Economic impact studies and methodological bias : the case of the National Arts Festival in South Africa
- Authors: Bragge, Brent Reuben
- Date: 2011
- Subjects: Standard Bank National Arts Festival Standard Bank National Arts Festival -- Economic aspects Performing arts festivals- Economic aspects -- South Africa Arts -- Economic aspects -- South Africa Economic impact analysis Edinburgh International Festival -- Economic aspects Klein Karoo Nasionale Kunstefees (Oudtshoorn, South Africa) -- Economic aspects Volksbladfees (Bloemfontein, South Africa) -- Economic aspects
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MEcon
- Identifier: vital:968 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1002702
- Description: Over the course of the last three decades, it has become popular practice to evaluate tourism events like cultural festivals in financial terms, through the use of economic impact studies. This can be attributed at least in part to the notable growth in the number of festivals being held globally and, as such, a higher level of competition between festivals for the limited funding which is available. Economic impact studies, and the resultant findings, have thus become powerful tools for the lobbying of sponsorship, and it has become increasingly important that the impact calculations be as accurate as possible, so as to effectively allocate both government and private resources to projects which will be of the greatest benefit to the host region. The allocation of funding is especially vital in an area like the Eastern Cape Province of South Africa, which is faced with many financial difficulties. The allocation of public funds to an event like the National Arts Festival, which is hosted in a relatively wealthy part of the province, might be weighed against initiatives which directly benefit the poorer parts of the region. Although it is acknowledged that the benefits which are felt by the host community of a cultural event go beyond that of the financial, it is often on this basis that festivals are most easily compared. The primary goal of the thesis was to analyse the various forms of methodological bias which can exist in the economic impact analyses (EIA) associated with cultural events. Theoretical considerations were discussed, specifically regarding economic impact as a method of measuring value. Various forms of bias (including data collection, the calculation of visitor numbers, multipliers, defining the area of interest, inclusion of visitor spending, and accounting for benefits only, not costs) are put into a real-life context, through the investigation of economic impact studies conducted on three selected South African festivals (the Volksblad, the Klein Karoo Nasionale Kunstfees, and the National Arts Festival), and one international festival (the Edinburgh Festival). An in-depth comparison of two separate studies conducted at the National Arts Festival (NAF) in 2004 (by Antrobus and Snowball) and 2005 (by Saayman et al.) was made, focussing on the manner in which the economic impact was calculated. Having considered the common forms of bias, and assessing several possible reasons for the difference of approximately twenty million Rand in the advertised economic impacts, it was concluded that, most likely, the miscalculation of visitor numbers was the cause. This was confirmed when the Antrobus and Saayman methods were applied to the 2006 NAF data, and noting that the economic impact figures arrived at were strikingly similar. As such, it is advisable that extreme caution be taken when calculating visitor numbers, as they can significantly influence the outcome of an economic impact study. It is recommended that each study should also have transparent checks in place, regarding the key calculation figures, to ensure that less scrupulous researchers are not as easily able to succumb to the pressure event sponsors might impose to produce inflated impact values.
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Effects of colours, shapes and icons on performance and familiarity
- Authors: Dambuza, Inga Yola
- Date: 2011
- Subjects: Industrial hygiene -- Research -- South Africa , Industrial safety -- Research -- South Africa , Industrial hygiene -- Standards -- South Africa , Human engineering -- Research -- South Africa
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MSc
- Identifier: vital:5117 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1005195 , Industrial hygiene -- Research -- South Africa , Industrial safety -- Research -- South Africa , Industrial hygiene -- Standards -- South Africa , Human engineering -- Research -- South Africa
- Description: Occupational injuries and illnesses remain to be a heavy burden on workers and employees in industrial developing and industrially developed societies, and health and safety in workplaces continues to be an important issue for ergonomists. Steps are being taken to stimulate health and safety agendas and to discover ways in which health and safety in industries can be improved. The main responsibility of employers is to provide employees with information, instructions and training that they required to carry out their work tasks in a healthy, practical and safe manner. The role of education as a countermeasure to occupational injury and illness is being re-examined by health and safety practitioners and safety training is being considered as a vital part of accident prevention strategies. Effective training programmes should guarantee that workers possess the skills they require to complete their tasks in a safe and healthy manner. Very little is known about the type and quality of training workers undergo and how that training affects the safety outcomes of companies. There has been an attempt over the past 20 years to increase the research on safety communications and a great deal of this research has been focused on safety warnings; with the greatest attention been placed on the components of safety signs, such as colours, size, shapes and icons. The effects of these components on comprehension with relation to age and education have not received the same amount of attention. The impact of familiarity on safety warnings with respect to age and education has also received very little attention; despite the knowledge that familiarity has been shown to increase the noticing of warnings and the comprehension of safety information. Despite the increase in the research on safety communication, the literature and research in South Africa is scarce. Studies present in South Africa do not encompass the comprehension of safety signs or the ability of individuals with different age and education levels to learn the information included in the signs. Due to the multi-linguistic nature of South Africa and the fact that South Africa is an Industrially Developing Country (IDC) with high levels of illiteracy, issues such as the comprehension of safety information must be addressed. Therefore, the objectives of this study were to investigate the effects of safety sign attributes on learning and familiarity, in subjects that differed in age and education levels. These effects were investigated through measuring the reaction and response times of the different subject groups, as well as the number of components in the safety signs that were recalled correctly. The combined results of these responses were used as a measure for familiarity. A set of signs was designed for the study by the researcher using three different colours, three different shapes, three different icons and text. Certain variables were omitted from some signs to create the test pool and the eight conditions that were tested in a laboratory setting. Each condition contained different components of the designed signs and 60 subjects were used to test these conditions. The subjects were placed in groups according to their age and level of education. Subjects were required to learn a set of 64 signs, either “With Occlusion” or “Without Occlusion”, and asked to recall the meanings of the components in the signs. Reaction time, response time and error rate were measured from the responses. The results showed that the conditions resulted in different reaction times, response times and error rates for all subjects. The signs containing a combination of shapes and text resulted in the best performance. Age and education were found to have a significant effect on various performance criteria as did the method in which the signs were displayed (Occlusion and No Occlusion). The increased repetitions and sessions elicited lower reaction times, response times and error rates. The conclusions drawn from this study suggest that different attributes be considered carefully when subjects are expected to learn and recall information in safety signs. The results also highlighted the need to increase the exposure of individuals to safety signs in order to increase familiarity and ultimately improve the recall and comprehension of the attributes.
