Smallholder farmers’ access to credit in the Amathole District Municipality, Eastern Cape Province, South Africa
- Baiyegunhi, Lloyd J S, Fraser, Gavin C G
- Authors: Baiyegunhi, Lloyd J S , Fraser, Gavin C G
- Date: 2014
- Language: English
- Type: text , article
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/69351 , vital:29503 , https://jarts.info/index.php/jarts/article/view/2014121946870/814
- Description: Provision of credit has being identified as an important instrument for improving the welfare of smallholder farmers directly and for enhancing productive capacity through financing investment by the farmers in their human and physical capital. This study investigated the individual and household characteristics that influence credit market access in Amathole District Municipality, Eastern Cape Province, South Africa, using a cross sectional data from smallholder farmers’ household survey. The aim is to provide a better understanding of the households’ level socio-economic characteristics, not only because they influence household’s demand for credit but also due to the fact that potential lenders are most likely to base their assessment of borrowers’ creditworthiness on such characteristics. The results of the logistic regression suggest that credit market access was significantly influenced by variables such as gender, education, households’ income, value of assets, savings, dependency ratio, repayment capacity and social capital. Implications for rural credit delivery are discussed.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2014
- Authors: Baiyegunhi, Lloyd J S , Fraser, Gavin C G
- Date: 2014
- Language: English
- Type: text , article
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/69351 , vital:29503 , https://jarts.info/index.php/jarts/article/view/2014121946870/814
- Description: Provision of credit has being identified as an important instrument for improving the welfare of smallholder farmers directly and for enhancing productive capacity through financing investment by the farmers in their human and physical capital. This study investigated the individual and household characteristics that influence credit market access in Amathole District Municipality, Eastern Cape Province, South Africa, using a cross sectional data from smallholder farmers’ household survey. The aim is to provide a better understanding of the households’ level socio-economic characteristics, not only because they influence household’s demand for credit but also due to the fact that potential lenders are most likely to base their assessment of borrowers’ creditworthiness on such characteristics. The results of the logistic regression suggest that credit market access was significantly influenced by variables such as gender, education, households’ income, value of assets, savings, dependency ratio, repayment capacity and social capital. Implications for rural credit delivery are discussed.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2014
Could a regulated market approach for rhinoceros horns work in South Africa? Some practical issues and concerns
- Collins, Alan, Fraser, Gavin C G, Snowball, Jeanette D
- Authors: Collins, Alan , Fraser, Gavin C G , Snowball, Jeanette D
- Date: 2013
- Language: English
- Type: text , article
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/68600 , vital:29292 , http://www.essa2013.org.za/fullpaper/essa2013_2708.pdf
- Description: Publisher version , One of the proposals for fighting rhinoceros poaching is to legalise the trade in rhino horn and adopt a regulated market approach (RMA), which would require a vote at the 2016 CITES meeting in order to overturn the ban on the trade in rhino horn. The legal trade in rhino horn would enable the auctioning of stockpiles of horn and encourage captive breeding programmes. The aim of increasing the supply of horn is to reduce incentives to poach by driving down the price. This paper uses a conceptual/theoretical approach to consider the practical implications of the adoption of an RMA, drawing on demand, supply and production theory. The intention is explicitly to set out some practical concerns and issues that seem to have been underplayed or neglected in most published economic discourse on the subject. To secure a stockpile for some species needs biological success in captive breeding programs (CBPs) but this varies across species and habitats. Rhinoceros herds in a CBP would need relatively spatially extensive terrain and costly permanent security measures, and only appear feasible for the less aggressive “white” rhino. Thus, market price would actually need to be sustained at a high level to cover the start-up and security costs of such a programme that are unlikely to fall significantly. This is a double-edged sword in that the persistent high price of rhino horn provides an incentive for continued poaching activities. Supplementary policy measures that differentiate among consumer groups may also prove necessary.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2013
- Authors: Collins, Alan , Fraser, Gavin C G , Snowball, Jeanette D
- Date: 2013
- Language: English
- Type: text , article
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/68600 , vital:29292 , http://www.essa2013.org.za/fullpaper/essa2013_2708.pdf
- Description: Publisher version , One of the proposals for fighting rhinoceros poaching is to legalise the trade in rhino horn and adopt a regulated market approach (RMA), which would require a vote at the 2016 CITES meeting in order to overturn the ban on the trade in rhino horn. The legal trade in rhino horn would enable the auctioning of stockpiles of horn and encourage captive breeding programmes. The aim of increasing the supply of horn is to reduce incentives to poach by driving down the price. This paper uses a conceptual/theoretical approach to consider the practical implications of the adoption of an RMA, drawing on demand, supply and production theory. The intention is explicitly to set out some practical concerns and issues that seem to have been underplayed or neglected in most published economic discourse on the subject. To secure a stockpile for some species needs biological success in captive breeding programs (CBPs) but this varies across species and habitats. Rhinoceros herds in a CBP would need relatively spatially extensive terrain and costly permanent security measures, and only appear feasible for the less aggressive “white” rhino. Thus, market price would actually need to be sustained at a high level to cover the start-up and security costs of such a programme that are unlikely to fall significantly. This is a double-edged sword in that the persistent high price of rhino horn provides an incentive for continued poaching activities. Supplementary policy measures that differentiate among consumer groups may also prove necessary.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2013
Exploring options in reforming South African land ownership: opportunities for sharing land, labour and expertise
- Dlamini, Thula S, Verschoor, Aart-Jan, Fraser, Gavin C G
- Authors: Dlamini, Thula S , Verschoor, Aart-Jan , Fraser, Gavin C G
- Date: 2013
- Language: English
- Type: text , article
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/69331 , vital:29500 , https://doi.org/10.1080/03031853.2013.770951
- Description: In many developing countries, land ownership remains a subject of contention. In South Africa, notwithstanding the strides that have been made to foster equitable land ownership, land reform policies have been unsuccessful in delivering land to the poor majority. Due to the nature of agriculture as a source of food production and national security, and the lack of farming skills and related competencies’ equilibrium, programmes intended to deliver land to black people have been inadequate in their reach. Whereas policy has emphasised the urgency of solving equity issues in land ownership, equally challenging has been finding the right set of programmes to achieve this without triggering a perennial land ownership squabble. After 18 years of democracy, a need remains to find a balance between continuity in food production and equitable redistribution of land in South African agriculture. In this paper, we argue that it is possible to achieve equitable and fair redistribution of land without inhibiting agricultural production, through land sharing. We show that sharing land could help fast-track the development of a farming skills and related competencies’ equilibrium between black and white farmers. The paper further demonstrates that the gains in land sharing far outweigh other programmes of land reform that have been used and suggested thus far.
