My thesis titled The Monetary Policy of the Central Bank of Armenia starts with characteristics of Armenia, where I focus on economic attributes of the country, international conflicts and their effects on Armenia, population development, poverty and corruption. The second part is focused on economic development of Armenia, the country's employment rate, particular items of the balance of payments and international trade. Furthermore, this part also consists of information related to the development of Armenian currency and the country's foreign debt. The third, significant part of my thesis deals with the Central Bank of Armenia and Armenia's financial system, concentrating mainly on history and the present of the subject central bank. Later in this part, I inquire into Armenia's monetary policy, where I focus on its applied transmission mechanisms and the CBA's instruments.The final part of this thesis is about what effects the CBA has on Armenia's economic development. I look into effects of monetary policy on price level development and meeting the inflation objectives. The conclusion part summarizes and gathers all pieces of information I have obtained by studying numerous literature resources and conducting personal interviews with several representatives of the Armenian banking system.This part also summarizes benefits of the CBA and its effects on economic development of Armenia, credibility evaluation and effectiveness in the objectives.

This thesis investigates how seven communities in a subregion of the Sierra Norte of Oaxaca are conserving high forest cover in the absence of national protected areas. To conduct this study I relied on archival research and the review of community documents, focus group interviews and land use transects to explore historical and current land use. I found that communities have conserved 88.34% of the subregion as forest cover, or 58,596 hectares out of a total territory of 66,264 hectares. Analysis suggests that the communities have undergone a historical transition from more passive conservation to more active, conscious conservation particularly in the last decade. This thesis further contends that communities deserve additional financial compensation for this active conservation of globally important forests for biodiversity conservation and that exercises in systematic conservation planning ignore the reality that existing biodiversity conservation in the subregion is associated with community ownership.

The convergence of mobile and social media, enabled by the ever-changing landscape of information and communication technologies and wireless technologies, has over the last decade, transformed our world into a Socio-Mobile Economy. Looking at the disruptive impact of this convergence on the global payment market, this study investigates the incentives behind different reactions and cooperation models that have been adopted by providers in the Swedish mobile payment market. The methodology of the study has been built on a combination of both theoretical and empirical bases. The theoretical base constitutes a literature review along the line of concepts such as innovation management, disruptive innovation, business model innovation, resource-based theory of the firm and the transaction cost theories, to identify existing gaps within the literature. The empirical base constitutes of qualitative in-depth interviews with three providers in the Swedish mobile payment market. The study shows three main reactions from the Swedish mobile payment providers. These providers have reacted to disrupt the disruption, attract a critical mass of customers, and to wrap their solutions with the right context. Currently, there is no cooperation between all three key input providers of a mobile payment solution, the banks, the MNOs and the card payment systems thus there are no full-integration or partial-integration models in the Swedish mobile payment market. Three cooperation models, the all-bank-centric, the MNO-centric and the light models were also identified in this market.

