Competitiveness has been part of central, monetary policy making for over 500 years where regions have aimed to improve competitiveness and productivity by focussing on specific factors. The focus of the research was to identify which factors are most relevant for the African continent on determining competitiveness which will allow policy makers to understand how best to direct their investment with the greatest productivity return. The research methodology was quantitative in nature, based on secondary data from the Global Competitiveness Report over the past five years. The sample included 39 of the 54 African countries which are the countries on which the report collected data from. The unit of analysis was GDP per capita. A multivariate Generalised Linear Model with a log link function and Gamma error structure was built. The results showed that the order of importance for Africa was macroeconomic stability; infrastructure; technological readiness; and market size with the other factors not having a material influence. Building a similar model on all the countries have included two additional factors namely health and primary education as well as higher education and training. This indicates that certain structural factors are more important for countries in the developing phase such as Africa. / Dissertation (MBA)--University of Pretoria, 2014. / lmgibs2015 / Gordon Institute of Business Science (GIBS) / MBA / Unrestricted

This study empirically investigates the role Development Finance Institutions (DFIs) play in the economic growth of Zambia from 1992: Q1 to 2015: Q4. The main aim of the study is to find out if DFIs enhance economic growth in Zambia and if the growth witnessed over the study period was in fact improved by these inflows. Additionally, a multiple regression is run against the exchange rate, inflation unemployment and interest rate to further analyse the interaction of these variables with DFI inflows and how they have impacted the growth levels experienced in Zambia. The findings show that the impact DFIs on the GDP are ambiguous. In current period and DFI lagged to 2 periods prior, has a depressing effect whilst DFI lagged one period has an encouraging effect on GDP levels. Furthermore, from the cointegration tests, it is evident that there is a long run relationship that exists, signifying that the positive effects of DFIs can be felt in future periods especially if deployed to key sectors. The regression results of the other variables are in line with macro-economic theory which suggests that DFI inflows need to be supplemented with stable macro conditions to boost the degree of positive impact on GDP. To ensure future benefit to Zambia from DFI inflows; recommendations preferred to authorities inferred from the findings include, directing of these funds to job and revenue generating sectors that can increase export revenue. These sectors may include agriculture and manufacturing. Furthermore, it is cardinal that institutional infrastructures are put in place that effect legal and monitoring framework to ensure efficient deployment of these funds within the economy.

Au cours de ces trois dernières décennies l’économie chinoise a multiplié son PIB par 15. Pour soutenir une forte croissance interne et assurer ses approvisionnements en matière première et énergétique, la Chine s’est tournée vers l’Afrique en y augmentant rapidement et fortement ses investissements directs étrangers lors des dix dernières années. Deuxième partenaire commercial africain, investisseur stratégique, allié au développement et pourvoyeur financier, ce pays bouleverse les rapports de force qui s’étaient instaurés depuis les indépendances sur le continent. L’objet de ce travail est d’évaluer l’impact des IDE chinois sur le taux de croissance de 38 pays africains partenaire de la Chine entre 2003 et 2011. Nous avons articulé notre réflexion sur la question suivante : la coopération sino-africaine permet-elle aux pays africains de lutter contre la pauvreté, le chômage dans leur pays et surtout d’entamer un véritable processus de développement économique ? Pour répondre, nous avons analysé le mode de croissance chinois, les fondements de la politique africaine de la Chine, les raisons qui poussent les entreprises chinoises à aller investir en Afrique, les impacts politiques et économiques de la Chine en Afrique et enfin nous avons réalisé une étude empirique mesurant les effets des IDE chinois en Afrique. Nos résultats économétriques montrent que les IDE chinois n’ont pas d’effet significatif sur le PIB par tête de ces 38 pays africains, notamment à cause de la politique des entreprises chinoises en Afrique qui encourage les investissements dans les secteurs qui créent moins d’emploi local et qui ne permettent pas de vrai transfert de technologie. / For the last three decades, the Chinese economy has multiplied it GDP by 15. In order to maintain a strong home economical growth and insure a constant supply of raw material and energy, China turned towards the African continent by quickly and firmly multiplying its foreign direct investments during the last ten years. By becoming the second largest business partner of Africa, as well as a strategic investor, a financial supplier and associated for the development; China has now overturned the balance of powers which had been established since the decolonization of Africa. The purpose of this study is to estimate the impact of the Chinese FDI on the growth rate of 38 African countries between 2003 and 2011. We have centred our reflection on the following questions: What are the impacts of the economical cooperation between China and African countries on poverty, unemployment and; does this cooperation encourage the possibility to start a real process of economic development in Africa? In order to come to a conclusion on this matter, we have analyzed the way through which China achieves economical growth, the foundations of China’s African Policy, as well as the reasons for Chinese companies to invest in Africa and the political and economical impacts of China’s Policy in Africa. Finally, we led an empirical study measuring the effects of the Chinese FDI in Africa. Thanks to our econometric study, we came to the conclusion that the Chinese FDI has no significant effect on the GDP per capita of these 38 African countries. Because they are invested in sectors which end up creating less local employments and which, eventually do not allow a real transfer of technologies …

