Thesis (Ph.D. (Development Planning and Management)) -- University of Limpopo, 2023 / Rural entrepreneurship is a relatively young sector in the entrepreneurship field, but it has emerged as one of the most important tools for rural economic growth in developing nations like South Africa. A majority of poor people live in the rural areas and face the challenges of extreme poverty levels, high unemployment rates, appalling socio-economic conditions, and inequalities. Therefore, rural entrepreneurship is regarded as a vital tool for accelerating Local Economic Development (LED) and improvement of the quality of life of the rural people and their communities. Rural entrepreneurship stimulates economic development by improving economic conditions, creating employment, reducing poverty and improving the overall standard of living of the rural populace. Theoretically, there is clear consensus that rural entrepreneurship has the potential to reduce poverty, unemployment, economic inequalities and low income as well as value creation and improving standards of life in rural areas through the creation of new enterprises. Entrepreneurial activities stimulate the local economy and create employment opportunities through the creation of new enterprises in the rural areas. Thus, entrepreneurship development is seen as one of the important components of LED and the development agenda in most developing countries. However, entrepreneurial success is dependent on various factors, internal or external, such as the need for achievement, locus of control and desire for personal control of business, human capital, infrastructure, training, communication network, financial support, business environment, economic climate, competitiveness, risk-taking propensity, confidence, and regulatory environment. These factors may determine or influence the success of enterprises, thereby hampering LED efforts in a particular locality. Literature further reiterates the importance of rural entrepreneurship development towards accelerating economic development of local communities in the developing countries. Entrepreneurship development is regarded as a driving force of local economic growth and development in the developing countries. Many developing countries are faced with numerous socio-economic challenges of extreme poverty levels, high unemployment rates, stagnant economic growth and poor living conditions. Entrepreneurship development has become an important policy agenda and priority for employment creation, poverty reduction and economic growth and development of communities in many developing countries. Thus, many developing countries have turned their focus on entrepreneurship development as an important mechanism and driver of economic development with expectations of addressing these challenges. Despite such efforts, entrepreneurship development in developing countries faces challenges such as financial, human, management, lack of access to markets, lack of capacity, lack of infrastructure and appropriate regulations. These challenges affect and undermine the potential of entrepreneurship to stimulate LED and address challenges affecting many developing countries. The role of local government in creating an enabling environment for entrepreneurial activities and LED to thrive is widely acknowledged in most developing countries. Local governments in developing countries have become important vehicles for the promotion and implementation of LED and the creation of enabling environment for entrepreneurial activities to take place. LED in these developing countries is driven mainly by globalisation and decentralisation as an important strategy to local development. Globalisation and decentralisation play an important role in reconfiguring of planning approaches to local and regional development in developing countries. The observations above are also prevalent in South Africa, where entrepreneurship development is one of the national development policy imperatives. However, South Africa has a low entrepreneurial rate compared to other developing countries because of various factors including those highlighted above. Lack of entrepreneurial spirit or culture is increasing highly in the country. Entrepreneurship development and LED practice in South Africa is shaped by overwhelming policies and legislations, which seek to support and encourage entrepreneurship and LED. These regulatory frameworks are aimed at creating conducive and enabling environment for LED and entrepreneurial activities to take place. Local governments have a constitutional obligation to promote social and economic development as well as improving the overall standard of living of local communities within the municipal area. In the process, municipalities must work collectively with local people and local stakeholders to develop their communities. LED has been adopted as one of the strategies to local growth and development of communities in South Africa. Despite LED efforts, the country continues to grapple with societal challenges of poverty, unemployment, inequality and stagnant growth of the economy. Currently, municipalities are plagued with various challenges and are in a dire state that threatens the ability to fulfil their constitutional and developmental mandate of promoting social and economic development. The aim of this study was to investigate rural entrepreneurship and its implications towards LED in the Mogalakwena Local