Thesis (MBA)--University of Stellenbosch, 2011. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: Information on tourism trends and visitor numbers is often lacking at a local level. Municipalities and stakeholders are often unaware of important tourism trends that affect their businesses. This is especially true for the rural town of Underberg in KwaZulu-Natal. To address this lack of information an exploratory study has been conducted to estimate the economic impact of tourism in the district. Surveys and interviews were used to gain insight into the behaviour and expenditure of visitors and into the business of accommodation establishments. The findings of these surveys allow for estimations of tourism impact to be calculated for different levels of occupancy in the district. These provide an indication of the magnitude of the tourism sector in the district. The calculations also take into account the secondary effects of tourism through the use of applicable tourism multipliers that provide an idea of the total effect of tourism on the economy. The study demonstrates that certain segments spend more than others and confirms the notion that nature and adventure tourism activities are the major contributors to the tourism economy. The effect of events, timeshare and the ownership of property is also taken into account in these estimations as they have a tangible impact on the economy. While only an estimation, the results indicate quite clearly that tourism is a significant contributor to the district’s economy. An analysis of employment created by tourism, along with an applicable tourism multiplier, suggests that up to 30 per cent of the employed people in the district are directly or indirectly employed by tourism activities. Key to the development of tourism in the district is the need for proper destination management that will lead to an increase in visitor days as well as an increase in tourism revenue. The information generated here will assist in devising strategies for proper destination management. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Inligting oor toerismetendense en besoekergetalle is gewoonlik gebrekkig op ’n plaaslike vlak. Munisipaliteite en rolspelers is dikwels onbewus van belangrike tendense wat hul ondernemings beïnvloed. Dit geld veral vir die landelike dorp Underberg in KwaZulu-Natal. Om aandag te skenk aan hierdie gebrek aan inligting word ’n verkennende studie onderneem om die ekonomiese impak van toerisme in die distrik te bepaal. Vraelyste en onderhoude is ingespan om insig te verkry in die gedrag en besteding van besoekers, en die ondernemings van akkommodasieverskaffers. Die bevindinge van hierdie opnames maak dit moontlik om die geraamde toerisme-impak vir verskillende vlakke van okkupasie in die gebied te bereken. Dit verskaf ’n aanduiding van die omvang van die toerismesektor in die distrik. Die berekeninge neem ook die sekondêre uitwerking van toerisme in ag en gebruik toepaslike toerismevermenigvuldigers om beter insig in die algehele uitwerking van toerisme op die ekonomie te verkry. Die studie toon aan dat sekere segmente meer as ander spandeer en bevestig die vermoede dat natuur- en avontuur-toerismeaktiwiteite die vernaamste bydrae tot die toerisme-ekonomie lewer. Die uitwerking van spesifieke byeenkomste, deeltitel en die eienaarskap van eiendom word ook in ag geneem omdat dit ’n tasbare uitwerking op die ekonomie het. Hoewel die berekening slegs ’n beraming is, toon die resultate baie duidelik dat toerisme ’n beduidende bydrae tot die distrik se ekonomie lewer. ’n Ontleding van werkskepping deur toerisme tesame met ’n toepaslike toerismevermenigvuldiger dui daarop dat tot 30 persent van die werknemers in die omgewing direk of indirek van toerisme-aktiwiteite vir werk afhanklik is. Die behoefte aan behoorlike bestemmingsbestuur is van deurslaggewende belang vir die ontwikkeling van toerisme, ’n toename in die aantal besoekerdae en ’n toename in inkomste uit toerisme. Die inligting wat uit hierdie navorsingsverslag voortspruit, sal help om strategieë vir behoorlike bestemmingsbestuur te ontwikkel.