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Effects of habitat patch size and isolation on the population structure of two siphonarian limpets
- Authors: Johnson, Linda Gail
- Date: 2011
- Subjects: Siphonaria , Limpets , Population biology , Marine ecology , Habitat selection , Animals -- Dispersal , Ecological heterogeneity , Animal populations , Biodiversity
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MSc
- Identifier: vital:5679 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1005364 , Siphonaria , Limpets , Population biology , Marine ecology , Habitat selection , Animals -- Dispersal , Ecological heterogeneity , Animal populations , Biodiversity
- Description: Habitat fragmentation is a fundamental process that determines trends and patterns of distribution and density of organisms. These patterns and trends have been the focus of numerous terrestrial and marine studies and have led to the development of several explanatory hypotheses. Systems and organisms are dynamic and no single hypothesis has adequately accounted for these observed trends. It is therefore important to understand the interaction of these processes and patterns to explain the mechanisms controlling population dynamics. The main aim of this thesis was to test the effect of patch size and isolation on organisms with different modes of dispersal. Mode of dispersal has previously been examined as a factor influencing the effects that habitat fragmentation has on organisms. Very few studies have, however, examined the mode of dispersal of marine organisms because it has long been assumed that marine animals are not directly influenced by habitat fragmentation because of large-scale dispersal. I used two co-occurring species of siphonariid limpets with different modes of dispersal to highlight that not only are marine organisms affected by habitat fragmentation but that they are affected in different ways. The two species of limpet, Siphonaria serrata and Siphonaria concinna, are found within the same habitat and have the same geographic range along the South African coastline, however, they have different modes of dispersal and development. The effect of patch size on organism density has been examined to a great extent with varied results. This study investigated whether habitat patch size played a key role in determining population density and limpet body sizes. The two species are found on the eastern and southern coasts of South Africa were examined across this entire biogeographic range. Patch size was found to have a significant effect on population density of the pelagic developer, S. concinna, but not the direct developing S. serrata. Patch size did play a role in determining limpet body size for both species. S. concinna body size was proposed to be effected directly by patch size whilst S. serrata body size was proposed to be affected indirectly by the effects of the S. concinna densities. The same patterns and trends were observed at five of the seven examined regions across the biogeographic range. The trends observed for S. concinna with respect to patch size conform to the source-sink hypothesis with large habitat patches acting as the source populations whilst the small habitat patches acted as the sink populations. Many previous studies have focused on the effects of habitat patch size at one point in time or over one season. I tested the influence of habitat patch size on the two species of limpets over a period of twelve months to determine whether the trends observed were consistent over time or whether populations varied with time. S. concinna showed a consistently significant difference between small and large patches; whilst S. serrata did not follow a consistent pattern. The mode of dispersal for the two limpets was used to explain the different trends shown by the two species. This examination allowed for the determining of source and sink populations for S. concinna through the examination of fluctuations in limpet body sizes and population densities at small and large habitat patches over twelve months. The direct developing S. serrata trends could not be explained using source-sink theory, as populations were independent from one another. S. serrata demonstrated body size differences at small and large patches which, may be explained by interspecific and intraspecific competition. Habitat isolation is known to play an important role in determining the structure of assemblages and the densities of populations. In this study the population density of the pelagic developing S. concinna showed a weak influence of degree of isolation whilst that of the direct developing S. serrata did not, which may be because of habitat patches along the South African coastline not having great enough degrees of isolation. The population size-structure was influenced directly influenced by isolation for S. concinna, whilst the different population size structure for S. serrata may be explained by assemblage co-dependence. The mode of dispersal showed effects on the relationship of population density and population size-structure with habitat size and isolation. This study indicates the importance of investigating patterns and processes across a range of spatial and temporal scales to gain a comprehensive understanding of factors effecting intertidal organisms.