- Full Text: false
- Date Issued: 2013
- Authors: Dlamini, Thula S , Verschoor, Aart-Jan , Fraser, Gavin C G
- Date: 2013
- Language: English
- Type: text , article
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/69331 , vital:29500 , https://doi.org/10.1080/03031853.2013.770951
- Description: In many developing countries, land ownership remains a subject of contention. In South Africa, notwithstanding the strides that have been made to foster equitable land ownership, land reform policies have been unsuccessful in delivering land to the poor majority. Due to the nature of agriculture as a source of food production and national security, and the lack of farming skills and related competencies’ equilibrium, programmes intended to deliver land to black people have been inadequate in their reach. Whereas policy has emphasised the urgency of solving equity issues in land ownership, equally challenging has been finding the right set of programmes to achieve this without triggering a perennial land ownership squabble. After 18 years of democracy, a need remains to find a balance between continuity in food production and equitable redistribution of land in South African agriculture. In this paper, we argue that it is possible to achieve equitable and fair redistribution of land without inhibiting agricultural production, through land sharing. We show that sharing land could help fast-track the development of a farming skills and related competencies’ equilibrium between black and white farmers. The paper further demonstrates that the gains in land sharing far outweigh other programmes of land reform that have been used and suggested thus far.
- Full Text: false
- Date Issued: 2013
Is Fairtrade in commercial farms justifiable?: its impact on commercial and small-scale producers in South Africa
- Jari, Bridget, Snowball, Jeanette D, Fraser, Gavin C G
- Authors: Jari, Bridget , Snowball, Jeanette D , Fraser, Gavin C G
- Date: 2013
- Language: English
- Type: text , article
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/69408 , vital:29519 , https://doi.org/10.1080/03031853.2013.847036
- Description: Fairtrade initially was limited to improving the lives of small-scale and peasant farmers, but later on it embraced commercial farmers, which attracted criticism. While there are a number of justifications for the Fairtrade organization's decision, there are authors who feel that meaningful “fair trade” cannot be achieved with the inclusion of commercial farms. This paper investigates the impact of Fairtrade on commercial farms and small-scale farmer cooperatives in South Africa. Fairtrade on South African commercial farms embraces a number of policy concerns related to land reform, BEE and sustainable development. The results of the study show that when commercial farms are included in the Fairtrade model, communities in which these farmers live benefit from developmental projects. In addition, in some instances, farm workers gain shares in the commercial farms, and benefit from the farm owners’ knowledge and capital.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2013
- Authors: Jari, Bridget , Snowball, Jeanette D , Fraser, Gavin C G
- Date: 2013
- Language: English
- Type: text , article
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/69408 , vital:29519 , https://doi.org/10.1080/03031853.2013.847036
- Description: Fairtrade initially was limited to improving the lives of small-scale and peasant farmers, but later on it embraced commercial farmers, which attracted criticism. While there are a number of justifications for the Fairtrade organization's decision, there are authors who feel that meaningful “fair trade” cannot be achieved with the inclusion of commercial farms. This paper investigates the impact of Fairtrade on commercial farms and small-scale farmer cooperatives in South Africa. Fairtrade on South African commercial farms embraces a number of policy concerns related to land reform, BEE and sustainable development. The results of the study show that when commercial farms are included in the Fairtrade model, communities in which these farmers live benefit from developmental projects. In addition, in some instances, farm workers gain shares in the commercial farms, and benefit from the farm owners’ knowledge and capital.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2013
Rhino poaching: supply and demand uncertain
- Collins, Alan, Fraser, Gavin C G, Snowball, Jeanette D
- Authors: Collins, Alan , Fraser, Gavin C G , Snowball, Jeanette D
- Date: 2013
- Language: English
- Type: text , article
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/70476 , vital:29665 , https://doi.org/10.1126/science.340.6137.1167-a
- Description: IN THEIR POLICY FORUM “LEGAL TRADE OF AFRICA’S RHINO HORNS” (1 MARCH, P. 1038), D. Biggs et al. point out that the trade ban on rhino horn has not been successful in reducing rhino poaching, which reached a record high of 668 in 2012. They argue that trade bans support illegal organizations, whereas a regulated legal market could reduce poaching effort and provide much-needed income for conservation. In making their case, Biggs et al. overlook a few important points.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2013
- Authors: Collins, Alan , Fraser, Gavin C G , Snowball, Jeanette D
- Date: 2013
- Language: English
- Type: text , article
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/70476 , vital:29665 , https://doi.org/10.1126/science.340.6137.1167-a
- Description: IN THEIR POLICY FORUM “LEGAL TRADE OF AFRICA’S RHINO HORNS” (1 MARCH, P. 1038), D. Biggs et al. point out that the trade ban on rhino horn has not been successful in reducing rhino poaching, which reached a record high of 668 in 2012. They argue that trade bans support illegal organizations, whereas a regulated legal market could reduce poaching effort and provide much-needed income for conservation. In making their case, Biggs et al. overlook a few important points.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2013
A production function for cricket: the South African perspective
- Brock, Kelcey, Fraser, Gavin C G, Botha, Ferdi
- Authors: Brock, Kelcey , Fraser, Gavin C G , Botha, Ferdi
- Date: 2012
- Subjects: To be catalogued
- Language: English
- Type: text , article
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/396007 , vital:69143 , xlink:href="https://hdl.handle.net/10520/EJC124240"