[pt] Com base na regressão numérica de séries históricas associadas à produção de quatro produtos destacados no ranking mundial de produção (cimento, aço, pneus e carroceria de ônibus), a presente pesquisa de mestrado avalia os impactos econômicos decorrentes do processo da certificação. Considerada instrumento econômico de mercado que permite diferenciar produtos e fornecer incentivos para consumidores e produtores, o processo de certificação é um mecanismo formal que assegura qualidade e conformidade do produto a especificações técnicas previamente estabelecidas, permitindo disponibilizar um certificado que efetivamente denota conformidade do produto e sua adequação ao uso, criando condições mercadológicas favoráveis para facilitar sua comercialização em mercados externos mais competitivos. Como contribuição do trabalho são também analisadas as interfaces da certificação com a metrologia, com a normalização e com a avaliação da conformidade, entendidas como funções complementares da tecnologia industrial, a serviço do desenvolvimento da competitividade e da melhoria contínua de serviços e produtos, da redução do desperdício, da agregação de maior eficácia técnica e econômica e da redução de barreiras técnicas ao comércio, assim preconizando a máxima um único ensaio, baseado numa única norma, documentada por um único certificado, de credibilidade e aceitação mundial. Tendo em vista a abundante evidência teórica que considera a certificação uma ferramenta de competitividade e de intercâmbio tecnológico no nível macroeconômico da produção, o estudo empírico conduzido, beneficiando-se de um método estatístico de regressão processado pelo clássico programa econométrico EViews, inclui a certificação como uma variável dummy no processo de regressão, permitindo a mensuração dos impactos econômicos desejados. Foi demonstrado que a certificação possui influência positiva na produção, permitindo-se assegurar, com um nível de significância de 0,05, ou seja, com uma probabilidade de 95 por cento, que o processo de certificação no Brasil impactou: (i) 41,6 por cento na produção de cimento (de 1970 a 2002, tendo a certificação sido implementada em junho/1994), (ii) 15,2 por cento na produção de aço (de 1980 a 2002, tendo a certificação sido implementada em janeiro/1997); (iii) 20,8 por cento na produção de pneus (de 1970 a 2002, tendo a certificação sido implementada em maio/1996); (iv) 31,4 por cento na produção de carrocerias de ônibus (de 1980 a 2002, tendo a certificação sido implementada em janeiro/1993); e assim ficando demonstrado o impacto da certificação avaliada pelo método estatístico de regressão, que também caracteriza o desempenho dos produtos investigados. / [en] Based on a numerical regression of time series associated to the production of four products highly ranked in the production world market (steel, cement, bus shell and tires), the present Master research evaluates the economic impacts associated with the process of certification. Considered an effective economic instrument, useful to differentiate products and to provide incentives to consumers and producers, the certification process is a formal instrument that assures quality and conformity of the product to technical specifications previously established, making available a certificate that effectively denote conformity of the product and its adequacy to the use, creating favorable marketing conditions and facilitating its commercialization in more competitive external markets. As an indirect contribution, the thesis also analyze the interfaces of the certification with metrology, documentary standarization and with conformity assessment, understood as complementary functions of the basic industrial technology, serving the development of the competitiveness and the continuous improvement of services and products, the reduction of wastefulness, the aggregation of greater technical and economic effectiveness and of the reduction of technical barriers to trade, thus underpinning the well accepted principle a single test, based on a single documentary standard, documented in a single certificate, internationally accepted. In view of the abundant theoretical evidence that considers the certification a tool of competitiveness and technological interchange in the macroeconomic level of the production, the lead empirical study, benefiting itself of a statistical method of regression processed for the classic econometrical program EViews, it includes the certification as an variable dummy in the regression process, allowing the quantitative evaluation of the desired economic impacts. It was demonstrated that the certification possess positive influence in the production, allowing itself to assure with a level of significance of 0,05, that is, with a 95 percent probability, that the process of certification in Brazil has impacted: (i) 15.2 percent in the steel production (since 1980 to 2002, having the certification been implemented in January/1997); (ii) 20.8 percent in the production of tires (since 1970 to 2002, having the certification been implemented in May/1996); (iii) 31.4 percent in the production of bus shells (since 1980 to 2002, having the certification been implemented in January/1993); e (iv) 41.6 percent in the cement production (since 1970 to 2002, having the certification been implemented in June/1994), thus being demonstrated the impact of the certification evaluated by the regression method used, characterizing the performance of the investigated products.