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Emplacement of the 2.44 Ga ultramafic layered Kemi intrusion, Finland PGE, geochemical and Sm-Nd isotopic implications
- Authors: Linkermann, Sean Aaron
- Date: 2011
- Subjects: Chromite -- Finland -- Kemi , Mining geology -- Finland -- Kemi , Geochemistry -- Finland -- Kemi , Petrology -- Finland -- Kemi
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MSc
- Identifier: vital:4940 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1005552 , Chromite -- Finland -- Kemi , Mining geology -- Finland -- Kemi , Geochemistry -- Finland -- Kemi , Petrology -- Finland -- Kemi
- Description: Europe’s largest chrome deposit is hosted by the 2.44 Ga Kemi ultramafic layered intrusion. The lower half of the intrusion consists of peridotites, pyroxenites and chromitite layers while the upper half consists of websterites, gabbronorites and leucogabbros. The mafic minerals of the lower and upper parts of the intrusion are altered to serpentine, chlorite, talc, amphiboles and carbonates. However, the original mineralogy is still preserved in the middle part of the intrusion. Earlier work on the Kemi intrusion concentrated mainly on the economically important chromitite layers and suggested that these layers were formed through contamination of a single pulse of primitive magma by underlying Archaean basement crustal material. The broad variations of the major element concentrations reflect variations in the mode of the Kemi rocks. The petrology, which shows olivine- and orthopyroxene-dominated rocks in the lower portion of the intrusion to plagioclase- and clinopyroxene-dominated rocks in the upper portion, shows a gross consistency with a fractional crystallization process.The incompatible elements are relatively enriched in the lower portion of the intrusion which is not consistent with a broad fractional crystallization process. These variations suggest that the ultramafic portion of the KemiIntrusion is relatively enriched in trapped liquid compared to the mafic portion.ε2.44 Nd values ranges from +4 (consistent with depleted mantle source) to -10 (indicating a contribution from Archaean crust). The lower peridotites, pyroxenites and websterites have ε2.44 Nd values ranging between depleted mantle signatures and -2, whereas the gabbroic cumulates have ε2.44 Nd values which cover a range from around -5 to -10. Nd isotopic variation in the lower part of the profile is punctuated by distinct spikes to lower ε2.44 Nd corresponding to the chromitite horizons. Both the lower and upper portions of the Kemi Intrusion show enrichment of LREEC1 relative to HREEC1. The LREEC1 enriched values start to increase markedly from about the 1000 meter mark and continue to increase in value towards the roof of the intrusion.The main enrichment of PGE (ΣPPGE = 55 to 148 ppb) occurs approximately 90 to 160 m above the basal contact, beginning within andcontinuing above the main chromitite ore horizon. The mantle-normalized PGE abundances of the main chromitite horizon and the peridotites and pyroxenites below it show enrichment of IPGEPM (Os + Ir + Ru) relative to PPGEPM (Rh + Pd + Pt). In contrast, the overlying rocks are characterised by enrichment of PPGEPM relative to IPGEPM. These PGE-patterns suggest the influence of two distinct controlling processes above and below the main chromitite reef.The isotopic data are consistent with the initial introduction of multiple pulses of depleted mantle-derived magma crystallising olivine and pyroxene. Before the parent magma was fed into the Kemi magma chamber, it underwent crustal contamination and assimilation in a staging chamber within the lower crust. Some of these pulses were “critically crustally contaminated”, inducing chromite saturation and precipitation. The modelling also predicts minor in-situ contamination of the parent magma in the Kemi chamber with its wall and roof rocks. Above the main chromitite layer (about 160 m above the basal contact), the chromite content decreases and the PPGEPM/IPGEPM values increase which is consistent with scavenging of the IPGE into the lowermost layers and/or evolving magma compositions. Above 1000 m, the isotopic and REE data indicate a new magma pulse which has also been extensively contaminated in the staging magma chamber before emplacement into the Kemi magma chamber. The contamination in the staging magma chamber increased which is reflected in a progressively larger crustal component towards the top of the Kemi Intrusion
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Ericoid mycorrhizal fungi and potential for inoculation of commercial berry species (Vaccinium corymbosium L.)
- Authors: Bizabani, Christine
- Date: 2011
- Subjects: Ericaceae , Mycorrhizas , Fynbos
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MSc
- Identifier: vital:4136 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1016127
- Description: Ericaceous plants are the richest growth form of the fynbos vegetation of South Africa. The fynbos is characterized by highly leached acidic soils, low mineral nutrients and climatically it is a winter rainfall and dry summer region. Ericoid mycorrhizal fungi associate with Erica species enhancing their ability to access essential nutrients for survival under unfavourable growth conditions. The aim of this study was to select local Ericaceae plant species and to isolate, identify and characterize the ericoid endophytes and assess these isolates as potential inocula for commercial berry species. Two ericaceous plants Erica cerinthoides L. and Erica demmissa Klotzsch ex Benth. were identified from the Mountain Drive area of Grahamstown, Eastern Cape. Root staining was used to confirm the mycorrhizal status of both plants. Hyphal coils typical of ericoid association were observed within the epidermal cells of the hair roots under a light microscope. The endophytes were successfully isolated in pure culture on 2% malt extract agar (MEA) and modified Fontana medium. Cultural morphology and microscopy were used for initial identification. Two slow growing isolates were selected. These isolates were further subjected to molecular identification; extracted DNA was amplified using ITS1 and ITS4 fungal primers. The rDNA gene internal transcriber spacer (ITS) was then sequenced and analyzed by comparison to sequences in the GenBank. On the basis of percentage sequence identity Lachnum Retz. species and Cadophora Lagerb. & Melin species were identified as the ericoid endophytes of E. cerinthoides and E. demmissa respectively. The optimum growth parameters of the fungal isolates were determined in 2% MEA incubated at varying temperatures and pH. It was established that both species had optimum growth at 27⁰C and pH 5. The Ericaceae species are sometimes found in metal contaminated sites were ericoid fungi have been proved to alleviate toxicity of their host. The fungal isolates were grown in increasing concentration of Cu²⁺ and Zn²⁺ in 2% MEA. The growth of Lachnum species decreased with increasing Zn²⁺ ions above 2.7 mM while Cadophora species showed a change in morphology and also decreased in growth with increased ion concentration. However there were no significant differences recorded in the growth of Cadophora and Lachnum species on increasing Cu²⁺ concentration. Lachnum and Cadophora isolates were formulated into a semi solid inoculum and inoculated onto micropropagated Vaccinni corymbosum L. plantlets of 5 different varieties. Colonization was low for all varieties, Elliott and Brightwell varieties recorded the highest colonization of 35% and 31% respectively. Lachnum species infected roots showed potential ericoid structures while the Cadophora inoculated plantlets had hyphal coils within the cortical cells typical of ericoid mycorrhizas. Inoculation significantly enhanced the shoot growth of Brightwell and Elliott varieties. The Chandler variety inoculated with Lachnum species showed improved shoot dry weight. The Bluecrop and Elliott varieties inoculated with Cadophora and Lachnum accumulated more root biomass. All inoculated Bluecrop plantlets had an improved canopy growth index. Brightwell plantlets inoculated with Lachnum species also had an enhanced canopy growth index. The growth responses were variable within varieties and between varieties. Treatments with the Cadophora and Lachnum have shown potential in the promotion of growth of the Blueberry species. The findings indicate the need to conduct trials under conditions which simulate the commercial growth conditions so as explore the optimum potential of the isolates.
