The aim of this diploma thesis is to cover the catching up with the economic level among the countries of middle and eastern Europe. More accurately it analyses GDP per capita and household income per capita as one of the key economic indicators. The thesis concretely focuses on analysis of beta and sigma convergence and cluster analysis of the mentioned regions and concurrently at the background of the analysis explains some theoretical terms from areas of economics, econometrics and statistics. The analysis was concluded in IBM SPSS programme which belongs to the most complex, user friendly and professionally often used expert tools. The data for the analysis were used from Eurostat.

This study aimed to develop a causal chain that illustrates the path through which a variety of factors influence consumer financial vulnerability. In order to achieve the stated aim, it was necessary to firstly identify the factors that gave rise to consumers being financially vulnerable. Secondly, the nature of the causal chain between the identified factors was determined. Thirdly, the causes of consumer financial vulnerability according to key informants in the financial services industry were determined. Finally, based on the results of the first three stages, possible explanations for consumer financial vulnerability were provided. Before the construction of the causal chain could be explored, a theoretical framework regarding household financial position as well as financial attitudes and behaviours was provided. The theoretical framework was supported by a description of the linkages through which consumers function and transact in an economy by applying chain reasoning. The chain reasoning was extended by providing financial statements reflecting the results of consumers’ interactions in the macroeconomy with an extract from the national accounts of South Africa presenting the income statements, balance sheets and relevant financial ratios of consumers for the period in which the research was conducted (2008 to 2009). For this study, the explanatory sequential mixed methods design was deemed appropriate to achieve the proposed research objectives. The research process firstly consisted of a quantitative strand where the possible causes for consumer financial vulnerability were identified after which the results were validated with data obtained in the second phase by means of four focus group discussions. To determine the factors giving rise to and establish the causal chain of overall consumer financial vulnerability, regression analysis was conducted. Based on the results of the regression analysis, it became evident that the financial vulnerability chain is not a singular linear process but rather a non-linear process (with contemporaneous and singular linkages) with a variety of factors influencing financial vulnerability, but also influencing each other over time. / Management Accounting / D. Accounting Science

This study aimed to develop a causal chain that illustrates the path through which a variety of factors influence consumer financial vulnerability. In order to achieve the stated aim, it was necessary to firstly identify the factors that gave rise to consumers being financially vulnerable. Secondly, the nature of the causal chain between the identified factors was determined. Thirdly, the causes of consumer financial vulnerability according to key informants in the financial services industry were determined. Finally, based on the results of the first three stages, possible explanations for consumer financial vulnerability were provided. Before the construction of the causal chain could be explored, a theoretical framework regarding household financial position as well as financial attitudes and behaviours was provided. The theoretical framework was supported by a description of the linkages through which consumers function and transact in an economy by applying chain reasoning. The chain reasoning was extended by providing financial statements reflecting the results of consumers’ interactions in the macroeconomy with an extract from the national accounts of South Africa presenting the income statements, balance sheets and relevant financial ratios of consumers for the period in which the research was conducted (2008 to 2009). For this study, the explanatory sequential mixed methods design was deemed appropriate to achieve the proposed research objectives. The research process firstly consisted of a quantitative strand where the possible causes for consumer financial vulnerability were identified after which the results were validated with data obtained in the second phase by means of four focus group discussions. To determine the factors giving rise to and establish the causal chain of overall consumer financial vulnerability, regression analysis was conducted. Based on the results of the regression analysis, it became evident that the financial vulnerability chain is not a singular linear process but rather a non-linear process (with contemporaneous and singular linkages) with a variety of factors influencing financial vulnerability, but also influencing each other over time. / Management Accounting / D. Accounting Science

