The local economic information base for the UK does not meet the demand for local economic indicators emerging from the private and public sectors. This thesis identifies an 'information gap' between the need for and provision of local economic indicators in the public and private sectors. The existence of this 'gap' emerges in the literature review. Empirical evidence of the gap is provided by the thesis' postal survey (which investigates the use of local economic information in forecasting). The dearth of local economic indicators is then confirmed in the analysis of guided interviews with practitioners. The literature review and practitioner interviews identify a rising need for local economic indicators over the last decade. The increased political significance of local space has led to a growth in the need for information at this scale from the public sector. Organisational restructuring and the privatisation of utilities has also led an increase in demand from the private sector for local economic information. This need has been compounded by deficiencies in those local economic indicators which are currently available, in terms of quality, organisation and accessibility. The literature suggests that standardisation of the criteria for organising local economic indicators into a database would greatly assist the organisations that seek this information. However, no such set of criteria has been forthcoming. The thesis therefore incorporates a feasibility study which focuses on the establishment of a standardised local economic database. The research findings steer suggestions for its development, and local economic indicators for the Local Authority District (LAD) ofLuton are collected and organised into a database as a case study. The methodology is documented, and can be reproduced to develop a similar database for any other LAD in the UK.

ABSTRACT The significance of Local economic development (LED) in South Africa has grown since the historical democratic elections of 1994. At the same time the practice of urban branding has become widely notable since the 1990’s. This research report specifically focuses on the implications of branding to local economic development in the inner city of Johannesburg, using Main Street and the Newtown Cultural Precinct as case studies. A review of numerous theories for both LED and branding has been undertaking to provide a theoretical background to their development. The research report adopts an evolutionary/historical and comparative approach in examining the evolution of LED and branding so as to comprehend and appreciate their origins and developments in South Africa and abroad. The theoretical reviews of both LED and branding show that they have been influencing each other over time. The case studies also revealed a number of challenges such as: marginalisation, lack of co-ordination, rights and exclusion. This research report recommends the use of cultural planning in order to bridge the chasm between branding and LED in the city of Johannesburg. Through the cultural planning framework, the study employs planning theories such as Advocacy Planning, Equity Planning, Collaborative Planning, and Strategic Planning in order to address these challenges and to enhance representation in development processes, efficient allocation of resources, responsibilities, and integrated development. While these challenges requires a multi-pronged and integrated approach, it is notable that more research and awareness education need to be done to government, private businesses as well as the public. This will become even more important as the development of creative cities become crucial. This study, in a small way, opens up possibilities for further research on the branding of spaces and cultural planning, more especially for the economically-depressed areas and places that are not well-endowed in terms of cultural resources that can be used to create their brands and generate growth.

Student Number : 0204446N - MA dissertation - School of Geography, Archaeology and Environment Studies - Faculty of Humanities / This research investigates the role of small towns in local development, using the example of Alice in South Africa. Emphasis is placed upon the relationship between a small town and its rural hinterland with specific reference to agricultural and nonagricultural activities. The perceived conditions and the role of the town itself as observed by both rural and urban residents are highlighted by survey findings. The surveys involved eighty interviews with urban dwellers, eighty with rural dwellers and thirsty with local businesses. It is shown that there are unfulfilled community needs in terms of local business development and municipal efforts aimed at ensuring that the small town offers the economic services required to grow community incomes and the local economy.

Magister Artium (Development Studies) - MA(DVS) / The high unemployment and poverty rate in post-apartheid South Africa has necessitated the need to identify policies and programmes to provide economic and employment opportunities. This included a review of the practice of local economic development (LED), guided by the recognition that local government had a developmental role to play. Local government exercises a role in promoting LED initiatives such as enterprise development, locality development, community development and governance. The International Co-operative Alliance (ICA) states that more than 1 billion people benefit from co-operative enterprises, that co-operative enterprises are found in all sectors of the economy, and that co-operatives provide employment to more than 100 million people. By co-operating, people are able to gain economic and social advantages, such as employment, support for their businesses and access to social programmes being offered. In South Africa, co-operatives were identified as a vehicle through which economically active people could be absorbed into the economic mainstream. The idea in getting groups of people to work together is seen as an opportunity to fast-track development. Co-operatives have the potential to promote and support local economic development. Government has created an environment conducive for co-operatives through its policies and programmes. Much of the literature focuses on the failure of co-operatives in South Africa. This research, while acknowledging the many difficulties/challenges confronting co-operatives, investigates three relatively successful co-operatives in the City of Tshwane. In doing so, this research highlights the processes that make these co-operatives successful, and assesses what lessons, if any, these might hold for other co-operatives in South Africa. The research investigated the reasons behind their success and this information was used to analyse how co-operatives might contribute to LED. The key objectives of the study was to assess the economic and social impact of co-operatives on the livelihoods of the members, evaluate the economic impact of these co-operatives on LED in CoT, and formulate a set of recommendations that could be used to guide the implementation of the National Co-operative Strategy and provide lessons for other co-operatives.

