Research report for the partial fulfillment of the Masters of Management in Public Policy Degree, Faculty of Commerce, Law and Management School of Governance , September 2016 / This research investigated the potential of the proposed national minimum wage on income inequality and employment. According to the International Labour Organisation (ILO), the purpose of minimum wages is to ensure wages are able to cover the basic needs of workers and their families, taking into account relevant economic factors (Gilad, 2016). In South Africa, a national minimum wage is also being explored as a tool to reduce inequality and transform the inherited apartheid wage structure (Gilad, 2016). The study used a qualitative research methodology and deduced based on the data obtained that indeed South Africa can introduce the national minimum wage but needs to be cautious of the level at which it sets the minima. Secondly the research deduced that minimum wage will have positive effects on income inequality and minimal effects on employment provided that it is set at a right level. / MT 2017

Purpose: Otitis media is a global middle ear disease with health and economic burden especially in Africa and other developing nations. Chronic suppurative otitis media is an important cause of preventable hearing loss which warrants attention; particularly in the developing world, as it may have important socio-economic implications over and above patients’ quality of life. When presenting with an infected ear due to chronic suppurative otitis media, one may have impaired hearing and a perforated eardrum/s. Thus a type 1 tympanoplasty, i.e. myringoplasty operation is indicated to seal the eardrum. A review of literature demonstrates that extensive evidence exists on the success rate and efficacy of myringoplasty surgery in terms of audiological improvement worldwide; however there is paucity of evidence within the developing world context. Numerous studies published are from developed countries which are vastly different to developing countries. Thus this study aimed to explore audiological function in a group of adults following myringoplasty within a developing country context. Participants: Participant files from the last six years were obtained from the Ear, Nose and Throat (ENT) and Audiology departments at two academic hospitals in Gauteng, Johannesburg. The total sample comprised of 52 participant files consisting of, 20 males (38%) and 32 females (62%), with ages ranging from 18-63years with a mean age of 39.9 years. All 52 participant files could not be included in all the analysis due to missing biographical and/or audiological information in some of the files. Design: This study was conducted using a retrospective record review quantitative research design; where specific objectives of the study were explored. These included; a description and comparison of hearing function pre and post myringoplasty and an exploration of the possible influence of factors such as HIV/AIDS and type of surgical technique on hearing outcome post-surgery. Data analysis: Data was analysed using both descriptive and inferential statistics. Inferential statistics in the form of Kolmogorov-Smirnov two sample test and two-tailed paired (dependent) t-test were used to establish statistical significance levels to determine where statistically significant changes occurred pre and post-operatively and to establish if these changes were dependent on specific variables (HIV status and type of surgical technique). Results: Clinically overall hearing improved post-operatively in terms of tympanometry, pure tone audiometry (air-conduction and bone-conduction testing) and speech reception threshold testing. The predictors for improved hearing outcome post-operatively were; HIV negative status and butterfly cartilage inlay surgery as a surgical technique adopted. Although clinically hearing outcomes improved post-operatively at all air-conduction frequencies; statistically the changes in air-conduction hearing function were only statistically significant at specific frequencies. HIV/AIDS appeared to have an influence on hearing outcome post surgery when investigating clinically but these changes were only statistically significant mainly in HIV negative patients at three air-conduction frequencies. No statistically significant differences were found in mean change in hearing function in both HIV negative and positive patients at all bone-conduction thresholds. Although the type of surgical technique (specifically the butterfly cartilage inlay surgery) had an influence on hearing outcome post-surgery; these changes in air-conduction hearing function in patients who underwent this surgical technique were only statistically significant at specific frequencies. For patients who underwent fascia underlay, no statistically significant changes were found postoperatively. Conclusion: Current findings offer valuable baseline evidence on hearing outcome pre and post myringoplasty within this developing country context. This evidence can serve as a baseline for future research in the South African population. The study yielded relevant information regarding variables affecting the outcome of myringoplasty surgery in a South African context which is essential in the management of patients from an audiological and surgical perspective.