The general body of academic knowledge on the commercial development of smaller towns is in its infancy. Yet its inherent potential is well perceived from a development and market perspective. Shopping centre development could have an important function in getting products and services to the marketplace in an economical way. Furthermore, it could have a very significant socio-economic impact in the central business district (CBD). Although such a shopping centre will surely create new businesses, employment and production opportunities for local businesses it is of importance to first determine the financial viability and impact of the new development on existing businesses. Developers and researchers often approach the subject of shopping centre development from different perspectives. The research output is often of limited impact as the critical link between demographical analysis and financial viability is not made. Researchers are usually excluded from the physical establishment, rental structures, tenant mix, design, cost of construction, return on investment, funding and future management of the proposed new shopping centre project. Linking demographic assessment and financial viability is a critical output of this study. Bethlehem and its district are quite unique in a number of ways, especially regarding the presence of a large farming community. Bethlehem provides goods and services to residents of Bethlehem, Clarens, Kestell, Harrismith, Heilbron, Paul Roux, Petrus Steyn, Reitz, Senekal and Warden. The main shopping activity occurs in the CBD of Bethlehem and its surrounding areas. Bethlehem only has one major shopping centre (the Metropolitan Centre) that provides goods and services for the people in the surrounding area. This causes an over concentration in the CBD and too much traffic in an already limited space. There is a high need for Bethlehem to provide a bigger shopping centre for the citizens of the town, as well as the surrounding areas. This study investigates the need for a new shopping centre in Bethlehem and will determine whether a new shopping centre will be viable within the area The empirical study revealed that approximately half of the respondents are not satisfied with the current shopping centres in Bethlehem. A greater amount of respondents felt that the shopping centres do not offer enough parking. The study revealed that, from a consumer point of view, there is definitely a need for a new shopping centre in Bethlehem and that there is a gap of approximately 12 892m² GLA (Gross leasable area). However, this was determined before the opening of the new Dihlabeng Mall. The Dihlabeng Mall occupies 24 142m², therefore an oversupply is already taken place. / MArt et Scien (Urban and Regional Planning), North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2013

The general body of academic knowledge on the commercial development of smaller towns is in its infancy. Yet its inherent potential is well perceived from a development and market perspective. Shopping centre development could have an important function in getting products and services to the marketplace in an economical way. Furthermore, it could have a very significant socio-economic impact in the central business district (CBD). Although such a shopping centre will surely create new businesses, employment and production opportunities for local businesses it is of importance to first determine the financial viability and impact of the new development on existing businesses. Developers and researchers often approach the subject of shopping centre development from different perspectives. The research output is often of limited impact as the critical link between demographical analysis and financial viability is not made. Researchers are usually excluded from the physical establishment, rental structures, tenant mix, design, cost of construction, return on investment, funding and future management of the proposed new shopping centre project. Linking demographic assessment and financial viability is a critical output of this study. Bethlehem and its district are quite unique in a number of ways, especially regarding the presence of a large farming community. Bethlehem provides goods and services to residents of Bethlehem, Clarens, Kestell, Harrismith, Heilbron, Paul Roux, Petrus Steyn, Reitz, Senekal and Warden. The main shopping activity occurs in the CBD of Bethlehem and its surrounding areas. Bethlehem only has one major shopping centre (the Metropolitan Centre) that provides goods and services for the people in the surrounding area. This causes an over concentration in the CBD and too much traffic in an already limited space. There is a high need for Bethlehem to provide a bigger shopping centre for the citizens of the town, as well as the surrounding areas. This study investigates the need for a new shopping centre in Bethlehem and will determine whether a new shopping centre will be viable within the area The empirical study revealed that approximately half of the respondents are not satisfied with the current shopping centres in Bethlehem. A greater amount of respondents felt that the shopping centres do not offer enough parking. The study revealed that, from a consumer point of view, there is definitely a need for a new shopping centre in Bethlehem and that there is a gap of approximately 12 892m² GLA (Gross leasable area). However, this was determined before the opening of the new Dihlabeng Mall. The Dihlabeng Mall occupies 24 142m², therefore an oversupply is already taken place. / MArt et Scien (Urban and Regional Planning), North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2013