A thesis submitted to the Faculty of Arts in fulfillment of the requirements for the Degree of Masters of Development Studies in the Department of Anthropology and Development Studies at the University of Zululand, 2016 / The aim of the study was to find out how heritage tourism can be used as a strategy for local economic development. The study was conducted at KwaBulawayo (Eshowe) and at Ondini (Ulundi) Cultural Centres and their surroundings. The study asserts that heritage tourism is embedded and can be explained within a shift from industrial to post-industrial mode of production and consumption, where aspects of society, such as heritage and culture are packaged for tourism consumption. The shift from industrial to post-industrial society and the associated packaging and consumption of heritage in the form of tourism forms the main theory of the study. This shift took place in the late 1970s when global economic system which was predicated on industrialisation and manufacturing experienced problems which were recessionary. Out of the recessionary problems, a new system of production called post-industrialisation or post-Fordism or post-modernity emerged. Post- industrialisation came with new processes of production and consumption. With regards to consumption, consumerism became a feature of the new economy. Consumerism meant that aspects of the society, such as heritage and culture had to be packaged for the tourist consumption and revenue generation. The study employed the exploratory mixed methodology, which suggests that the study used both qualitative and quantitative methods. With analysis and interpretation of data, content analysis was used to analyse the interviews while, SPSS and Microsoft Excel were used to analyse quantitative data. The population of the study was comprised of the KwaZulu-Natal Tourism Official(s), Zululand and King Cetshwayo District Municipalities’ Tourism Officers, KwaBulawayo and Ondini Cultural Centres’ Site Managers, Tribal Authorities and community members of the KwaBulawayo and the Ondini Cultural Centres. The study conducted face-to-face interviews and a sample of thirty seven respondents was drawn from the tourism officials and communities. The study found that the role players, i.e. officials and community members, understand the study sites in terms of culture, history and tradition, which suggests that they have not moved beyond the use value of the heritage sites. The findings revealed that the community is well aware of the heritage sites, that is, the cases of this study. However, the study established that the majority of communities did not know how long the heritage sites have been in operation. With regards to the running of the study sites, based on the Provincial and District Officials’ responses, the results showed that the power to manage them is decentralised to the District and Local Levels. The findings showed that the marketing of the heritage sites is not satisfactory. However, the on-line marketing (e.g. Internet, Facebook) was found to be predominant. The general observation of the study showed that the branding of the heritage sites revolves around King Shaka and King Cetshwayo. The communities of the study areas embrace heritage tourism sites and are regarded as the most important role players in heritage tourism of the study areas. The study found that heritage tourism has been used as a strategy for the local economic development of the study areas. The findings presented that attributes, such as artefacts and infrastructure, e.g. roads, stimulate heritage tourism of the study areas. The study observed that the tourists’ turnout to the heritage sites is inadequate. The study, therefore, recommends that the heritage tourism sites, in collaboration with all stakeholders, need to find alternative strategies to improve heritage tourism in the study areas e.g. involving tourism operators in their tourism processes. This could assist the heritage sites to generate sufficient revenue to employ more locals and assist the emerging local entrepreneurs with funding to strengthen their business ventures. The study recommends that the heritage sites need to engage ordinary community members and the local business people, especially those in the hospitality business in the tourism development processes. This could strengthen positive relationship between community members and the heritage tourism sites. The study further recommends that the key role players in heritage tourism of the study areas need to focus more on the exchange value than on the use value of the heritage sites. In the end, the study recommends further research, which will focus on the basic policy and/or a principle that could address community engagement to ensure a collective and/or beneficial participation in the entire tourism industry.