Municipality, Limpopo Province. To achieve this aim, the study adopted descriptive, positivist case study design, and used the concurrent mixed methods approach to achieve the aim and objectives of the study. The study sampled 54 rural entrepreneurs around three Service Delivery Areas (SDAs) of Mokopane, Mapela and Bakenberg in Mogalakwena Local Municipality as well as key informants from Small Enterprise Development Agency, Local Economic Development Agency (LEDA) and Municipal LED Unit. A semi-structured questionnaire was used to solicit data from rural entrepreneurs whereas an interview schedule was used to solicit data from key informants. The study findings affirm that rural entrepreneurship plays a significant role towards LED through poverty alleviation, employment creation, economic opportunities, income generation, value or wealth creation, migration and overall improvement of the standard of living of local communities in Mogalakwena Local Municipality. Rural entrepreneurship is seen as one of the stimulators of economic activities in rural areas within the municipality. Despite the affirmation, the study found that rural entrepreneurs are faced with persistent challenges such as lack of access to finance and markets, lack of skills or capacity, stiff regulations and completion, crime, lack of infrastructure, lack of support by the municipality and poor participation or integration in LED. These challenges inhibit entrepreneurial activities to take place, thereby threatening the survival and success of rural enterprises. Therefore, the study recommends measures such as creation of an enabling regulatory environment, financial support models for entrepreneurs, skills development and training, recognition and integration of rural entrepreneurs in LED fora and promotion of entrepreneurship culture to maximize the potential of rural entrepreneurship in Mogalakwena Local Municipality. Additionally, future research is also important to tap into the niche area of rural entrepreneurship.

Thesis (M.Dev. (Planning and Management)) -- University of Limpopo, 2023 / Local economic development was instituted as a strategy by the new democratic government to boost employment, local economic growth and reduce poverty at local level. This research investigated the impact of LED towards livelihood strategies in the communities of Botlokwa , Molemole Local Municipality. A normative and correlation research design was used in this study. Utilizing surveys, interviews, observation and a literature study, data was gathered. Three key informants and 97 community members in total took part in the research. The results showed that the LED has been used by Molemole Local Municipality. For the municipality, local economic development is crucial for several reasons, including tackling the local economic growth backlog, reducing unemployment and poverty, fostering community involvement in setting needs and goals, and enhancing integration and coordination. However, the execution of the LED ran into some difficulties, including, among others: a bad resource scarcity, unfinished projects, a poor level of community involvement and political interference. Additional verdict demonstrates that local government has improved the quality of amenities provided to recipient households and community members, particularly the provision of electricity, but that additional amenities, such as the delivery of water, creation of jobs, better living conditions, sanitary conditions and refuse removal are still insufficient. However, the community members evolved various coping mechanisms because of high prevalence of poverty and unemployment cut-off. The majority of community members voiced their displeasure with the delivery of programs intended to improve their living conditions. Respondents emphasized that municipality organized ward council meetings, IDP forums and consultation sessions to include communities in service delivery. Communities are still unhappy with their level of participation, though. Notwithstanding that municipality's general successes in providing basic amenities, there is still a backlog in service delivery and LED initiatives because of corrupt practices, a lack of resources, a capacity issue and incorrect project targeting. The results also demonstrate that the municipality's local economic growth has been greatly boosted by the adoption of the LED. All of the municipality's development planning and programs begin with the LED and IDP; as a result, municipality is able to develop and execute in agreement with planned requirements of the population. The municipality has been helped to offer essential services including water, electricity and sanitation thanks to the services and infrastructure projects that have been implemented. Additionally, the municipality has built roads and other infrastructure for the community's benefit. However, outstanding of inadequate execution of the LED, which was brought on by capability issues, limited public involvement and resource shortages, the municipality has not entirely completed the delivery of essential amenities. The report suggests that the municipality prioritize enhancing the supply of LED programs aimed at the community members' modes of subsistence as a cure. Additionally, it is advised that the municipality focus on enhancing community involvement, making effective usage of MIG and strengthening its ability for the development and execution of the LED.