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Evaluating the sustainable management of the State indigenous forests in the Eastern Cape Province
- Authors: Quvile, Nkosipendule
- Date: 2011
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MBA
- Identifier: vital:793 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1004130
- Description: This research assesses the state of sustainability of State indigenous forests in the Eastern Cape and provides recommendations to improve their sustainability. The Eastern Cape Indigenous Forest Management Audit (ECIFMA) report of 2009 provided the primary data for this assessment (DAFF, 2009). The research was inspired by the fact that the global challenge of forestry destruction and degradation where the extent of forests is being reduced at an alarming rate of 6% annually. It became essential for global leaders to develop policies and strategies that sought to promote sustainable forest management. The monitoring of sustainability of forests was only possible through use of globally and nationally developed sets of criteria and indicators. Eleven forest estates responsible for the management of State indigenous forests in the Eastern Cape were selected for this research. The choice was influenced by the availability of audit data from the ECIFMA report of 2009. This report contained performance information of 41 indicators under 18 criteria for monitoring sustainable forest management as extracted from the PCI&S assessment checklist developed for monitoring the sustainability of indigenous forests in South Africa (DWAF, 2005). The data was refined using the MCA methods (ranking and scoring) as described by Mendoza and Prabhu (2000). These methods yielded to the determination of the performance of indicators of forest sustainability. It was thus important to conclude the research by responding to the following questions: • What is the state of sustainability of the State indigenous forests in the Eastern Cape? • What recommendations could be made to improve the sustainability of State indigenous forests? It was found that the State indigenous forests were not managed in a sustainable manner. The research report is concluded by providing concrete recommendations to improve forest sustainability.
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Exchange rate behavior in the cases of the Zambian Kwacha and Malawian Kwacha : is there misalignment?
- Authors: Magwizi, Brenda Thandekha , Rhodes University
- Date: 2011
- Subjects: Foreign exchange rates -- Zambia Foreign exchange rates -- Malawi International relations -- Case studies -- Zambia International relations -- Case studies -- Malawi
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MCom
- Identifier: vital:974 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1002708
- Description: The exchange rate is the price of one currency against another currency or currencies of a group of countries. Real exchange rates are important because they show the external competitiveness of a country‟s economy. Thus, when the exchange rate of a country is misaligned, this will affect its trade, production and the welfare of people. This study analysed macroeconomic determinants of the real exchange rate and dynamic adjustment of the real exchange rate as a result of shocks to these determinants. The study also determined the extent of misalignment of the real exchange rate in Malawi and Zambia and identified variables that contributed to it. Such information is important to policy makers. Quarterly data were used for both countries from 1980:1-2008:4. The literature review identified those variables that determine the exchange rate and these include government consumption, foreign aid, net foreign assets, commodity prices, terms of trade, domestic credit, openness and the Balassa Samuelson effect (technological progress). To determine the long-run relationship between the exchange rate and its determinants, we employed the Johansen approach and the Vector Error Correction Model (VECM). For robustness check on the long-run and shortrun effects of determinants on the exchange rate, variance decomposition and impulse response analyses were used. Results in the study show that in Malawi for both models, an increase in LAID, LGCON and LTOT resulted in real exchange rate depreciation and increases in LDC, NFA and LNEER resulted in an appreciation. In Zambia, increases in LAID, LGCON, LOPEN and LTOT caused the real exchange rate to depreciate while increases in LDC, NFA and LCOPPER led to an appreciation. Lagged LREER and LNEER were found to have short run effects on the equilibrium exchange rate for Malawi and lagged LCOPPER and LDC for Zambia. Periods of exchange rate misalignment were found in both countries. It was also found that the coefficient of speed of adjustment in Malawi in models 1 and 2 indicate that 11% and 27% of the variation in the real exchange rate from its equilibrium adjust each quarter respectively. The speed of adjustment for Zambia in both models was 45% and 47% respectively, higher than that of Malawi. Foreign aid has proven to be important in exchange rate misalignment in both countries, though this was not really expected in the case of Zambia. Given these results, it may be of interest to policy makers to understand which variables impact most on the exchange rate and how misalignment due to these determinants can be minimised.
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Exchange rate pass-through to domestic prices in Kenya
- Authors: Mnjama, Gladys Susan
- Date: 2011
- Subjects: Kenya -- Economic conditions , Kenya -- Economic conditions -- Econometric models , Foreign exchange rates -- Kenya , Stocks -- Prices -- Kenya , Banks and banking -- Kenya , Cointegration , Econometrics , Inflation (Finance) -- Kenya
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MCom
- Identifier: vital:975 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1002709 , Kenya -- Economic conditions , Kenya -- Economic conditions -- Econometric models , Foreign exchange rates -- Kenya , Stocks -- Prices -- Kenya , Banks and banking -- Kenya , Cointegration , Econometrics , Inflation (Finance) -- Kenya
- Description: In 1993, Kenya liberalised its trade policy and allowed the Kenyan Shillings to freely float. This openness has left Kenya's domestic prices vulnerable to the effects of exchange rate fluctuations. One of the objectives of the Central Bank of Kenya is to maintain inflation levels at sustainable levels. Thus it has become necessary to determine the influence that exchange rate changes have on domestic prices given that one of the major determinants of inflation is exchange rate movements. For this reason, this thesis examines the magnitude and speed of exchange rate pass-through (ERPT) to domestic prices in Kenya. In addition, it takes into account the direction and size of changes in the exchange rates to determine whether the exchange rate fluctuations are symmetric or asymmetric. The thesis uses quarterly data ranging from 1993:Ql - 2008:Q4 as it takes into account the period when the process of liberalization occurred. The empirical estimation was done in two stages. The first stage was estimated using the Johansen (1991) and (1995) co integration techniques and a vector error correction model (VECM). The second stage entailed estimating the impulse response and variance decomposition functions as well as conducting block exogeneity Wald tests. In determining the asymmetric aspect of the analysis, the study followed Pollard and Coughlin (2004) and Webber (2000) frameworks in analysing asymmetry with respect to appreciation and depreciation and large and small changes in the exchange rate to import prices. The results obtained showed that ERPT to Kenya is incomplete but relatively low at about 36 percent in the long run. In terms of asymmetry, the results showed that ERPT is found to be higher in periods of appreciation than depreciation. This is in support of market share and binding quantity constraints theory. In relation to size changes, the results show that size changes have no significant impact on ERPT in Kenya.
