the thesis is to determine the economic rent for passive residential building. Work first defines the essential terms related to the topic of economic rent, then it continues with theoretical determination of the economic rent, which consists of the costs and a reasonable profit. The determination of economic rent for residental Pasove building is done through inserting real values to a pre-described method of calculation. The result of diploma thesis is the determination of economic rents in number of 8 variants with varying degrees of capitalization levels and discount rates. Identified economic rents are finally compared by direct comparison with similar flats and evaluated.