A Research Report submitted in partial fulfilment of the Degree of Master of Commerce (Economics/Economic Science) in the School of Economic and Business Sciences, University of the Witwatersrand, September 2018 / This study investigates the determinants of household savings in South Africa using panel data estimation techniques and National Income Dynamics Study (NIDS) data for the period 2008-2015. Results show that household savings habits in South Africa are strongly driven by sociodemographic factors such as income, relative income, asset ownership and white population group representation. Whereas household size, home ownership, household expenditure and black population group representation remain plausible arguments for household dissaving in South Africa. To some extent, these findings imply that strategies to increase household savings in South Africa should improve the distribution of income and employment among the population. There is also a need for an in-depth analysis as to why and how the country’s black population can be encouraged to improve on household savings. / XL2019

The three chapters of my dissertation study household finance, with a particular interest in financial institutions and poor households. Specifically, I study constraints households have that are unobservable to institutions yet impact their interaction and the effectiveness of government interventions that aim to ease or facilitate these exchanges. Chapter 1 studies the behavior of payday loan borrowers by using bank-transaction level data on household spending, income, and loan activity to document three novel stylized facts. They suggest that a payday borrower is poor, has volatile income, and uses payday loans to smooth baseline consumption needs after an adverse idiosyncratic income shock. Chapter 2 builds on these findings to motivate a short-term lending model. The equilibrium contract under realistic frictions matches the observed payday loan contract on multiple dimensions, specifically when borrowers have low expected income and high-income volatility. I then calibrate my model using my bank-transaction dataset and find welfare increases between 5% and 28.7% when rollover fees decrease and initial fees increase. Chapter 3 studies the efficiency of government healthcare subsidization schemes, with a specific interest in the underlying mechanisms that financially motivate hospitals to serve the uninsured. We study a Disproportionate Care Hospital (DSH) payment scheme that supports hospitals treating a disproportionately higher fraction of uninsured patients. We demonstrate that DSH payments lead to social welfare loss, especially in a system with large and small hospitals, compared to the second-best mechanism. We then use the setting of the Global Payment Program (GPP) program, which compliments DSH by providing primary care, to show that direct and assured payment for primary care improves social welfare. Overall, my dissertation seeks to understand the development of an equilibrium contract structure between financial institutions and the poor, examine methods of greater efficiency, and evaluate the impact of government interventions to alleviate tensions between these parties.

This dissertation includes three papers that examine the programs, policies, and contexts that explicitly or implicitly relate to food insecurity in the United States. Paper I estimates participation in social welfare programs across disability status and examines how access to participation differs by level of unmet food need in the household. Paper II estimates the causal effects of state minimum wage increases on household food security status across varying levels of wage increases and household characteristics. Paper III explores the relationship between food security status and metro-area classification, investigating how distributional differences in individual, household, and state-level characteristics across geographic location influence this relationship.