- Description: Production functions are common to any productive activity. Although it may not appear obvious, cricket is no different. Production functions in cricket provide a wide range of information, utilised to enhance efficiency and maximize match success. Given these benefits, this study involved the derivation of a production function for the South African SuperSport Series and an analysis of technical efficiency. An econometric analysis was conducted on data from the 2004-2011 cricket seasons and it was concluded that the most optimal strategy for South African teams involved a combination of attacking batting and defensive bowling. Furthermore, South African teams had a relatively low variable substitutability and a high degree of technical efficiency.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2012
- Authors: Brock, Kelcey , Fraser, Gavin C G , Botha, Ferdi
- Date: 2012
- Subjects: To be catalogued
- Language: English
- Type: text , article
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/396007 , vital:69143 , xlink:href="https://hdl.handle.net/10520/EJC124240"
- Description: Production functions are common to any productive activity. Although it may not appear obvious, cricket is no different. Production functions in cricket provide a wide range of information, utilised to enhance efficiency and maximize match success. Given these benefits, this study involved the derivation of a production function for the South African SuperSport Series and an analysis of technical efficiency. An econometric analysis was conducted on data from the 2004-2011 cricket seasons and it was concluded that the most optimal strategy for South African teams involved a combination of attacking batting and defensive bowling. Furthermore, South African teams had a relatively low variable substitutability and a high degree of technical efficiency.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2012
A production function for cricket: the South African perspective
- Brock, Kelcey, Fraser, Gavin C G, Botha, Ferdi
- Authors: Brock, Kelcey , Fraser, Gavin C G , Botha, Ferdi
- Date: 2012
- Subjects: To be catalogued
- Language: English
- Type: text , article
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/470965 , vital:77404 , https://hdl.handle.net/10520/EJC124240
- Description: Production functions are common to any productive activity. Although it may not appear obvious, cricket is no different. Production functions in cricket provide a wide range of information, utilised to enhance efficiency and maximize match success. Given these benefits, this study involved the derivation of a production function for the South African SuperSport Series and an analysis of technical efficiency. An econometric analysis was conducted on data from the 2004-2011 cricket seasons and it was concluded that the most optimal strategy for South African teams involved a combination of attacking batting and defensive bowling. Furthermore, South African teams had a relatively low variable substitutability and a high degree of technical efficiency.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2012
- Authors: Brock, Kelcey , Fraser, Gavin C G , Botha, Ferdi
- Date: 2012
- Subjects: To be catalogued
- Language: English
- Type: text , article
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/470965 , vital:77404 , https://hdl.handle.net/10520/EJC124240
- Description: Production functions are common to any productive activity. Although it may not appear obvious, cricket is no different. Production functions in cricket provide a wide range of information, utilised to enhance efficiency and maximize match success. Given these benefits, this study involved the derivation of a production function for the South African SuperSport Series and an analysis of technical efficiency. An econometric analysis was conducted on data from the 2004-2011 cricket seasons and it was concluded that the most optimal strategy for South African teams involved a combination of attacking batting and defensive bowling. Furthermore, South African teams had a relatively low variable substitutability and a high degree of technical efficiency.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2012
Biofuel policies in Tanzania
- Mohamed, Sarah, Fraser, Gavin C G, Sawe, Estomih N
- Authors: Mohamed, Sarah , Fraser, Gavin C G , Sawe, Estomih N
- Date: 2012
- Subjects: To be catalogued
- Language: English
- Type: text , book chapter
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/471167 , vital:77425 , ISBN 978-94-007-2181-4 , https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-007-2181-4_15
- Description: Tanzania’s energy consumption is dominated by biomass, most of which is consumed by households. Apart from biomass, the country has extensive hydropower, coal and natural gas resources. The overwhelming dependence on biomass for basic cooking and heating needs by the majority in Tanzania, is a major cause of poverty and several other deleterious effects. As a consequence of the harmful effects of fossil fuels, biofuels are seen as a source of sustainable growth to help alleviate poverty in Tanzania. In this chapter, present policies and other framework conditions influencing the development of the biofuel sector in Tanzania are investigated. This includes the Tanzanian Energy Policy, Land Act, National Forest Policy, National Environment Policy, Agricultural Sector Development Policy, and the Tanzanian Transport Policy. The necessity for policies directly related to biofuel production is discussed. The Tanzanian government has established a Biofuels Task Force (BTF) in order to produce guidelines for the design of a set of appropriate policy initiatives. Due to the lack of formal biofuel policies, several external agencies have made recommendations on policies that the Tanzanian government should adopt. It is concluded that the policies existing in Tanzania are indirect and thus biofuel producers lack a reliable framework. Due to increasing biofuels, especially amongst small-scale farmers, the government must seek to provide these smallholders with incentives to grow their productions along with large-scale producers.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2012
- Authors: Mohamed, Sarah , Fraser, Gavin C G , Sawe, Estomih N
- Date: 2012
- Subjects: To be catalogued
- Language: English
- Type: text , book chapter
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/471167 , vital:77425 , ISBN 978-94-007-2181-4 , https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-007-2181-4_15
