The thesis explores the reasons why states cooperate rather than fight over transboundary water resources. Through a mixed-method research involving both quantitative and qualitative analytical tools, the research shows that states tend to cooperate with one another when (a multidimensional conceptualisation of) interstate power relations are more symmetric, amongst other power-asymmetry arguments. They also tend to cooperate more than others when there exist a high disparity in the level of development between riparian states, and when their relations are characterised by high levels of economic interdependence. / Doctorat en Sciences politiques et sociales / info:eu-repo/semantics/nonPublished

Doctorat en Sciences politiques et sociales / info:eu-repo/semantics/nonPublished

The analysis of non-discrimination under Article III of GATT has shown weakness or flaws throughout more than fifty years. The language used by GATT/WTO panels and the Appellate Body in interpreting the two prongs of non-discrimination in the national treatment clause, namely, likeness and protection, lagged behind economic reality. The critical legal analysis carried out in here reveals, to some extent, this while offering a clearer and sounder analysis to non-discrimination based more on market analysis and its economic indicators. / Doctorat en droit / info:eu-repo/semantics/nonPublished

This thesis deals with political-economic globalization from the view of International Political Economy. The first chapter represents a theoretical framework and focuses, especially, on theoretical approaches towards globalization, role of nation state in a globalised environment, and global governance. The second chapter elaborately analyses the state of political-economic globalization during the Great Depression and the Great Recession at the outset of the 21st century, and examines the development of its economic and political aspects. In the end of the second chapter, these crises are compared to answer the research question, i.e. if and to what extend there has been a progress in the process of political-economic globalization since the Great Depression up to the present time.

Thesis (M. Com. (Economics)) -- University of Limpopo, 2021 / Investment as one of the main macroeconomic variables can ensure development of infrastructure and economic growth through increasing productivity and attracting investors. This study examined key determinants of investment activities by means of a comparative analysis between the SADC and BRICS groups during the period 2004- 2019. The key variables were the real exchange rate, real interest rate and trade openness. The analysis began by reporting unit roots tests, which paved way for employing Panel Autoregressive Distributive Lag (PARDL) methodology in the existence of different orders of integration. To estimate the long run relationship between the variables, we made use of the panel Johansen cointegration test, Pedroni test, Kao test and the Johansen Fisher cointegration test. Through the PARDL, the exchange rate and trade openness were found to be positive and statistically significant determinants of investment in SADC although statistically insignificant in the BRICS group. In addition, interest rates yielded insignificant results in the SADC region while, on the contrary, yielded a negative and statistically significant relationship in the BRICS group. The Granger causality test indicated a bi-directional causality in the exchange rate-investment and trade openness investment nexus for the SADC group while there was no causality in the BRICS group. It can be concluded that trade openness and exchange rate are key determinants of investment in the SADC region while interest rates are key in the BRICS group. It is therefore recommended that in order to attract investors and boost investment activities the SADC group need to focus more on exchange rate stability and trade openness while the BRICS group need to pay more attention to the flexibility of interest rates. This is beneficial on trading patterns, more for South Africa as it can be found in both groups.