by Leung Hiu Tung, Vivien. / Thesis (M.Phil.)--Chinese University of Hong Kong, 1996. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 174-184). / Chapter Chapter One: --- Introduction --- p.1 / Chapter 1.1) --- Economic Restructuring in Hong Kong --- p.1 / Chapter 1.2) --- An Agenda Of and For Working Class Families --- p.2 / Chapter 1.3) --- Synopsis of Arguments --- p.5 / Chapter 1.4) --- "Methodology, Sampling and Limitation" --- p.13 / Chapter 1.5) --- Structure of This Thesis --- p.16 / Chapter Chapter Two: --- "Gender, Family and the Economy" --- p.18 / Chapter 2.1) --- Social Dimension of Economic Restructuring --- p.18 / Chapter 2.2) --- "Family, Gender and the Economy" --- p.20 / Chapter 2.3) --- Unpacking the Chinese Family --- p.24 / Chapter 2.4) --- Reconceptualizing Family Strategy --- p.26 / Chapter 2.5) --- Framework and Conceptualization --- p.32 / Chapter Chapter Three: --- The Socio-Political Context of Economic Restructuring in Hong Kong / Chapter 3.1) --- The Hong Kong Way of Economic Restructuring --- p.39 / Chapter 3.2) --- Economic Restructuring: A Private Problem of Workers --- p.42 / Chapter 3.3) --- The Gendered Labour Market Under Economic Restructuring --- p.46 / Chapter Chapter Four: --- Gender Embeddedness of Strategization --- p.50 / Chapter 4.1) --- Major Concerns of Coping Responses --- p.52 / Chapter 4.2) --- Strategic Orientation --- p.55 / Chapter 4.3) --- Familial Resources and Constraints in Devising Coping Responses --- p.59 / Chapter 4.4) --- Subjective Engagement of the Actors --- p.63 / Chapter Chapter Five: --- Familial Embeddedness I-- Strategization of Impoverished Families --- p.68 / Chapter 5.1) --- The Predicaments of Impoverished Families --- p.69 / Chapter 5.2) --- Impoverished Traditional Families: Patriarchal Household Resource Mobilization --- p.73 / Chapter 5.3) --- Impoverished Flexible Families: Negotiating Household Resource --- p.85 / Chapter 5.4) --- Impoverished Solitary Families: Relying on External Resource --- p.93 / Chapter 5.5) --- Strategization in Impoverished Families --- p.96 / Chapter Chapter Six: --- Familial Embeddedness II-- Strategization of Sustainable Families --- p.99 / Chapter 6.1) --- Sustainable Traditional Families: Securing Breadwinner's Employment --- p.101 / Chapter 6.2) --- Sustainable Flexible Families: Negotiating Couple's Employment --- p.113 / Chapter 6.3) --- Strategization in Sustainable Families --- p.123 / Chapter Chapter Seven: --- Familial Embeddedness III-- Strategization of Affluent Families --- p.127 / Chapter 7.1) --- Mobilizing Breadwinner's Employment --- p.128 / Chapter 7.2) --- Trivializing Wife's Employment --- p.131 / Chapter 7.3) --- Strategization in Affluent Families --- p.138 / Chapter Chapter Eight: --- Conclusion --- p.140 / Chapter 8.1) --- The Gender Embeddedness and Familial Embeddedness of Strategization --- p.141 / Chapter 8.2) --- The Social Impacts of Economic Restructuring -- Gender and Intraclass Differences --- p.143 / Chapter 8.3) --- Theoretical Implication: Family Strategy Revisited --- p.147 / Endnotes --- p.155 / Appendix / Chapter 1: --- Tables --- p.162 / Chapter 2: --- Profile of the Informants and of their Families --- p.164 / Chapter 3: --- Question Set for In-depth Interviews --- p.169 / Bibliography --- p.174 / LIST OF TABLES / Table 1.1 Gender Difference in Strategization --- p.5 / Table 1.2 Familial Embeddedness in Strategization --- p.7 / Table 4.1 Gender Difference in Strategization (Same as Table 1.1) --- p.51 / Table 4.2 Categorization of Informants Across Attitudes and Major Concerns in Strategization --- p.51 / Table 5.1 Familial Embeddedness in Strategization (Same as Table 1.2) --- p.68 / Table 5.2 Categorization of Families According to Different Familial Contexts --- p.69 / Appendix 1 / "Table I Persons and Percentage Engaged in Selected Economic Sectors, 1985-94" --- p.162 / Table II Establishments and Persons Engaged in the Manufacturing Sector --- p.162 / Table III Nominal and Real Wage Indices of Payroll per Person Engaged --- p.164

Yam Yin Kat. / Thesis (M.Phil.)--Chinese University of Hong Kong, 2005. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 46-49). / Abstracts in English and Chinese. / Chapter 1 --- Introduction --- p.1 / Chapter 2 --- Data --- p.4 / Chapter 3 --- Gender and Birth Order of Children --- p.7 / Chapter 3.1 --- Hypothesis Development --- p.7 / Chapter 3.1.1 --- Gender Discrimination --- p.7 / Chapter 3.1.2 --- Birth Order --- p.12 / Chapter 3.2 --- Results on Gender Bias --- p.14 / Chapter 3.2.1 --- Overall Results --- p.15 / Chapter 3.2.2 --- Gender Bias in Rural versus Urban Area --- p.18 / Chapter 3.2.3 --- Household Characteristics and Gender Bias --- p.19 / Chapter 3.3 --- Birth Order Effect --- p.22 / Chapter 4 --- Number of Children --- p.25 / Chapter 4.1 --- Hypothesis and Empirical Strategy --- p.25 / Chapter 4.2 --- Results --- p.30 / Chapter 5 --- Conclusion --- p.33 / Tables --- p.35 / References --- p.46

