Midmar is built on the Umgeni River, KwaZulu-Natal and is 1060m above sea level. The river starts as a small stream in Loteni and has a total catchment area of 906 square kilometres and an annual rainfall of 1016 mm. Midmar provides a multitude of benefits classified as either onsite use benefits or non-use benefits. This dissertation focuses on environmental economics and is concerned with assigning a monetary value to a given environmental good, namely, recreation at Midmar. This entails estimation of the demand curve for recreation at Midmar, and using this curve, establishing the consumer surplus attached to Midmar. The Individual Travel Cost method is used to investigate the nature of recreational demand at Midmar and essentially, measures the economic value of recreation use here. In addition, an examination as to whether consumers enjoy any consumer surplus associated with recreational demand is undertaken. The survey undertaken concludes that recreational visitors to Midmar enjoy a consumer surplus of approximately R71 per visit. Total consumer surplus for Midmar during 1999 was estimated to be R4.9 million. This suggests that the actual price paid by visitors to Midmar understates the true value attached to such a visit and hence, park management needs to be aware of this. Finally, this dissertation emphasizes the importance and potential use of research such as this which could assist and guide future planning and decision making in South Africa. / Thesis (M.Comm.)-University of KwaZulu-Natal, Pietermaritzburg, 2004.

Alien invasive vegetation threatens the functioning of natural ecosystems as well as their services, which sustain human welfare, both directly and indirectly. The proliferation of this vegetation in South Africa has been attributed to the ignorance of the social implications affiliated to their existence. Investment decisions are predominantly based on the marginal private costs of an activity, since individuals have not been made accountable for costs imposed on society in the past. Consequently, their marginal private costs always fall well short of the marginal social costs. In order to promote sustainable development as well as curtail widespread invasion by alien plants in South Africa, it is essential to close the gap between these costs and support research aimed at ascertaining monetary values for non-market goods, such as biodiversity. This study scrutinizes the economic viability of alien plant eradication in the Mhlatuze Catchment by comparing the costs and benefits associated with this eradication process. A series of formal in-depth interviews with major stakeholders residing in the upper reaches of the catchment were conducted in an attempt to evoke individuals' perceptions concerning alien vegetation together with the actual costs incurred in extirpating this vegetation. The contingent valuation method (CVM), which relies on surveys to elicit the maximum amount respondents would be willing to pay to obtain or retain some nonmarket good, was employed to glean monetary values for benefits such as biodiversity and augmented streamflow. The findings suggest that there is a positive net effect associated with alien vegetation extirpation in the Mhlatuze Catchment, since the social benefits outweigh the costs. Given the temporal and financial constraints that prevailed, it was only possible to examine some of the benefits affiliated to this process, such as increased timber harvesting, streamflow, biodiversity and reduced fire hazard. Consequently, this analysis represents a minimum estimate of the benefits, further enhancing the argument in favour of extirpation. The results lend support to calls for greater policy emphasis on, as well as funds for, the eradication of alien invasive plants. / Thesis (M.A.)-University of Natal, Pietermaritzburg, 2001.

This study is concerned with the start-up of small business ventures and the ultimate success of these small businesses. Research was carried out in the Limpopo Province of South Africa, which is mainly a very rural, under-developed province. Unemployment is high and much of the population is faced with the challenge of earning income from means other than in formal employment. However, the failure rate of the small business start-ups is extremely high. The study addresses the question whether or not there are leading indicators that will help to predict future success in business, specifically whether the personal profile can indicate the probability of future success. In summary the research found that no significant correlation existed between business growth and personality profile when measured with the established business group, when using the DISCUSTM personality profile test. This could be due to either one or both the following reasons: • No correlation exists between personality profile, success and growth, or • the DISCUSTM personality profile test's entrepreneurial category job match is not valid and reliable, and an alternative personality profile for this particular job match category needs to be developed. Secondly, a significant relationship was found to exist between level of literacy and start-up success according to the longitudinal study of a student group. No correlation was found to exist between level of numeracy and start-up success. Although there was a correlation between personality profile test results and start-up success with the student group, it can not be stated at this stage that this is a leading indicator for future business growth and sustainability, as success was only measured at start-up. These start-up businesses need to be monitored at least over the next three years in order to measure the internal growth of the businesses as compared to those achieved by the established business group. This is an area for further research. / Thesis (M.Com.)-University of Natal, Durban, 2002.