- Description: Tanzania’s energy consumption is dominated by biomass, most of which is consumed by households. Apart from biomass, the country has extensive hydropower, coal and natural gas resources. The overwhelming dependence on biomass for basic cooking and heating needs by the majority in Tanzania, is a major cause of poverty and several other deleterious effects. As a consequence of the harmful effects of fossil fuels, biofuels are seen as a source of sustainable growth to help alleviate poverty in Tanzania. In this chapter, present policies and other framework conditions influencing the development of the biofuel sector in Tanzania are investigated. This includes the Tanzanian Energy Policy, Land Act, National Forest Policy, National Environment Policy, Agricultural Sector Development Policy, and the Tanzanian Transport Policy. The necessity for policies directly related to biofuel production is discussed. The Tanzanian government has established a Biofuels Task Force (BTF) in order to produce guidelines for the design of a set of appropriate policy initiatives. Due to the lack of formal biofuel policies, several external agencies have made recommendations on policies that the Tanzanian government should adopt. It is concluded that the policies existing in Tanzania are indirect and thus biofuel producers lack a reliable framework. Due to increasing biofuels, especially amongst small-scale farmers, the government must seek to provide these smallholders with incentives to grow their productions along with large-scale producers.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2012
Economic evaluation of sweet sorghum in biofuel production as a multi-purpose crop: the case of Zambia
- Chagwiza, Clarietta, Fraser, Gavin C G
- Authors: Chagwiza, Clarietta , Fraser, Gavin C G
- Date: 2012
- Subjects: To be catalogued
- Language: English
- Type: text , book chapter
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/471178 , vital:77426 , ISBN 978-94-007-2181-4 , https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-007-2181-4_5
- Description: Increasing awareness of the environmental damage caused by the existing fossil fuel-based energy system and rising fossil fuel prices explain, in part, the growing interest in renewable energy sources. In March 2008, oil broke through the psychological ceiling of 100 US$ a barrel, and later in early June 2008 rose to 140 US$ on the way to 150 US$. In addition, rising issues on global warming have resulted in the need to consider alternative sources of energy. This also resulted in debates about biofuels in most developing and developed countries. Zambia is faced with an energy crisis from importation of large amounts of crude oil and the high cost of fuel and petroleum products. Sweet sorghum has been flagged as a potential biofuel feedstock in Zambia. This chapter evaluates different varieties of sweet sorghum and identifies production scenarios under which sweet sorghum can be produced in Zambia by the use of Gross Margin Analysis. It also evaluates notable trade-offs in producing sweet sorghum instead of grain sorghum. The results show that identifying high sweet sorghum yielding varieties and optimum production scenarios are important pre-requisites for the successful implementation of the use of sweet sorghum in biofuel production. The results indicate a positive relationship between the yield of sweet sorghum and the production regime.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2012
- Authors: Chagwiza, Clarietta , Fraser, Gavin C G
- Date: 2012
- Subjects: To be catalogued
- Language: English
- Type: text , book chapter
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/471178 , vital:77426 , ISBN 978-94-007-2181-4 , https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-007-2181-4_5
- Description: Increasing awareness of the environmental damage caused by the existing fossil fuel-based energy system and rising fossil fuel prices explain, in part, the growing interest in renewable energy sources. In March 2008, oil broke through the psychological ceiling of 100 US$ a barrel, and later in early June 2008 rose to 140 US$ on the way to 150 US$. In addition, rising issues on global warming have resulted in the need to consider alternative sources of energy. This also resulted in debates about biofuels in most developing and developed countries. Zambia is faced with an energy crisis from importation of large amounts of crude oil and the high cost of fuel and petroleum products. Sweet sorghum has been flagged as a potential biofuel feedstock in Zambia. This chapter evaluates different varieties of sweet sorghum and identifies production scenarios under which sweet sorghum can be produced in Zambia by the use of Gross Margin Analysis. It also evaluates notable trade-offs in producing sweet sorghum instead of grain sorghum. The results show that identifying high sweet sorghum yielding varieties and optimum production scenarios are important pre-requisites for the successful implementation of the use of sweet sorghum in biofuel production. The results indicate a positive relationship between the yield of sweet sorghum and the production regime.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2012
Economics of meat production from springbuck in the Eastern Cape Karoo
- Dlamini, Thula S, Fraser, Gavin C G, Grové, B
- Authors: Dlamini, Thula S , Fraser, Gavin C G , Grové, B
- Date: 2012
- Subjects: To be catalogued
- Language: English
- Type: text , article
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/471312 , vital:77440 , https://hdl.handle.net/10520/EJC126711
- Description: The feasibility of springbuck based meat production in the Eastern Cape Karoo was analysed through a stochastic budgeting model, while openly taking cost and price risk into consideration. Monte Carlo simulation of a springbuck-based meat production enterprise was used to quantify the risks that would be faced by springbuck ranchers. Springbuck ranching has been proven a viable alternative in the production of highly nutritious and healthy meat (venison) that is in high demand in European markets and more recently, with a promising and increasing local demand as well. The results indicate that in the Eastern Cape Karoo, springbuck ranching for meat production is a viable business. As the call for more environmentally friendly rangelands utilisation economic systems intensifies, rangelands owners in the Eastern Cape Karoo have a practicable option. At the very least, an alternative to broaden their incomes with springbuck-based meat production exists.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2012