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Exchange rates behaviour in Ghana and Nigeria: is there a misalignment?
- Authors: Mapenda, Rufaro
- Date: 2011 , 2011-11-09
- Subjects: Foreign exchange rates -- Ghana , Foreign exchange rates -- Nigeria , Economic development -- Ghana , Economic development -- Nigeria , Foreign exchange administration -- Ghana , Foreign exchange administration -- Nigeria , International relations
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MCom
- Identifier: vital:976 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1002710 , Foreign exchange rates -- Ghana , Foreign exchange rates -- Nigeria , Economic development -- Ghana , Economic development -- Nigeria , Foreign exchange administration -- Ghana , Foreign exchange administration -- Nigeria , International relations
- Description: Exchange rates are believed to be one of the major driving forces behind sustainable macroeconomic growth and it is therefore important to ensure that they are at an appropriate level. Exchange rate misalignment is a situation where the actual exchange rate differs significantly from its equilibrium value, resulting in either an overvalued or an undervalued currency. The problem with an undervalued currency is that it will increase the domestic price of tradable goods whereas an overvalued currency will cause a fall in the domestic prices of the tradable goods. Persistent exchange rate misalignment is thus expected to result in severe macroeconomic instability. The aim of this study is to estimate the equilibrium real exchange rate for both Ghana and Nigeria. After so doing, the equilibrium real exchange rate is compared to the actual real exchange rate, in order to assess the extent of real exchange rate misalignment in both countries, if any such exists. In order test the applicability of the equilibrium exchange rate models, the study draws from the simple monetary model as well as the Edwards (1989) and Montiel (1999) models. These models postulate that the variables which determine the real exchange rate are the terms of trade, trade restrictions, domestic interest rates, foreign aid inflow, income, money supply, world inflation, government consumption expenditure, world interest rates, capital controls and technological progress. Due to data limitations in Ghana and in Nigeria, not all the variables are utilised in the study. The study uses the Johansen (1995) model as well as the Vector Error Correction Model (VECM) to estimate the long- and the short-run relationships between the above-mentioned determinants and the real exchange rate. Thereafter the study employs the Hodrick-Prescott filter to estimate the permanent equilibrium exchange rate. The study estimates a real exchange rate model each for Ghana and Nigeria. Both the exchange rate models for Ghana and Nigeria provide evidence of exchange rate misalignment. The model for Ghana shows that from the first quarter of 1980 to the last quarter of 1983 the real exchange rate was overvalued; thereafter the exchange rate moved close to its equilibrium value and was generally undervalued with few and short-lived episodes of overvaluation. In regard to real exchange rate misalignment in Nigeria prior to the Structural Adjustment Program in 1986 there were episodes of undervaluation from the first quarter of 1980 to the first quarter of 1984 and overvaluation from the second quarter of 1984 to the third quarter of 1986; thereafter the exchange rate was generally and marginally undervalued.
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Exploring how teachers acquire content knowledge of marine and coastal issues to contextualize the natural science curriculum
- Authors: Mbuyazwe, Vuyiswa
- Date: 2011
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MEd
- Identifier: vital:21017 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/6016
- Description: The transformation process in the South African curriculum has highlighted a need for teachers to change from being passive implementers of curriculum. They are required to interpret the curriculum, adapt materials and develop lesson plans that will be responsive in their own context. They are also required to use materials and mediate learning. This research explores teacher acquisition of content knowledge on marine and coastal issues and probes how teachers work with materials in the development of lesson plans to contextualize the curriculum. A participatory action research process engaged 3 teachers in a contextualizing process of curriculum development. I started to work with the teachers to adapt and re-develop coastal and marine resources to support learning in local context. The research developed in two phases. The first examined existing teacher knowledge of marine and coastal issues and probed how content was integrated into lesson planning. Teachers identified knowledge acquisition as the priority to enable them to work with the materials and curriculum in their context. The second phase set out to enhance teachers’ knowledge of marine and coastal resources through workshops and field trips to improve the adaptation and use of materials. To document these processes and outcomes in the context of this study, I employed a range of data generation strategies including questionnaires, workshops and classroom observations, field notes, focus group discussion and the review of lesson plans, learners’ work and materials used. All participants collaboratively discussed and reflected on the process, but I was responsible for the final interpretation presented here. This study showed that teachers are still entrenched in their normal practice of working with content as facts and definitions, the delivery of abstract propositions that is not aligned with the curriculum goals. The new curriculum required teachers to change their teaching practice by using materials to mediate learning in context. The data revealed a mismatch between teacher practices and what the curriculum required from them.