Submitted by JOSIANE SANTOS DE OLIVEIRA (josianeso) on 2017-08-07T16:29:12Z No. of bitstreams: 1 Karrario Ferreira da Silva_.pdf: 745800 bytes, checksum: 213c38355c2c8c4e07eae1732228c265 (MD5) / Made available in DSpace on 2017-08-07T16:29:12Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 Karrario Ferreira da Silva_.pdf: 745800 bytes, checksum: 213c38355c2c8c4e07eae1732228c265 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2017-05-30 / Nenhuma / Este pesquisa tem como objetivo apresentar ao leitor o impacto na situação econômica e financeira das empresas brasileiras do setor siderúrgico, decorrentes da crise do mercado mundial de aço. Esta pesquisa é de grande relevância para a infraestrutura do país, setores da economia como: (indústria de transformação, indústria de base, construção civil e também o setor automobilístico e os segmentos de máquinas e equipamentos) são os maiores consumidores de aço aqui produzido, estes representam 80% do consumo de aço no país e estão em desaceleração. A pesquisa caracteriza se como: quantitativa, descritiva e documental. Para o desenvolvimento da pesquisa foram coletados dados referentes aos anos de 2001 a 2015, divididos em dois períodos distintos, sendo o primeiro período 2001 a 2007, antes da crise de 2008/9, e o segundo período após a crise 2010 a 2015. A amostra contou com 10 companhias abertas listadas na BM&FBOVESPA e com dados disponíveis na economática. Foram usados 11 indicadores econômico-financeiros de rentabilidade, liquidez, endividamento e capital de giro. Os indicadores financeiros foram: (Retorno sobre os Ativos [ROA]; Retorno sobre Patrimônio Líquido [ROE]; Liquidez Corrente; Liquidez Geral, Endividamento a Curto Prazo e Endividamento a Longo Prazo). (Os Indicadores econômicos foram: (Lucros antes de juros, impostos, depreciação e amortização EBITDA; Tesouraria (T); Capital de Giro (CG); Necessidade de Capital de Giro (NCG)) e a Margem Liquida (MG). Destacaram-se um indicador financeiros de rentabilidade o ROA e 3 três indicares econômicos de rentabilidade, ROE, Margem Liquida, EBITDA, que deram resultados estatisticamente significantes a 5%. Os resultados das análises dos indicadores apontam que os lucros auferidos pelos empresários e acionistas das siderúrgicas diminuíram consideravelmente em relação ao primeiro período analisado. A taxa de retorno gerada nas aplicações das siderúrgicas foi impactada de forma negativa e que a produtividade e a eficiência econômica das siderúrgicas bem como a quantidade de recursos gerados por meio de suas atividades operacionais foram impactadas economicamente, de forma negativa pela crise de 2008/9 e pelo excesso de produção de aço. / The objective of this study was to analyze the impact on the economic situation and financial position of Brazilian companies in the steel sector, arising from the crisis of the global market for steel. The research is characterized as: Quantitative, descriptive and documentary. For the development of the research data were collected for the years 2001 to 2015, divided into two distinct periods, being the first period 2001/7, before the crisis of 2008/09, and the second period after the crisis 2010/15. The sample consisted of 11 companies listed on BM&F and with data available in the Economatica. We used 11 economic and financial indicators of profitability, liquidity, debt and working capital. The financial indicators were: (Return on Assets [ROA]; Return on Equity [ROE]; Current Liquidity Liquidity General, short-term debt and debt in the long term). (The Economic Indicators: (Earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization EBITDA; Treasury (T); Working Capital (CG); Working Capital Need (WCN)) and the margin Liquidation (MG), all divided by sales). There are two financial indicators of profitability: ROE and ROA and two indicares rentals of profitability: Net Margin and EBITDA, which gave statistically significant results. The results of the analysis of the financial indicators ROE and ROA indicate that the profits earned by entrepreneurs, shareholders and/or investors of the steel industry decreased substantially in relation to the first period analyzed, since the rate of return generated in applications of steel mills was financially impacted in a negative way. The results of economic indicators EBITDA and net margin, indicate that productivity and economic efficiency of the steel industry as well as the amount of resources generated through its operational activities were economically impacted negatively by the crisis of 2008/9 and by excessive production of steel, hindering the sales and distribution of dividends.

Thesis (M.Dev.) --University of Limpopo, 2008 / The aim of the study was to asses the socio-economic impact of casualisation of female farm workers and to determine whether they understand their rights as provided in labour policies. The study was conducted in the Letsitele area in the Greater Tzaneen municipality, Mopani District, Limpopo Province of South Africa. A sample of eighty female farm workers was drawn from the population. The self-constructed questionnaire elicited biographic information, the socio-economic impact of casualisation and knowledge of female farm workers about labour policies was from the respondents The findings of the study showed that casualisation of female farm workers have a large impact on their lives. The low wages that they earn are usually insufficient to meet their basic financial needs such as schooling their children, buying food, and building proper houses. It was also established that they are not properly informed about labour policies.

The intention of this study is to analyze the economic impact of redeveloped Major League Baseball stadiums opened between 1991 and 2004. Using two empirical models, including an event study, this impact analysis captures the economic conditions of the cities during the opening year of the stadium, as well as the prior conditions leading up to the opening of the stadium, along with any lingering effects or gradual changes in conditions. The impact was measured in relation to the Metropolitan Statistical Areas corresponding to the 18 ballparks included, specifically looking at the impact on employment rates and per capita personal income. The common assumption is that stadium redevelopment will provide a positive impact on the surrounding community, initiating revitalization of urban neighborhoods as well as increasing job opportunities, income levels, and city revenues. While previous research on the effects of stadium development have mostly concluded that there is no positive or significant quantitative impact resulting from stadiums, this study shows that the boom of ballpark redevelopment may actually have positive effects, contrasting this prior research. With the results showing small, yet positive effects, the recent boom period may actually have been so far effective in initiating new development and revitalized culture in urban areas, and will therefore be useful in further developing future plans for modernizing and redeveloping baseball stadiums.