Thesis (MBA)--Stellenbosch University, 2001. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: The primary objective of this study was to verify the extent to which income distribution among the population groups in South Africa has changed since the 199! population census. These were the findings: It was established in this study that, at October 1996 the income share of Whites had dropped from 71.2 percent (1970) to 51.9 percent. The White population constitute 12.6 percent of South Africa population in 1996 but they received more than 50 percent of personal income in the country. At October 1996 the per capita income of Whites was 8.8 times that of Africans, 4.5 times that of Coloureds and 2.3 times that of Indians. The study found that income disparities between the population groups have narrowed, but there are a lot left to be done to remove income inequalities in the country. The study found that the income which accrued to each population group was not uniformly distributed within the group. In all population groups, the poorest 40%, and the next 41-70% household income classes suffered losses in household income shares between 1991 and 1996. In all population groups it was the richest 10% households who received the lion's share of income which accrued to the group, between 1991 and 1996. The study further found a shift in African employees from elementary occupations to artisan and machine operators. Between 1995 and 1999 the proportion of Coloureds in elementary jobs declined in favour of artisans, machine operators, managers and professionals. Indians and Whites had the smallest proportion of their workforce engaged in elementary occupations Only 5.4 percent of Africans aged 20 and above were found to possess degrees, diplomas and certificates in 1999, compared to 6.5 percent Coloureds, 14.3 percent Indians, 31.5 percent Whites. As high as 15.5 percent of Africans had not received any formal education at October 1999 compared to 7.9 percent Coloureds, 3.5 percent Indians and 0.3 percent Whites. Unemployment in all population groups has increased since the 1996 South African population census. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Die primêre doelwit van hierdie studie was om die verandering in die omvang van die inkomsteverdeling tussen die bevolkingsgroepe sedert die 1991 bevolkingsopname te bevestig. Daar is bevind dat die inkomste aandeel van Blankes vanaf 71.2 persent in 1970 na 51.9 persent in 1996 afgeneem het. Die Blanke bevolking het 12.6 persent van die Suid-Afrikaanse bevolking in 1996 uitgemaak, maar hulle ontvang meer as 50 persent van persoonlike inkomste in die land. In Oktober 1996 was die per capita inkomste van Blankes 8.8 keer meer as dié van Swart Suid-Afrikaners en 6.8 keer meer as dié van Kleurlinge. Die studie het gevind dat inkomsteverskille tussen die bevolkingsgroepe verminder het, maar dat daar nog groot inkomste ongelykhede is. Die studie het verder bevind dat die verdeling van inkomste binne elke bevolkingsgroep ongelyk verdeel is. Tussen 1991 en 1996 het in alle bevolkingsgroepe, die armste 40%, en die volgende 41-70% huishoudelike inkomsteklasse 'n daling in hul aandeel van huishoudelike inkomste ondervind. In alle bevolkingsgroepe was dit die rykste 10% huishoudings wat die grootste aandeel aan inkomste ontvang het tussen 1991 en 1996. Die studie het ook gevind dat daar 'n verskuiwing van swart Suid-Afrikaanse werknemers van elementêre beroepe na ambagsmanne en masjienoperateurs plaasgevind het. Tussen 1995 en 1999 het die verhouding van anderskleuriges in elementêre beroepe afgeneem ten gunste van ambagsmanne, masjienoperateurs, bestuurders en professionele beroepe. Asiate en Blankes het die kleinste verhouding van hulle werksmag in elementêre beroepe gehad. In 1999 was slegs 5.4 persent van swart Suid-Afrikaners, ouderdom 20 en ouer, in besit van grade, diplomas en sertifikate, in vergelyking met 6.5 persent Kleurlinge, 14.3 persent Asiate en 31.5 persent Blankes. Tot en met Oktober 1999 het 15.5 persent van swart Suid-Afrikaners geen formele opleiding ontvang in vergelyking met 7.9% Kleurlinge, 3.5% Asiate en 0.3% Blankes. Werkloosheid het sedert 1996 in alle bevolkingsgroepe toegeneem sedert die 1996 Suid-Afrikaanse bevolkingsopname.

