The effect of real exchange rate volatility on export performance: evidence from South Africa (2000-2011)
- Authors: Chamunorwa, Wilson
- Date: 2014
- Subjects: Monetary policy -- South Africa , Economic development -- South Africa , Foreign exchange rates -- South Africa
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , M Com
- Identifier: vital:11499 , http://hdl.handle.net/10353/d1018600 , Monetary policy -- South Africa , Economic development -- South Africa , Foreign exchange rates -- South Africa
- Description: The effect of real exchange rate volatility on export performance: evidence from South Africa (2000-2011) This study sought to investigate the relationship between exchange rate volatility and export performance in South Africa. The main objective of the study was to examine the impact of exchange rate volatility on export performance in South Africa. This relationship was examined using GARCH methods. Exports were regressed against real effective exchange rate, trade openness and capacity utilisation. The research aimed to establish whether exchange rate volatility impacts negatively on export performance in the manner suggested by the econometric model. The result obtained showed that exchange rate volatility had a significantly negative effect on South African exports in the period 2000-2011.
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- Date Issued: 2014
Monetary policy, inflation, unemployment and the Phillips curve in South Africa
- Authors: Chicheke, Aaron
- Date: 2009
- Subjects: Monetary policy , Inflation (Finance) , Economic policy -- Mathematical models , Unemployment -- South Africa , Phillips curve
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , M Com
- Identifier: vital:11453 , http://hdl.handle.net/10353/d1001202 , Monetary policy , Inflation (Finance) , Economic policy -- Mathematical models , Unemployment -- South Africa , Phillips curve
- Description: Inflation and unemployment are perhaps the two most important challenges that face the South African economy of today. Firstly, the study examines the relationship between monetary policy and the two economic fundamentals (inflation and unemployment), using the VEC modeling technique. The model regresses the monetary policy variable against inflation and unemployment growth over the period 1980-2008. The results suggest that (1) there is a long run relationship between inflation and unemployment (2) monetary policy reacts more to variations in inflation compared to variations in unemployment. Secondly, the relationship between inflation and unemployment as explained by the Phillips curve is investigated. The results show that there is a positive relationship between inflation and unemployment.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2009
Econometric analysis of labour demand in the South African textiles, clothing and footwear manufacturing sector: 1990-2012
- Authors: Chikwanha, Tafadzwa R
- Date: 2013
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , M Com
- Identifier: vital:11498 , http://hdl.handle.net/10353/d1018551
- Description: South Africa in its quest for socio-economic improvement still faces the problem of persistent unemployment. Unemployment in South Africa is very intricate and therefore makes it a complex challenge to tackle for policy makers. Differing unemployment phenomena exist in different sectors of the economy. Some sectors are facing employment growth while others are declining. This study examines the possible major determinants of labour demand (employment) in the textiles, clothing and footwear manufacturing sector in South Africa. The study is based on semi-annual time series data from 1990 to 2012. The Johansen (1991) model is used to examine the trends. The model is an error correction model imposed upon a vector autoregressive model. The results obtained showed that wages and imports both have negative relationships with the demand for workers. Based on these two important results, policy recommendations were made. The study recommended the introduction of a sector-based wage subsidy. The wage structure in South Africa is a perpetually problematic factor of the labour market and therefore a significant determinant in the viability of business and investment. Secondly, the import structure on textiles, clothing and footwear is not clearly and thoroughly setup. A complete restructuring of import tariffs on the entire sector is suggested.