A thesis submitted in the faculty of Arts at the University of Zululand, 2008. / The major constitutional drive of municipalities in South Africa is the responsibility to promote an improved quality of life of residents. Municipal areas, however, have different capacities, resources and development potentials. The ability to enjoy basic needs and better livelihoods is dependent on how the local economy is functioning and how the existing resources in the area are used to full potential. This study uses Ulundi as a point of reference to provide relevant and meaningful alternatives to problems of development faced by some of the municipal areas in the country and beyond. The study is a situational and land-use analysis of local economic development of the Ulundi Local Municipality (ULM). In the context of the South African space economy, Zululand's two well established towns, Vryheid and Ulundi may be regarded as major country towns, below the level of neighbouring coastal centres such as Richards Bay/Empangeni. Currently, the economic base of Ulundi is a dwindling regional government with little commerce and some informal trading. The theoretical framework of the study is based on theories of local economic development (LED) that are established within the framework of communal participation in integrated development plan (IDP). The aim of the study is to determine the landscape and cultural attributes and their developmental relevance to the economy of Ulundi. The research design involved data collection from the development planning section of the Ulundi Local Municipality, Zululand District Municipality, development planning unit of the department of local government, the political leadership of the municipality and a randomly selected 276 households in the area. The 5 established sections, that is. A, B north, B south, C and D are spatial units by which the data collected are aggregated. As part of the analysis of data, the research design incorporates statistical frequencies, cross tabulation and analysis of associations among attributes using Pearson's chi square tests. The tourism potentials of the environmental features have not been utilised to the fullest. This study proposes and advocates an environment-based strategic option and it justifies this strategic path for purposes of adding value to the Ulundi municipal area with a view to building a sustainable competitive advantage. The proposed conceptual model dwells on the possibility of launching new products and moving into new markets. The Ulundi Local Municipality in collaboration with ZDM and the relevant stakeholders develops and exploits its First World economic assets of tourism, that is, landscape and cultural assets to the fullest within the carrying capacity of its natural resources base.

A dissertation submitted to the Faculty of Arts in fulfillment of the requirements for the Degree of Master of Development Studies in the Department of Anthropology and Development Studies at the University of Zululand, 2017 / Local government structures have a particularly important role to play in harnessing national and regional resources to promote their areas and in facilitating strategic local partnerships to enhance and sustain economic growth. The study sought to examine the implementation of Local Economic Development Strategy implementation in Bushbuckridge Local Municipality (BLM) in the Mpumalanga Province of South Africa. The sample comprised of BLM LED officials and at least 5 respondents selected from10 projects and these included the project management team and workers. The Chosen projects were chosen based on proximity and availability but maintaining balance to cover the entire municipality. This allowed the researcher to have a balanced view from both the municipal officials and people at the project sides. A purposive sampling method was used to select the sample for the study. The primary data was collected using interviews and structured observations. Secondary data was collected using the document analysis method. SPSS and the content analysis methods were used in the study. The study found that BLM has an LED strategy as prescribed in the municipal IDP and projects have been implemented to promote local economic development in the region. However, there is a knowledge gap from project participants as some have no access to information and cannot access and use the services from the LED offices to enhance their economic activities, due to their peripheral location. The BLM LED strategy is implemented following the Location Theory, projects were planned and positioned in places where they will maximise profit and minimise production costs by employing local ideas and resources, packing them to attract outside interest. The participatory model adopted by the municipality in planning and implementing LED activities does not yield the desired results due to some projects that are unable to be part of the participatory planning processes. The consultative activities during the conception and planning should target the poor. The study recommends therefore, that LED in BLM has to be a participatory model which is based on a holistic approach to incorporate different activities from different areas based on their local potential and available resources to create economic Spin-offs. The study also makes a number of specific recommendations to facilitate the planning and implementation of LED strategy in BLM.First, participatory processes such as the IDPs at local municipal levels should be used to facilitate people’s participation in the whole process, from conception, planning, implementation and evaluation of all LED activities in the local municipality. The beneficiaries have to be active participants in their own development; hence this will ensure full and active participation. The study also discovered that there is lack of coordination among the stakeholders to create viable establishment of cooperatives development and to formalise their economic participation in order to promote sustainable SMME development, growth and sustainable cooperative movement. Challenges of LED strategy implementation in BLM included that the municipality, like many others in the country, do not have adequate economic growth strategies, and if they do, it will only sound good on paper but the implementation on the ground does not happen as depicted in the strategy. This further perpetuates the triple challenges of poverty, unemployment and inequality.