- Authors: Dlamini, Thula S , Fraser, Gavin C G , Grové, B
- Date: 2012
- Subjects: To be catalogued
- Language: English
- Type: text , article
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/471312 , vital:77440 , https://hdl.handle.net/10520/EJC126711
- Description: The feasibility of springbuck based meat production in the Eastern Cape Karoo was analysed through a stochastic budgeting model, while openly taking cost and price risk into consideration. Monte Carlo simulation of a springbuck-based meat production enterprise was used to quantify the risks that would be faced by springbuck ranchers. Springbuck ranching has been proven a viable alternative in the production of highly nutritious and healthy meat (venison) that is in high demand in European markets and more recently, with a promising and increasing local demand as well. The results indicate that in the Eastern Cape Karoo, springbuck ranching for meat production is a viable business. As the call for more environmentally friendly rangelands utilisation economic systems intensifies, rangelands owners in the Eastern Cape Karoo have a practicable option. At the very least, an alternative to broaden their incomes with springbuck-based meat production exists.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2012
Institutional economics and the environment
- Authors: Fraser, Gavin C G
- Date: 2012
- Language: English
- Type: Text
- Identifier: vital:573 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1006130
- Description: [From text] What is Institutional Economics? Before delving into the concept of institutional economics, it will be useful to explain what is meant by institutions because institutions in economics have a particular meaning. The most commonly agreed upon definition for institutions is a set of formal and informal rules of conduct that facilitate coordination or govern relationships between individuals or groups. The formal rules include laws, contracts, political systems, organisations, and markets, while the informal rules of conduct consist of norms, traditions, customs, value systems, religions and sociological trends. Institutions provide for more certainty in human interaction (North, 1990) and have an influence on outcomes such as economic performance, efficiency, economic growth and development. They can either benefit or hinder these economic measures. Williamson (2000) noted that new institutional economics operates at both the macro and micro levels. The macro level deals with the institutional environment, or the rules of the game, which affect the behaviour and performance of economic actors and in which organisational forms and transactions are embedded. Williamson (1993) described it as the set of fundamental political, social and legal ground rules that establish the basis for production, exchange and distribution. The micro level analysis known as the institutional arrangement, on the other hand, deals with the institutions of governance. These refer to the modes of managing transaction costs and include issues of social capital, property rights and collective action. Here the focus is on the individual transaction and the questions regarding organisational forms (private property versus common pool resources) are analysed. An institutional arrangement is an arrangement between economic units that govern the ways in which its members can co-operate or compete.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2012
- Authors: Fraser, Gavin C G
- Date: 2012
- Language: English
- Type: Text
- Identifier: vital:573 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1006130
- Description: [From text] What is Institutional Economics? Before delving into the concept of institutional economics, it will be useful to explain what is meant by institutions because institutions in economics have a particular meaning. The most commonly agreed upon definition for institutions is a set of formal and informal rules of conduct that facilitate coordination or govern relationships between individuals or groups. The formal rules include laws, contracts, political systems, organisations, and markets, while the informal rules of conduct consist of norms, traditions, customs, value systems, religions and sociological trends. Institutions provide for more certainty in human interaction (North, 1990) and have an influence on outcomes such as economic performance, efficiency, economic growth and development. They can either benefit or hinder these economic measures. Williamson (2000) noted that new institutional economics operates at both the macro and micro levels. The macro level deals with the institutional environment, or the rules of the game, which affect the behaviour and performance of economic actors and in which organisational forms and transactions are embedded. Williamson (1993) described it as the set of fundamental political, social and legal ground rules that establish the basis for production, exchange and distribution. The micro level analysis known as the institutional arrangement, on the other hand, deals with the institutions of governance. These refer to the modes of managing transaction costs and include issues of social capital, property rights and collective action. Here the focus is on the individual transaction and the questions regarding organisational forms (private property versus common pool resources) are analysed. An institutional arrangement is an arrangement between economic units that govern the ways in which its members can co-operate or compete.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2012
Determinants of household poverty dynamics in rural regions of the Eastern Cape Province, South Africa
- Baiyegunhi, Lloyd J S, Fraser, Gavin C G
- Authors: Baiyegunhi, Lloyd J S , Fraser, Gavin C G
- Date: 2010
- Subjects: To be catalogued
- Language: English
- Type: text , report
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/471254 , vital:77434 , ISBN , https://ageconsearch.umn.edu/record/97078/?v=pdf