Thesis (MBA)--Stellenbosch University, 2014. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: Women’s rights to property have still not been recognised in many countries as a basic individual right. Furthermore, women have often been excluded in the policies that govern land reform, that is, the economic restructuring programmes and land distribution policies. It is important to understand how women's rights in and access to land are being addressed, and the ways in which institutional reforms have benefited or disadvantaged women, given the importance of women as agricultural producers in sub-Saharan Africa, as well as the commitment to gender equality adopted by many governments. The determination of the criteria used to target land beneficiaries for land reform in South Africa is largely unclear and undocumented. Furthermore, there is a limited focus in existing literature on the actual impact of land reform on its beneficiaries. Land reform in South Africa is only benefiting a small proportion of the population. The findings of this research also indicate that there is a conscious attempt by the state to address racial injustices of Apartheid, with the majority of recipients of land in South Africa being African/black, and Coloureds following closely. Furthermore, the beneficiaries of land appear to be largely uneducated and unmarried. The research indicates that women in South Africa have equal, if not more opportunity than men to gain access to land through land reform. However, it does appear that males are heading most of the households with access to land through land reform and women in male-headed households have more access to land through land reform than those in female-headed households. This suggests that unmarried women are still at a disadvantage for accessing land through land reform, which further validates the findings of existing literature that customary practices may still be prevalent in South Africa and women’s primary access to land is through marriage. The findings of the research also indicate that generally people with access to land through land reform are more likely to have better household welfare than those with no access to land through land reform. Therefore, with only 2.5 per cent of the population accessing land, there is a significant limitation on the number of households whose welfare can be improved by land reform. The results also indicate that males without access to land have better household welfare than females without access to land therefore implying that women are more vulnerable without land access and they are more likely to face poverty when they are not afforded the opportunity to access land through land reform. Furthermore, it appears that females with access to land have better household welfare than males with access to land, which implies that females are an essential contributor to household welfare, more so than their male counter parts. Similar to existing literature, these findings further validate the need for the state to address gender inequality in land reform and ensure that women are included in the process. Nevertheless, with the majority of the land beneficiaries in this research being female, household welfare in South Africa is expected to improve in the future due to land reform.

published_or_final_version / Housing Management / Master / Master of Housing Management

published_or_final_version / Sociology / Master / Master of Philosophy

Households are nowadays required to make financial decisions of increasing complexity in an increasing number of domains. This thesis explores psychological mechanisms, behavior change interventions, and potential inhibitory factors underlying wise household financial decisions in the domains of gambling advertising and mutual fund investing. In-depth investigations of these two domains were chosen to balance the depth of topic coverage versus the wide breadth of modern financial decision making. UK soccer gambling advertising was investigated via two observational studies and a range of online experiments. The experiments found that soccer fans struggle to form coherent expectations for the complex bets featuring in UK soccer gambling advertising. Mutual fund investors have to balance a number of cues in their investment choices. Normatively, mutual fund investors should minimize fees. However, a number of investors choose to maximize past returns instead. Three chapters investigate how mutual fund fees and financial percentage returns are psychologically processed, in order to uncover beneficial behavior change interventions. Many participants processed percentages additively, rather than follow the correct multiplicative strategy. Both percentages and corresponding “small” currency amounts were associated with systematic biases. Participant responses were closest to the normative strategy when either past returns were framed as a “small” currency amount, or when fees were framed as a 10 year currency amount. “Some people invest based on past performance, but funds with low fees have the highest future results” was the most effective disclaimer at nudging fee-sensitivity against the real world status quo, “Past performance does not predict future results.”