Background: Many infants in developing countries are faced with poverty, poor nutrition, limited access to healthcare, and exposure to communicable diseases that place them at risk for negative developmental consequences. Dysphagia is estimated to occur in 25-40% of normally developing, and 80-90% of infants with disabilities. International studies report the common causes of dysphagia to be of gastro-intestinal and neurological origin, yet limited research exists into the profile of paediatric dysphagia within developing contexts. Objective: To describe the profile of paediatric dysphagia in state hospitals, Gauteng. Methods: By means of a retrospective record review, this study investigated paediatric dysphagia (0-18 months) in state hospitals, Johannesburg. Hospital records of 263 infants with feeding impairments were analysed using descriptive statistics, phi correlations and logistical regression. Results: Findings revealed 214 underlying aetiological combinations whereby 65% (n=171) of infants experienced dysphagia secondary to a systemic illness, predominantly communicable diseases. The health professionals, management strategies and procedures employed in the assessment and intervention of paediatric dysphagia were context specific and related to the aetiological and social factors influencing the infants. Conclusion: Results differ significantly to those reflected in studies from developed countries. Of concern is the fact that 65% of infants experienced dysphagia secondary to a systemic illness, since with adequate nutrition, sanitation and health care, these conditions are potentially preventable. By improving social circumstances, the effects of systemic illnesses may be minimised, and may consequently decrease the number of infants affected by dysphagia. This implies that paediatric dysphagia in South Africa is no longer merely a health dilemma, but one which involves basic human rights.

This study about preschool education and care in four preschools, in Uganda, used a mixed-methods approach and a multiple-case study design. It investigated the preschools’ qualities, the resources available, the organisation, characteristics in regard to children with special educational needs and the preschools’ strengths, challenges and improvement needs. Bronfenbrenner’s bioecological theory and the PPCT-model was used as theoretical framework in this study. The study was conducted at four preschools in Uganda, one in a high-income area, one in a low-income area, one in a special needs centre and one in a refugee camp. Data collection was conducted during 3-5 days at each preschool and included structured observations using the Early Childhood Environment Rating Scale®, Third Edition, open observations and interviews. The result depicted substantial differences among the preschools in all aspects investigated. The interviewed teacher in the high-income area considered they had the resources they needed, whilst the interviewed teachers in the refugee camp considered the limited resources being a challenge with 150 children in one class and no access to water during the time of observation. The education had an emphasis on teacher directed education in all preschools, where the teacher led the activities and chose the content. There was an uncertainty among the teachers about which child they should deem in need of special educational support. The support provided in the preschools varied, depending on the need the teachers perceived the children to have and the resources available. The overall quality in the preschool in the high-income area was found to be reasonably good in the ECERS-3 rating (score 4.40), but the rest of the preschools scored below minimum quality. Challenges to the preschools were limited resources, methods of caregiving and discipline, and educational practices based on teacher directed education.