Four public private partnerships have been created in Lebanon to fulfill the promises of better public value and accelerated economic development for sustainable business development. The problem is some business owners embark on public private partnership projects without following known documented strategies that ensure business sustainability. The purpose of the single case study was to explore the strategies business owners used to sustain public private partnership businesses in Lebanon. The conceptual framework included the theory of X-efficiency and the new public management model. The Northern Lebanon public private partnership was chosen for the study. All 7 business owners participated through interviews for data collection. The emergent themes from the interviews were compared and contrasted across participants' responses and were cross referenced with the academic literature and printed agency reports. Data interpretations were triangulated through member checking. The business owners identified 7 specific strategies to monitor the agency's work. The top 3 strategies were proper selection of partners, the need for a strong technical director, and hiring of professional staff. Three additional strategies noted were the articulation of a clear mission and vision, followed by the development of bylaws and the identification of international best practices. Holding monthly partners' meetings to discuss emerging needs was the last strategy identified for consistent follow up and forward movement of the businesses. The findings over time could promote social change in Lebanon by revealing how municipalities can partner with the private sector and nongovernment organizations to reduce poverty, create jobs, and ensure local economic development.

South Africa as a developing country experienced high levels of poverty and unemployment. These levels emanate from skills gap and low literacy rate in the townships populated by low income households. To an extent some households lacked access to participate in the economic sector, resulting from fragmented policies and apartheid regime. The lack of participation among the households placed pressure on government. These problems forced the state to provide social protection (grants). Such allowances are expensive especially where there are fewer opportunities for employment activities. The promotion of entrepreneurship and small business remains an important priority of the government of South Africa. The South African government is acknowledged for its commitments to ensure that small businesses progressively contribute to growth and performance of the South African economy. Globally, numerous policy legislative frameworks have been developed to support the SMMEs. This study aimed to discover the support given to the SMMEs by the South African government. In particular, the study is situated within the SMMEs in the SDM. The hypothesis for this study is premised on the fact that SMME`s can contribute immensely to job creation. The outcomes of this argument relies on the provisions based on a conducive environment which can enable the SMME`s to thrive. This statement was validated by means of literature review, interviews and site visits. This study found that the SMMEs are indeed the cornerstone of job creation and for sustainable livelihoods. LED programmes can create more jobs through the SMME sector. Literature worldwide confirms that the SMMEs are vital in creating employment opportunities. This research also confirmed that this is possible only if the environment in which SMMEs operate in is favourable for the SMMEs to prosper. In this regard many policy documents were developed to emphasize the stance of government to develop, grow and capacitate SMMEs in South Africa. It is indeed true that the LED can be used to grow and capacitate SMMEs in South Africa. Despite the progress being made on the development of the SMMEs, few issues need to be taken care off. The municipality indicated that there are no monitoring procedures in place which make it difficult to measure the infectiveness of their interventions and they further pointed out that they are working on the matter. The measurement of these milestones is not properly recorded to inform future generations. It is suggested that more research should be emphasised on the SMME sector, especially being the mandate of the municipality. / Thesis (M. Development and Management (Public Management and Government))--North-West University, Vaal Triangle Campus, 2013

This research report discusses the nature of local economic development (LED) in South Africa and how the pursuit of tourism and tourism related initiatives can potentially contribute to its achievement. The subsector of the East London bed and breakfast industry is the key focus area of this report as little has been written about B&Bs’ contribution to tourism- driven LED despite their dramatic growth in number over the past two decades. This research is important as it explores the assumption that any tourism-related development is good for a community and it shows that in many cases the alleged benefits of tourism are found wanting. This report uses in depth interviews, surveys and questionnaires to gather data from B&B owners, staff and guests in order to formulate a comprehensive picture of the B&B industry in East London and thus try to understand it within a broader LED context. Cross-references are completed to better understand the revenue stream classifications of the different B&B owners while income spending analyses are also conducted on B&B workers to unpack the wealth flow patterns of their salaries. The results of these analyses indicate the B&B sector does not significantly contribute to the achievement of LED and that enforced regulation is needed for it to be more economically helpful in the long term.