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- Date Issued: 2013
Determinants of household savings in South Africa: an econometric approach
- Authors: Chipote, Precious
- Date: 2013
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , M Com
- Identifier: vital:11479 , http://hdl.handle.net/10353/d1015281
- Description: Savings play a crucial role in promoting economic growth through their effect on investments. In addition, savings cushion the economy against fluctuating international capital flows. In periods of low or fluctuating capital, domestic savings are essential to finance high levels of capital formation thereby leading to increased productivity and sustainable economic growth. In South Africa saving levels have been declining, particularly household savings. This has been a major cause of concern as low savings hinder economic growth. In light of this, the study explored the determinants of household savings in South Africa over the period 1990 to 2011 using quarterly data. Based on the review of the theoretical and empirical literature, particular attention was paid to the effects of age dependency ratio, the level of household income, inflation and real interest rate on household savings. Apart from informal graphical test, the study employed the Augmented Dickey-Fuller and Phillips Perron unit root tests to test for stationarity in the time series. To identify the long-run and short-run dynamics among the variables, the study used the Johansen co-integration and the Error Correction Mechanism. Results of the study indicated that age dependency ratio, inflation and real interest rate have a positive impact on household savings whilst income has a negative long run relationship with household savings. In addition, the findings revealed that income, inflation and real interest rate play a major role in determining household savings whereas age dependency ratio is insignificant. The study recommends that the government should employ a countercyclical fiscal policy to avoid the development of excessive current account deficits during periods of more rapid economic growth, rising investment and falling saving.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2013
Testing random walk hypothesis in the stock market prices: evidence from South Africa's stock exchange (2000- 2011)
- Authors: Chitenderu, Tafadzwa Thelmah
- Date: 2013
- Subjects: Johannesburg Stock Exchange , Stock exchanges -- South Africa -- Johannesburg , Random walks (Mathematics)
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , M Com
- Identifier: vital:11461 , http://hdl.handle.net/10353/d1006931 , Johannesburg Stock Exchange , Stock exchanges -- South Africa -- Johannesburg , Random walks (Mathematics)
- Description: The Johannesburg Stock Exchange market was tested for the existence of the random walk hypothesis using All Share Index (ALSI) and time series data for the period between 2000 and 2011. The traditionally used methods, the unit root tests and autocorrelation test were employed first and they all confirmed that during the period under consideration, the JSE price index followed the random walk process. In addition, the ARIMA model was built and it was found that the ARIMA ( 1, 1, 1) was the model that best fitted the data in question. Furthermore, residual tests to help determine whether the residuals of the estimated equation show random walk process in the series were done. It was found that the ALSI resembles series that follow random walk hypothesis with strong evidence of RWH indicated in the conducted forecasting tests which showed vast variance between forecasted values and actual indicating little or no forecasting strength in the series. To further validate the findings in this research, the variance ratio test was conducted under heteroscedasticity and it also strongly corroborated that the existence of a random walk process cannot be rejected in the JSE. It was concluded that since the returns follow the random walk hypothesis, it can be said that JSE is efficient in the weak form level of the EMH and therefore opportunities of making excess returns based on out- performing the market is ruled out and is merely a game of chance. In other words, it will be of no use to choose stocks based on information about recent trends in stock prices.
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- Date Issued: 2013
An empirical analysis of the determinants and growth of South African exports
- Authors: Choga, Ireen
- Date: 2008
- Subjects: Exports -- South Africa -- History , Export marketing -- South Africa , International trade -- South Africa , Exports -- South Africa
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , M Com
- Identifier: vital:11452 , http://hdl.handle.net/10353/198 , Exports -- South Africa -- History , Export marketing -- South Africa , International trade -- South Africa , Exports -- South Africa
- Description: Exports have considerable effects on economic growth, employment and trade so it is crucial to understand the factors that are responsible for their variation. This study analyses the fundamental determinants of exports using annual South African data covering the period 1980 to 2006. It initially provides an overview of the South African export structure and export growth. A review of theoretical determinants is then specified. The study tests for stationarity and cointegration using the Johansen (1991, 1995) methodology. A vector error correction model is run to provide robust determinant variables on exports. The following variables which have been found to have a long run relationship with exports include: the domestic price of exports, real effective exchange rate, trade openness, foreign income and price of inputs (cost of production). The estimate of the speed of adjustment coefficient found in this study indicates that about 96% of the variation in exports from its equilibrium level is corrected within one year. The results that have emerged from this analysis corroborate the theoretical predictions and are also supported by previous researchers or studies.