A partir de la fin de la Seconde Guerre mondiale, la notion d'intégration économique acquiert une dimension grandissante dans les relations internationales. Ces dernières, élaborent leurs doctrines et leurs pratiques en rapport avec des États engagés de plus en plus profondément dans la voie du régionalisme. Cet intérêt pour l'intégration économique s'est traduit, dans les pays en développement de l'Amérique Latine, par une quête de progrès en faveur des peuples. L'analyse des diverses expériences d'intégration révèle une histoire des aspirations et des efforts pour édifier une région plus unie, développée et bien positionnée sur la scène mondiale. Cependant, ces expériences dévoilent des différences entre les aspirations initiales et le bilan des résultats concrets. Devant des résultats mitigés, se pose la question du rôle joué par l'intégration économique dans l'amélioration du développement. Si le Mercosud ne s'est pas le seul exemple, il constitue un cas de figure parmi les pays de l'Amérique du Sud. L'étude montre que, la seule progression rapide des échanges commerciaux est loin d'être un facteur déterminant du développement. Désignant aussi bien un processus que le résultat lui-même, l'intégration demande une approche politique, économique, sociale et culturelle pour promouvoir des mesures complémentaires et des solidarités régionales. Pour que l'idéal d'intégration en tant qu'outil de développement ne soit pas dans une impasse complète, le nouveau scenario international impose aux États de repenser à la fois les contextes et les acteurs de leur intégration, ainsi que les mécanismes de coopération, à la lumière des nouvelles contraintes que pose le développement. / Since the end of the Second World War, economic integration has acquired a growing dimension in international relations, whose doctrines and practices where elaborated while dealing with States increasingly engaged in a process of regionalisation. This interest for economic integration in Latin America developing countries has been associated to the search for peoples' development. The analysis of the various integration experiences reveals a history of aspirations and efforts to build a more united and developed region, with a favourable position in the world context. However, such experiences reveal differences between initial aspirations and concrete outcomes. Because of such mitigated results, the question arises concerning the role played by economic integration for the improvement of development. If Mercosur is not the only case, it provides a significant example among South American countries. The study shows that the fast growth of commercial trade alone is far from being a determining factor for development. Being a process as well as its result, integration needs a political, economic, social and cultural approach in order to foster complementary measures and regional solidarity. If they want to prevent the ideal of integration as an instrument of development from reaching a deadlock, considering the new constraint imposed by development challenges, the States need to rethink the context and actors of integration as well as cooperation mechanisms.

Ip Tak Sang. / Thesis (M.Phil.)--Chinese University of Hong Kong, 2006. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 65-67). / Abstracts in English and Chinese. / Chapter Chapter 1 --- Introduction --- p.1 / Chapter Chapter 2 --- Data and Methodology --- p.4 / Chapter Chapter 3 --- Results / Chapter 3.1 --- Performance of Long/Short Strategies --- p.11 / Chapter 3.2 --- Subsample and Sensitivity Analysis --- p.17 / Chapter 3.3 --- Autocorrelation Analysis --- p.25 / Chapter Chapter 4 --- Discussion and Conclusion --- p.27 / Appendices / Chapter A.1 --- Exchange Rates Figures --- p.28 / Chapter A.2 --- Tables --- p.32 / References --- p.65

Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) has become an increasingly significant element in contemporary business. Globalisation, a growing concern for environmental degradation, and evident social inequality have installed CSR on the global agenda. Companies around the world are introducing CSR programs, and many of the Schools of Management or Business Schools have CSR courses in their core programmes, including their MBAs. Organisations such as EFMD (www.efmd.org), ABIS (www.abis.org) and PRME (www.prme.org) are prompting universities and business schools to implement CSR as well as sustainability courses and seminars. Conceptual research concerned with the influences on firms’ socially responsible actions has recently emphasized the importance of institutional factors. However, current institutional accounts of corporate social responsibility implicitly assume the presence of well-developed and relatively stable institutional characteristics found in developed countries. In order to address this gap, this thesis presents a conceptual model, which explores how institutional pressures configure a local company’s CSR practices in developing countries. This thesis presents empirical findings drawn from in depth open-ended interviewees to managers of local companies in Argentina, taking into account type of industry, size, and the presence of multinational companies (MNCs). In so doing, this study contributes to extending the application of institutional theory to developing countries context and to theoretical analysis of local companies CSR practices in such contexts. Within this analysis, this study places particular emphasis on the role of MNC and the State in the processes of adoption of CSR practices by local companies in a developing country. Finally, this thesis contributes with practical implications for mangers of local companies and managers of MNCs’ subsidiaries in developing countries.

Typescript (photocopy). / Digitized by Kansas Correctional Industries

Typescript (photocopy). / Digitized by Kansas Correctional Industries

Typescript (photocopy). / Digitized by Kansas Correctional Industries