Thesis (MPhil)--Stellenbosch University, 2012. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: An alternative measure of progress to GDP was evaluated in the Bakgatla-Ba-Kgafela tribe
(in total N = 119) using subjective wellbeing or happiness. The major dimensions of
happiness were assumed to be physical, mental, social, spiritual, educational,
environmental, occupational, and financial wellbeing or income and governance. Amongst
the Bakgatla, correlation testing identified two clusters or core sub-sets of relationships,
based on the strength of relationships, which appear to work in parallel to one another, with
divergent outcomes of either increased happiness or income. The first cluster is related to
traditional economic rationality and consists of Education Level, Income and Employment
Security. The second cluster, more closely related to principles of sustainable development,
consists of Social Wellbeing, Environmental Wellbeing and Happiness. An insignificant
correlation between Income and Happiness exists.
A multiple regression analysis was conducted with Happiness as the dependent variable and
the major wellbeing dimensions as the independent variables (R² = .286). Statistically
significant Standardized Beta’s calculated in the regression analysis are Social wellbeing
(0.464), Educational level (-0.226), Governance (0.205) and Physical wellbeing (0.194).
Although a cause-and-effect relationship can’t be assumed, the supposition is that ceteris
paribus:
• Happy people tend to have higher levels of social wellbeing or social capital;
• The more educated people are, the less happy they are;
• The more trust people have in public institutions and the state, the happier they are;
and
• Happy people tend to be healthier.
Therefore, holding all other explanatory variables constant, it can be assumed that income
has no bearing on subjective wellbeing. Therefore we reject the Null Hypothesis that the
Bakgatla’s progress is purely determined by their annual per capita income.
The relationship between income and subjective wellbeing for the Bakgatla follows global
patterns - an initial increase in happiness as income increases is pronounced but ‘flattens’
somewhat as a higher level of income is reached and diminishes as very high levels of
income are achieved. The critical turning point where income has a diminishing rate of return
on satisfaction is around R20 000 per annum per person. This corroborates the human
needs theories which proposes that a hierarchy of needs for human beings exist and until
the basic needs are met, higher needs cannot be met.
The present findings have implications for the Bakgatla: in order to increase happiness and
promote development, the Bakgatla should focus on four key aspects: meeting basic needs;
increasing social capital; increasing trust in the Tribal Authorities; and improving physical
health. In addition, education and environmental wellbeing should also be focal points but
changes need to be made to the education curriculum so that there is a strong focus on
sustainable development. An important policy implication that the Bakgatla need to consider,
is balancing the needs of the current generation with the needs of future generations.
Economic growth or income may bring a certain amount of happiness; environmental
destruction, crime and human health implications may outweigh these benefits and
happiness in both the current and future generations. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: In hierdie studie is subjektiewe welstand of geluk as alternatief vir bruto binnelandse produk
(BBP) as vooruitgangsmaatstaf by die Bakgatla-Ba-Kgafela-stam (altesaam N = 119)
ondersoek. Die veronderstelde hoofaspekte van geluk wat in die studie getoets is, is fisiese
welstand, geesteswelstand, maatskaplike welstand, spirituele welstand, opvoedkundige
welstand, omgewingswelstand, beroepswelstand, finansiële welstand of inkomste, en
bestuur. Korrelasietoetse onder die Bakgatla het twee beduidende groepe of kernsubstelle
verwantskappe uitgewys, welke groepe oënskynlik gelyklopend funksioneer, met
uiteenlopende dog nieverwante uitkomste van hetsy verhoogde geluk of verhoogde
inkomste. Die eerste groep hou verband met tradisionele ekonomiese rasionaliteit, en
bestaan uit onderrigvlak, inkomste en werksekerheid. Die tweede groep, wat eerder met
beginsels van volhoubare ontwikkeling saamhang, bestaan uit maatskaplike welstand,
omgewingswelstand en geluk. Die studie toon onbeduidende verband tussen inkomste en
geluk.
Meervoudige regressieontleding is met geluk as afhanklike veranderlike en die
hoofwelstandsaspekte as onafhanklike veranderlikes uitgevoer (R² = 0,286). Statisties
beduidende gestandaardiseerde betakoëffisiënte wat in die regressieontleding bereken is, is
maatskaplike welstand (0,464), opvoedingsvlak (-0,226), bestuur (0,205) en fisiese welstand
(0,194). Hoewel oorsaak-en-gevolg-verwantskap nie aanvaar kan word nie, word daar
vermoed dat, met alle ander faktore gelyk:
• gelukkige mense geneig is om hoër vlakke van maatskaplike welstand of
maatskaplike kapitaal te geniet;
• hoe meer opgevoed mense is, hoe ongelukkiger is hulle;
• hoe meer vertroue mense in openbare instellings en die staat het, hoe gelukkiger is
hulle; en
• gelukkige mense geneig is om gesonder te wees.
Indien alle ander verklarende veranderlikes konstant gehou word, word daar dus aanvaar
dat inkomste geen verband met subjektiewe welstand toon nie. Daarom word die
nulhipotese dat die Bakgatla se vooruitgang alleenlik deur hul jaarlikse inkomste per capita
bepaal word, verwerp.
Die verwantskap tussen inkomste en subjektiewe welstand vir die Bakgatla volg
internasionale patrone: Aanvanklik neem geluk duidelik toe namate inkomste verhoog, plat
dan effens af namate hoër inkomstevlak bereik word, en verminder aansienlik wanneer
baie hoë inkomstevlakke bereik word. Die kritiese draaipunt waar inkomste verlaagde
opbrengskoers op tevredenheid toon, is sowat R20 000 per jaar per persoon. Dít staaf die
menslikebehoefte-teorie wat aan die hand doen dat mense oor hiërargie van behoeftes
beskik en dat daar eers in basiese behoeftes voorsien moet word voordat behoeftes hoër op
in die hiërargie aan die beurt kan kom.
Hierdie bevindinge het bepaalde implikasies vir die Bakgatla: Ten einde geluk te verhoog en
ontwikkeling aan te moedig, behoort die Bakgatla op vier kernaspekte te konsentreer,
naamlik voorsiening in basiese behoeftes, die vermeerdering van maatskaplike kapitaal, die
verhoging van vertroue in die stamowerhede, en verbetering van liggaamlike gesondheid.
Voorts behoort opvoedkundige en omgewingswelstand ook fokuspunte te wees, maar moet
die onderrigkurrikulum aangepas word om sterker klem op volhoubare ontwikkeling te plaas.
Belangrike beleidsimplikasie wat die Bakgatla moet oorweeg, is om ewewig te vind
tussen die behoeftes van die huidige geslag en die behoeftes van toekomstige geslagte.
Ekonomiese groei of inkomste kan inderdaad sekere hoeveelheid geluk skep. Tog kan
omgewingsvernietiging, misdaad en swak menslike gesondheid hierdie voordele en geluk in
sowel die huidige as toekomstige geslagte oorskadu.
Bykomende navorsing word vir die toekoms aanbeveel.
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:netd.ac.za/oai:union.ndltd.org:sun/oai:scholar.sun.ac.za:10019.1/20154 |
| Date | 03 1900 |
| Creators | Hamilton, Gillian Kay |
| Contributors | Human, P., Stellenbosch University. Faculty of Economic and Management Sciences. School of Public Leadership. |
| Publisher | Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University |
| Source Sets | South African National ETD Portal |
| Language | en_ZA |
| Detected Language | Unknown |
| Type | Thesis |
| Rights | Stellenbosch University |
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