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- Date Issued: 2008
The impact of transport costs on household income: the case of Nkonkobe Municipality Alice in the Easten Cape Province
- Authors: Dlwangushe, Sizwe
- Date: 2012
- Subjects: Income -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Transportation and state -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Transportation -- Cost effectiveness , Automobiles -- Fuel consumption , Rural poor -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , M Com
- Identifier: vital:11470 , http://hdl.handle.net/10353/d1007130 , Income -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Transportation and state -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Transportation -- Cost effectiveness , Automobiles -- Fuel consumption , Rural poor -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape
- Description: The study investigated the impact of transport costs on household income the case of Nkonkobe Local Municipality. The objective of the study was to establish the impact of transport costs on household income. To achieve the objective, the study hypothesized that transport costs have a negative impact of household income. The research design of the study that was used include research instrument, research technique, sample size, population and data analysis procedure. However the research instrument that was followed was the questionnaire which contains a set of questions whilst the research technique used to collect primary data was the self-administered questionnaire. The results of the study revealed that households in Nkonkobe Local Municipality were spending more of their income on transport. Finally, the study recommended that subsidies for poor households must be provided by the government.
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- Date Issued: 2012
The impact of private capital flows on economic growth in South Africa
- Authors: Dzangare, Gillian
- Date: 2012
- Subjects: Economic development -- South Africa , Capital movements -- South Africa , Investments, Foreign -- South Africa , Development economics -- South Africa , Interest rates -- South Africa , Free trade -- South Africa , Cointegration -- South Africa , South Africa -- Commercial policy
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , M Com
- Identifier: vital:11472 , http://hdl.handle.net/10353/d1007134 , Economic development -- South Africa , Capital movements -- South Africa , Investments, Foreign -- South Africa , Development economics -- South Africa , Interest rates -- South Africa , Free trade -- South Africa , Cointegration -- South Africa , South Africa -- Commercial policy
- Description: In this study an analysis of the long-term equilibrium relationship between economic growth measured as real GDP growth and private capital inflows is explored. The link between private capital inflows and economic growth is well-documented in the literature. However, a void in the literature relates to examining the cointegrating relationship between private capital inflows and economic growth particularly for South Africa. It is widely claimed that private capital inflows foster economic growth by closing the savings/investment gap. However, clarity on this point is necessary because of the seemingly unclear nature of the relationship in the literature. The exact form of this relationship as well as the nature of capital flows that could impact on real growth requires further investigation. Moreover, what exactly happens to this relationship in an economic crisis such as recently recorded in the global financial crisis is not clear. The analysis is undertaken by employing cointegration and vector error correction modeling approach using quarterly data for the period 1989q4-2009q4. This study employs the Johansen (1998) cointegration test. This technique distinguishes itself since it establishes the long run relationship between variables. Thereafter, residual diagnostic checks are performed on the variables. Our results show among others, that private capital inflows have impacted positively on the growth of the South African economy. The areas for further research that emerge from this study include the effect of some government policies on economic growth that should also receive more attention in the future since political instability slows down investment.
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- Date Issued: 2012
Financial structure and economic growth nexus: comparisons of banks, financial markets and economic growth in South Africa
- Authors: Godza, Praise G
- Date: 2013
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , M Com
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10353/921 , vital:26509
- Description: The importance of the financial structure system, which comprises the banking sector and financial markets, to the growth of a country’s economy cannot be underestimated. It is important to analyse comparatively the contribution of each sector to the economic growth of a country. This study, therefore, empirically examined the relationship between financial markets, banks and economic growth in South Africa using time series analysis for the period 1990 to 2011. The study used the Vector Error Correction model (VECM) based causality tests to establish the link between financial structure (represented by both banks and financial markets) and economic growth. Real GDP was used as a measure for economic growth, Bank credit to the private sector was used as a proxy for the banking system, turnover ratio and value of shares traded was used as a measure for the stock market and bond market capitalisation was used as a measure for the bond market. To determine the net effects of financial structure on long run growth in South Africa, one control variable was added which was the ratio of government expenditure to GDP to control for the government’s role in the economy. The Johansen co-integration technique was also employed to obtain a long run relationship. The results from the study revealed that the stock turnover ratio, bond market capitalisation, and government expenditure have a long run relationship with economic growth while bank credit to private sector and value of shares traded showed a negative relationship with economic growth. With granger causality all the variables proved to granger cause economic growth except for bond market capitalisation where economic growth prove to granger cause bond market development. The study recommended that measures to improve liquidity, transparency and accessibility of both the banking sector and financial markets instruments should be a priority for South African authorities. The authorities should, therefore, encourage stock market development through an appropriate mix of taxes, legal and regulatory policies to remove barriers to stock market operations and thus enhance their efficiency since stock markets in Africa are underdeveloped. Strong financial regulation and supervision in banks to ensure efficiency in credit allocation should be done to enable channelling of credits to capital development rather than consumption spending.