<p>The study draws on secondary data from the Bureau of Statistics in Lesotho. Simple and multiple linear regression models techniques are used to analyze the relationship between the GDP of Lesotho and the GDP of manufacturing. The secondary data is analyzed using Statistical Packages for Social Sciences (SPSS) and Excel. The major finding is that there exists a strong positive linear relationship ( r = 0.986) between the GDP of Lesotho and the GDP of manufacturing. This means that every time the GDP of manufacturing increases the GDP of Lesotho does the same. Based on this finding, the study recommends that in order to improve, sustain and maintain the economic growth and to avoid further deterioration in the manufacturing industry, the manufacturing capacity must be strengthened for it to effectively deal with growing competition and rapid economic changes.</p>

<p>The study draws on secondary data from the Bureau of Statistics in Lesotho. Simple and multiple linear regression models techniques are used to analyze the relationship between the GDP of Lesotho and the GDP of manufacturing. The secondary data is analyzed using Statistical Packages for Social Sciences (SPSS) and Excel. The major finding is that there exists a strong positive linear relationship ( r = 0.986) between the GDP of Lesotho and the GDP of manufacturing. This means that every time the GDP of manufacturing increases the GDP of Lesotho does the same. Based on this finding, the study recommends that in order to improve, sustain and maintain the economic growth and to avoid further deterioration in the manufacturing industry, the manufacturing capacity must be strengthened for it to effectively deal with growing competition and rapid economic changes.</p>

An increasing amount of attention is paid by the media, and political and business leaders to national competitiveness indices. As globalisation increases and the difficulties of the financial crisis linger on, leaders look towards global benchmarks such as the World Economic Forum‟s Global Competitiveness Index to make policy and resource allocation decisions. Despite this emphasis on national competitiveness, how this translates to economic growth prospects is not well understood, and a universally accepted economic growth model continues to elude macroeconomists. The research seeks to understand whether a more detailed assessment of the Global Competitiveness Index‟s twelve competitiveness pillars can improve its explanatory power for economic growth, by investigating patterns of competitiveness performance from both static and dynamic perspectives. Data was collated over the period 2007-2013 for 118 countries. A hierarchical cluster analysis was performed to segment countries according to homogeneous competitiveness patterns, followed by stepwise multiple regression modelling on the total sample and the resulting clusters in order to assess impacts on adjusted R-squared values. Regressions were performed on stock and flow values for twelve country competitiveness variables. The results show that the cluster analysis coupled with the specified multiple regression models significantly improved the explanatory power of the selected competitiveness variables on economic growth, except for the least competitive countries, where further research is needed to uncover their true drivers of competitiveness. / Dissertation (MBA)--University of Pretoria, 2013. / lmgibs2014 / Gordon Institute of Business Science (GIBS) / MBA / Unrestricted

Magister Scientiae - MSc / The study draws on secondary data from the Bureau of Statistics in Lesotho. Simple and multiple linear regression models techniques are used to analyze the relationship between the GDP of Lesotho and the GDP of manufacturing. The secondary data is analyzed using Statistical Packages for Social Sciences (SPSS) and Excel. The major finding is that there exists a strong positive linear relationship ( r = 0.986) between the GDP of Lesotho and the GDP of manufacturing. This means that every time the GDP of manufacturing increases the GDP of Lesotho does the same. Based on this finding, the study recommends that in order to improve, sustain and maintain the economic growth and to avoid further deterioration in the manufacturing industry, the manufacturing capacity must be strengthened for it to effectively deal with growing competition and rapid economic changes. / South Africa

The role of energy in wealth and development is evident but the manner that a population’s access to energy effects overall growth is unclear. Understanding the role of energy in society can impact policies to push improvement in underdeveloped countries. Therefore, it is necessary to know how energy improves quality of life and what improvements need to be made to provide the necessary resources to underdeveloped populations. The first half of the thesis focuses on the role of energy use in society and its effect on human development. It is established that underdeveloped countries are in fact positively affected from increased energy access. Additionally, that the use of renewables will improve all the aspects of human development: health, wealth, and education. These results suggest that policy makers should focus on increasing clean energy in developing countries to also improve overall development. The second half shifts to the design and characterization of a water tunnel and the role it has in understanding fluid flow for near-wall visualization. Using refractive index matching (RIM) this experimental method can be used to study micro-surfaces that could improve efficiency in transportation or renewable energy. The water tunnel herein can achieve turbulent flows, unlike previous RIM designs.

