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<p> The focus of Canadian trade and investment has shifted from the Atlantic to the Pacific region. This paper looks at the increase in Canadian trade and investment within one area of the Pacific region, the Association of Southeast Asian Nations. Trade between Canada and ASEAN, from 1970 to 1983, is analyzed. Canadian involvement in ASEAN is measured through general investment data, and a survey of some Canadian firms in the region. Recommendations are given for continued Canadian economic involvement in ASEAN.</p> / Thesis / Candidate in Philosophy

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America is a nation where a strong entrepreneurial culture establishes favorable conditions that create approximately 600,000 new firms per year (SBA Office of Advocacy, 2006). Individuals? decisions to pursue entrepreneurship are influenced by environmental conditions such as demographics, economic factors, and prior entrepreneurial activity in their communities (Minnitti & Bygrave, 1999). Proponents of the endogenous growth model (Lucas, 1988; Romer, 1986) indicate that the notion of knowledge spillovers and investment in human capital lead to the formation of new businesses that improve the economic development and growth of a region. The purpose of this dissertation is twofold. First, a conceptual model that comprises determinants and consequences of new venture creation in a region is derived from the framework developed by Minnitti and Bygrave (1999) and Bygrave and Minnitti (2000) and theories of economic development and growth. Second, using a sample of 2,300 U.S. counties, empirical tests are conducted on a set of hypotheses derived from the conceptual model. Results support eight hypotheses: (a) net migration, population change by natural increase, skilled labor, level of infrastructure, and prior entrepreneurship activity positive influences new venture creation; (b) new venture creation positive influences economic development and economic growth; and (c) new venture creation mediates the relationship between prior entrepreneurship activity and economic development. Further support is obtained on indicators of demographic composition and economic factors to exert effects on economic development and economic growth. Also new venture creation partial mediates the relationship between (a) indicators of demographic composition and economic factors and (b) economic development and economic growth. This study contributes to knowledge by empirically testing an existing framework of entrepreneurship as well as assessing how new venture creation improves the economic development and growth in America?s counties. Particularly, the study finds environmental determinants to foster new venture creation and confirms the contention that new venture creation contributes to improve the economic conditions of a region. Recommendations for future theoretical and empirical research as well as practical implications for entrepreneurs and policymakers are also discussed.

Three studies on foreign aid, rent-seeking, and economic growth in sub-Saharan Africa are presented. The first study examines the possible simultaneity that may exist between a donor’s provision of aid and the rentseeking (corruption) activities in the recipient country. Does the amount of aid depend on the lack of corruption in a country? Simultaneously, does the level of corruption depend on the amount of aid and the type of donor? The main goals of this paper are to examine whether such simultaneity exists and whether the impact of aid depends on the type of the donor, either multilateral or bilateral. The second study extends the first model by incorporating an additional equation for GDP per capita. It examines whether simultaneity exists between the three variables: foreign aid, corruption, and GDP per capita and whether the relationship depends upon the source of the foreign aid. Adding GDP per capita as an endogenous variable will provide another key to understanding the lack of long-term effectiveness for foreign aid in sub-Saharan Africa. The third and final study uses a fixed effects model to examine the relationship between foreign aid and the level of corruption in sub-Saharan Africa. Accounting for fixed effects allows me to examine whether unobserved characteristics of recipient countries play a role in explaining the impact of aid on corruption.

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The objectives of this study were to determine what perceived changes to VTE have the potential to improve development of the economy in the next 3 to 5 years and which of these identified changes will have the greatest impact. To achieve this objective, a selected group of experts representing international development, business, economies, labor, manufacturing, service industries, and education were asked to participate in the study. First, the experts were requested to list five to eight statements, based on their experience and perceptions, about what changes to VTE have the potential to improve the development of Trinidad and Tobago economy in the next 3 to 5 years. Next, they were asked to rank-order their identified 60 statements on a continuum that approximated a normal distribution from "most important" to "least important." Rank-ordered statements were analyzed using Q-factor analysis (PQMethod). From the rank-ordered statements, eight factors were identified as having the potential to improve the development of Trinidad and Tobago's economy. These factors were (a) access to and quality of VTE, (b) VTE higher education programs, (c) VTE program quality, (d) VTE program comprehensiveness, (e) fundamental aspects of VTE, (f) preparation for and advancement in VTE careers, (g) meeting VTE student and program needs, and (h) understanding VTE's purpose. Statements associated with each factor serve to clarify the focus of VTE related activities that may be initiated to improve development of the economy. The most important of the identified factors was Factor 1(access to and quality of VTE) which accounted for 15% of the explained variance in the factor matrix. The second most important factors were Factor 3 (VTE program quality) and 5(fundamental aspects of VTE) with each accounting for 13% of the explained variance. All three of these factors (Factors 1, 3, and 5) had an average reliability coefficient of .800, a composite reliability of .889 at a significant value of p<.05. / Ph. D.