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Exploring perceptions and implementation experiences of learner-centered education among history teachers : a case study in Namibia
- Authors: Sibeya, Nestor Mutumba
- Date: 2011
- Subjects: Student-centered education -- Namibia , History -- Study and teaching (Secondary) -- Namibia
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MEd
- Identifier: vital:1988 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1013226
- Description: The study sought to understand how Grade 9 History teachers perceive and implement learner-centered education (LCE) in selected schools in Caprivi educational region in the Republic of Namibia. It concentrated on three teachers in two combined and junior secondary schools. The research employed a qualitative approach and three data instruments were used: interviews, class observations and document analysis. The findings of the study show that in their interview discussions of the principles, intent and recommended key features of LCE, the three participating teachers generally correctly captured some of the essential intentions of a LCE approach. At times in the interviews they seemed to strongly grasp the essence of a key strategy and its intent, but at other times their views were sketchy. Their view of different teaching strategies at times appeared integrated but not always that strongly. When it came to their classroom practice they could and did use a number of appropriate LCE teaching approaches. The level of effectiveness in their use of many of the approaches varied from effective to far from ideal and in need of quite big improvement. In the area of resources the three classrooms were extremely limited in what they displayed, had and used. There were too few textbooks and almost no posters and wall displays on history and the geography of the world and its peoples that the students were studying. An especially interesting feature was that they all seemed to be consciously engaged in an on-going teaching experiment with the LCE approaches. The LSC [sic] practices were clearly not yet strongly imbedded as solid classroom habits or dispositions, with perhaps the exception of questioning. But this experimenting made them much more self-conscious and reflective about their experiences. They all frankly identified some tensions that they felt existed between the espoused official features of a LCE class and the demands of the covering the curriculum, size of classes etc. Overall it was an encouraging picture of teachers eager to find ways to improve their teaching and experiment with new ideas. But also a picture of people not properly exposed to good or best practice in each teaching strategy and having to reinvent and rediscover on their own even the basics of reasonable practice often making very basic mistakes, for example in questioning.
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Expression of heat shock proteins on the plasma membrane of cancer cells : a potential multi-chaperone complex that mediates migration
- Authors: Kenyon, Amy
- Date: 2011 , 2011-03-29
- Subjects: Heat shock proteins , Protein folding , Molecular chaperones , Cancer -- Treatment
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MSc
- Identifier: vital:4122 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1013362
- Description: Current dogma suggests that the Heat Shock Protein (Hsp) molecular chaperones and associated co-chaperones function primarily within the cell, although growing evidence suggests a role for these proteins on the plasma membrane of cancer cells. Hsp90 does not function independently in vivo, but instead functions with a variety of partner chaperones and co-chaperones, that include Hsp70 and Hsp90/Hsp70 organising protein (Hop), which are thought to regulate ATP hydrolysis and the binding of Hsp90 to its client proteins. Hsp90 on the plasma membrane appears to have distinct roles in pathways leading to cell motility, invasion and metastasis. We hypothesised that Hsp90 on the plasma membrane is present as part of a multi-chaperone complex that participates in the chaperone-assisted folding of client membrane proteins in a manner analogous to the intracellular chaperone complex. This study characterised the membrane expression of Hsp90, Hsp70 and Hop in different cell models of different adhesive and migratory capacity, namely MDA-MB-231 (metastatic adherent breast cancer cell line), MCF-7 (non-metastatic adherent breast cancer cell line), U937 and THP1 (monocytic leukemia suspension cell lines). Membrane expression of the Hsps was analysed using a combination of subcellular fractionation, biotin-streptavidin affinity purification and immunofluorescence. This study provided evidence to suggest that Hsp90, Hsp70 and Hop are membrane associated in MDA-MB-231 and MCF-7 breast cancer cells. Hsp90, Hsp70 and Hop associated with the plasma membrane such that at least part of the protein is located extracellularly. Immunofluorescence analysis showed that Hsp90, Hsp70 and Hop at the leading edge may localize to membrane ruffles in MDA-MB-231 cells, in accordance with the published role of Hsp90 in migration. An increase in this response was seen in cells stimulated to migrate with SDF-1. By immunoprecipitation, we isolated a putative extracellular membrane associated complex containing Hsp90, Hsp70 and Hop. Using soluble Hsp90 and antibodies against membrane associated Hsp90, we suggested roles for soluble extracellular Hsp90 in mediating migration by wound healing assays and inducing actin reorganisation and vinculin-based focal adhesion formation. The effects of extracellular Hsp90 are mediated by signalling through an ERK1/2 dependent pathway. An anti-Hsp90 antibody against an N-terminal epitope in Hsp90 appeared to be able to overcome the death inducing effects of a combination of SDF-1 and AMD3100, while soluble Hsp90 could not overcome this effect. We propose that this study provides preliminary evidence that extracellular Hsp90 functions as part of a multi-chaperone complex that includes Hsp70 and Hop. The extracellular Hsp90 chaperone complex may mediate cell processes such as migration by modulating the conformation of cell surface receptors, leading to downstream signalling.
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Extending legal professional privilege to non-legal tax practitioners in South Africa: a comparative and constitutional perspective
- Authors: Jani, Pride
- Date: 2011
- Language: English
- Type: text , Thesis , Masters , MCom
- Identifier: vital:882 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1001636
- Description: This study explains the differing rights of taxpayers, based on the nature of the profession of the tax adviser they consult. Those who utilize the services of tax attorneys can rely on the protection afforded by legal professional privilege whereas those who obtain their advice from non-legal advisers, such as accountants and other tax advisers, cannot claim the same protection. Legal professional privilege is a substantive right which should be extended to cover clients of non-legal tax advisers. The continued denial of the privilege to clients of nonlegal tax practitioners while it is availed to those who approach legal practitioners infringes the rights to privacy and equality contained in the South African Constitution. The object of this research is to show that the common law concept of legal professional privilege is amenable to extension so as to cover the clients of non-legal tax advisers. A qualitative approach was adopted which involved an in-depth analysis of the origins, rationale as well as the requirements for the operation of the doctrine. This also involved a constitutional as well as a comparative dimension. The constitutional dimension sought to show that the current distinction is untenable under the South African Constitution by virtue of the infringement of the rights to privacy and equality. The comparative dimension presented an analysis of the various jurisdictions that have extended the doctrine as well as those that are still to do so or have adamantly rejected the idea. The differential treatment of taxpayers based on the professional they engage contravenes the privacy and equality provisions and is thus unconstitutional. The study demonstrates that legal professional privilege is amenable to extension and there is need for legislative intervention as the courts are limited in the extent to which they may intervene in light of the separation of powers and judicial deference. Legal professional privilege should therefore be extended to protect the clients of non-legal tax advisers as opposed to partial protection which subsists at the moment.