- Description: Poverty has always been studied in a world of certainty. However, if the aim of studying poverty is not only improving the well-being of households who are currently poor, but also preventing people from becoming poor in the future, a new forward looking perspective must be adopted. For thinking about appropriate forward-looking anti-poverty interventions (i.e. interventions that aim to prevent or reduce future poverty rather than alleviate current poverty), the critical need then is to go beyond a cataloging of who is currently poor and who is not, to an assessment of households’ vulnerability to poverty. This study analyses a panel dataset on a representative sample of 150 rural households interviewed in 2007 and 2008 in the Amathole District Municipality of the Eastern Cape Province to empirical assess the dynamics of poverty and estimate the determinants of households’ vulnerability to poverty. The result of the study indicates that the number of vulnerable households is significantly larger than for the currently poor households; the vulnerability index was found to be 0,62 compared to 0,56 headcount index in 2008. This implies that while 56 percent of the sampled households are poor (ex post) in 2008, 62 percent are vulnerable to becoming poor (ex ante) in future. The result of the Probit model shows that the age, level of education and occupation of the household head, dependency ratio, exposure to idiosyncratic risks and access to credit are statistically significant in explaining a households’ vulnerability to poverty.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2010
- Authors: Baiyegunhi, Lloyd J S , Fraser, Gavin C G
- Date: 2010
- Subjects: To be catalogued
- Language: English
- Type: text , report
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/471254 , vital:77434 , ISBN , https://ageconsearch.umn.edu/record/97078/?v=pdf
- Description: Poverty has always been studied in a world of certainty. However, if the aim of studying poverty is not only improving the well-being of households who are currently poor, but also preventing people from becoming poor in the future, a new forward looking perspective must be adopted. For thinking about appropriate forward-looking anti-poverty interventions (i.e. interventions that aim to prevent or reduce future poverty rather than alleviate current poverty), the critical need then is to go beyond a cataloging of who is currently poor and who is not, to an assessment of households’ vulnerability to poverty. This study analyses a panel dataset on a representative sample of 150 rural households interviewed in 2007 and 2008 in the Amathole District Municipality of the Eastern Cape Province to empirical assess the dynamics of poverty and estimate the determinants of households’ vulnerability to poverty. The result of the study indicates that the number of vulnerable households is significantly larger than for the currently poor households; the vulnerability index was found to be 0,62 compared to 0,56 headcount index in 2008. This implies that while 56 percent of the sampled households are poor (ex post) in 2008, 62 percent are vulnerable to becoming poor (ex ante) in future. The result of the Probit model shows that the age, level of education and occupation of the household head, dependency ratio, exposure to idiosyncratic risks and access to credit are statistically significant in explaining a households’ vulnerability to poverty.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2010
Promoting entrepreneurship in agriculture in the Eastern Cape:
- Antrobus, Geoffrey G, Fraser, Gavin C G
- Authors: Antrobus, Geoffrey G , Fraser, Gavin C G
- Date: 2010
- Language: English
- Type: text , article
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/143067 , vital:38198 , DOI: 10.1080/03031853.1994.9524779
- Description: Selected cases in developing entrepreneurship in small-scale subsistence and commercial agriculture in the Eastern Cape are examined, including the provision of marketing facilities, the training programme of the Africa Cooperative Action Trust (ACAT) in Ciskei, government sponsored irrigation projects and the farmer support programme. An attempt is made to draw general conclusions about the necessary ingredients for successful entrepreneurship and the formulation of proposals for further promoting entrepreneurship in agriculture in South Africa.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2010
- Authors: Antrobus, Geoffrey G , Fraser, Gavin C G
- Date: 2010
- Language: English
- Type: text , article
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/143067 , vital:38198 , DOI: 10.1080/03031853.1994.9524779
- Description: Selected cases in developing entrepreneurship in small-scale subsistence and commercial agriculture in the Eastern Cape are examined, including the provision of marketing facilities, the training programme of the Africa Cooperative Action Trust (ACAT) in Ciskei, government sponsored irrigation projects and the farmer support programme. An attempt is made to draw general conclusions about the necessary ingredients for successful entrepreneurship and the formulation of proposals for further promoting entrepreneurship in agriculture in South Africa.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2010
Resource use efficiency in sole sorghum production in three villages of Kaduna State, Nigeria
- Baiyegunhi, Lloyd J S, Chikwendu, D O, Fraser, Gavin C G
- Authors: Baiyegunhi, Lloyd J S , Chikwendu, D O , Fraser, Gavin C G
- Date: 2010
- Subjects: To be catalogued
- Language: English
- Type: text , article
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/470989 , vital:77406 , https://academicjournals.org/journal/AJAR
- Description: In explaining the differences in the efficiency of farms, it is necessary to look into the use of resources to show the close links existing between the performance attained from resources on individual farms and efficient allocation of resources between farms of different sizes. This study estimates the productivity of farm resources on small and large scale farms in three villages of Giwa Local Government Area of Kaduna State. Production data were collected using a structure questionnaire from a representative sample of 78 sorghum farmers. The study used the double log production function to determine the relationship between farm resources and the efficiency of resource use. Empirical results showed that seed, fertilizer and labour inputs are statistically significant in explaining the variation in sorghum output in the study area. However the estimates of the ratio of the marginal value productivities (MVP) and marginal factor cost (MFC), point clearly to the non optimal combination of inputs among the farmers, it showed that the farm resources were inefficiently utilized for sole sorghum production by small and large scale farmers, hence, the need for resource adjustment. Implications for regional and national food policies are discussed.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2010
