Thesis (MComm.)--University of Stellenbosch, 2001. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: In the recent past the industrialised world bore witness to staggering growth in the
secondary and tertiary sectors of the economy. In the face of this growth process
economic theory had to confront new challenges in explaining and interpreting
economic phenomena. The complex nature of inter- and intra-firm relationships
forced a pragmatic stance on policy makers to ensure that all actions are efficient and
competitive.
Two prominent schools of thought with contradictory viewpoints emerged. The
Structuralists built upon the foundations laid by Bain (1951) and Mason (1939). This
implied a theoretical framework, namely the Structure, Conduct and Perofrmance
paradigm (SCP paradigm) that could be used to explain inter- and intra-firm relations
according to a simple forward causality argument. The Structuralists' interpretation
of the SCP paradigm provides strong support for the implementation of deconcentration
measures by competition authorities.
The Chicago School, however, developed a counter-argument inspired by Demsetz's
(1973) efficiency hypothesis. According to them, causality is reversed and deconcentration
measures are used at the expense of the most efficient firms.
The thesis aims to study these contradictory arguments as well as their evolution in
South Africa. Various researchers in South Africa have built on the arguments of the
Structuralists and the Chicagoans regarding the manufacturing sector. The theoretical
methods implemented by them will be applied to the long-term insurance industry to
assess the validity of the SCP paradigm as a theoretical framework for the application
of competition policy. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Fenomenale groei in die sekondêre en tersiêre sektore van die ekonomie het nuwe
uitdagings ter verklaring en interpretering van inter- en intra-ondernemingsverhoudinge
verskaf. Die komplekse aard van die verhoudinge het 'n pragmatiese
aanslag ter versekering van effektiwiteit deur beleidmakers genoodsaak.
Twee prominente denkskole met teenstrydige argumente het ontstaan. Die
Strukturaliste het hulle sieninge op die werk van Bain (1951) en Mason (1939)
gebaseer. Hierdie teorieë verwys na 'n teoretiese raamwerk, naamlik die Struktuur,
Gedrag en Prestasie paradigma (SGP paradigma), wat gebruik kan word om inter- en
intra-ondernemingsverhoudinge aan die hand van 'n kousaliteitsvloei van struktuur na
prestasie, te verklaar. Die Strukturaliste se interpretasie van die SGP paradigma
verskaf ondersteuning Vir die implementering van 'n dekonsentrasiebeleid deur
mededingingsowerhede.
Die Chicago Skool het 'n argument ontwikkel wat op die effektiwiteitshipotese van
Demsetz (1973) gebaseer is. Volgens hulle beweeg kousaliteit in die teenoorgestelde
rigting as wat die Strukturaliste beweer en straf dekonsentrasiemaatreëls die mees
effektiewe ondernemings.
Hierdie werkstuk het ten doelom hierdie argumente sowel as die evolusie daarvan in
die Suid-Afrikaanse konteks te ondersoek. Verskeie navorsers in Suid-Afrika het op
argumente van dié twee denkskole ten opsigte van die vervaardingingsektor
voortgebou. Die teoretiese metodiek wat deur hulle ontwikkel is, sal aangewend word
om die geldigheid van die SGP paradigma as die teoretiese raamwerk vir die
aanwending van 'n mededingingsbeleid in die langtermyn-versekeringsbedryf van
Suid-Afrika vas te stel.
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:netd.ac.za/oai:union.ndltd.org:sun/oai:scholar.sun.ac.za:10019.1/52139 |
| Date | 12 1900 |
| Creators | Blaauw, Petrus Arnoldus |
| Contributors | Theron, N. M., Stellenbosch University. Faculty of Economic and Management Sciences. Dept. of Economics. |
| Publisher | Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University |
| Source Sets | South African National ETD Portal |
| Language | en_ZA |
| Detected Language | English |
| Type | Thesis |
| Format | 128 p. |
| Rights | Stellenbosch University |
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