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Feeding ecology and diet shift of long-beaked common dolphins Delphinus Capensis (Gray 1828) incidentally caught in anti-shark nets off Kwazulu-Natal, South Africa
- Authors: Ambrose, Shan Taryn
- Date: 2011
- Subjects: Common dolphin -- South Africa -- Kwazulu-Natal , Common dolphin -- Food -- South Africa -- Kwazulu-Natal , Common dolphin -- Ecology -- South Africa -- Kwazulu-Natal , Sardinops sagax -- South Africa -- Kwazulu-Natal
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MSc
- Identifier: vital:5697 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1005383 , Common dolphin -- South Africa -- Kwazulu-Natal , Common dolphin -- Food -- South Africa -- Kwazulu-Natal , Common dolphin -- Ecology -- South Africa -- Kwazulu-Natal , Sardinops sagax -- South Africa -- Kwazulu-Natal
- Description: The long-beaked common dolphin, Delphinus capensis (Gray 1828), is one of the most enigmatic predators feeding in the annual sardine run (Sardinops sagax) off the coast of KwaZulu-Natal (KZN), South Africa. In recent years, unpredictable inter-annual variations in the timing, spatial extent and intensity of the sardine run have been documented, possibly resulting in changes in the suite of prey available to the common dolphin during winter. Although the diets of a number of predators during the sardine run have been studied in detail (e.g. sharks and flying seabirds), little is known about the diet of long-beaked common dolphins during this period. Each year, a low number of common dolphins are incidentally caught in the anti-shark nets in the waters of KwaZulu-Natal. These captures provide a valuable source of data on selected aspects of the ecology of the long-beaked common dolphins along the KwaZulu-Natal coastline. The objective of this study was to provide new dietary data for the common dolphins feeding in the waters of KwaZulu-Natal during winter over the period 2000 to 2009, as well as to determine if any dietary changes had taken place since the common dolphin diet was last assessed, over 15 years ago. Stomach contents from 95 common dolphins (55 females, 40 males) caught between 2000 and 2009 were analysed and compared to historical data from dolphins caught between 1974 and 1992. Mesopelagic fish and squid dominated the diet, with 23 fish and 5 squid species represented in adult dolphins. Multidimensional Scaling (MDS) indicated that there was no resource partitioning between adult male and female dolphins. Numerical analyses indicated that there was a shift in the principal prey species consumed by the dolphins over the past decade, particularly during the winter. Prior to 1992, sardine comprised up to 49% of the total stomach contents, while chub mackerel (Scomber japonicus) was the dominant prey item (66% by mass) recorded in the stomach contents over the period 2000 to 2009. The shift in the relative contributions of sardine and mackerel in the diets of the dolphin appeared to correspond to fluctuations in the availability of the two principal prey species. Between 2000 and 2009, the diversity of the dolphins' diets was highest during the sardine run, reflecting the presence of a wide suite of predatory teleosts in the waters of KwaZulu-Natal during the annual sardine run. Conversely, prior to 2000, the diet was dominated by sardine during the peak of the sardine run, whilst diet diversity increased after this period. Apart from sardine and chub mackerel, elf (Pomatomus saltatrix), maasbanker (Trachurus delagoa), strepie (Sarpa salpa) and flying fish (Exocoetid sp.) also formed important components of the diet both prior to 1992, and over the last decade. Blubber thickness was assessed as an indicator of animal condition. No significant change in blubber total weight (R² = 0.0016, N = 185), nor dorsal, lateral or ventral blubber thickness (R² = 0.3146, R² = 0.0003, and R² = 0.0003 respectively, N = 78) was seen over the last 30 years (1970 to 2009). Results of stable isotope analyses conducted on tissue derived from the teeth of D. capensis indicated that there has been no significant shift in the trophic position (δ¹⁵N) and potential prey consumed (δ¹³C) over the corresponding period. These data would suggest that the long-beaked common dolphins along the KwaZulu-Natal coastline can be considered as opportunistic predators generally consuming the most abundant prey species available locally. As common dolphins feed opportunistically, this dietary shift appears to indicate changes in the shoaling characteristics of the most abundant fish prey in KwaZulu-Natal during winter. Given the “Data Deficient” status of the long-beaked common dolphin on the IUCN Red Data List, and the strong climatic forcing of the sardine run, such dietary data have important implications for their conservation in the light of expanding fisheries and climate change.