Abstract Contactless mobile payments are a payment method done with a mobile phone and a contactless technology. Instead of paying with cash, a payment card or a cheque, a user can tap its mobile phone onto a terminal to pay. Across the globe, several markets have been embracing the need for new payment methods. In Asia, contactless mobile payments have been used since 2004. In some of the African countries, due to an insufficient banking industry, mobile payments have been the only electronic payment method. However, in Europe contactless mobile payments are still in their initial phase. The benefits of contactless mobile payments are that they are easier to use, faster and more secure. However, there are some implications. Firstly, the lack of standardisations regarding how the technology will work has led to an undefined ecosystem consisting of many stakeholders with different motives. Secondly, in order for contactless mobile payments to break significant ground the users need to change their existing payment methods and habits. This is a time consuming process, which will require consistency and patience. The research purpose of this thesis has been to define the contactless mobile payment ecosystem with its future potential on the European market. The research paradigm has been of an interpretive nature where the researchers’ interpretations on the information have been in focus. In order to answer the research purpose, an action research has been conducted, including an analysis the of Porter’s Five Forces model applied on the current contactless mobile payment ecosystem with its various stakeholders, the attendance at the annual NFC Congress in Austria as well as an experimental case study on Google. 3The findings of the action research have resulted in new definition of the current contactless mobile payment stakeholder ecosystem. In this new definition of the ecosystem, the user has been defined as the strongest force, hence has been placed in the centre encircled by mobile network operators, banks, merchants and transit authorities. In the ecosystem handset manufactures, operating system providers, technology vendors, cash handling organisations, card networks, POS terminal manufactures and governmental bodies have also been represented. The vision of the case study on Google has been to present a market entry strategy for how Google could enter the European market of contactless mobile payments. The research resulted in a proposition that Google would enter the market in the following order; the UK, France, Turkey, Russia, Germany, Spain and Italy. The conclusions of the research have been that contactless mobile payments will cut across an entire ecosystem, but that the ecosystem at the moment is not fully defined. To achieve a competitive position, a stakeholder has to deliver an outstanding user experience that is interoperable within the whole European market. Key­words: Contactless mobile payments, near field communication (NFC), mobile payment ecosystem, payment ecosystem, Google, Android

M. Tech. (Marketing, Faculty of Management Sciences), Vaal University of Technology / Keywords: Mobile payments, usefulness, ease of use, security, attitude, future intentions. An increased reliance on mobile phones by consumers for making retail purchases has been witnessed over the years. Given the pervasive use of m-payments and the incessant diffusion of innovations in South Africa, it is important for marketers to have knowledge of the right set of factors that enhance consumers’ intent towards favouring m-payments in future encounters. This study draws from the undertones of Davis’s (1989) Technology acceptance Model (TAM). Whereas the theory alludes to the influences of both usefulness and ease of use on consumer attitudes and behaviour, this study further amplifies the salience of cosumer perceptions of security as a salient drive towards m-payment acceptance. This is because m-payments involve moneybased transactions and therefore it is important for consumers to have assurance that they operate along a secure platform. The TAM was nominated as the underlying theory in this research owing to its effectiveness when applied during the initial phases of an innovation, to avoid costly mistakes of implementing innovation attributes that do not offer the requiredset of elements for persuading consumers. The purpose of this study was to test an integrative research model of the antecedents of mpayment acceptance using a South African sample of consumers. A quantitative study comprising a non-probability snowball sample of 474 consumers aged between 18 and 50 years was conducted in 2016, in and around the five major towns of Southern Gauteng province in South Africa. The structured questionnaire requested respondents to indicate their perceptions regarding the usefulness, ease of use and security of m-payment platforms they have utilised. In addition, the questionnaire relates to consumers’ attitude evaluations of m-payments in general, as well as their intentions to both use and recommending m-payments to others in the future. Initially, descriptive statistics were performed on the data set, including correlation analysis and multicolinearity testing. Subsequently, structural equation modelling was applied by first, assessing the measurement model using fit indices, confirmatory factor analysis and statistical accuracy tests of reliability and validity. Specification of the measurement model led to the conclusion that the future intentions model was a five-factor structure comprising usefulness, ease of use, security, attitude and future intentions. Thereafter, the results of the structural model (Structural model A) supported the existence of a direct influence between usefulness and security with attitude, while the latter was found to have a direct influence on future intentions. Nevertheless, the relationships between ease of use and attitude was not significant and therefore, alternative hypothesis Ha3 could not be supported in this study leading to the need to specify a vi subsequent competing model. Under Structural model B, perceived usefulness is used as both a dependent and an independent variable since it is predicted by perceived ease of use and in turn predicts attitude towards using and behavioural intention to use simultaneously. The results of Structural model B led to the decision to accept the competing model as the ultimate model for this research since the model presents complete evidence of path weights that are greater than 0.20, interpreted as evidence for significant path outcomes. Insights gained from this study could assist both marketing academics and practitioners to understand the perceptions of consumers towards m-payments. In this regard, if a determination is made that conducting m-payment transactions in secure and effort-free environments could enhance the effectiveness of consumers in their jobs and lives in general, then marketers could be in a better position to deliver a worthwhile innovation solution for South African consumers.