The objective of this thesis is to quantitatively understand the economic performance of protected area management strategies for forest and biodiversity conservation. Examples such as integrated conservation and development and eco tourism are assessed in terms of their ability to deliver on welfare benefits to local communities, and an assessment of the opportunity costs of forest conservation as a land use strategy. In addition the contribution of forest conservation in protected areas can make to poverty alleviation and economic development is also examined. The geographical focus of this study is the Albertine Rift region of East and Central Africa, stretching north from the southern end of Lake Tanganyika through the spine of Africa to the northern end of Lake Albert. The Albertine Rift is one of Africa’s most important landscapes for the conservation of forests and biodiversity. The overarching objective is addressed using a series of case studies empirically valuing the opportunity costs of conserving forests in a selection of sites in the central part of the Albertine Rift. The success of conservation is most often measured against progress in reducing habitat or species loss and not often in terms of the contribution of the protected area to poverty alleviation and local economic development. Achieving improvements of conservation strategies in the social dimension requires objective evidence on their effects. Economic valuation of protected area resources provides a quantitative means of assessing the promise and performance of conservation policies in achieving welfare benefits to local communities. This thesis provides three case studies each addressing current valuation and social issues in conservation and sets them in a context of managing protected areas in the broad dynamic setting of poverty alleviation and economic growth from a developing economy perspective. In addition two of the empirical studies are as concerned with methodological enquiry and the performance of novel environmental economic valuation techniques, such as the contingent valuation and choice modelling approaches, as the application of results to conservation questions. The empirical studies show that the benefits to local households and communities from their local forests may be greater than at first perceived. Across all protected area categories, biomes and income groups, households derived significant amounts of their overall income from their local protected area with large proportions of the value of goods harvested from forests being consumed in the home. Amongst income groups high income households often appropriated a greater share of the value of forest goods. There was no significant difference found between the household consumption and the sale of protected area products between income groups. The findings indicate that imposing reductions in forest use may increase poverty amongst local people whilst increasing household income will not necessarily reduce forest exploitation. This indicates that community conservation and integrated conservation and development programmes must target the poor forest adjacent households more actively to ensure poverty alleviation, whilst providing improved protection and law enforcement for effective conservation. It is also shown that biodiversity conservation can have an economic return through mountain gorilla eco-tourism. Findings show a disparity between what constitutes eco-tourism and the real values of tourists towards biodiversity conservation and local social benefits from protected areas. Despite showing a high marginal utility for biodiversity conservation, consumers are unwilling to pay for local community benefits from tourism as part of the permit price to view gorillas. Clearly the link between successful conservation and the welfare status of local communities is not sufficiently established in the minds of consumers to influence their spending decisions. The challenges of effectively mobilising communities to protect biodiversity are discussed in the context of the variable impacts of integrated conservation and development programs over the last three decades. Direct payment payments for conservation services schemes are discussed as an innovative tool to add to the gamut of community approaches currently on offer. Payments for conservation schemes are viewed with cautious optimism in terms of their possibility for success. Despite their allure of being more economically and socially efficient at achieving welfare and conservation objectives, given the complex nature of any society, no less research in to social and economic dynamics of protected area use by local communities would be needed to ensure success of such schemes. However, the overwhelming majority of benefits form protected areas are tied up in ecosystem services values. Mechanisms to generate funding and distribute payments for these benefits in terms of offsetting the local opportunity costs are essential to change local behavior and reduce forest degradation and destruction.

Este estudo tem como objetivo explorar e testar se os preços das moradias nas cidades de Rio de Janeiro e São Paulo podem ser explicados por um conjunto de indicadores econômicos selecionados, que inclui variáveis sociais e de custos de construção. Modelos de previsão de preços das residências foram construídos por meio da aplicação de análise fatorial seguida de regressão linear por mínimos quadrados ordinários. Estes modelos não cumpriram com todos os pressupostos estatísticos necessários. Alternativamente, para cada uma das cidades, foi obtido um modelo ajustado a partir da regressão das séries em estado estacionário, seguida da aplicação da técnica de omissão de variáveis a partir do modelo completo. Finalmente, por meio da cointegração de Johansen, foi elaborado um modelo que evidencia o comportamento de longo prazo dos índices de preços. Este modelo foi utilizado para analisar o risco de existência de bolhas imobiliárias nas cidades estudadas, que se mostrou menor em São Paulo que no Rio de Janeiro onde, no entanto, pode-se observar um movimento de convergência dos preços reais para a curva de preços de longo prazo, indicando redução gradual no sobrepreço dos imóveis, se mantida a tendência. / This study aimed at exploring and testing whether house prices in Rio de Janeiro and Sao Paulo could be explained by a set of selected economic indexes, which includes social variables and construction costs. Some prediction models were constructed by applying a factor analysis followed by an ordinary least-squares linear regression. However, these models have failed to comply with all the necessary statistical assumptions. Alternatively, for each of the cities, an accurate model was obtained by applying a stepwise regression technique to a set of steady state variables (first, second and third difference). Finally, it was used the Johansen cointegration to develop a model for the long-term behavior of house prices. The model was used to analyze the risk of real estate bubbles in the studied cities, which was shown to be lower in Sao Paulo than in Rio de Janeiro. However, Rio exhibits a convergence trend in real prices to the long-term price curve, indicating gradual reduction in overpricing, if the trend continues.