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- Date Issued: 2013
An investigation into the relationship of job satisfaction, organisational commitment and the intention to quit among academics and administrative employees at the University of Fort Hare
- Authors: Gomomo, Nokuzola Ruth
- Date: 2014
- Subjects: Job satisfaction -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape Employee retention -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape Employees -- Resignation -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape Labor turnover -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , M Com
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10353/1730 , vital:27553
- Description: University of Fort Hare Human Resource Department reports show evidence relating to high labour turnover. Between 2009 and 2012 there was a high degree of labour turnover. A total 1127 staff left the University. This study investigated the relationship between job satisfaction, organisational commitment and intention to quit among academics and administrative employees at the University of Fort Hare. Data was collected from a random sample of 289 employees of the University staff. To obtain data in this study a questionnaire was utilised. This questionnaire was divided into four sections viz, biographical information, measured ten-items which range from age to condition of employment, Halpern’s (1966) seven-level evaluation scale was utilised to measure job satisfaction, to measure organisational commitment, Meyer, and Allen (1984) 24-item rating point scale was applied and Canmann, Fichman, Jenkins and Klesh’s questionnaire was used to measure intention to quit. Data analysis was performed by way of several statistical techniques, including the Pearson Product Moment Correlation Technique and Multiple Regression analysis. The results obtained revealed that job satisfaction has a significant positive correlation with intention to leave while organisational commitment showed no substantial correlation with intention to quit work.
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- Date Issued: 2014
Central Bank policy and the exchange rate under an inflation targeting regime: a case dtudy of South Africa
- Authors: Gonzo, Prosper
- Date: 2013
- Subjects: Foreign exchange rates -- Government policy -- South Africa , Inflation (Finance) -- South Africa , Monetary policy -- South Africa , Banks and banking, Central -- South Africa , South Africa -- Economic conditions , Banking industry -- Finance -- South Africa
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , M Com
- Identifier: vital:11476 , http://hdl.handle.net/10353/d1015043 , Foreign exchange rates -- Government policy -- South Africa , Inflation (Finance) -- South Africa , Monetary policy -- South Africa , Banks and banking, Central -- South Africa , South Africa -- Economic conditions , Banking industry -- Finance -- South Africa
- Description: This work examined the optimality of the inclusion of the exchange rate in the reaction function of the Central Bank in an inflation targeting framework. The study attempts to answer the question whether the exchange rate should have an independent role in an open economy Taylor-type rule. To this end, a Taylor-type rule is incorporating the exchange rate is estimated by the cointegration and vector error correction modeling (VECM) using quarterly data for the period of 1995 to 2009. The empirical studies point out the importance of the exchange rates in explaining and forecasting the behaviour of the South African Reserve Bank monetary policy control variable.
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- Date Issued: 2013
Impact of oil price on tourism in South Africa: an error correction model (ECM) analysis
- Authors: Gqozo, Pamela
- Date: 2013
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , M Com
- Identifier: vital:11486 , http://hdl.handle.net/10353/d1017941
- Description: The study focuses on the impact of oil price on tourism in South Africa. Quarterly time series data for the period 1990 to 2012 was used in this study. Error correction model is the research instrument that was used to determine the impact of oil price on tourism in South Africa. The explanatory variables in this study are oil price, real exchange rates, gross domestic product, consumer price index and transport infrastructure investment. The results of the study revealed that oil price, consumer price index and real exchange rate have a negative long run relationship on tourism, while gross domestic product and transport infrastructure investment had a positive long run relationship on tourism. It was also shown that oil price is statistically significant relationship on tourism.
