AFRIKAANS: Die studie ondersoek die verband tussen huishoudingskuld in Suid-Afrika en finale verbruiksbesteding deur huishoudings en daar is bevind dit is 'n wedersydse, moeilik voorspelbare en nie 'n eenvoudige proses nie, omdat verskeie faktore in die ekonomie dit beïnvloed. Die stand van die ekonomie en veral die persepsie van die verbruiker is belangrike faktore. Geld het 'n evolusie ondergaan en minder tasbaar geword as gevolg van krediet. Dit het beheer daarvan moeilik gemaak. Die koste van krediet is 'n geleentheid vir die Sentrale Bank om beheer oor geldskepping uit te oefen. Monetêre beleid skep 'n effektiewe omgewing vir die ekonomie om te funksioneer. Beleid beheer die vraag en aanbod van geld direk (deur rentekoerse) of indirek ( deur vraag- en aanbodfaktore te manipuleer). Geld in die moderne ekonomie verwys na krediet en veral na krediet van huishoudings. Totale uitstaande krediet van huishoudings, en die samestelling daarvan het oor die afgelope 25 jaar aansienlik verander. Dit toon op 'n verandering in die mag van die Sentrale Bank oor die geldskeppingsproses. Bevolkingswelvaart word gemeet aan die vermoë van huishoudings om inkome te bestee. Finale verbruiksbesteding deur huishoudings is die belangrikste deel van totale besteding in die ekonomie. Suid-Afrika klassifiseer finale verbruiksbesteding deur huishoudings volgens die 1993 Stelsel van Nasionale Rekeninge. Verskille tussen die 1993 en 1968 weergawes sluit verskille in ten opsigte van tipe klassifikasie ( doelwit versus duursaamheid) en tussen werklike finale verbruiksbesteding (finale verbruiksbesteding deur huishoudings plus individuele verbruik deur die owerheid) en finale verbruiksbesteding deur huishoudings. Verskillende teorieë bestaan met betrekking tot die effek van rentekoerse, inflasie en finansiële liberalisering op besteding, verbruik oor die lewensiklus, die verbruiksbestedingsfunksie, die verwantskap tussen inkome en besteding en marginale verbruiksbesteding. Die verloop van finale verbruiksbesteding deur huishoudings in Suid¬Afrika oor die afgelope 25 jaar toon dat die samestelling heelwat verander het soos die ekonomie deur verskillende fases gegaan het. Besteding aan duursame en semi-duursame goedere het toenemend gedaal, terwyl besteding aan veral dienste, skerp gestyg het. Die algemene beskikbaarheid van krediet het veroorsaak dat huishoudings al meer op skuld begin leef het gedurende die negentigs. Die gevolgtrekking is dat, in teenstelling met vroeë bevindings, huishoudings nie noodwendig slegs duursame goedere finansier met krediet nie, maar ook nie-duursame goedere en dienste. Die hoë vlakke van krediet en die koste van krediet, het oor die lang termyn 'n negatiewe effek op besteding. Die verband tussen huishoudingskuld in Suid-Afrika en finale verbruiksbesteding deur huishoudings hang af van die faktore wat bestedingsbesluite deur huishoudings beïnvloed, wat monetêre en fiskale beleid insluit. Die toepassing van monetêre beleid werk deur die transmissiemeganisme, wat deur verskeie kanale werk. Die kredietkanaal bestaan uit die balansstaatkanaal en die bankleningskanaal. Die balansstaatkanaal verduidelik die werking van 'n verandering in monetêre beleid op die welvaart van die bevolking. Die bankleningskanaal werk direk deur rentekoerse en banklenings. Verskillende denkskole ondersteun verskillende kanale. Die endogene/eksogene geld vraagstuk lei tot die gevolgtrekking wat gemaak is, dat die voorraad van kredietgeld altyd vraag-bepaald is en dat die aanbod daarvan slegs indirek deur die Sentrale Bank beheer kan word deur die omstandighede in die geldmark (wat rentekoerse affekteer) te verander. ENGLISH: The study investigates the relationship between household debt in South Africa and final consumption expenditure by households and it was found to be an interrelated, difficult process that is not easy to predict, because various factors in the economy influence both. The most important ones are the state of the economy and the perception of the consumer. Money has evolved into something less tangible as a result of credit. That increased the difficulty of control over it. The cost of credit provided an opportunity to the Central Bank to control the creation of money. Monetary policy creates an efficient environment in which the economy can function. Policy control the supply and demand of money directly (through interest rates) or indirectly (through manipulation of the supply and demand factors). Money in the modem economy means credit and specifically credit of households. Total outstanding credit of households and the composition of credit changed dramatically over the last 25 years. This is an indication of a change in the control of the Central Bank over the money creation process. The wealth of the nation is measured by the ability of households to spend income. Final consumption expenditure by households is the most important part of total consumption in the economy. South Africa classifies final consumption expenditure by households according to the 1993 System of National Accounts. Differences between the 1993 and 1968 versions are with respect to type of classification (purpose versus durability) and between actual final consumption and final consumption expenditure by households. There are different theories regarding the effect of interest rates, inflation, financial liberalisation on consumption, consumption over the life-cycle, the consumption function, the relationship between income and consumption and marginal consumption expenditure. The trend in final consumption expenditure by households in South Africa over the last 25 years shows the changes as a result of the different phases of the economy. Consumption of durable and semi-durable goods have decreased continually, while demand for services increased sharply. Households increasingly financed expenditure with credit during the nineties, being the result of the availability of credit. The conclusion is that households not only finance durable goods with credit but also non-durable goods and services, which is contradictory to previous conclusions. The high levels of credit and the cost of credit have a negative effect on consumption over the long term. The relationship between household debt in South Africa and final consumption expenditure is determined by factors that influence decisions about spending, which include monetary and fiscal policy. The influence of monetary policy can be described through the transmission mechanism, that work through different channels. The credit channel consists of the balance sheet channel and the bank lending channel. The balance sheet channel explains the effect of changes in monetary policy on the wealth of the nation. The bank lending channel work through interest rates and bank loans. Different schools of thought support different channels. The exogenous/endogenous money supply debate lead to the conclusion that the supply of credit money is always demand determined and that control by the Central Bank is indirect through the influence of supply and demand conditions in the money market. / Dissertation (MCom (Economics))--University of Pretoria, 2002. / Economics / unrestricted