This study has its foundation on a model developed by Holden, Holden and Suss (1979). The model is on the determinants of the flexibility of an exchange rate. These determinants are: the openness of an economy; the level of economic development; the diversification of the external sector; geographical concentration of trade; the mobility of capital and the inflation differential. In the present study, the model by Holden, et al is adapted in order to determine whether SADC forms an optimum currency area or not. SADC has a number of objectives which it aims to achieve. One of these objectives is the formation of a monetary union in the future. This is the widest objective for SADC and the path towards achieving this is the establishment of a Trade Protocol that aims to form a Free Trade Area in the region. A number of criteria have to be assessed in order to determine whether SADC does form an optimum criteria or not. The Holden et. al model forms the basis for this assessment. The model reveals that SADC does not form an optimum currency area. SADC has not yet converged on the criteria for a monetary union. / Thesis (M.Com.)-University of Natal, Durban, 2000.

The Government of National Unity, on coming into power in April, 1994, has endorsed the reconstruction and development programme (RDP) and its broad agenda for the rapid removal of the problems and gross inequality evident in all aspects of the South African society. Many economists argue that the sustain ability of the RDP, will depend crucially on the maintenance of fiscal discipline and the progressive reduction of the overall fiscal deficit. As excessive fiscal deficits are often associated with higher inflation, higher real interest rates, balance of payments disequilibrium and lower economic growth, thereby putting the RDP at jeopardy. The view based on the Ricardian Equivalence approach however, takes the position that neither deficits nor the way they are financed, is as critical to economic policy and the future prosperity of an economy, as is generally believed. The Ricardian view consequently, argues that government need not necessarily embark on deficit reduction programmes as advocated by the so called traditional view. The study investigates the validity of the Ricardian view, both on the empirical and theoretical side, with special reference to the South African economy. The specific question that this study attempts to address is whether economic agents behave in a Ricardian manner in the South African economy. Our results (based on the replication of the Dalamagas (1994) study) could be very consequential for South African policy makers, as they suggest that the Ricardian Equivalence proposition is valid and therefore, government could on purely theoretical grounds shift its focus away from the debt situation, and concentrate on the policies aimed to correct the inequalities (in wealth, distribution of public goods, employment opportunities) created by the Apartheid era. Whether government should do so in reality however is debateable due to the other considerations that government need to take account of when implementing actual macroeconomic policy. / Thesis (M.Soc.Sc.)-University of Natal, Pietermaritzburg, 1998.

No abstract available. / Thesis (M.Com.)-University of Natal, Durban, 2000.

Intra-industry trade is a new phenomenon in international trade theory and has attracted interest from economists, in the form of both empirical and theoretical work. The first attempt to measure the extent of intra-industry trade in South Africa was under taken by Simson (1987). In his study Simson (1987) found that the amount of intra-industry trade accounted for only one-third of total trade. This is low compared to many industrialized countries. This thesis aims to analyze the extent of intra-industry trade within the context of trade liberalization. Chapter two provides the evolution, background and an overview of the literature of the concept of intra-industry trade. This chapter is followed by a presentation of the different measurement of intra-industry trade. But, however the Grubel Lloyd (1975) index remains the most commonly used index in the literature. A fourth chapter estimated the level of intra-industry trade in South Africa for the period 1972 to 1993. This chapter concludes that intra-industry trade in South Africa is a real phenomenon and not just a statistical novelty as argued by Finger (1975). It was is concluded that intra-industry trade is low when compared to most of its trading partners and there remains much scope for the growth of intra-industry trade. The fifth chapter discusses the role of regional integration and intra-industry trade. It is concluded that the levels of intra-industry trade between South Africa and with the countries in the Southern African region is relatively low when compared to the intra-industry trade between South Africa and its major trading partners, nevertheless there remains scope for the growth of intra-industry trade within the region as the countries become more similar. Chapter six discusses the commercial and welfare effects of intra-industry trade, concluding that there are advantages to be gained from intra-industry trade. Chapter seven analyses the effect of tariff levels on intra-industry trade in South Africa. Weak support was found for the height of tariffs and intra-industry trade in South Africa. Given the reduction of tariff lines in terms of the GATT requirement, it is anticipated that levels of intra-industry trade in South Africa will increase and there is much to gain in terms of welfare than inter industry trade. / Thesis (M.Com.)-University of Durban-Westville, 2001.

