The main objective of this study is to explain and predict subjective well-being among the elderly as a function of their social location in society and the nature of their social networks. More specifically, the study seeks to answer the following questions: First, how do the elderly perceive their well-being? Second, does social location in society, as defined by income and education, produce different perceptions of well-being? Third, how would interaction and receipt of goods and services in the social support network modify the impact of social location on subjective well-being? Using the data of the National Survey on the Aged, 1975, conducted by Ethel Shanas, the study utilized a social structure and personality framework. as an approach to the problem. Through multiple regression analyses, the study found that the impact of social locational factors on subjective well-being among the elderly is not mediated by the pattern of social interaction in the social support network. Education was found to be an important correlate of subjective well-being among the elderly. / Master of Science

A study focusing on farm financial stress in Virginia was conducted to provide information to educators. The financial situation of Virginia farmers during the 1980's was reviewed. The years 1983, 1984, and 1985 were determined to be the time during the 1980s when farmers' financial situations were most severely stressed. Attention was directed towards corn, soybean, and wheat farmers since this group was readily identifiable as being financially stressed. Fifteen personal interviews of farmers were conducted in seven counties where the majority of these crops are grown. For comparison purposes, part of the interviews were conducted with individuals who are still farming and part with individuals who were forced to exit farming due to financial adversity. Comparing the information gathered from farmers in a favorable financial condition with the information gathered from those farmers in a vulnerable financial condition, some factors that helped farmers survive the agricultural depression of the 1980’s were discovered. Farmers in favorable financial condition are superior managers, operate timely businesses, borrow and spend conservatively, are more educated, have more years of farming experience, and use better financial and production recordkeeping practices. Access to marketing information is also important for farmer survivability. Producers in favorable financial condition own larger percentages of their operated land, and they utilize more family labor. / Master of Science

In Virginia, the conventional method of farm production of processing tomatoes has lost its competitiveness to other farm enterprises due mainly to intensive labor requirements and low economic profit. Also, the tomato processing industry in Virginia and other Mid-Atlantic states has lost its market share to other competing regions in the national market due primarily to high raw product cost and relatively inefficient processing operations. Recently, a capital-intensive production method for processing tomatoes, i.e., high-yield varieties adapted to direct seeding and machine harvesting, has been developed in the Mid-Atlantic region, and many tomato growers in Virginia have indicated intentions to adopt the new production alternative. Under such circumstances, the major concern of this study was directed to determine whether or not the adoption of the new tomato production system would make Virginia's processing tomato industry more competitive, not only with other crops at the farm production level, but also with other major tomato producing regions in the national market. Since the basic objective of this study is twofold, two major analytical sections are developed. In the feasibility analysis section, farm production costs of three alternatives - (1) transplant method of conventional varieties with hand harvesting, (2) direct seeding method of new tomato varieties with hand harvesting, and (3) direct seeding method of new tomato varieties with machine harvesting, are compared. In the interregional analysis section, an interregional competition model especially designed for the U. S. processing tomato industry is formulated. In this model, five major processed tomato products, fourteen production states and ten consumption regions were included. The important findings of the analyses were: (1) the average production cost of the mechanical production method was cheaper than conventional production method; (2) the average net return of the new tomato varieties was higher than the net returns from most other farm crops; (3) the quality of machine harvested tomatoes was superior to hand harvested tomatoes for tomato processing operations; (4) the adoption of the mechanical production method would make Virginia's tomato processors directly competitive with California processors in the major Eastern markets; (5) the potential for Midwestern tomato processors to become Virginia's major competitor in the Eastern markets would be strong in the future. / Ph. D.

No description available.