This dissertation is comprised of three studies which examine, among other issues, racial economic disparity. The first study examines racial and gender wage gaps and considers preferences among supervisors and workers as possible sources of wage differentials. After controlling for various wage determinants, I find little statistical evidence of a racial wage gap. However, I do find evidence of a significant gender wage gap. Also, the race of an individual‟s supervisor is found to be unimportant, but workers with male supervisors are found to earn significantly higher wages than workers with female supervisors. The results reveal little evidence of employee discrimination. However, it is found that both white and male workers receive a wage premium when working for a white male supervisor. I find these results to be strongest for, and possibly driven by, small firms in the South. The second study examines the factors that Bowl Championship Series (BCS) universities use in their decision to offer athletic scholarships to high school football players. I find that a player‟s physical characteristics are important in determining the number of scholarship offers he will receive as well as his athletic performance in high school. However, a player‟s high school grade point average is not a significant determinant of the number of scholarship offers he receives. The analysis also indicates a significantly higher labor market demand for African-American high school football players, and there is also evidence of racial position segregation as well. The third study analyzes the relationship between the racial makeup of counties and economic growth and convergence in the southern U.S. The results provide strong evidence that spatial dependence is present in the data, and it is determined that the spatial lag model is appropriate for modeling the data. Significant evidence of conditional beta-convergence among the counties in the sample is found. The results also reveal that the balanced growth paths of counties are inversely related with the percentage of the county population that is African-American. That is, counties with a higher concentration of African-Americans tend to exhibit relatively slow rates of income growth.

Although several studies have sought to identify the determinants of export diversity and sophistication, few have examined the role of historical events in shaping or reshaping them. In my first chapter I use data on CIA interventions during the Cold War period. I show that such interventions had a negative impact on the range of goods exported by affected countries. I provide evidence that this effect persisted in the long run. In my second chapter, I study the local impact of trade union strength on employment during resource booms. I use unionization and coverage rates along with the presence of state level right to work laws as proxies for weak unions. The empirical strategy limits the sample to resource abundant US counties that share a border across states and utilizes county pair-year fixed effects to compare average responses to oil booms in resource rich counties located in states with weak unions to responses in adjacent resource rich counties in states with relatively strong unions. Results suggest that within a relatively small geographic radius, union strength does not seem to have an impact on the response of employment to booms. There is some evidence to suggest that the results point to the existence of spillover effects where employment in weak union locations is influenced by proximity to strong unions. In my final chapter I exploit variation in resource wealth between English speaking Caribbean nations who take identical exams at the secondary school level. I test the hypothesis that booms alter the incentive for academic excellence in secondary school students. To isolate the impact changing incentives have on academic performance, I control for education expenditure and other demand and supply side factors. Results suggest that booms improve performance mainly for female students.