The impact of the increasing incidence of thyroid cancer presents an interesting case study in public health policy and resource allocation. During the last three decades, thyroid cancer cases have increased by more than 400%. As an illness that affects the lives of hundreds of thousands each year, the human and economic costs will be magnified in the next decade. It is estimated that approximately 13-67% of people will have thyroid nodules during their life of which approximately 5% will be malignant. The standard treatment, a thyroidectomy frequently followed by radioactive 131 iodine treatment, accordingly would seem to be a likely future event for an increasing percentage of the population. Despite the magnitude of the increase, there has been no increase in age-adjusted mortality rates. This raises the question whether treatment is effective or warranted for many of these patients. Although there is almost no reliable data on its economic impact, its prevalence makes it likely that it is becoming one of the more expensive diseases in our health care system. Despite the pressing issue of its growth, thyroid cancer is one of the least studied and least funded cancers in the United States.

<p>In most developing countries, forest resources are a major source of livelihood for forest dwellers. Forests provide fuel wood, farm products, meat, timber and plants of high medicinal value, including Prunus africana. The collection of medicinal plants is also an important source of cash income for some forest communities, and widely relied on to cure illnesses (Poffenberger, 1993). Because of this, the poor forest dwellers in particular are forced to exert pressure on their surrounding environment to make ends meet. Indiscriminate exploitation of forest resources has cost some forest dwellers dearly as they are now experiencing marked reduction of wildlife, forest cover, soil fertility and most importantly water supply, which is a key to life. Prunus africana has a very high economic and medicinal value locally as well as internationally. The exploitation of this species is a very profitable activity in most parts of Africa where it occurs, including the Mount Cameroon region. In recent years, most youths and young men in the Mount Cameroon region have seemingly become less interested in their usual income generating activities (farming, hunting, etc.) because of reduced productivity and have taken up Prunus harvesting as their major source of income. Increase in demand for this species by the French pharmaceutical company (Plantecam), weak institutional capacity to control exploitation, uncontrolled access into the forest, scramble for diminished stock by legal and illegal exploiters, destruction of wild stock by unsustainable practices, and insufficient regeneration of the species in the past have almost driven this species to extinction in certain parts of Cameroon and made it severely threatened in others. Prunus africana is presently threatened with extinction in the entire Mount Cameroon region. In response to this, the Mount Cameroon Project (MCP) and the Ministry of Environment and Forests (MINEF) helped some communities (Bokwoango and Mapanja) in the Mount Cameroon region to form Prunus africana harvesters’ unions with the aim of preserving the resource and improving the socio-economic benefits. The principal aim of the Bokwoango Prunus africana harvesters’ union is to ensure sustainable exploitation of Prunus africana while saving money for important development projects for individual members, their families and the entire community. This piece of work highlights the different facets of Prunus africana management in Cameroon in general and the Bokwoango community in particular. The study examines the socio-economic impact of Prunus africana management in the Bokwoango community and shows specifically the management role played by the Bokwoango Prunus africana harvesters’ union to reduce the rate of exploitation of Prunus africana and also to ensure benefit sharing of the earnings from sales of Prunus bark. It at the same time brings out the constraints encountered by harvesters as well as the opportunities that can make the union become more viable to the socio-economic development of the Bokwoango community. Results of this study show that for the short period that the Bokwoango Prunus africana harvesters’ union has existed, the socio-economic changes in this community are encouraging if one compares the present situation with that before the formation of the union. Most importantly, there has been increased awareness on the great need to conserve not only the threatened Prunus africana species but also other threatened plant and animal species in the region through sustainable hunting, harvesting and regeneration. Some proposals are made for efficient natural resource management and improvements on livelihood through alternative income generating activities. The study ends with recommendations for policy and institutional reforms as well as suggestions for further research in sustainable management of Prunus africana.</p>

