The purpose of this research is to investigate the concept of discretionary thrift amongst low income consumers. Flatters and Willmott (2009) identified discretionary thrift as an advancing trend amongst affluent developed nation consumers. These consumers temper their spending habits depending on product or occasion; there are certain products for which consumers are willing to pay a premium (behaviour associated with materialism) and there are others that consumers are looking to save money on (behaviour associated with frugality). Thrift for low income consumers, especially in emerging market settings, is not considered discretionary; rather, it is portrayed as ‘necessary’ to ensure survival. This study followed a descriptive, quantitative design and surveyed 154 individuals considered to be at the bottom of South Africa’s income pyramid. There is sufficient evidence from this research to support the proposition of discretionary thrift amongst low income consumers. Low income consumers were found to save money by paying as little as possible (behaviour associated with frugality) for fast moving consumer goods with low functional and status risk and were found to willingly pay the required premium (behaviour associated with materialism) for socially visible aspirational brands of clothing and fast moving consumer goods. The level of frugality and materialism expressed with respect to these products was not influenced by age or level of education. However, the level of frugality expressed with respect to these products was affected by an individual’s gross and disposable income. / Dissertation (MBA)--University of Pretoria, 2012. / Gordon Institute of Business Science (GIBS) / unrestricted

Orientador: Ricardo Monteagudo / Banca: Maria das Graças de Souza / Banca: Jacira de Freitas / Resumo: O propósito de se elaborar uma crítica ao luxo e às falsas relações instituídas na sociedade é mais que uma simples tentativa de afastamento. É antes a aproximação de uma realidade melhor que pode existir a partir de uma opção frugal e equilibrada. Rousseau afirma, sobretudo em A nova Heloísa, a possibilidade de se viver em paz e harmonia no estado de sociedade através de costumes simples. A adoção de um padrão de vida constituído por relações sinceras e isento de falsas necessidades garante à comunidade de Clarens o título de refúgio em que a transparência das relações pode encontrar seu lugar. Desta forma, é possível se constatar, no desenvolvimento do presente estudo, a insistência de Jean-Jacques em associar a realização do homem à sua opção consciente em viver em concordância com uma concepção de frugalidade como postura ideal. / Abstract: The purpose of elaborating a critic to the luxury and the false relationships instituted in the society it is more than a simple attempt of removal. It is before the approach of a better reality than it can exist starting from a frugal and balanced option. Rousseau affirms, mainly in A nova Heloísa, the possibility to live in peace and harmony in the society state through simple habits. The adoption of a standard of living constituted by relationships sincere and exempt of false needs it guarantees to the community of Clarens the refuge title in that the transparency of the relationships can find your place. Then, it is possible to verify, in the development of the present study, Jean-Jacques' insistence in associating the accomplishment of the man to your conscious option in living in agreement with a frugality conception as ideal posture. / Mestre

Background: Green consumerism is on the rise. However, the individuals with budget constraints are unable to afford sustainable products due to their budget as well as the premium pricing of the products. This in turn impedes them from expanding their sustainability options. In addition, the sustainability motivated individuals seek other means to meet their sustainable consumption practices. Thus, this thesis explores how the individuals innovate in their sustainable consumption practices while facing budget constraints. Purpose: The purpose of this research is to explore in what ways budget constrained sustainability motivated consumers innovate in their sustainable consumption practices. Method: The method used to investigate this topic is a mixed method of focus groups and interviews. The reason why this method was chosen was because it allows us to obtain an in depth discussion and rich data. Conclusion: The findings of our research has demonstrated that there are many ways that the budget constrained, sustainability motivated students innovate. Nevertheless, premium pricing as well as budget constraints play a significant role in limiting the extent to which they can innovate in their sustainable consumption practices.