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Thesis (MBA)--Stellenbosch University, 2007. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: Africa's economic growth will not be found across the Atlantic or Indian oceans in international markets. Growth will not be achieved by simply giving away state assets in large privatisation transactions. Growth will also not come from giving away valuable concessions to scarce natural resources or handing out investment incentives to resource seeking foreign investors. Governments and policy makers need to accept that drivers to sustainable economic growth, lies much closer to home. Not in greater domestic savings by that average man in the street (who, in Africa's poor economies, often would need to forego a daily meal in order to save), but even closer. The policies for economic growth in Africa need to be focussed on flrst achieving production and allocative efficiencies at home. The real drivers to achieve growth are to be found in the primary responsibilities of the state: Political stability though good governance Stable macroeconomic environments Good working infrastructures Educated and trained labour forces Sizable market through regional cooperation (eg. SADe) African leaders and policy makers would be well served by a change in policy and attitude. Searching for solutions from within, rather than from abroad, will provide more sustainable growth. Requests for international debt relieve, complaints about (and excuses based on) the wrongs of the colonial past, demands for international trade concessions and efforts to secure international investment; may only result in a shift in the focus away from the basic problems at home. At the same time, a committed and disciplined focus on political and macro-economic stability; an efficient infrastructure, quality labour and bigger markets will naturally lead to substantial increases in international trade (while at the same time provide for better platform for negotiating international trade dispensation), will generate foreign investment and will reduce the importance of debt relieve. In addition, an stable environment combined with a reliable infrastructure and a quality labour force provides fertile grounds for local African entrepreneurs to excel and in time create opportunities for domestic savings and organic growth. This study does will not convey a popular message. No quick fixes exist and Africa will have to turn their focus inwards. Africa will have to stop blaming past rulers and stop pleading with current the world leaders. International political and economical leaders will not come to the rescue of Africa, however wrong the past has been. Africa will have to pick itself up by its own bootlaces. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Ekonorniese groei in Afrika sal nie gevind word oorkant die Atrlantiese of Indiese oseane in intemasionale markte nie. Groei sal nie behaal word deur eenvoudig staatbates weg te gee in groot privatiserings transaksies nie. Groei sal ook nie bewerkstellig word deur waardevolle konsessies tot skaars natuurlike hulpbronne uit te deel of deur toegewings vir die aansporing van beleggings aan hulpbron soekende intemasionale beleggers te maak nie. Owerhede en beleidmakers moet aanvaar dat die drywers vir volhoubare ekonomiese groei veel nader aan die huis Ie. Nie in groter huishoudelike besparings deur die man in die straat nie (wie Afrika se arm ekonomie waarskynlik 'n maaltyd sal moet prysegee om te kan spaar.), maar selfs nader. Die beleid vir ekonomiese groei in Afrika moet gefokus wees daarop om eerstens produksie en allokasie effektiwiteit in die plaaslike ekonomie te behaal. Die drywers om dit reg te kry word gevind in die primere vernatwoordelikhede van die staat: -Politieke stabiliteit deur goeie regering -Stabiele makro-ekonomiese omgewing -Goeie werkende infrastruktuur -Opgevoede en opgeleide werkersmag -Redelike grootte markte deur samewerking op streeksvlak (bv. SAOG) Afrika leiers en beleidmakers sal baat by 'n verandering in beleid en houding. Die soeke na oplossing van binne eerder as in die buiteland, sal eerder volhoubare groei bied. Versoeke vir intemasionale skuldverligting, klagtes rakende (en verskonings gebaseer op) die foute van die koloniale verlede, eise vir intemasionale handelskonsessies en pogings om internasionale beleggings te lok; al hierdie aksies lei waarskynlik slegs daartoe dat die fokus en aandag wegskuif van die basiese probleme in die plaaslike ekonomie. Terselfdertyd sal 'n toegewyde en gedissiplineerde fokus op politieke en makroekonomiese stabiliteit, 'n effektiewe infrastruktuur, hoer kwaliteit arbeidsmag en groter markte verseker oor die lang termyn weI lei tot 'n wesentlike toename in intemasionale handel (terwyl dit ook gelyktydig 'n beter platform skep om te onderbandel vir 'n meer voordelige intemasionale handelsdispensasie), meer intemasionale beleggings en sal die belangrikheid van skuldverligting laat afneem. Verder sal 'n stabiele omgewing, gekombineerd met 'n betroubare infrastruktuur en 'n bekwame arbeidsmag 'n vrugbare omgewing daar stel vir plaaslike Afrika entrepreneurs om uit te styg en te presteer. Dit sal oor die lang termyn geleentheid skep vir huishoudelike besparing en organiese groei. Hierdie studie bring nie 'n gewilde boodskap nie. Geen kitsoplossings bestaan nie en Afrika sal hul fokus inwaarts moet verskif. Afrika sal moet ophou om die koloniale heersers van die verlede te blameer en moet ophou om by huidige internasionale leiers te pleit vir hulp en toegewings. Intemasionale politieke en ekonomiese leiers sal nie tot die redding van Afrika kom nie, hoe verkeerd die verlede ookal was. Afrika sal homself moet optel aan sy eie skoenveters.

The present study is an attempt to compare the performance of two competing models of economic development-- the conservative and radical models. The conservative model is represented by the Central American countries of El Salvador, Guatemala, and Honduras; the radical model is represented by Cuba. The following chapters focus on a comparison of these models as they have manifested themselves in the Carribean basin. The analysis of the performance of the models is conducted by comparing socioeconomic variables of the countries representing the models. The study looks at the time period 1960 - 1980 which coincides with the adoption of the two models in the respective countries.