South Africa, in common with many other developing countries, embarked on an import substitution policy to promote development and industrialisation. Although initially successful, it was recognised in the late 1960s that the scope for further import substitution was limited and that alternative development strategies should be embarked upon. Unfortunately, the years of import substitution resulted in high levels of protection and consequently an anti-export bias. In 1972, under the leadership of Dr Reynders, a commission found that South Africa should embark upon a policy of export promotion. In 1980 a new form of export incentive was introduced, viz. Category A and B. Category A incentives were aimed at neutralising the effects of import substitution and compensated exporters fifty per cent of the duty payable on inputs, regardless of whether the inputs were imported or not. Category B incentives compensated exporters for the consequences of cost increasing on non-intermediate inputs because of the import substitution policy and was calculated on the value added. Exporters also enjoyed various grants and tax breaks to enable them to undertake export marketing. The schemes were unsuccessful and were replace by a General Export Incentive Scheme (GElS) in 1990. The main aim of the GElS was to encourage the export of manufactured products. With the means of an econometric model, the success of GElS is evaluated on a sectoral basis. GElS brought with it rent seeking, corruption, lobbying, and threats of countervailing duties. In addition to the enormous costs, exceeding R6 billion, there were other bureaucratic costs. In general, the GElS was not successful. The sectors that did benefit from receiving GElS benefits were the tobacco industry, footwear, furniture, metal products, and electrical machinery. In most cases, exporters would have exported with or without GElS. GElS was simply a windfall. Policy-makers failed to recognise the dynamics of exporting. GElS contributed neither to additional exports, export capacity nor to a sustained competitive advantage. import substitution policy to promote development and industrialisation. Although initially successful, it was recognised in the late 1960s that the scope for further import substitution was limited and that alternative development strategies should be embarked upon. Unfortunately, the years of import substitution resulted in high levels of protection and consequently an anti-export bias. In 1972, under the leadership of Dr Reynders, a commission found that South Africa should embark upon a policy of export promotion. In 1980 a new form of export incentive was introduced, viz. Category A and B. Category A incentives were aim.ed at neutralising the effects of import substitution and compensated exporters fifty per cent of the duty payable on inputs, regardless of whether the inputs were imported or not. Category B incentives compensated exporters for the consequences of cost increasing on non-intermediate inputs because of the import substitution policy and was calculated on the value added. Exporters also enjoyed various grants and tax breaks to enable them to undertake export marketing. The schemes were unsuccessful and were replace by a General Export Incentive Scheme (GElS) in 1990. The main aim of the GElS was to encourage the export of manufactured products. With the means of an econometric model, the success of GElS is evaluated on a sectoral basis. GElS brought with it rent seeking, corruption, lobbying, and threats of countervailing duties. In addition to the enormous costs, exceeding R6 billion, there were other bureaucratic costs. In general, the GElS was not successful. The sectors that did benefit from receiving GElS benefits were the tobacco industry, footwear, furniture, metal products, and electrical machinery. In most cases, exporters would have exported with or without GElS. GElS was simply a windfall. Policy-makers failed to recognise the dynamics of exporting. GElS contributed neither to additional exports, export capacity nor to a sustained competitive advantage. / Thesis (M.Com.)-University of Natal, 1996.

This research examines the treatment of Tuberculosis in South Africa, focussing particularly on the Pietermaritzburg-Msunduzi Council Area in the Natal province. Two alternative measures of TB control are examined, the clinical curative regime and inpatient treatment, that is, the hospitalisation of patients. The samples used are a random selection of patients treated through the Pietermaritzburg Clinic and SANTA Hospital. As this research entails a cost-effectiveness analysis determining the most cost-effective way of treating TB, much of the analysis and conclusions are derived from the costs entailed in the two aforementioned control measures. Cost analysis of the alternative measures of treatment reflects that the clinical outpatient alternative to TB treatment is more cost-effective than the hospitalisation option. A closer examination of the costs reveals the cost savings that can occur if an efficient use of resources is established. Furthermore the results reflect a cost effective drug use by the hospital at R173.65 per patient cured compared to R403.51 per patient cured through the clinic. Analysis of results showed institutional costs as the reason for the cost-ineffectiveness of hospital care. Overall, the clinical measure to the treatment of TB was more cost-effective at R490.34 per patient cured compared to the R7502.66 per person cured through hospitalisation. The sample sizes yielded cure rates of fifty-eight for the clinic and eighty-five percent for the hospital. / Thesis (M.Soc.Sc.)-University of Natal, Pietermaritzburg, 1999.

No abstract available. / Thesis (M.Soc.Sc.)-University of Natal, Pietermaritzburg, 1996.