Algorithmic mechanism design deals with efficiently-computable algorithmic constructions in the presence of strategic players who hold the inputs to the problem and may misreport their input if doing so benefits them. Algorithmic mechanism design finds applications in a variety of internet settings such as resource allocation, facility location and e-commerce, such as sponsored search auctions. There is an extensive amount of work in algorithmic mechanism design on packing problems such as single-item auctions, multi-unit auctions and combinatorial auctions. But, surprisingly, covering problems, also called procurement auctions, have almost been completely unexplored, especially in the multidimensional setting. In this thesis, we systematically investigate multidimensional covering mechanism- design problems, wherein there are m items that need to be covered and n players who provide covering objects, with each player i having a private cost for the covering objects he provides. A feasible solution to the covering problem is a collection of covering objects (obtained from the various players) that together cover all items. Two widely considered objectives in mechanism design are: (i) cost-minimization (CM) which aims to minimize the total cost incurred by the players and the mechanism designer; and (ii) payment minimization (PayM), which aims to minimize the payment to players. Covering mechanism design problems turn out to behave quite differently from packing mechanism design problems. In particular, various techniques utilized successfully for packing problems do not perform well for covering mechanism design problems, and this necessitates new approaches and solution concepts. In this thesis we devise various techniques for handling covering mechanism design problems, which yield a variety of results for both the CM and PayM objectives. In our investigation of the CM objective, we focus on two representative covering problems: uncapacitated facility location (UFL) and vertex cover. For multi-dimensional UFL, we give a black-box method to transform any Lagrangian-multiplier-preserving ??-approximation algorithm for UFL into a truthful-in-expectation, ??-approximation mechanism. This yields the first result for multi-dimensional UFL, namely a truthful-in-expectation 2-approximation mechanism. For multi-dimensional VCP (Multi-VCP), we develop a decomposition method that reduces the mechanism-design problem into the simpler task of constructing threshold mechanisms, which are a restricted class of truthful mechanisms, for simpler (in terms of graph structure or problem dimension) instances of Multi-VCP. By suitably designing the decomposition and the threshold mechanisms it uses as building blocks, we obtain truthful mechanisms with approximation ratios (n is the number of nodes): (1) O(r2 log n) for r-dimensional VCP; and (2) O(r log n) for r-dimensional VCP on any proper minor-closed family of graphs (which improves to O(log n) if no two neighbors of a node belong to the same player). These are the first truthful mechanisms for Multi-VCP with non-trivial approximation guarantees. For the PayM objective, we work in the oft-used Bayesian setting, where players??? types are drawn from an underlying distribution and may be correlated, and the goal is to minimize the expected total payment made by the mechanism. We consider the problem of designing incentive compatible, ex-post individually rational (IR) mechanisms for covering problems in the above model. The standard notion of incentive compatibility (IC) in such settings is Bayesian incentive compatibility (BIC), but this notion is over-reliant on having precise knowledge of the underlying distribution, which makes it a rather non- robust notion. We formulate a notion of IC that we call robust Bayesian IC (robust BIC) that is substantially more robust than BIC, and develop black-box reductions from robust BIC-mechanism design to algorithm design. This black-box reduction applies to single- dimensional settings even when we only have an LP-relative approximation algorithm for the algorithmic problem. We obtain near-optimal mechanisms for various covering settings including single- and multi-item procurement auctions, various single-dimensional covering problems, and multidimensional facility location problems. Finally, we study the notion of frugality, which considers the PayM objective but in a worst-case setting, where one does not have prior information about the players??? types. We show that some of our mechanisms developed for the CM objective are also good with respect to certain oft-used frugality benchmarks proposed in the literature. We also introduce an alternate benchmark for frugality, which more directly reflects the goal that the mechanism???s payment be close to the best possible payment, and obtain some preliminary results with respect to this benchmark.

Made available in DSpace on 2014-06-11T19:26:20Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 0 Previous issue date: 2009-06-10Bitstream added on 2014-06-13T19:54:33Z : No. of bitstreams: 1 goncalves_mf_me_mar.pdf: 497131 bytes, checksum: be2c453cf9f0065828d6f8f1c284f31d (MD5) / O propósito de se elaborar uma crítica ao luxo e às falsas relações instituídas na sociedade é mais que uma simples tentativa de afastamento. É antes a aproximação de uma realidade melhor que pode existir a partir de uma opção frugal e equilibrada. Rousseau afirma, sobretudo em A nova Heloísa, a possibilidade de se viver em paz e harmonia no estado de sociedade através de costumes simples. A adoção de um padrão de vida constituído por relações sinceras e isento de falsas necessidades garante à comunidade de Clarens o título de refúgio em que a transparência das relações pode encontrar seu lugar. Desta forma, é possível se constatar, no desenvolvimento do presente estudo, a insistência de Jean-Jacques em associar a realização do homem à sua opção consciente em viver em concordância com uma concepção de frugalidade como postura ideal. / The purpose of elaborating a critic to the luxury and the false relationships instituted in the society it is more than a simple attempt of removal. It is before the approach of a better reality than it can exist starting from a frugal and balanced option. Rousseau affirms, mainly in A nova Heloísa, the possibility to live in peace and harmony in the society state through simple habits. The adoption of a standard of living constituted by relationships sincere and exempt of false needs it guarantees to the community of Clarens the refuge title in that the transparency of the relationships can find your place. Then, it is possible to verify, in the development of the present study, Jean-Jacques' insistence in associating the accomplishment of the man to your conscious option in living in agreement with a frugality conception as ideal posture.

