Magister Artium (Development Studies) - MA(DVS) / The international migrant stock has continued to grow at a fast pace increasing from 222 million in 2010 to 244 million in 2015. Reasons for migration are diverse and include conflicts, poverty and natural tragedies. South to South migration is the most prevalent on the African continent; similarly, half of migrants from developing countries, the world over, are estimated to reside in other developing countries. South Africa is amongst the continent’s most popular destinations for Africa’s migrants. Among the international migrants of African descent who reside in South Africa, are Ghanaians; a migrant population rarely considered by migration studies conducted in the country. Ghanaians receive less than 5% of the permits granted by South Africa to migrants every year. Among this lot of migrants, are undocumented Ghanaians who live in the country with little or no social protection. They are exposed to various health and social conditions and resort to survivalist strategies as a coping mechanism. However, very little is known about the specifics of the aforementioned challenges and the strategies they use to cope with these, in South Africa, for studies in this regard are largely non-existent. With the aim of filling this gap, this study explores the economic and social survival strategies of Ghanaian migrants in Johannesburg, South Africa. Using qualitative research methods, it draws data from 10 Key Informant Individual Interviews and three Focus Group Discussions (FGD) and analyses the experiences of documented and undocumented Ghanaian migrants in relation to access to livelihood, health, housing and their use of social networks in South Africa. The findings of this research indicated that economic reason is the main push factor for the migration of Ghanaians to South Africa. It is hoped that the relevant authorities in Ghana and South Africa that are positioned to address the challenges faced by migrants will find the results of this study useful in their efforts to mitigate the plight of documented and undocumented Ghanaian migrants in the informal sector of South Africa.

This paper empirically examines the effect of income inequality on economic growth in a sample of 69 high income economies. It uses an improved inequality dataset developed by the World Institute for Development Economics Research and panel estimation techniques in an ordinary least squares regression. The results provide robust empirical evidence that rising levels of income inequality have adverse effects on growth in high income countries and indicate that, on average, a one standard deviation increase in income inequality will decrease growth by 67.91%. Results from the regression also suggest increases in human capital and international openness, decreases in the government consumption ratio, and more favorable terms of trade promote growth while higher initial per capita GDP and higher levels of investment retard growth.

This study seeks to investigate the attitudes towards mental illness in Sweden in comparison with India. To measure attitudes towards people with mental illness the questionnaire Community Attitudes Towards Mental Illness (CAMI) was used containing positive and negative statements regarding mental illness. These statements are divided into the four attitude categories of Authoritarianism, Benevolence, Social Restrictiveness and Community Mental Health Ideology. The questionnaire study consisted of a total of 410 students; 272 from Sweden and 138 from India. Sweden and India were chosen because of their differences based on factors that recent studies have shown affect a community’s attitudes towards mental illness; socio-economic, religion and culture. The results show that there is a difference in attitudes between the two countries in three out of the four attitude categories, where India showed a more positive attitude than Sweden towards mental illness meaning they have a greater sense of authoritative approach, goodwill, and social inclusion. This result was expected in the sense that there was a significant difference between the countries but not in the sense that India was to be the country to have a more positive attitude than Sweden since it goes against what previous research indicated. / Följande studie söker att undersöka attityderna gentemot psykisk ohälsa i Sverige i jämförelse med Indien. För att mäta attityderna gentemot personer med psykisk ohälsa användes frågeformuläret Community Attitudes Towards Mental Illness (CAMI) innehållandes positiva samt negativa påståenden inom ämnet mental ohälsa. Dessa uttalanden är uppdelade i de fyra attityd-kategorierna: Authoritarianism, Benevolence, Social Restrictiveness and Community Mental Health Ideology. Studien bestod av totalt 410 studenter; 272 från Sverige och 138 från Indien. Sverige och Indien blev valda som länder genom deras skillnader baserade på faktorer som tidigare studier har visat ha effekt på ett samhälles attityder gentemot psykisk ohälsa; socioekonomi, religion samt kultur. Resultaten visar att det finns en skillnad i attityd mellan de två länderna i tre utav de fyra attityd-kategorierna där Indien visade på en mer positiv attityd gentemot psykisk ohälsa än vad Sverige gjorde vilket innebär att Indien har ett mer auktoritärt förhållningssätt, social inkludering samt känsla för välvilja. Detta resultat var delvis förväntat då vi förutspådde en skillnad mellan länderna men då tidigare forskning indikerat, genom faktorerna nämnda tidigare, att Sverige borde ha en mer positiv attityd än Indien var den delen av resultaten inte förväntad.