- Authors: Baiyegunhi, Lloyd J S , Chikwendu, D O , Fraser, Gavin C G
- Date: 2010
- Subjects: To be catalogued
- Language: English
- Type: text , article
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/470989 , vital:77406 , https://academicjournals.org/journal/AJAR
- Description: In explaining the differences in the efficiency of farms, it is necessary to look into the use of resources to show the close links existing between the performance attained from resources on individual farms and efficient allocation of resources between farms of different sizes. This study estimates the productivity of farm resources on small and large scale farms in three villages of Giwa Local Government Area of Kaduna State. Production data were collected using a structure questionnaire from a representative sample of 78 sorghum farmers. The study used the double log production function to determine the relationship between farm resources and the efficiency of resource use. Empirical results showed that seed, fertilizer and labour inputs are statistically significant in explaining the variation in sorghum output in the study area. However the estimates of the ratio of the marginal value productivities (MVP) and marginal factor cost (MFC), point clearly to the non optimal combination of inputs among the farmers, it showed that the farm resources were inefficiently utilized for sole sorghum production by small and large scale farmers, hence, the need for resource adjustment. Implications for regional and national food policies are discussed.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2010
The effects of economic incentives in controlling pollution in the South African leather industry: die uitwerking van ekonomiese insentiewe op die beheer van besoedeling in die Suid-Afrikaanse leerbedryf
- Mowat, Shaun P, Antrobus, Geoffrey G, Fraser, Gavin C G
- Authors: Mowat, Shaun P , Antrobus, Geoffrey G , Fraser, Gavin C G
- Date: 2010
- Language: English
- Type: text , article
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/143057 , vital:38197 , DOI: 10.1080/03031853.1997.9523487
- Description: Pollution of the environment is becoming an increasingly serious problem. A large contributor to this is industry which generates effluent as a by-product of its production process. Two methods of controlling the pollution generated by industry are the so-called “command and control” techniques and economic incentives. In theory, economic incentives promise a more economically efficient and equitable means of pollution control. This paper sets out to ascertain whether this would hold in practice by applying environmental economic theory to the practical problem of controlling the effluent generated by one particular industry, viz the South African leather industry.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2010
- Authors: Mowat, Shaun P , Antrobus, Geoffrey G , Fraser, Gavin C G
- Date: 2010
- Language: English
- Type: text , article
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/143057 , vital:38197 , DOI: 10.1080/03031853.1997.9523487
- Description: Pollution of the environment is becoming an increasingly serious problem. A large contributor to this is industry which generates effluent as a by-product of its production process. Two methods of controlling the pollution generated by industry are the so-called “command and control” techniques and economic incentives. In theory, economic incentives promise a more economically efficient and equitable means of pollution control. This paper sets out to ascertain whether this would hold in practice by applying environmental economic theory to the practical problem of controlling the effluent generated by one particular industry, viz the South African leather industry.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2010
An analysis of institutional and technical factors influencing agricultural marketing amongst smallholder farmers in the Kat River Valley, Eastern Cape Province, South Africa
- Jari, Bridget, Fraser, Gavin C G
- Authors: Jari, Bridget , Fraser, Gavin C G
- Date: 2009
- Subjects: To be catalogued
- Language: English
- Type: text , article
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/470978 , vital:77405 , https://academicjournals.org/journal/AJAR
- Description: Smallholder farmers in the Kat River Valley do not use output markets effectively due to a number of factors. The technical and institutional factors that demoralise them from marketing are identified in this paper. It is asserted that an explicit analysis in the relationship between technology, institutions and markets may be useful in developing livelihood improving programs. Therefore, by identifying such factors, the paper seeks to find out ways of improving market participation among the smallholders, hence, livelihood development. The multinomial regression model was used to investigate the factors that influence marketing choices among smallholder and emerging farmers in the area under study. Empirical results show that market information, expertise on grades and standards, contractual agreements, social capital, market infrastructure, group participation and tradition significantly influence household marketing behaviour.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2009
- Authors: Jari, Bridget , Fraser, Gavin C G
- Date: 2009
- Subjects: To be catalogued
- Language: English
- Type: text , article
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/470978 , vital:77405 , https://academicjournals.org/journal/AJAR