Thesis (MBA)--Stellenbosch University, 2004. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: According to the Economist, India and China (amongst others countries) are expected to be the leading economies of the 21st century (The Economist, October 2003: 78). Significant FDI has been invested into both these countries - China to a much larger extent than India (2003 - China: US$58 bn; India: US$3.8 bn - Refer to Table 2.2, Table 3.2, and the graph in Appendix 6.4). To the best of the writer's knowledge, there has not been any study comparing the economic and operating environments of these two nations, and the attractiveness of investment in them. The purpose of the project is to conduct a comprehensive study to examine whether equal investment in India would be worthwhile, by comparing the economic and operating environments of India and China. The research methodology included both primary research and secondary data analysis. The primary data were gathered through personal and telephonic interviews, while the secondary data were obtained from books, journals, the financial press, articles, the Internet, and case studies. The interviews comprised a blend of open and closed questions to extract the most accurate responses from interviewees. Six South African companies were interviewed - four operate in India and three operate in China. (One of these companies - SAB Miller operated in both these countries). The companies operating in India were Shoprite Checkers, SAB Miller, Nando's International, and Old Mutual. The countries operating in China were Kumba Resources, SAB Miller, and Barloworld. The research identified several similarities as well as some differences between these Asian nations. In conclusion, the research revealed that China and India are at present seen as the favourite investment destinations by many multinational businesses wishing to expand abroad. Yet both these countries, despite their similarities and the lure of great potential, are very difficult markets to operate in, and require careful planning, analysis and thought before expansion into these countries. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Volgens The Economist sal Indië en China (onder ander lande) na verwagting die toonaangewende ekonomiee van die 21ste eeu wees (The Economist, Oktober 2003: 78). Beduidende bedrae in buitelandse direkte investering is in beide hierdie lande belê - tot 'n baie groter omvang in China as in Indië (2003 - China: VS$S8 miljard; lndië : VS$3,8 miljard). (Verwys na tabeI2.2, Tabc1 3.2 en die grafiek in AanhangseI 6.4.) Na die beste wete van die skrywer bestaan daar geen vergelykende studie van die ekonomiese- en bedryfsomgewings van hierdie twee volke, en die aantreklikheid van belegging by hulle nie. Die doel van die projek is om 'n omvattende studie te onderneem om vas te stel of gelyke investering in Indië lonend sal wees deur die ekonomiese en bedryfsomgewings van lndië met die van China te vergelyk. Die navorsingsmetodologie het beide primere navorsing en sekondere dataontleding ingesluit. Die primere data is deur persoonlike en telefoononderhoude versamel, terwyl die sekondere data uit boeke, joernale, die finansiele media, artikels, die Internet en gevallestudies verkry is. Die onderhoude het bestaan uit 'n mengsel van oop en geslote vrae om die akkuraatste reaksies van onderhoudelinge te verkry. Daar is onderhoude met ses Suid-Afrikaanse maatskappye gevoer - vier doen sake in Indie en drie doen sake in China. (Een van hierdie maatskappye - SAB Miller - doen sake in albei hierdie lande.) Die maatskappye wat sake doen in Indie is Shoprite Checkers, SAB Miller, Nando's Internasionaal en Ou Mutual. Die maatskappye wat in China sake doen, is Khumba Resources, SAB Miller en BarloworId. Die navorsing het verskeie ooreenkomste asook sommige verskille tussen hierdie Asiatiese nasies geidentifiseer. Ten sIotte, die navorsing het onthul dat vele multinasionale ondernemings wat graag in die buiteland wil uitbrei, China en Indie as die jongste beleggingsbestemmings oorweeg. Tog is albei hierdie lande, ondanks hulle ooreenkomste en die lokmiddel van groot potensiaal, baie moeilike lande om in sake te doen. Dit vereis versigtige beplanning, ontleding en denke voor daar na hierdie lande uitgebrei word.

This study focuses on the wealth stratification system of the Navajo of the Kaibeto Plateau. The Kaibeto Plateau was settled by the Navajo in the mid-nineteenth century. By the 1930s they had developed an economically and socially stratified society rooted in a livestock economy and influenced by institutions of the surrounding society. In the years since livestock activities have been severely constrained by the federal government: Holdings have been radically decreased and pastoralism has ceased to be the main source of income and subsistence. These changes are described and analyzed. Wealth stratification is conceived of as a phenomenon to be explained and one which has implications for the study of social change. In the 1930s a handful of families owned most of the livestock in the region. These families were, uniformly, descendants of the wealthier and more prominent early settlers. Even after federal programs destroyed the economic advantage these wealthy families possessed, the children of the relatively wealthy have, at least until recent years, continued to prosper (relative to their poorer neighbors) in various ways. They have, on average, higher levels of educational attainment and better occupational profiles. The different responses of individuals at different levels in the social hierarchy have effected the composition of the rural population. More descendants of the wealthy have moved away and/or married individuals from distant communities. Social structures which functioned in the livestock economy to integrate families in the region have disintegrated. The chapter has emerged as an important social and political unit. Although the wealthy families seemed to have dominated chapter politics initially, recent elections indicate a declining influence. The historical facts reported here indicate the importance of social variability in the study of social change. It is argued that the Navajo were never a socially homogeneous group. Thus institutional pressures and shifting government policies have not affected all families in the same manner. Such findings have implications not only for the way in which anthropologists theorize about tribal people and social change, but also have implications for those responsible government officials who seek to formulate solutions to perceived problems on contemporary American Indian reservations.

No description available.

This study examined the effects and expectations of external economic dependence on foreign investment policy outputs with particular reference to the Nigerian experience between 1954 and 1980. Three basic kinds of external economic dependence were studied: foreign investment, the penetration of the Nigerian economy by foreign capital through the agency of the multinational corporations (MNCs); foreign trade, a measure of the Nigerian economy's participation in the world market; and foreign aid (loans and grants), a measure of Nigeria's reliance on financial assistance from governments and international financial inst itutions. For the most part, the level of Nigeria's economic dependence was very high. However, economic dependency is not translated into changes in foreign investment policy in favor of the foreign investors in Nigeria as is predicted by the dependency paradigm. The Nigerian case casts doubt on the dependency paradigm as a framework for fully explaining factors that may determine foreign direct investment policy changes that occur in a less developed Third World country. In other words, the dependency paradigm has a limited explanatory power; there is a factor independent of the economic factor operating out of the control of global capitalism (the center of the center in alliance with the center of the periphery); and that factor is the political process in Nigeria. The web of the Nigerian political process involves the various aspects of its internal functioning such as the manner in which needs, interests and demands are conveyed from the individuals and groups in the country to those performing state duties. Thus, Nigerian policy makers were more influenced by those elements than pure economic considerations treated in isolation.