Inclusive Innovation (II) and Frugal Innovation (FI) have been trending concepts in the theoretical field as organizations put more focus on sustainability, equality, and inclusion in their strategies and cultures. However, the discourse among researchers in the domain has been deeply focused on the conceptualization of the ideas, leaving the practical implications aside. In this paper, we aim to understand how companies develop inclusive and frugal innovations, together with identifying key success factors along the way. For this, we assembled an analytical framework based on literature review, with the aim of applying the theoretical tools into three practical case studies. In these, the level of innovation, degree of frugality, and design problems are examined for each of the presented companies, and later compared in a cross-case analysis. The results ofthe paper show that the context and affordability of the products are essential in ensuring a high degree of inclusion of the solutions developed specifically for the low income end users.

Published Article / Modern philosophy left us with an unbridgeable divide between factual reality and the domain of values (normativity). This article first of all analyze modal norms, such as the principle of avoiding what is legally excessive. There are distinct but mutually cohering kinds of laws. The distinction between modal laws / norms and type laws / norms required an example from the domain of human society - John Locke and Adam Smith, whose ideas in practice gave birth to trade unionism and labour parties. The idea of an "invisible hand" (manifest in the "free market") operates with exact (natural) laws, such as supply and demand. When modal norms are distinguished from type norms it becomes clear that states and a business enterprises can act uneconomically by wasting their money although they ought to function in a way that is guided by economic considerations of frugality. As an example the well-known natural law of energy-conservation is explained as the embodiment of an analogical link between the physical aspect and the kinematic aspect which should rather be designated as the law of energy-constancy. Finally the problem of normativity is related to the coherence between the logical-analytical aspect and its coherence with the aspects of number and space - focused on the principle of the excluded middle and its implications for diverging schools of thought within twentieth century mathematics. The last subsection concludes with reference to the norms guiding technological developments and with an assessment of the meaning of technology.

Cette étude analyse la place et le rôle du mode de vie dans les discours et les pratiques politiques à Rome à la fin du IIIe siècle av. J.-C. et au IIe siècle av. J.-C. qui formaient un moment charnière. Le luxe faisait partie des pratiques de distinction de l’aristocratie à la fin du IVe siècle av. J. C. et au IIIe siècle av. J. C. À partir de la deuxième guerre punique, l’élite commença à s’inquiéter du rôle politique du faste et des menaces qu’il faisait peser sur le système oligarchique ; elle fit ensuite voter des lois régulant les festins pour éviter que ceux-ci ne servissent à gagner du crédit politique, mais sans évoquer franchement cette raison, par déférence pour le pouvoir et par souci de préserver sa légitimité. Le combat contre le luxe investit les discours, influant sur l’image que l’élite donnait d’elle-même. Les adversaires du luxe, comme Caton l’Ancien, mirent en avant une nouvelle qualité, la frugalité, correspondant à l’adoption d’un train de vie inférieur à ce que son rang permettait. Une représentation négative se structura autour du luxe, explicitement et définitivement associé aux vices, aux étrangers, en particulier aux Grecs, et implicitement considéré comme caractéristique des hommes inaptes à servir leur patrie ou aspirant à un pouvoir excessif. Une représentation antithétique se développa autour de la frugalité, qualité des vrais Romains fidèles aux mœurs de la campagne et soucieux des intérêts de la République, une image qui fut particulièrement appréciée par le peuple. Ces arguments connurent un immense succès dans les luttes politiques du dernier tiers du IIe siècle av. J. C. La frugalité était cependant difficilement applicable en toutes circonstances car elle heurtait les normes de l’élite : il importait de signifier à travers elle une position politique, mais il fallait aussi savoir recevoir convenablement ses amis. Le stoïcisme, qui se développait alors à Rome et qui prescrivait une vie tempérante, dut s’adapter à cette exigence. / This study analyses the place and role of the way of life in political speeches and practices in Rome in the late third century BC and in the second century BC, which formed a turning point. Luxury was a means of social distinction for the aristocracy in the late fourth century BC and third century BC. From the Second Punic War onwards, the elite began to worry about the political impact of this sumptuousness and the threats it posed for the oligarchic system. Consequently, the elite introduced laws regulating banquets in order to prevent hosts from gaining political prestige, without clearly citing this reason, out of deference for the government and in order to protect its own legitimacy. This fight against luxury spread in speeches and influenced the image of itself which the elite wanted to promote. The detractors of luxury, like Cato the Elder, proposed a new ideal – frugality, which implied adopting a lifestyle more humble than that which was allowed by one’s actual rank. A negative definition of luxury was proposed – it was explicitly and definitively associated with vice, foreigners (Greeks especially), and implicitly considered to be typical of men who were unable to serve their homeland or who aspired to excessive power. An antithetic representation of frugality was developed and was thought to be the quality of real Romans who were true to the values of the countryside and anxious to preserve the interests of the Republic. This image was highly valued by the people. These ideas played a significant role in the power struggles in the last third of the second century BC. Frugality remained nonetheless a difficult quality to adopt in all circumstances because it went against the standards of the elite – while it mattered for the elite to make their political position clear through frugality, it was also important to cater to one’s guests as befitted one’s rank. Stoicism, which was then developing in Rome and advocated a restrained way of life, had to adapt to this demand.