- Description: Smallholder farmers in the Kat River Valley do not use output markets effectively due to a number of factors. The technical and institutional factors that demoralise them from marketing are identified in this paper. It is asserted that an explicit analysis in the relationship between technology, institutions and markets may be useful in developing livelihood improving programs. Therefore, by identifying such factors, the paper seeks to find out ways of improving market participation among the smallholders, hence, livelihood development. The multinomial regression model was used to investigate the factors that influence marketing choices among smallholder and emerging farmers in the area under study. Empirical results show that market information, expertise on grades and standards, contractual agreements, social capital, market infrastructure, group participation and tradition significantly influence household marketing behaviour.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2009
The market for commercial farm land in the Eastern Cape Province of South Africa as a means of redistribution:
- Antrobus, Geoffrey G, Fraser, Gavin C G
- Authors: Antrobus, Geoffrey G , Fraser, Gavin C G
- Date: 1999
- Language: English
- Type: text , article
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/143024 , vital:38194 , DOI: 10.4314/rosas.v3i1.22991
- Description: The election promise of the majority party in the new South African government was to redistribute 30% of the agricultural land in the hands of Whites within a period of 5 years. Transfers of land in the Eastern Cape Province are examined as a case study. While 60% of the total number of Eastern Cape farms changed hands over 5 years, these constituted only 19% of the surface area. A large proportion of rural transfers were small (less than 5 hectares) peri-urban properties which cannot all be considered as viable farming units. At average prices about R1 to R2 billion would be required to establish new farmers on land with the necessary livestock, machinery and equipment. Resource poor new entrants would need a major state contribution to make initial entry and subsequent survival feasible. To achieve their goal through market transfers the government would need to either substantially lengthen its time horizon or lower its target.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 1999
- Authors: Antrobus, Geoffrey G , Fraser, Gavin C G
- Date: 1999
- Language: English
- Type: text , article
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/143024 , vital:38194 , DOI: 10.4314/rosas.v3i1.22991
- Description: The election promise of the majority party in the new South African government was to redistribute 30% of the agricultural land in the hands of Whites within a period of 5 years. Transfers of land in the Eastern Cape Province are examined as a case study. While 60% of the total number of Eastern Cape farms changed hands over 5 years, these constituted only 19% of the surface area. A large proportion of rural transfers were small (less than 5 hectares) peri-urban properties which cannot all be considered as viable farming units. At average prices about R1 to R2 billion would be required to establish new farmers on land with the necessary livestock, machinery and equipment. Resource poor new entrants would need a major state contribution to make initial entry and subsequent survival feasible. To achieve their goal through market transfers the government would need to either substantially lengthen its time horizon or lower its target.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 1999
Problems in rural transformation in South Africa specifically in the land reform arena:
- Antrobus, Geoffrey G, Fraser, Gavin C G, Tapson, D R
- Authors: Antrobus, Geoffrey G , Fraser, Gavin C G , Tapson, D R
- Date: 1998
- Language: English
- Type: text , article
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/143035 , vital:38195 , https://www.infona.pl/resource/bwmeta1.element.agro-article-dc77672d-7269-4641-bf99-605eaa5fe369
- Description: Problems in rural transformation in South Africa specifically in the land reform arena
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 1998
- Authors: Antrobus, Geoffrey G , Fraser, Gavin C G , Tapson, D R
- Date: 1998
- Language: English
- Type: text , article
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/143035 , vital:38195 , https://www.infona.pl/resource/bwmeta1.element.agro-article-dc77672d-7269-4641-bf99-605eaa5fe369
- Description: Problems in rural transformation in South Africa specifically in the land reform arena
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 1998
Role of agricultural marketing in transforming subsistence agriculture: African Case Study
- Antrobus, Geoffrey G, Fraser, Gavin C G
- Authors: Antrobus, Geoffrey G , Fraser, Gavin C G
- Date: 1989
- Language: English
- Type: text , article
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/143112 , vital:38202 , https://ageconsearch.umn.edu/record/197714/
- Description: A lack of agricultural marketing facilities is generally seen as one of the major obstacles to agricultural development. However, subsistence producers in southern Africa are influenced by certain exogeneous factors, such as competition from commercial production, the well-developed marketing system, and off-farm employment opportunities in South Africa. This paper studies the effect of the institution of an organized marketing system in Ciskei on the level of agricultural production. This is found to have had no significant effect because the majority of the able-bodied males are working in the metropolitan areas of South Africa. This has resulted in agriculture becoming a part-time supplementary activity for women, old men, and children in the rural areas.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 1989
- Authors: Antrobus, Geoffrey G , Fraser, Gavin C G
- Date: 1989
- Language: English
- Type: text , article
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/143112 , vital:38202 , https://ageconsearch.umn.edu/record/197714/
- Description: A lack of agricultural marketing facilities is generally seen as one of the major obstacles to agricultural development. However, subsistence producers in southern Africa are influenced by certain exogeneous factors, such as competition from commercial production, the well-developed marketing system, and off-farm employment opportunities in South Africa. This paper studies the effect of the institution of an organized marketing system in Ciskei on the level of agricultural production. This is found to have had no significant effect because the majority of the able-bodied males are working in the metropolitan areas of South Africa. This has resulted in agriculture becoming a part-time supplementary activity for women, old men, and children in the rural areas.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 1989