Submitted by Filippo Scelza (filipposcelza@gmail.com) on 2017-12-18T10:43:48Z No. of bitstreams: 1 Dissertação Filippo Scelza. FGV. EBAPE.pdf: 1398507 bytes, checksum: 7dc4e56a54c9586b6762d0b52d73f7a5 (MD5) / Approved for entry into archive by ÁUREA CORRÊA DA FONSECA CORRÊA DA FONSECA (aurea.fonseca@fgv.br) on 2017-12-21T13:31:55Z (GMT) No. of bitstreams: 1 Dissertação Filippo Scelza. FGV. EBAPE.pdf: 1398507 bytes, checksum: 7dc4e56a54c9586b6762d0b52d73f7a5 (MD5) / Made available in DSpace on 2017-12-22T12:11:53Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 Dissertação Filippo Scelza. FGV. EBAPE.pdf: 1398507 bytes, checksum: 7dc4e56a54c9586b6762d0b52d73f7a5 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2017-11-23 / Objetivo – O estudo teve focou em compreender a relevância que o crédito coopera-tivo tem – e teve – no desenvolvimento econômico local do estado de São Paulo, utilizando, sempre, como parâmetro comparativo a região italiana da Lombardia. A opção por esta comparação se pauta nas semelhanças econômicas e sociais entre ambas as regiões, as quais representam, para seus respectivos países, os motores econômicos, caracterizadas pela alta quantidade de riqueza produzida, bem como seus centros financeiros; a convergência do capital nacional e internacional, no Brasil, se dá em São Paulo e, na Itália, na Lombardia. Método – Utilizou-se o método qualitativo, pautado na pesquisa documental, isto é, em uma revisão da literatura disponível sobre o tema – nacional e internacional – bem como na coleta de dados estatísticos. Resultados – Observou-se que, para a realidade paulista, as instituições de crédito cooperativo não apresentam uma relevância para o desenvolvimento econômico local do estado, tendo em vista o baixo número de associados e de movimentações financeiras. Limitações – A principal limitação da pesquisa foi a falta de estudos realizados, até então, com o intuito de identificar os motivos sociais e culturais da baixa adesão do setor produtivo paulista às instituições de crédito cooperativo. Contribuições práticas – Através dos resultados observados, os policy makers pau-listas podem, em parceria com os agentes econômicos e a sociedade civil, planejar e implementar políticas públicas que promovam o desenvolvimento econômico local do estado e de suas regiões, utilizando as instituições de crédito cooperativo como elementos chave para o incremento da produção e dos índices de qualidade de vida da população. Contribuições sociais – Os resultados observados contribuem para a compreensão da importância das instituições de crédito cooperativo no desenvolvimento das co-munidades locais (analisando o contexto lombarda). Originalidade – Até o presente momento, este é o primeiro estudo que analisa, de modo comparado, as realidades do setor do crédito cooperativo paulista e lombarda. Palavras-chave: Desenvolvimento Econômico Local. Políticas Públicas de Desen-volvimento. Crédito Cooperativo. Categoria do artigo: Dissertação de Mestrado/ Artigo original / Objective –The research focused on understanding the importance the cooperative credit has – and had – on the local economic development of the state of São Paulo. It was used, always, as a comparative parameter the Italian region of Lombardia. This comparison was chosen because of its various social and economic similarities; both the regions represent, to their respective countries, their economic cores, characterized by the high levels of wealth produced, as well their financial centers; the convergence of national and international capitals, in Brazil, occurs in São Paulo, while, in Italy, occurs in Lombardia. Method – The qualitative method was used, based on documentary research and literature review – both national and international –. Data analysis was also used to give the research more accuracy. Findings – It was observed that the cooperative credit institutions do not represent any relevance to São Paulo’s local economic development by identifying the low number of associated persons and financial transactions made by those institutions. Research limitations – The main limitation of this research is the lack of studies about the motives behind the low engagement of the productive sector, in São Paulo, to the cooperative financial sector, its social and cultural reasons. Practical implications – From the results observed, the policy makers can project and implement public policies, in partnership with the economic agents and the civil society, aiming the state’s – and its regions – local economic development by using the cooperative financial institutions as key elements to increase the production and the social indicators. Social implications – By analyzing the results, the importance of the cooperative financial institutions to the local communities can be verified (using the Lombardy’s framework). Originality – Until this moment, this research is the first study made, analyzing and contrasting the cooperative financial institutions in São Paulo and in Lombardy

According to s 23, 24 & 25 of the MPRDA, mining companies must submit a Social and Labour Plan (SLP) when applying for mining rights, and the local economic development (LED) of the SLP must be aligned with the local and district municipality Integrated Development Plan (IDP). The alignment between the SLP and IDP local economic development initiatives provides a platform for investment opportunity, economic growth, poverty reduction and infrastructure development (ICMM, 2006). The main objective of this research was to determine the extent to which the mining SLPs are aligned with municipal IDPs. The research was conducted using a qualitative method for three case studies, a literature review, a documents review (of the SLPs and IDPs), questionnaires and interviews. The mining industry charter gives mining companies targets for the development of local communities through their SLPs. The King reports on corporate governance also give the industry ways to report on corporate social responsibility and sustainability. The local government Municipal Systems Act governs