The meditation Sinner and beggar of Noordmans is used as a heuristic instrument to conduct a critical theological inquiry into the relationship between standard of living and the forgiveness of sins in the Reformed tradition. According to Noordmans the beggar (Lazarus in Luke 16:19-31) unlike the sinner (the tax collector in Luke 18:9-14) repents not only in a brief moment, but testifies with the totality of his existence to his heavenly inheritance. The intimate relation between physical suffering and salvation that Noordmans deducts from the parables, is compared with the parable interpretations of a few selected commentators. The content of his meditation is analysed against the background of his theological thought in general. Noordmans’s critique on the views of Pierson and the Heidelberg Catechism, Sunday 10, on Providence is placed in perspective by Calvin’s general guidelines on the correct use of earthly comforts. The connection between Calvin and contemporary society is brought about by examining exponents of neo-Calvinism (Kuyper) and Liberation theology (Gutiérrez). The perspectives on the relation between standard of living and the forgiveness of sins of Heyns, Bosch and Mofokeng are investigated to verge upon the Southern African situation. The particular angles of interlocutors on creation, eternal life and responsibility with regard to the relationship between standard of living and forgiveness of sins are systematically scrutinized. From this analysis a B&S-SCHEME (beggar-and-sinner-scheme) evolves – an aid to a more nuanced reflection on theological propositions concerning the relationship between standard of living and the forgiveness of sins. / Thesis (DD)--University of Pretoria, 2005. / Dogmatics and Christian Ethics / unrestricted

South Korea is a country that is poor in natural resources and capital and remains behind many other nations in technological development; however, South Korea's unique development strategy has led its economy to high growth over the last three decades. During 1997, South Korea began to experience a serious financial crisis, including bankruptcies of many of its conglomerates, a drastic depreciation in the international exchange rate of the South Korean currency, and an increasing foreign debt. Currently South Korea is struggling to compete with products from both industrialized nations and newly industrializing nations. The current crisis has occurred as South Korea has been engaged in extensive market-opening. Knowledge is lacking about South Korea's intricate and rapidly changing political and economic climate. The purpose of this research was to explore and clarify the interrelated factors that have contributed to South Korea's present economic problems, especially those facing South Korea's retailing industry. The qualitative methodology of "grounded theory" was used in this study. Grounded theory is a general methodology for developing theory that is grounded in data which are systematically gathered and analyzed. Theory evolves during the research process through a continuous interplay between analysis and data collection. This research attempted to discover the factors, or themes, that have affected the South Korean economy and retailing industry. The following factors were identified: (1) foreign direct investment; (2) the price-gap between imported goods and domestic products; (3) South Korea's trade deficit; (4) perceived over-consumption of luxury items by South Korean consumers; and (5) the chaebol, or South Korean large conglomerates. The economic factors that have led to the current difficulties facing the South Korean retailing market are complicated and interwoven. South Korean retailers will have to address these factors in the future, and attempt to find solutions. It is hoped that the knowledge resulting from this will be of benefit to South Korea's attempt to compete in a global marketplace. / Master of Science