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- Date Issued: 2013
Trade liberalisation and poverty alleviation in South Africa
- Authors: Gundu, Tafadzwa Amanda
- Date: 2013
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , M Com
- Identifier: vital:11480 , http://hdl.handle.net/10353/d1015283
- Description: The study attempts to address, from amongst the key issues in the current debate on economic development: the effect of trade liberalization on poverty. The relationship between trade liberalization and poverty levels is investigated in both the long run and the short run for South Africa. To measure trade liberalization, trade openness is used as the standard index. Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) measures financial openness while taxation is a measure of public intervention in the country. Consumption per capita is a proxy for poverty and Real Gross Domestic Product (RGDP) controlled for economic growth. Applying the Johansen Co-integration Techniques and Error Correction Method, empirical results suggest that trade liberalization has a cumulative effect on poverty reduction in the long-run. Lower poverty level is associated with low taxation and high foreign direct investment, particularly in the short run, in South Africa. Therefore, it is recommended that the government needs to design and pursue active development strategies to benefit from openness. There is also a need to enhance the tax revenues of the state through better collection of revenues, and administrative reforms rather than expenditure cut backs, which can reduce the effectiveness of the public sector. The government needs to strengthen allocation of funds to social sectors so as to bring the issue of poverty reduction to the central stage of economic policy making.
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- Date Issued: 2013
The impact of economic growth on unemployment in South Africa: 1994 -2012
- Authors: Handson, Banda
- Date: 2013
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , M Com
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10353/884 , vital:26506
- Description: One of the most pressing problems facing the South African economy is unemployment, which has been erratic over the past few years. This study examined the impact of economic growth on unemployment, using quarterly time series data for South Africa for the period 1994 to 2012. Johansen Co-integration reflected that there is stable and one significant long run relationship between unemployment and the explanatory variables that is economic growth (GDP), budget deficit (BUG), real effective exchange rate (REER) and labour productivity (LP). The study utilized Vector Error Correction Model (VECM) to determine the effects of macroeconomic variables thus REER, LP, GDP and BUG on unemployment in South Africa. The results of VECM indicated that LP has a negative long run impact on unemployment whilst GDP, BUG and REER have positive impact. The study resulted in the following policy recommendation: South African government should re-direct its spending towards activities that directly and indirectly promote creation of employment and decent jobs; a conducive environment and flexible labour market policies or legislations without impediments to employment creation should be created; and lastly government should prioritise industries that promote labour intensive. All this will help in absorbing large pools of the unemployed population thereby reducing unemployment in South Africa.
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- Date Issued: 2013
Inflation targeting and inflation indicators: the case for inflation targeting in South Africa
- Authors: Jeke, Leward
- Date: 2012
- Subjects: South African Reserve Bank , Inflation (Finance) -- South Africa , Inflation targeting -- South Africa , Anti-inflationary policies -- South Africa , Economic indicators -- South Africa , Economic stabilization -- South Africa , Cointegration -- South Africa
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , M Com
- Identifier: vital:11467 , http://hdl.handle.net/10353/d1007091 , South African Reserve Bank , Inflation (Finance) -- South Africa , Inflation targeting -- South Africa , Anti-inflationary policies -- South Africa , Economic indicators -- South Africa , Economic stabilization -- South Africa , Cointegration -- South Africa
- Description: The control of inflation requires a forecast of the future path of the price level and its indicators. Targeting inflation directly requires that the central bank (SARB) form forecasts of the likely path of prices paying close attention to a variety of indicators that shows the predictive power of inflation in the past periods. Inflation indicators might be cointegrated with the rate of inflation to predict the future inflation rates. Forecasting inflation may be very difficult at a particular period due to the fact that the array candidate indicators of inflation may neither be very stable nor very strong in their relationships with the rate of inflation. Although this might be the case, this research uses testable effects of each of the South African inflation indicators to the rate of inflation using econometrics tools to find that they have a long run trend with the rate of inflation in South Africa. It has been found that each of the indicator variables has a long run relationship with the rate of inflation. The major conclusion is that inflation indicator variables like money supply (M3), oil price, gold price, total employment, interest rates, exchange rates and output growth can be useful inflation indicators in targeting the future trends of inflation in South Africa according to the data used in this research although some studies in some countries find that inflation targeting is an insufficient framework for monetary policy in the presence of financial exuberance. The money supply, the oil prices, interest rates, the exchange rates, prices of gold, the employment and output growth are co-integrated with the rate of inflation representing a long-run relationship.