The paper reviewed the existing methodological approaches to the assessment of the export business of industrial regions of Russia. On their basis, we proposed the author's methodology for researching the working-out and development of the region's commodity export strategy, which consists in a comparative analysis of the potential of the industrial regions of Russia in the system of indicators, on exports of different countries and the Sverdlovsk region, on the commodity structure of regional exports; in the context analysis of the concepts and strategies of foreign economic activity of the regions; in determining the orientation of foreign economic relations of the Sverdlovsk region; in determining the level of internationalization of the largest exporters of Sverdlovsk region and their integration into the World Economic System; in the calculation of deferred dividends. The result of this methodology is the development of analysis findings and direction to increase the attractiveness of territories and increase exports, the national share in the global value chains, incl. mechanisms, methods, ways, etc. Next, we conducted an approbation of the proposed author's methodology, based on it, developed a new strategy for the development of exports of goods in the Sverdlovsk region and showed that the existing export development strategy for Sverdlovsk region's products implies an increase in exports in the standard way, that is, through the search for new markets, increase production of intermediate goods, the creation of a single commodity by different enterprises and the maintenance of relations with already existing trading and strategic partners. The new model of the strategy is based on combining of the maximum efforts of enterprises to create a large finished product and the output with this product in a new economic space, as well as an increase in the output of goods with high added value. In addition, it is proposed to conclude not only a classical contract of sale, but also a profit sharing agreement. In other words, our strategy is based on the geo-economic approach, which implies the creation of long internationalized investment-reproduction cycles. The new approach should not just increase exports, create new finished goods, but also increase the competitiveness and investment attractiveness of the region. / В работе были рассмотрены существующие методические подходы к оценке экспортной деятельности индустриальных регионов России. На их основании мы предложили авторскую методику исследования развития и разработки стратегии товарного экспорта регионов, которая заключается в сравнительном анализе потенциала индустриальных регионов России по системе показателей, по экспорту разных стран и СО, по товарной структуре экспорта регионов; в контен-анализе концепций и стратегий внешнеэкономической деятельности регионов; в определении ориентированности внешнеэкономических связей Свердловской области; в определении уровня интернационализации курпнейших экспортеров СО и их интеграции в МЭС; в расчете отложенных дивидендов. Итогом такой методики является разработка выводов анализа и направления для повышения привлекательности территорий и увеличение объемов экспорта, национальной доли в ГЦДС, в т.ч. механизмы, методы, способы и т.д. Далее мы провели апробацию предложенной авторской методики, на ее основании разработали новую стратегию развития экспорта товаров Свердловской области и показали , что существующая стратегия развития экспорта товаров Свердловской области подразумевает увеличение объемов экспорта стандартным путем, то есть через поиск новых рынков сбыта, увеличение производства промежуточных товаров, создание единичного товара разными предприятиями и поддержание отношений с уже существующими торговыми и стратегическими партнерами. Новая же модель стратегии основана на объединении максимальных усилий предприятий для создания крупного готового продукта и выход с этим продуктом в новое экономическое пространство, а также увеличение выпуска товара с высокой добавленной стоимостью. Кроме того, предлагается заключать не только классический договор купли-продажи, но и договор участия в прибылях. Другими словами наша стратегия основана на геоэкономическом подходе, который подразумевает создание длинных интернационализированных инвестиционно-воспроизводственных циклов. Новый подход должен не просто увеличить объемы экспорта, создать новыt готовые товары, но также повысить конкурентоспособность и инвестиционную привлекательность региона.

This study examines the fundamental determinants of bilateral trade flows between South Africa and BRIC countries. This is done by exploring the magnitude of exports among these countries. The Gravity model approach is used as the preferred theoretical framework in explaining and evaluating successfully the bilateral trade flows between South Africa and BRIC countries The empirical part of this study uses panel data methodology covering the time period 2000-2012 and incorporates the five BRICS economies in the sample. The results of the regressions are subject to panel diagnostic test procedures. The study reveals that, on the one hand, there are positive and significant relationships between South African export flows with the BRICs and distance, language dummy, the BRICs’ GDP, the BRICs’ openness and population in South Africa. On the other hand, GDP in South Africa, real exchange rate and time dummy are found to be negatively related to export flows. / Economics / M. Com. (Economics)