the development of local communities through the development of IDPs as per s 29.There are also debates on the increase of local beneficiation by mining companies, thereby creating jobs and accessing incentives in the form of royalty payments and tax relief. In addition there is a growing demand for a portion of such royalties and taxes to be paid directly into the municipalities to improve the LED and infrastructure challenges. The main challenge with alignment is how mining companies deal with related community grievances and risks, capacity constraints at local government and the DMR, poor stakeholder engagement and the backlog of service delivery. Overall, in the three case studies the KPIs were generally aligned (criteria B) with the municipal IDPs, which indicates that there is a general compliance with the DMR regulations and guidelines. The SLPs, socio-economic background and key economic activities were aligned (criteria A) with the IDPs, while projects and programmes were also generally aligned (criteria B). The negative social impacts were just aligned (criteria C) with the IDPs while no KPI was found to be not aligned (criteria D) with IDP. Some of the initiatives to improve the positive social impacts were the continuous Social Impact Assessment (SIA) throughout the life of mine. Most importantly the research identified that there is a need to improve capacity in local government for dealing with local economic development as this will also aid/improve the alignment of IDPs and SLPs. / M Environmental Management, North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2014

According to s 23, 24 & 25 of the MPRDA, mining companies must submit a Social and Labour Plan (SLP) when applying for mining rights, and the local economic development (LED) of the SLP must be aligned with the local and district municipality Integrated Development Plan (IDP). The alignment between the SLP and IDP local economic development initiatives provides a platform for investment opportunity, economic growth, poverty reduction and infrastructure development (ICMM, 2006). The main objective of this research was to determine the extent to which the mining SLPs are aligned with municipal IDPs. The research was conducted using a qualitative method for three case studies, a literature review, a documents review (of the SLPs and IDPs), questionnaires and interviews. The mining industry charter gives mining companies targets for the development of local communities through their SLPs. The King reports on corporate governance also give the industry ways to report on corporate social responsibility and sustainability. The local government Municipal Systems Act governs the development of local communities through the development of IDPs as per s 29.There are also debates on the increase of local beneficiation by mining companies, thereby creating jobs and accessing incentives in the form of royalty payments and tax relief. In addition there is a growing demand for a portion of such royalties and taxes to be paid directly into the municipalities to improve the LED and infrastructure challenges. The main challenge with alignment is how mining companies deal with related community grievances and risks, capacity constraints at local government and the DMR, poor stakeholder engagement and the backlog of service delivery. Overall, in the three case studies the KPIs were generally aligned (criteria B) with the municipal IDPs, which indicates that there is a general compliance with the DMR regulations and guidelines. The SLPs, socio-economic background and key economic activities were aligned (criteria A) with the IDPs, while projects and programmes were also generally aligned (criteria B). The negative social impacts were just aligned (criteria C) with the IDPs while no KPI was found to be not aligned (criteria D) with IDP. Some of the initiatives to improve the positive social impacts were the continuous Social Impact Assessment (SIA) throughout the life of mine. Most importantly the research identified that there is a need to improve capacity in local government for dealing with local economic development as this will also aid/improve the alignment of IDPs and SLPs. / M Environmental Management, North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2014

Thesis (MPA) --(University of Limpopo), 2007 / This study had two aims. Firstly, it investigated the existence of the Local Economic Development (LED) strategy, and secondly, the sustainability of such a strategy at the Thembisile municipality in Mpumalanga province. The rationale behind this study was to provide the municipality with possible mechanisms to improve the development and implementation of the LED policy. The concept of Local Economic Development has been studied and debated widely in South Africa. The importance of introducing policies that assist to stimulate economic activities at the local sphere of government has been acknowledged by a number of scholars. The LED policy in South Africa was developed as a way of creating a platform for municipalities to play a role in economy of the municipality and the country. This study focused on how the LED policy has been developed and implemented at the Thembisile municipality. In order to achieve this, various strategies were used to collect data. Firstly, policy documents such as the Mpumalanga Provincial Growth and Development Strategy and the Thembisile Municipality’s LED strategy were studied. Secondly, questionnaires were administered to participants. Interviews were also conducted with members of the LED Committee at the municipality and entrepreneurs. The study mainly used the Evaluation Research methods to analyze the various critical aspects of policy implementation. The results of the study show that there are possible improvements both in the development and implementation of the LED strategy at Thembisile municipality. It is also critical that the element of sustainability enterprises established should be prioritized. Finally, the study provides recommendations for improvement for the municipality.