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- Date Issued: 2012
Dynamic linkages between monetary policy and the stock market: the case of South Africa
- Authors: Mabitle, Mope
- Date: 2013
- Subjects: Johannesburg Stock Exchange , South African Reserve Bank , Monetary policy -- South Africa
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , M Com
- Identifier: vital:11483 , http://hdl.handle.net/10353/d1015290 , Johannesburg Stock Exchange , South African Reserve Bank , Monetary policy -- South Africa
- Description: This study analyses the linkage between monetary policy and the stock market in South Africa using monthly data for the period from 2000 to 2010. It provides an overview of the Johannesburg Stock Exchange and the monetary regimes adopted by the South African Reserve Bank since the 1960s and the interrelation between the monetary variables and the stock market. It also provides a review of literature, both theoretical and empirical on the linkages between the two variables. Based on the review of literature, a Vector Autoregression [VAR] model was chosen as a method of analyzing the relationship between the two variables. The empirical results revealed that there is no long term relationship between the variables, however, in the short-run there is a dynamic relationship between monetary policy and the stock market in South Africa. This implies that innovations in the stock market affect the implementation of monetary policy and vice-versa. The study recommended that monetary authorities should pay attention to the fact that the stock market performance has a great impact on their decision making due to the fact it is greatly affected by repo rates.
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- Date Issued: 2013
The global financial crisis and its impact on the South African economy
- Authors: Madubeko, Vongai
- Date: 2010
- Subjects: Globalization -- Economic aspects , Global Financial Crisis, 2008-2009 , South Africa -- Economic conditions
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , M Com
- Identifier: vital:11457 , http://hdl.handle.net/10353/363 , Globalization -- Economic aspects , Global Financial Crisis, 2008-2009 , South Africa -- Economic conditions
- Description: This dissertation investigates the effects of the financial crisis on the South African economy. In order to do this, an index which describes the financial conditions of the South African economy is constructed and computed. The index indicates that domestic South African financial conditions have deteriorated substantially during the period under study and so the study investigates how this has impacted on the country’s economic growth. A VAR model with South African variables is specified and used to assess the quantitative effects of the financial crisis on South African real GDP growth. Results suggest that the South African economy was not significantly affected by the crisis, but economic growth was slowed down and may still grow substantially slower in the next few years due to the financial crisis. These results corroborate the theoretical predictions and are also supported by previous studies.
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- Date Issued: 2010
An exploratory study of female labour force participation in South Africa: 1995 - 2010
- Authors: Mahali, Lesala
- Date: 2013
- Subjects: Labor markets -- South Africa , Unemployment -- South Africa , Labor supply -- South Africa , Women -- Employment -- South Africa , Role conflict , Women employees -- South Africa
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , M Com
- Identifier: vital:11465 , http://hdl.handle.net/10353/d1007050 , Labor markets -- South Africa , Unemployment -- South Africa , Labor supply -- South Africa , Women -- Employment -- South Africa , Role conflict , Women employees -- South Africa
- Description: The role that women play in the economy of any society is a desirable goal for equity and efficiency considerations. Just as with the rest of the world, the South African women lagged behind their male counterparts within the economic empowerment space and in the formal labour force. However, the role of women has undergone some transformations with issues relating to employment opportunities, such that their labour force participation has risen considerably since 1994. The female labour force participation rate is still seen to be persistently lower compared to the male participation rate even in the second decade of democracy. The rate of women labour force participation is even lower than the average. On the other hand, the increases have also been coupled with the rising rate of unemployment among women. The objective of this study was to investigate the determinants of female labour force participation in the South African labour market. The study uses a regression analysis on a cross sectional panel data covering a period of 1995 to 2010. Unlike most popular beliefs, the findings of this study reveal that fertility though not statistically significant, positively influences labour force participation of women. Other variables that are statistically significant in explaining female labour force are HIV/AIDS, marital status, age, household income and education. Race was found to be insignificant in explaining female labour force participation in the South African labour force.