Thesis (MA)--University of Stellenbosch, 2002. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: This thesis is a descriptive and interpretive study into the political economy of intellectual property rights, the conceptual and practical implications for the phenomenon of global governance, and how developing countries experience problems with the implementation of national policies that infringe on international intellectual property rights. The specific area of interest is the generic medicine debate that ensued in South Africa after the alleged violation of patent rights of anti-HIV/Aids drugs by the Department of Health. The research question that is addressed is to what extent has the existing international intellectual property rights regime been influenced and/or undermined by South Africa's intended application of WTO regulations in terms of compulsory licensing and parallel imports of "essential" medicines. In doing so, the paper examines the roles of the important states, international organisations, institutions, and private sector firms within the sphere ofthe political economy of intellectual property and how they impede upon or improve the functioning of the intellectual property rights regime. The methodology entails analytical inquiries into documentary evidence on the nature of the international intellectual property rights regime. Areas that are examined are the agendas of the important actors, namely states and their respective departments; individuals and firms; and international organisations. The concept of intellectual property is examined to determine its dynamic role within the generic medicine debate. The thesis concludes that the agendas of pharmaceutical firms and states are exploiting current political stalemates in the negotiations for a fair intellectual property rights regime. National health agencies, and specifically the South African Department of Health, are under enormous pressure to provide affordable health services. Specifically, the US Government and US pharmaceutical firms are dominating discussions on the architecture of the international intellectual property law regime. By using an analysis incorporating systemic, domestic interest, institutional, and ideational perspectives, it is argued that South Africa's drive for a more distributive intellectual property rights regime has placed the issue of health, Aids and generic medicine firmly within the sphere of the political economy of trade agreements. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Hierdie tesis is 'n deskriptiewe en 'n interpretiewe studie oor die politieke ekonomie van intellektuele eiendomsregte, die konseptuele en praktiese implikasies vir die verskynsel van globale regering, en hoe ontwikkelende lande probleme ervaar met die implimentering van nasionale beleid wat internasionale intellektuele eiendomsregte aantas. Die spesifieke area van belang is die generiese medisyne debat wat onstaan het na die beweerde skending van patentregte van anti-HIVNigs medisyne deur die Departement van Gesondheid. Die navorsingsvraag wat beantwoord word behels die omvang van die impak van Suid- Afrika se voorgenome toepassing van WTO bepalinge, met betrekking tot die verpligte lisensiering en parallelle invoer van "essensiele" medisyne, op die bestaande internasionale intellektuele eiedomsreg regime. Hierdie tesis ondersoek vervolgens die rol van state, internasionale organisasies, instellings, en privaat sector firmas binne die sfeer van die politieke ekonomie van intellektuele eiendom en hoe hulle afsonderlik die funksionaliteit van die intellektuele eiendomsregte regime beïnvloed. Die metodologie behels 'n analitiese ondersoek van die literatuur oor die aard van internasionale intellektuele eiendomsreg regimes. Areas wat ondersoek word, is die agendas van belangrike akteurs, naamlik die staat en sy onderskeie departemente; individue en firmas; asook internasionale organisasies en instellings. Die konsep van intellektuele eiendom word ondersoek om die dinamiese uitwerking daarvan op die generiese medisyne debat te verstaan. Hierdie tesis voer aan dat die agendas van firmas, spesifiek farmaseutiese firmas en state die huidige politieke dooiepunt in die onderhandeling rondom 'n regverdige intellektuele iendomsregte-regime, uitbuit. Nasionale instellings, soos die Suid-Afrikaanse Departement van Gesondheid, is onder groot druk om bekostigbare gesondheidsdienste te lewer. Die VSA en farmaseutiese firmas domineer onderhandelinge vir 'n nuwe struktuur vir die internasionale eiendomsregte-regime. Deur gebruik te maak van 'n analitiese raamwerk wat sistemiese, interne belange, institusionele, en ideologies perspektiewe inkorporeer, word daar geargumenteer dat Suid-Afrika se pogings om 'n meer distributiewe intellektuele eiendomsregte regime te verseker, die probleem van gesondheid, Vigs, en generiese medisyne binnne die sfeer van die politieke ekonomie van handelsooreenkomste, plaas.

Many studies concerning multinational corporations {MNCs) are replete with theoretical models and case studies that treat MNCs as stand-alone entities. Very little time and effort is given to understanding the context in which MNCs operate. This context includes not only the fact that MNCs transcend national boundaries (political as well as geographical), but also the meaning of work and being part of a multinational work force for those employed within MNCs. This thesis is an effort to elucidate how the political/societal/cultural contexts of different host countries affect the attitudes of those workers most directly involved with foreign-owned MNCs. By shifting the focus from the MNC to the political/societal/cultural environment of host countries, foreign-owned MNCs can be compared across national boundaries (foreign-owned MNC workers from three different countries are compared in this thesis -- Canada, Brazil, and West Germany). Finally, by grounding the workers' attitudes within social identity theory, divergent attitudes between the workers from the different countries are not only explained, but expected as well.

Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) is one of the factors that can influence the growth and development of the economy of a country, but on the other hand, it could have a negative effect if not regulated properly by the host country. States must ensure that FDI is properly regulated in the best interests of the country and the foreign investor itself. South Africa has reviewed its foreign investment legal framework and during this process, it terminated most of its bilateral investment treaties that previously regulated foreign investment in the country. In turn, it introduced the Protection of Protection of Investment Act that regulates both domestic and foreign investment. This study analyses the way in which national and international investment law affect FDI inflow and the economy of South Africa. The study also deals with the determinants of foreign investment in the host country and the extent to which they have an influence on the inflow of FDI. / Public, Constitutional and International Law / LL. M.