This study was undertaken to investigate the major reasons behind the use of informal financial services by middle and high-income individuals in South Africa with specific reference to rotational savings and credit associations, locally known as stokvels. The ultimate aim was to recommend ways in which banks and other formal financial institutions could aptly address the financial needs of these individuals. The study was conducted in Pretoria, which is situated in the Gauteng province of South Africa. The data for this research was mainly gathered through two focus group discussion techniques, namely: the discussion guide and product attribute raking (PRA). Two mini questionnaires were also used to collect personal information from the participants. The research revealed three major categories of high-budget stokvels namely: the generic,targeted saving and investment stokvels. The main users of these stokvels are black males and females with a monthly income of R11 500 or more. They are typically individuals of 31 to 49 years of age. They are highly educated individuals holders of qualifications equivalent to a university degree or higher. Further analysis of the participants in this sample revealed a tendency for the stokvels to be formed along gender, workplace/colleague and kinship lines. The study shows that in addition to social fulfilment, the major financial need satisfied by these stokvels is saving to accumulate a lump sum for a birthday party, holiday or consumer goods and to take advantage of investment opportunities. The study identified the following specific reasons behind the participation in highbudget stokvels; to take advantage of collective/forced saving, avoid financial charges, low returns on small amounts of individual savings in banks and social fulfilment. The findings highlight the formal financial institutions¡¦ lack of awareness for the need to profile, design appropriate products and delivery systems for the black middle and highincome clients in South Africa. The study also shows that banks do not really understand this clientele. The study findings necessitate profile targeting, achievable through ongoing and comprehensive research in the product and service requirements of this clientele. The suggested research will enable formal financial institutions to improve service provision, as well as to identify and design products for this clientele. The study calls for the following changes in formal financial institutions: <ul> <li>Increased investment in self-service banking</li> <li>Bank staff should be trained to sensitise them to the financial, social needs and expectations of this clientele</li> <li>In addition, banks should strive to accelerate the employment of staff fluent in several indigenous languages and increase use of indigenous languages in formal financial institutions</li> <li>Banks and formal financial institutions in general, should endeavour to design products and product delivery systems that address the social needs of clients.</li> <li>Increased investment in social responsibility and visibility of formal financial institutions in black townships.</li> </ul> Finally, the study recommends that if formal financial providers are to participate in this lucrative market, it is imperative that they emulate the principles on which informal financial institutions such as high-budget stokvels operate. / Dissertation (M Inst Agrar (Agricultural Economics))--University of Pretoria, 2007. / Agricultural Economics, Extension and Rural Development / M Inst Agrar / unrestricted

The purpose of this paper is to investigate the relationship between economic development and pollution in the middle- and high-income countries for the period between 1960 and 2014. The study is conducted by first testing the environmental Kuznets curve, an economic theory that income has an inverted U-shape relationship with environmental degradation. Later, the Revised environmental Kuznets curve is tested, an economic theory that countries undergoing economic development at a later period will have a lower peak of environmental degradation compared to countries undergoing economic development at an earlier period. Empirical tests of carbon dioxide (CO2) per capita and income (GDP per capita) were conducted in two different panel tests containing middle-income countries in one and high-income countries in the other. The observed relationship shows that a country's early economic development degrades the environment until what is called the turning point is reached, after which the environment improves with further economic development. Thus, the expected inverted U-shape is observed for both MIE and HIE. Furthermore, the tests tell us that the turning point for MIE is significantly lower than for HIE, which is the expected result.

In South Africa, the penetration rate of Cellphones is greater than 100 percent. South African banks are leveraging off this technology by providing a bouquet of financial services via the Cellphone – Cellphone banking. However, the adoption of Cellphone banking has been much slower when compared to other electronic banking channels, such as internet banking. The objective of this research was to compare factors that inhibit adoption of Cellphone banking between the low and high income groups. Based on existing innovation adoption theory, there were five factors of adoption identified: Trialability, Perceived Complexity, Perceived Value, Perceived Credibility and Perceived Risk. A telephonic survey was administered. The survey questionnaire contained a series of closed-ended questions relating to the five factors of adoption and a single open-ended question to identify factors not being researched. The results of the survey found that the greatest inhibitor to Cellphone banking was Trialability, followed by Perceived Complexity and Perceived Risk (regardless of income levels). The results of the open-ended questions were grouped in two themes; Personal Preference and Banking Perception. The comparison of results between the open-ended themes found that personal preferences have a significant impact between the low and high income groups. The majority of the high income respondents preferred Internet banking to Cellphone banking. However, banking perceptions had a higher impact on the low income respondents when comparing the two themes. The study establishes that financial institutions should provide a demonstration and give the customers the opportunity to test Cellphone banking in an effort to increase adoption; as this should reduce the perceived complexity and risk associated with this service. / Dissertation (MBA)--University of Pretoria, 2011. / Gordon Institute of Business Science (GIBS) / unrestricted