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- Date Issued: 2013
The efficiency of a fiscally decentralized government in the provision of social services: the case of the Eastern Cape provincial government in South Africa
- Authors: Mahuni, Fortunate Jaqueline Runyararo
- Date: 2008
- Subjects: Public welfare -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Social service -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , M Com
- Identifier: vital:11454 , http://hdl.handle.net/10353/209 , Public welfare -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Social service -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape
- Description: Governments strive to improve the efficiency of service delivery with the intention of achieving societal goals. Thus, in order to ensure the quality of public services and goods provided to the people, central governments need to follow a decentralised governance approach. The decentralisation theorem states that, if the consumption of public goods and services over different geographical regions of the total population and the cost of providing these public goods and services in each region are the same for both the central and the sub-national government, the provision of public goods and services will be more efficient if they are provided by the sub-national government to their respective jurisdictions. This dissertation’s main aim is to investigate the extent to which the Eastern Cape Provincial Government (ECPG) is efficient in the provision of social services to the people under their jurisdiction. The efficiency scores obtained using the Data Envelopment Analysis Computer Program (DEAP) 2.1 version proved that the ECPG, education, health, social welfare and the housing departments are inefficient in the provision of social services. In this case, fiscal decentralisation as an appropriate vehicle for service delivery seems not to be working for the Eastern Cape Province, unless there is an improvement in the efficiency levels at which the social services are provided by these departments.
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- Date Issued: 2008
Profit incentives and technical efficiency in the provision of health care in Zimbabwe: an application of data envelopment analysis and econometric methods
- Authors: Maredza, Andrew
- Date: 2009
- Subjects: Hospitals -- Zimbabwe -- Economic conditions , Health facilities -- Zimbabwe , Data envelopment analysis , Hospitals -- Zimbabwe -- Econometric models , Stock-flow analysis , Profit -- Mathematical models
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , M Com
- Identifier: vital:11455 , http://hdl.handle.net/10353/294 , Hospitals -- Zimbabwe -- Economic conditions , Health facilities -- Zimbabwe , Data envelopment analysis , Hospitals -- Zimbabwe -- Econometric models , Stock-flow analysis , Profit -- Mathematical models
- Description: This study examines issues surrounding efficiency in the Zimbabwean health sector with specific emphasis on for-profit hospitals in order to find out whether they are significantly more efficient than non-profit hospitals. The study attempts to explore the significance of profit incentives on efficiency. This study uses the Data Envelopment Analysis (DEA) methodology to examine hospital efficiency scores for the 100 hospitals in the sample classified as for-profit, mission and public. Outputs of the study include inpatient days and outpatient visits. The number of beds, doctors and nurses were used to capture hospital inputs. The findings indicated that there was a marked deviation of efficiency scores from the best practice frontier with for-profit hospitals having the highest mean PTE of 71.1 percent. The mean PTE scores for mission and public hospitals were 64.8 percent and 62.6 percent respectively. About 85 percent, 83 percent and 91 percent of the for-profit, mission and public hospitals were found to be operating below their average PTE. More than half of the hospitals are being run inefficiently. Of more importance to this study is the fact that the hypothesis of for-profit hospital superiority was accepted implying that for profit hospitals are significantly more efficient than the non-profit category. The study indicated that the amount of inputs being used could be decreased substantially without decreasing the quantity of outputs achieved. In each of the hospitals included in the study, the total input reductions needed to make inefficient hospitals efficient are more than 50 percent. These input savings could go a long way in achieving other health concerns without mobilizing additional resources in the sector
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2009