M.A. / The main purpose and objective of this study was to evaluate and determine the impact of regionalisation in Southern Africa on South Africa's developmental goals. With regionalisation coming to the fore as a contemporary reality of the international political economy and with the importance placed on the Reconstruction and Development Plan by the South African Government, the opportinity presented itself where the dynamic impact of regionalisation could be determined and evaluated in a meaningful and relevant manner. The major research concerning regionalisation in Southern Africa focuses on either the economic viability of integration in the Southern African region, or the form of integration which should be pursued. No single study has tried to determine the possible total impact of the process of regionalisation on a specific country. This study breaches this intellectual and academic impasse by doing a multi-leveled analysis of the impact of regionalisation on South Africa's developmental goals. The motivation for this is to lead to more specific research concerning all aspects involved for all countries concerned. The emphasis falls on the holistic nature of this topic - where spesific focus is placed on the complexity and diversity of the roleplayers involved as well as the determinants which influence them. The specific methodology used was to incorporate varied forms of data-gathering, ranging from interviews with major roleplayers to literature studies. The important fact to emphasize is that regionalisation itself must be seen as a complex structure, evolving to the needs and circumstances of the countries involved. This study shows emphatically that the orthodox theory of regionalisation can not be used in the context of developing countries. This theory is based on the experiences of the European industrialised countries. Their methods of analysis is inappropriate in developing countries. It is showed that project- and functional co-operation would suit the requirements and needs of the Southern African region far better in delivering the benefits accrued through regionalisation. Using this as premiss and focussing on the develomental goals of South Africa - the probable impact of regionalisation was determined and evaluated. The Reconstruction and Development Plan and the White Paper on the Reconstruction and Development Plan was used to identify South Africa's developmental goals. Intense research was done to estimate and determine the probable impact of regionalisation, as well as the policy issues it entails, on these goals. An effort was made to integrate each aspect and sector with other sectors and to highlight the complex nature of these interrelated issues. Only broad discussion and recommendations could be drawn. But these are sufficient to lead to futher studies on each specific aspect as well as giving a broad perspective on how South Africa's development goals will be influenced by the process of regionalisation. From this study the conclusion can be drawn that there will be costs involved for South Africa's participation in regional integration. But the benefits derived from project co-operation could make it worthwhile for South Africa to implement positive policy decisions towards further regionalisation. It is important to notice the intense complexity of each sector and the influence a change in one sector will have on all others. Careful consideration should be given before any action is taken. This serves as justification for the study on the grounds that more studies of this nature is necessary for regionalisation to expand in the region, and for Southern Africa to develop as a region. The other member-countries should conduct studies of a similar nature - and through this the most appropriate policy decisions could be taken to improve the well-being of all the people in this region.

譚迎波. / 論文(哲學碩士) -- 香港中文大學硏究院經濟學部, 1996. / 參考文献 : leaves 140-148. / Tan Yingbo. / 鳴謝 / 全文摘要 / Chapter 第一章： --- 簡介 --- p.1 / Chapter 第一節： --- 文獻回顧 / Chapter 第二節： --- 背景 / Chapter 第三節： --- 外資的分類 / Chapter 第二章： --- 廣東省外資利用和出口的官方統計數據問題 --- p.19 / Chapter 第一節： --- 加工裝配中的不作價設備價値--官方統計中嚴重低估廣 東的外資總額 / Chapter 第二節： --- "出口的數據問題：加工裝配出口總額、""各作各價""對口 合同總額和低報出口的問題" / Chapter 第三章： --- 廣東的外資利用 --- p.37 / Chapter 第一節： --- 廣東在全國外資利用中的重要地位及其特點 / Chapter 第二節： --- 外資利用在廣東地區間的差異 / Chapter 第三節： --- 廣東的外商直接投資狀況 / Chapter 第四章： --- 外商投資對廣東出口的促進作用 --- p.79 / Chapter 第一節： --- 廣東的出口 / Chapter 第二節： --- 狹義貿易出口和三資企業出口的比較 / Chapter 第五章： --- 外資對廣東經濟增長作用的經濟計量分析 --- p.103 / Chapter 第一節： --- 文獻回顧 / Chapter 第二節： --- 模型 / Chapter 第三節： --- 所用數據 / Chapter 第四節： --- 測算結果分析 / Chapter 第六章： --- 結論 --- p.126 / 附錄 --- p.130 / 附錄一：中國出口商品分組及和HS碼，SITC.Rev.2碼的對應 / 附錄二.1廣東狹義貿易出口產品單價指數（1988-1992) / 附錄二.2廣東三資企業主要出口產品單價指數（1988-1992) / 附錄二.3廣東三資企業出口產品單價對狹義貿易出口單價的比率 (1988-1992) / 附錄三：經濟計量模型推導過程 / 參考書目 --- p.140