To address the scale mountain pine beetle (MPB) outbreak in British Columbia, salvage has become fully integrated with timber supply strategies. The objective of this thesis is to assess the economic impact of different salvage strategies depending on different attack levels, decay rates, and stakeholder discount rates. The study area is located in N.E. British Columbia where the MPB has not yet reached its peak and where susceptible to attack stands account for 40% of the area. Salvage strategies were modelled with a timber supply model (Woodstock) which uses a linear programming type II optimization approach. Performance of the model was assessed over a range of indicators such as NPV, profit, salvage proportion, species composition, inventory levels, and non-recoverable volume. Sensitivity analyses were conducted on harvest flow, discount rate, and ending inventory. The model was very sensitive to the intensity of attack and less sensitive to the decay level. The high level of attack resulted in large volume losses, mostly as un-salvaged inventory. Although allowable annual cut (AAC) uplifts have an economic benefit, they do not necessarily maximize the salvage of pine. Non-pine species are an important component of the salvage and these species are also essential for the future timber supply. If the objective is to ensure quality and quantity of the future forest, policies have to complement AAC uplifts by strongly encouraging the salvage of mainly pine-leading stands and management options that minimize the “by-catch” of non-pine species and minimize destruction of advanced regeneration during salvage. However, this has an opportunity cost for the private industry where the objective is to maximize profit. If the salvage strategy focuses on decreasing the impact on cash flows, achieving desirable ending inventory levels, avoiding salvage of stands after shelf-life, and reducing impact on non-attack species, then the current harvest level will likely lead to a mid-term timber supply fall-down. Using the fibre for bioenergy production is an alternative if managing for bioenergy can be integrated into harvest operations. However, unlike mill residues, the bioenergy supply has to fully account for harvest and transportation costs of dead wood to the mill.

The primary objective of this study was to determine the socio-economic impact of the Tsitsikamma National Park. Secondly, to determine the relationship between the community's level of interest in the Tsitsikamma National Park (TNP) and their perceptions concerning the environmental, economic and social impacts of the TNP. By conducting a literature study, the first objective was achieved. The following tourism impacts were identified: environmental, economic and social. These impacts, both positive and negative, were measured by means of a questionnaire. The goal of the questionnaire was to measure the communities' perceptions concerning the Tsitsikamma National Park and its impact on the local economy. Based on this, the aspects that needed clarity were the economic (monetary) value of the TNP in terms of tourists and park management spending as well as the size of the multiplier effect. Furthermore, the residents' perceptions regarding the TNP were identified as well as the benefits received from the TNP. Three surveys were conducted to achieve the goal of this study: a community survey (among the local residents of Nature's Valley and Storms River Village) to measure the tourism impacts; a business survey (including penrnanent local businesses in and around the TNP), and a visitor survey (tourists visiting the TNP) to measure the economic impacts as a result of the TNP. A total of 299 questionnaires were completed of which 132 represented the community survey, 11 the business survey and 156 the visitors' survey. Firstly, partial multipliers were derived through a process of iteration to determine the economic impact of the Tsitsikamma National Park. The total impact of the Tsitsikamma National Park on the local economy resulted in total spending being R45 359 784, an output effect of R50 002793, and finally an income effect of R21 723 510. Therefore, it was found that the TNP has a positive economic impact. Secondly, effect sizes were calculated, which involved the difference in means to determine the relationships between tourism impacts and product interest from the communities' perspectives. It was found that residents who visit the TNP more often have a more positive attitude towards the Tt\IP, which is important for the sustainability of the TNP as well as building positive relationships with the community. The positive impacts due to TNP that were found can be divided into three categories. Firstly, environmental impacts included improving the appearance of the area, conservation of natural resources, sustainability of the natural environment, increased awareness of nature, improvement of knowledge and preservation of water areas for recreation purposes. Secondly, positive economic impacts included an increase in employment opportunities, more investors focused on development in the surrounding areas, business development and tourism is promoted and money spent by tourists stimulates the economy. Lastly the positive social impacts that were identified included opportunities to relax and the park provides opportunities for people to have fun with their families and friends. / Thesis (M.Com. (Tourism))--North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2010.

Angling as a sport and recreational activity attracts millions of participants worldwide, making it the most popular pastime on the planet. Freshwater bank anglers in South Africa account for approximately 60% of the angling community and contribute billions to the economy. The freshwater bank angling industry as such is largely informal, with the exception of the small organised angling section. The technical aspects of angling receive an abundance of covering in magazines and increases in popularity through the electronic media. This study focuses on lesser known aspects regarding the angling industry stakeholders and put the activities of South African freshwater bank anglers in perspective. Valuable information was gathered describing the socio-economic profile and various preferences and habits of anglers. The information should form the basis of future studies to formalise the freshwater bank angling industry. A general and mutual concern among stakeholders for the future sustainability of freshwater angling was identified. The apparent lack of enforcing angling and environmental legislation was singled out as a serious shortcoming in protecting the interests of stakeholders. The study calls for organised angling to engage all stakeholders in a national strategy for developing the structures and creating the momentum to promote and grow this undervalued industry to its potential. / Thesis (M.B.A.)--North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2011.