This thesis has investigated the validity of the Environmental Kuznets Curve in the provinces of China which assumes the increase in GDP per capita (income per capita) would generate the raise of CO2 emissions (pollution) until a turning point in which CO2 emissions start decreasing. The study includes 30 provinces over a period spanning from 2000 to 2019 by applying OLS and Fixed-effects regression model with panel data. The findings demonstrate that the provinces of China conform to the EKC theory's projections by exhibiting an inverted-U shape. Apart from that, this study also confirmed the presence of differences in turning points between provinces with high income and those with low income, and the former exhibiting a significantly higher value. Our research findings suggest that policymakers should tailor their CO2 emission reduction policies to the specific circumstances of each region. In the absence of appropriate measures, a negative outcome may arise.

Renewable energy and economic growth are among the central issues in the two-prongeddisciplines of economics and sustainability. This study explores the impact of renewable energygeneration on economic growth. Utilizing the theoretical framework of Energy Growth Nexus,the research employs a neo-classical production function in several panel data econometricmodels. Sixty nations across the globe are categorized into high-income countries and lowincome countries equally by the World Bank´s income-classifications calculated using theWorld Bank Atlas method. Renewable energy and non-renewable energy generation along withcomponents of production functions such as labor force and investments are examined for theperiod 2000-2021 to identify their impact on GDP. All the variables explored in the study arenormalized by population to account for population differences across countries. Our findingsrobustly support the growth hypothesis, that renewable energy acts as a catalyst to economicdevelopment. The empirical results indicate that there is an association between the renewableenergy and GDP per capita regardless of the nation´s income levels. Robustness checks withdata from a decade preceding the initial analysis are also conducted to ensure the initial findingsare consistent and not an anomaly. The empirical findings from the study offers insights togovernments, energy planners, policymakers, international agencies, and associated bodies toconsider decisions regarding renewable energy transitions. Investments into renewable energyinfrastructure not only enhances the sustainability levels of planet earth but conjointlystimulates economic growth across the globe.

Den absoluta merparten av alla barn föds på sjukhus i Sverige och har så gjorts sedan början av förra seklet.Mödradödligheten sjönk stadigt alltjämt som förlossningsenheterna centraliserades runt om i landet. Till slut var hemförlossningar snarare något avvikande och sjukhusförlossningen något alldeles självklart. I nutid råder enighet att kvinnan skall kunna göra ett informerat val om förlossningsplats, vilket i enlighet med befintlig forskning förespråkas av World Health Organization [WHO]. Syftet med denna studie var att undersöka vilka faktorer som påverkade kvinnor att ta beslutet att genomföra en hemförlossning i ett höginkomstland. Metoden som användes är en allmän litteraturöversikt där data från 15 vetenskapliga originalartiklar analyserats. En integrerad litteraturöversikt genomfördes vilken resulterade i två kategorier: ”Vad kvinnan vill ha” med fyra underkategorier och ”Vad vården erbjuder” med tre underkategorier. I kategorin ”Vad kvinnan vill ha” var huvudfyndet kvinnors önskan om en fysiologiskt naturlig förlossning på sina egna villkor, utan att bli störd. I detta önskade kvinnorna känna sig trygga, sedda och i centrum för sin egen förlossning. Egenkontroll och självbestämmande var essentiellt. Under ”Vad vården erbjuder” var huvudfyndet att kvinnornas tidigare obehagliga eller traumatiska upplevelser av vårdpersonal inverkade på beslutet. Vårdgivares bemötande och attityd kunde driva kvinnan längre ifrån den traditionella vården vilket hade inflytande på kvinnans val att föda i hemmet. Slutsatsen av uppsatsen är att kvinnors individuella önskan om att få en säker och god förlossningsupplevelse i hemmet, tillsammans med förtroendet för vården, är något som borde vara en stor prioritet för vårdpersonal och samhället i stort.

The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change 2018 highlights the importance of short-lived greenhouse gasses to combat global warming. This study explores the relationship between Gross Domestic Product per capita and methane per capita. The relationship is explored in relation to the Environmental Kuznets Curve theory where the subjects to examination used are High Income Countries and Low Income Countries based on United Nation classifications in 2019. In total 47 countries are examined where 30 countries are High Income Countries and 17 are Low Income Countries. The relationships are examined for the time periods 1970 to 2017 through Fixed Effect Models. To improve accuracy additional control variables are added: Population in agriculture (% of total employment), balance of payments and forest areas. With the added control variables, the time frame used in Fixed Effect Models changes to 1991 to 2017. The different Fixed Effect Models provide inverted U-shaped relationships for Low Income Countries and uncertain results for High Income Countries according to the Environmental Kuznets Curve.