Made available in DSpace on 2016-04-26T20:48:39Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 Cleuseni Hermelina de Carvalho.pdf: 1364887 bytes, checksum: 3b44bf46cef84a2cfa9ccc7046418cc7 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2013-10-24 / The programs of conditional cash transfer are increasingly playing an important role in combating poverty in many countries of Latin America, especially in Brazil. The objective of this work is to analyze the contribution of Bolsa Família in household income inequality in Brazil between 2006 and 2011. To achieve the purpose, we analyze the relative participation of eight sources of income: labor, pensions, Bolsa Família (proxy variable), pensions, allowances, grants, rents and interest in the five geographical regions, North, Northeast, Midwest, Southeast, and South and metropolitan regions. That said, this study was organized in three chapters. The first chapter presents a reinterpretation of the causes of income inequality backed in Brazilian literature. The second analyzes the income transfer programs in four Latin American countries: Mexico, Chile, Argentina and Peru. The third presents a mathematical technique used to decompose the Gini, we analyze the empirical results for Brazil, macro-regions and metropolitan areas. Finally, it is concluded that, among the presented results, the importance of the Bolsa Família and especially labor income to reduce the degree of inequality / Os programas de transferência condicionada de renda vêm cada vez mais desempenhando um papel importante no combate à pobreza em vários países da América Latina, principalmente no Brasil. Assim, o objetivo desse trabalho é analisar a contribuição do Programa Bolsa Família na desigualdade da renda domiciliar per capita no Brasil, entre 2006 e 2011. Para atingir o propósito, analisa-se a participação relativa de oito fontes de renda: trabalho, aposentadorias, Programa Bolsa Família (variável proxy), pensões, abonos, doações, aluguéis e juros, nas cinco macrorregiões e regiões metropolitanas brasileiras. Posto isto, o presente estudo foi organizado em três capítulos. O primeiro capítulo apresenta uma releitura das causas da desigualdade de renda lastreada na literatura especializada brasileira. No segundo analisam-se os programas de transferência de renda em quatro países latino-americanos: México, Chile, Argentina e Peru. O terceiro apresenta a técnica matemática utilizada para decompor o Gini, analisam-se os resultados empíricos para Brasil, macrorregiões e regiões metropolitanas. Dentre os resultados, destacam-se a capacidade do programa Bolsa Família em contribuir para a queda da desigualdade da renda domiciliar nacional, indicando uma possível focalização em seu desenho como política

Submitted by Rosivalda Pereira (mrs.pereira@ufma.br) on 2017-05-23T21:23:19Z No. of bitstreams: 1 MariaNunesCarvalho.pdf: 2262222 bytes, checksum: e8a575c927d9726aab5a62238b43275f (MD5) / Made available in DSpace on 2017-05-23T21:23:19Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 MariaNunesCarvalho.pdf: 2262222 bytes, checksum: e8a575c927d9726aab5a62238b43275f (MD5) Previous issue date: 2013-03-15 / The pension benefits of pensions of the General Welfare, paid according to the precepts of the Constitution of 1988 the population residing in the counties of Maranhão point to their significant participation in the local economy. To understand the experience of social security benefits in the municipalities of Maranhão, is essential to look back on the origins of Social Security, as well as its deployment and evolution in Brazil as a public policy of the State and Society. The reflections of the presence of social security benefits on the local economy maranhenses observed either in the composition of the municipal GDP, as in the composition of household income, both calculated by the IBGE. Social indicators HDI and Gini Index from 1991 to 2000 and the Municipal Development Index also reflect the importance of social security benefits for the welfare of the municipal population. The adoption of a policy of regional economic development in the territory Maranhão, combined with the globalized world economy, it is salutary for the municipal economy and Social Security. Maintaining the By-laws of Public Welfare in the Constitution is an important tool in achieving the development and achievement of welfare and social justice for millions of Brazilians. / Os benefícios previdenciários de aposentadorias e pensões do Regime Geral de Previdência Social, pagos conforme os preceitos da Constituição Federal de 1988 à população residente nos municípios do Maranhão, apontam para a sua significativa participação na economia local. Para entender a experiência dos benefícios previdenciários nos municípios do Maranhão é indispensável um olhar retrospectivo sobre a origem da Previdência Social, assim como a sua implantação e evolução no Brasil como uma política pública do Estado e da Sociedade. Os reflexos da presença dos benefícios previdenciárias na economia dos municípios maranhenses podem ser observados tanto na composição do Produto Interno Bruto municipal, como na composição da Renda das famílias, ambos calculados pelo IBGE. Os indicadores sociais como IDH, Índice de Gini e Índice de Desenvolvimento Municipal também refletem a importância dos benefícios previdenciários para o bem estar da população municipal. A adoção de uma política regional de desenvolvimento econômico no território maranhense, articulada com o mundo econômico globalizado, é salutar para a economia municipal e para a Previdência Social. A manutenção dos regramentos da Previdência Social Pública no texto constitucional é uma ferramenta relevante no alcance do desenvolvimento e na conquista do bem-estar e da justiça social para milhões de brasileiros.

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