In South Africa household debt has increased rapidly over the past few years, therefore illustrating the importance of analysing liability usage behaviour of individual members within the household. In order to comprehend the behaviour of South Africans regarding liability usages, this study provides insight into why individuals find it necessary to obtain liability products as well as to indicate whether liability products are used to address the financial needs for the purpose it was developed for. To achieve the aim of this study, it was firstly necessary to develop a theoretical framework for the process of selecting credit products when satisfying financial needs. Secondly, the characteristics and intended usage purposes of different credit products available in South Africa were discussed and a debt classification framework was developed. Finally, data obtained from the Finscope South Africa survey was analysed according to the developed frameworks following a combination of two approaches. Firstly, a qualitative approach was used to identify the different financial needs which are satisfied when using liabilities. The financial needs identified were classified according to Alderfer’s existence relatedness growth (ERG) theory and the factors that have an influence on liability usage. Secondly, a quantitative approach was followed to indicate which financial needs are fulfilled when using different credit products. The results of this study suggest that individuals do not use liabilities only for the purpose what the products were originally developed for. The findings clearly indicated that individuals mainly use liabilities to satisfy basic needs which are classified as existence needs according to Alderfer’s ERG theory. Based on the data analysis a variety of factors such as access to credit and certain demographic characteristics have an influence on liability usage behaviour of individuals. The results further show that individuals mainly use informal, unsecured, short-term loans when satisfying their financial needs which might indicate that South Africans are unable to access formal credit products. / Financial Accounting / M. Phil. (Accounting Science)

In South Africa household debt has increased rapidly over the past few years, therefore illustrating the importance of analysing liability usage behaviour of individual members within the household. In order to comprehend the behaviour of South Africans regarding liability usages, this study provides insight into why individuals find it necessary to obtain liability products as well as to indicate whether liability products are used to address the financial needs for the purpose it was developed for. To achieve the aim of this study, it was firstly necessary to develop a theoretical framework for the process of selecting credit products when satisfying financial needs. Secondly, the characteristics and intended usage purposes of different credit products available in South Africa were discussed and a debt classification framework was developed. Finally, data obtained from the Finscope South Africa survey was analysed according to the developed frameworks following a combination of two approaches. Firstly, a qualitative approach was used to identify the different financial needs which are satisfied when using liabilities. The financial needs identified were classified according to Alderfer’s existence relatedness growth (ERG) theory and the factors that have an influence on liability usage. Secondly, a quantitative approach was followed to indicate which financial needs are fulfilled when using different credit products. The results of this study suggest that individuals do not use liabilities only for the purpose what the products were originally developed for. The findings clearly indicated that individuals mainly use liabilities to satisfy basic needs which are classified as existence needs according to Alderfer’s ERG theory. Based on the data analysis a variety of factors such as access to credit and certain demographic characteristics have an influence on liability usage behaviour of individuals. The results further show that individuals mainly use informal, unsecured, short-term loans when satisfying their financial needs which might indicate that South Africans are unable to access formal credit products. / Financial Accounting / M. Phil. (Accounting Science)

DEd (Curriculum Studies) / Department of Curriculum Studies / The focus of this study was to investigate the sustainability of teaching Consumer Studies as a school subject. The study was conducted in Vhembe District schools. The main purpose of the study was to establish the extent of the challenges affecting the sustainability of teaching Consumer Studies and to develop the necessary measures to address them. Consumer Studies is in a struggle for legitimacy as a school subject, despite its recognition and designation by the Department of Education. The study argued that Consumer Studies as a school subject is a tool for creating a sustainable future for learners. The nature of the study demanded for the adoption of a qualitative research design. Purposeful sampling procedure was used to select the population for the study. 42 secondary schools which offered Consumer Studies in all the circuits of the Vhembe District were purposefully selected. Participants constituted of school principals, heads of departments and Consumer Studies teachers of the sampled schools. Interviews, Observation and Document analysis were used as strategies for data collection. Data was analyzed thematically. The study revealed that Consumer Studies as a school subject was gradually downgraded and was not given the value that it deserves by the relevant authorities. This was evident as five out of the fifteen sampled schools were in the process of excluding the subject from the curricular. The study also revealed that the school subject Consumer Studies was not promoted as a viable career option for learners. The subject was regarded as an elective in the curricular of most schools selected for the study. It was recommended that the value of Consumer Studies be considered in order to avoid its elimination while other learning areas were added into the system and given compulsory status as well. The study further recommends the promotion of Consumer Studies as a viable career option for learners at secondary schools. The study suggested a model for sustaining the teaching of Consumer Studies at secondary schools. / NRF