Thesis (M.Dev.) -- University of Limpopo, 2011 / The mining sector in South Africa has enjoyed decades of profiteering and unchecked neglect of developmental needs of surrounding communities. Most of the communities surrounding South African mines are therefore synonymous with social problems that include poverty, poor health, unemployment, adult illiteracy, poor housing, family disorganization and high influx of unaccompanied migrant labour. On the contrary, mining is presented as the paradigm of wealth in particular when dealing with gold and diamond mining, while its marketing conceals its terrible social and environmental consequences. However mining is responsible for such impacts and many others. This study looks at the socio-economic impact of mining on community development in Greater Tubatse Municipal area located in Limpopo Province, South Africa. From the interviews conducted and questionnaires administered to sampled community members and workers of the platinum mine in Greater Tubatse Municipality, it emerged that the existence of mining companies in the area has done little to uplift the lives of the people in terms of socioeconomic development. The study makes recommendations on how the situation can be improved so that the population living in the area can benefit from the work carried out by mining companies.

Thesis (M.Dev.) -- University of Limpopo, 2013 / Since the mid-nineties, Local Economic Development (LED) has been the focal point for the South African government led by the African National Congress. The aim of LED is to redress the injustices of the apartheid regime and to enable previously disadvantaged groups to be incorporated into the formal economy and to involve them in poverty alleviation programmes. So far, the government has spent millions of rands in funding LED projects, with the primary goal of ensuring poverty alleviation. The purpose of this study was to investigate the sustainability of LED projects in Kgwale village (Devilliersdale) in the Blouberg Municipality, Limpopo Province, with the main aim being to establish the factors that enhance the sustainability of projects vis-à-vis those factors that hinder the sustainability of projects. A qualitative study was conducted with 18 participants who were members of the three (03) projects and with three LED project managers from the Blouberg Municipality, the Department of Corporate Governance, Human Setttlements and Traditional Affairs and the Department of Health and Social Development. Data was obtained through semi-structured one-to-one interviews, focus group interviews and observations. The findings of the investigation mostly confirm what other researchers have already discovered, such as the role played by the educational level of beneficiaries of these projects in the success of the projects. Only one person who was a manager of the two (02) projects, namely, the Moselatlala/Farming and Moselatlala/Brick-laying projects, had a post-matric qualification. This however was in education, which is not relevant to LED. None of the Sewing Project members had Grade 12. All the three projects did not keep accounting records and did not use the services of the independent auditor to audit their projects. Most members in these projects were women, as in most projects in rural areas. The Sewing Project could not last for one year. This indicates that the members did not xii have interest in sewing, because they did not receive proper training and sufficient support. The researcher sees this as an indication that the members lacked patience and perseverance. In the Moselatlala/Farming and Moselatlala/Brick-laying projects, the members stuck to the projects despite the fact that the projects were not yielding results. They did not see these projects as get-rich-quick schemes where people will easily earn a lot of money without much effort. The members worked tirelessly, hoping that one day they will earn salaries, until they decided to share the resources which they had acquired because they realised that their efforts were meaningless. The researcher suggests that further in-depth research be conducted on the factors that lead to LED projects collapsing instead of sustaining themselves, creating employment and being financially and economically viable.