The main objective of this research paper is to find the association between unemployment rate and GDP growth which is presented empirically by Arthur Okun’s in early 1960s. For this purpose I have used annual time series data during the period 1981-2005 of Pakistan. I applied difference version of Okun’s law which is more appropriate to access results directly from empirical data. In order to find long run relation between the variables I used Engle-Granger cointegration technique and Error Correction Mechanism (ECM) to find the short term behavior of GDP growth to its long run value. This paper verifies negative relationship between unemployment rate and GDP growth and both variables have long run relation with each other. Moreover GDP growth will adjust more quickly towards equilibrium in the long run.

Parcerias entre governo e organizações sociais tornaram-se uma importante ferramenta para a execução de políticas públicas. Com a interdependência dos atores, a relação entre público e privado é remodelada constantemente, o que faz emergir novas formas de ação social coordenada ou governança. A presente dissertação tem como objetivo propor ao Governo do Estado de Roraima a adoção de uma ferramenta semelhante à Rede Parceria Social (RPS), utilizada pelo Governo do Estado do Rio Grande do Sul, com o intuito de indicar caminhos para a conquista de mais e melhores oportunidades e qualidade de vida, sobretudo mostrar que direta e indiretamente essa nova ferramenta de gestão de redes reflete no aumento do PIB, ou seja, no crescimento da economia e, consequentemente, no desenvolvimento econômico do Estado de Roraima. A revisão da literatura abordou o desenvolvimento econômico, em especial, o desenvolvimento local e seus desdobramentos, a gestão de redes, políticas públicas e o terceiro setor. Apresentou-se a RPS e seus impactos sobre a economia gaúcha, com base no estudo realizado pela Fundação de Economia e Estatística (FEE) do Rio Grande do Sul. Com fundamento no trabalho da FEE, constatou-se que a adoção de uma ferramenta de gestão semelhante à RPS é de grande valia para o alcance dos objetivos socioeconômicos propostos pelo Governo de qualquer estado, inclusive o Estado de Roraima, sendo o primeiro passo a criação de uma lei que institua um programa de apoio à inclusão e promoção social (no Rio Grande do Sul: Lei da Solidariedade – Lei nº 11.853/2002), uma lei de incentivo fiscal para empresas que desejam investir em projetos sociais. Nesse sentido, o Governo do Estado de Roraima precisa “abrir os olhos” para oportunidades como esta que, além de contribuírem para a justiça social e solidariedade, podem gerar impactos positivos na economia, ou seja, aumentar o Produto Interno Bruto (PIB), “primeiro passo” para a melhoria da qualidade de vida da sociedade. / Partnerships between government and social organizations have become an important tool for the implementation of public policies. With the interdependence of the actors, the relationship between public and private sectors is constantly remodeled, which brings out new forms of social action coordinated or governance. This dissertation aims to propose to the government of Roraima state to adopt a similar tool to the Social Partnership Network (SPN), used by the State Government of Rio Grande do Sul, in order to indicate ways to conquer more and better opportunities and quality of life, particularly directly and indirectly show that this new network management tool reflected in GDP growth, ie growth of the economy and consequently in the economic development of the State of Roraima. The literature review addressed the economic development, in particular, local development and its consequences, network management, public policy and the third sector. Presented to the SPN and its impact on the economy of the state of Rio Grande do Sul, based on a study by the Foundation of Economics and Statistics (FES) in Rio Grande do Sul. Based on the work of the FES, it was found that the adoption of a tool management similar to SPN is of great value to the achievement of socioeconomic goals proposed by the government of any state, including the state of Roraima, the first step being the creation of a law to implement a program to support and promote social inclusion (in Rio Grande do Sul: Solidarity Act - Law No. 11.853/2002), a law of tax incentives for companies that wish to invest in social projects. In this sense, the government of Roraima state needs to “open your eyes” for opportunities like this that, in addition to contributing to social justice and solidarity, can generate positive impacts on the economy, ie, increase the Gross Domestic Product (GDP), “first step” to improve the quality of life of society.