The goal of the PhD thesis is to investigate the role of behavioural economics considerations for the performance of conservation auctions. The findings of the three scientific articles suggest that behavioural economics considerations like social (distributional) preferences and reference-dependent preferences may affect the attractiveness and economic performance of conservation auctions, respectively. The results of the first and second articles are based on laboratory experiments conducted with university students, in Germany. The third article implements a field experiment to measure farmers’ preferences over Payments for Ecosystem Services (PES) allocation mechanisms and the role of fairness therein, in the context of agrobiodiversity loss in Benin.

Background: Emerging in December 2019, the COVID-19 pandemic profoundly changed consumer behaviour leading to social distancing and mitigating physical contact. Statistics show an increased use of contactless and mobile payment usage and adoption during the pandemic. It is unclear how valid previous models on mobile payment adoption explain adoption behaviour in emergency situations. While there are few studies approaching the adoption behaviour during the pandemic, there is also little previous research on mobile payment adoption prior to the pandemic in Germany. Purpose: The present thesis intends to advance several previously researched technological adoption frameworks to focus on and measure consumers’ perception of mobile payment technology adopting during the COVID-19 pandemic. Hence, our model provides a basis to understand mobile payment adoption in Germany during the pandemic. Method: Based on hypotheses derived from an adapted UTAUT2 model, we conducted quantitative deductive research reaching 258 questionnaire participants based in Germany. The empirical data was analysed through structural equation modelling. Conclusion: The findings show that Performance Expectancy still represents the primary driver of intention to adopt mobile payments during the pandemic, yet it is strongly supported by the initially contextualised Contamination Avoidance element and complemented by Habit, Effort Expectancy. Practitioners benefit from the study to better tailor campaigns in accordance with the main driver of adoption behaviour, while our findings contribute new insights into technology adoption in Germany during emergency situations.

El objetivo del presente estudio es determinar el impacto de la devolución de pagos indebidos por arbitrios en la liquidez de las empresas ubicadas en la urbanización La Encantada de Villa - Chorrillos, año 2020. El trabajo se encuentra estructurado en cinco capítulos, según se detalla: Capítulo I: Marco Teórico, desarrollado con fuentes primarias mediante las cuales se ha definido los conceptos generales de las variables en estudio, sus características, relación e impacto. A continuación, en el Capítulo II: Plan de Investigación, se describe la problemática y se determina los objetivos e hipótesis generales y específicas. Luego, en el Capítulo III: Metodología de la Investigación, se define el diseño y enfoque de investigación a desarrollar y se determina el tamaño de la población y muestra con las cuales, a través de un enfoque mixto, empleando instrumentos como la entrevista en profundidad y la encuesta, se obtiene información cualitativa y cuantitativa sobre la población. Seguidamente, en el Capítulo IV: Desarrollo de la Investigación, se aplica los instrumentos previamente definidos y se presenta un caso práctico en el que se evalua el impacto de la devolución de pagos indebidos por arbitrios en la liquidez. Finalmente, en el Capítulo V: Análisis de los Resultados, se valida la hipótesis general y las hipótesis específicas a través de la evaluación de los resultados obtenidos en los instrumentos empleados y en el caso práctico, para finalmente, formular conclusiones y recomendaciones a la presente investigación. / The main goal of this investigation is to determine the impact of the refund of undue payments for Municipal Taxes on Liquidity of the companies located in La Encantada de Villa Urbanization - Chorrillos, 2020. This research is organized in 5 chapters, as detailed: Chapter I: Theoretical Framework, developed using primary sources through which we have defined the general concepts of the variables under study, their characteristics, relationships, and impact. Next, in Chapter II: Research Plan, the problematic is described, and the goals and general and specific hypotheses are determined. Then, in Chapter III: Methodology of the Research, the type of research to be carried out is defined and the size of the population and sample are determined with which, through a mixed approach, using instruments such as the in-depth interview and the survey, we obtein qualitative and quantitative information about the population. Furthermore, in Chapter IV: Development of the Research, the previously defined instruments are applied and a practical case is developed, in order to evaluate the impact of the refund of undue payments for municipal taxes on the liquidity. Finally, in Chapter V: Analysis of Results, we validate the general and specific hypotheses by examining the results obtained in the interviews with specialists, surveys, and practical case, to finally formulate the conclusions and recommendations. / Tesis

Thesis (MPA.) -- University of Limpopo, 2021 / The aim of this study was to assess the impact and the effect of non–payment of municipal services on service delivery in the Elias Motsoaledi Local Municipality. The municipalities as the lowest part of Government are responsible for delivering basic services like water supply, electricity, road maintenance, refuse collection and sanitation to communities. Legislation permits municipalities to charge for services rendered. The study adopted the qualitative and quantitative research methods for data collection and analysis. Households in the selected villages (Motetema, Tambo and Groblersdal), were randomly selected to participate in the study and also the officials from the Elias Motsoaledi Local Municipality. Non-payment of municipal services is a great challenge in South African local government and threaten the financial viability and proper service delivery. Communities are protesting daily in service delivery outcries. The municipalities are struggling to collect revenue; they basically depend on the grants from the national Treasury. This dissertation probes the nature of non-payment of municipal services, its impact on service delivery and the methods used to tackle non-payments and to recommend the workable solutions. The findings of this study reveal that indeed revenue collection and non-payment of municipal service charges is a challenge in Elias Motsoaledi Local Municipality and it is having a dire impact on effective service delivery. This is due to unwillingness to pay for service charges, unemployment, poor quality services, low income amongst other challenges. Thus, the municipality is unable to generate adequate revenue to deliver better services. The study, therefore, gives recommendations on how the Municipality can improve revenue collection and mitigate non-payment of service charges

This dissertation work deals with the subject of a company in the area of e-commerce, which represents short-term or long-term plans in controlling the financial relationship toward the outer environment but also inside the company. The problem of possible abuse of credit cards is briefly analysed as well. The impulse for choosing this topic was increasing number of falsification and abusing of credit cards. When this subject is analysed in detail, the problem connected with lack of information on this particular area of crime inevitably appears. Clients of individual banking institutions often do not have even the basic knowledge about the ways their cards could be abused or misused. This is why the question of certain, at least minimal, basic information campaign done by the banks, which are supposed to protect the financial means of their clients. This dissertation work sets its goal in creating the methods of investigation of credit cards abuse not only in the Czech Republic but in the growing system of countries of Schengen Treaty and European Union. The benefit of the work can be seen in the level of theory as well of practice. The theoretical part of the work contains the analysis of the current situation of scientific knowledge in the area of information and communication technology of companies, which is implemented into information systems. Then the advantages and disadvantages connected with this kind of e-commerce are assessed and the specific opportunities for abuse of these media of payment are characterised. The problem sees mainly in writing a specialised publication, which would deal with the problem of abuse and falsification of credit cards and its possible use would be at police academies. Its main part should be the characteristics of particular forms of cards forging and also possible identification of these forgeries. This book could also help in prevention and inform clients of financial institutions about the ways of credit cards abuse. In the practical part, which concentrates on the Czech and foreign market, the author sets the basic premises for realisation of safe business of companies in the Czech Republic and its procedures. Furthermore the reasons of e-commerce abuse in the Czech Republic are analysed and results of quantification research presented. This was concentrated on ascertainment of reason of low interest in information among the public. In the conclusive part of the work the whole problem is summarised and there are also outlined perspectives and possibilities of further development