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Financial integration in East Africa: evidence from interest rate pass-through analysis
- Authors: Bholla, Zohaib Salim
- Date: 2011
- Subjects: East African Community -- Economic integration East African Community -- Economic conditions -- 21st century Interest rates -- Africa, East Interest rates -- Econometric models -- Africa, East Interest rates -- Effect of inflation on -- Africa, East Banks and banking -- Africa, East
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MCom
- Identifier: vital:1044 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1006131
- Description: The successful launch of the European Monetary Union (EMU) raised an already ever growing interest in the economics of monetary integration and the formation of monetary unions around the world. Following the EMU experience, countries have considered forming a monetary union amongst themselves. The East African Community (EAC), comprising the three original member countries Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda and now including Burundi and Rwanda, is an example of such a group of countries that seek to form a monetary union. This study aims to identify the current level of financial integration amongst the East African countries. In order to do so the study examines whether the pass-through of monetary policy in the five countries has become similar over time. This is to provide an indication of the extent to which the nominal convergence criteria amongst the member countries have been met. The results of the study provide an indication of whether the formation of a monetary union in East Africa is possible. The empirical analysis used in this study included stationarity tests, four tests of co integration and an asymmetric error correction model to investigate whether the pass-through of monetary policy transmission in the five countries has become more similar over the ten year sample period from 1999 to 2008. The analysis uses three interest rates and 6-year rolling windows to identify the extent of macroeconomic convergence that prevails within the EAC, and consequently whether the formation of a monetary union is possible. The results suggest that the magnitude of the convergence amongst the countries remain low and there are significant rigidities in the deposit and lending rates over time, however the passthrough has improved with respect to the lending rate but not the deposit rate. The overall conclusion of the study suggests that an EAC wide monetary union is currently not possible based on the evidence provided from the pass-through analysis.
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Financial system development and economic growth in selected African countries: evidence from a panel cointegration analysis
- Authors: Starkey, Randall Ashley
- Date: 2011
- Subjects: Economic development -- Africa Economic development -- Developing countries Banks and banking -- Africa Banks and banking -- Developing countries Stock exchanges -- Africa Stock exchanges -- Developing countries Econometric models Economic policy -- Africa Economic policy -- Developing countries
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MCom
- Identifier: vital:979 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1002713
- Description: Financial systems (i.e. banking systems and stock markets) can influence economic growth by performing the five key financial functions, namely: mobilising savings, allocating capital, easing of exchange, monitoring and exerting corporate governance, as well as ameliorating risk. The level of development of the financial system is a key determinant of how effectively and efficiently these functions are performed. This study examines the short-run and long-run relationships between financial system development and economic growth for a panel of seven African countries (namely: Egypt, Ivory Coast, Kenya, Morocco, Nigeria, South Africa and Tunisia) covering the period 1988 to 2008. While numerous empirical studies have researched this topic, none of the previous African empirical literature have investigated thjs by using three groups of financial development measures (i.e. overall financial development, banking system development and stock market development measures) as well as employing panel cointegration analyses. The investigation of the long-run finance-growth relationship is conducted using two methods; the Pedroni panel cointegration approach and the Kao panel cointegration technique. The Pedroni panel cointegracion approach is more often applied in empirical research as it has less restrictive deterministic trend assumptions, while the Kao panel cointegration technique is employed in this study for comparison purposes. Furthermore, the short-run linkages bet\veen financial development and economic growth are analysed using the Holtz-Eakin d of (1989) panel Granger causality test. The results of the Pedroni cointegration tests show that there are long-run relationships between overall financial development (measured by LOFD and OFD2) and economic growth, banking system development (measured by LPSC) and economic growth, as well as stock marker development (measured by LMCP and LVLT) and economic growth. In contrast, the Kao test fails to find any cointegration between finance and growth. However, on the balance, findings largely support a conclusion of cointegration between financial development and economic growth since the Pedroni approach is more appropriate for examining cointegration in heterogeneous panels. Estimates of these long-run cointegrating relationships show that all five financial development measures have the expected positive linkages with growth. However, only four of the five financial development measures were found to have significant long-run linkages with growth, as the relationship between LOFD and growth was not found to be significant in the long-run. The panel Granger causality results show that economic growth Granger causes banking system development in the short-run (i.e. there is demand-following finance), irrespective of the measure of banking development used. While there is bi-directional, reciprocal causality between economic growth and both of the measures of overall financial development and one measure of srock market development (i.e. LVLT). Thus, pulicy makers should focus on formulating policy which promotes faster paced economic growth so as to stimulate financial development, while at the same time encourage policy that promotes the balanced expansion of the banking systems and srock markets in ordet to augment economic growth.
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Heroes at the gates appeal and value in the Homeric epics from the archaic through the classical period
- Authors: Fox, Peta Ann
- Date: 2011
- Subjects: Homer. Iliad Homer. Odyssey Homer Criticism and interpretation Homer Influence Epic poetry, Greek -- History and criticism
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MA
- Identifier: vital:3593 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1002168
- Description: This thesis raises and explores questions concerning the popularity of the Homeric poems in ancient Greece. It asks why the Iliad and Odyssey held such continuing appeal among the Greeks of the Archaic and Classical age. Cultural products such as poetry cannot be separated from the sociopolitical conditions in which and for which they were originally composed and received. Working on the basis that the extent of Homer’s appeal was inspired and sustained by the peculiar and determining historical circumstances, I set out to explore the relation of the social, political and ethical conditions and values of Archaic and Classical Greece to those portrayed in the Homeric poems. The Greeks, at the time during which Homer was composing his poems, had begun to establish a new form of social organisation: the polis. By examining historical, literary and philosophical texts from the Archaic and Classical age, I explore the manner in which Greek society attempted to reorganise and reconstitute itself in a different way, developing original modes of social and political activity which the new needs and goals of their new social reality demanded. I then turn to examine Homer’s treatment of and response to this social context, and explore the various ways in which Homer was able to reinterpret and reinvent the inherited stories of adventure and warfare in order to compose poetry that not only looks back to the highly centralised and bureaucratic society of the Mycenaean world, but also looks forward, insistently so, to the urban reality of the present. I argue that Homer’s conflation of a remembered mythical age with the contemporary conditions and values of Archaic and Classical Greece aroused in his audiences a new perception and understanding of human existence in the altered sociopolitical conditions of the polis and, in so doing, ultimately contributed to the development of new ideas on the manner in which the Greeks could best live together in their new social world.
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HIV-related stigma amongst service staff in Grahamstown: a comparison of Hi-Tec security guards and Rhodes catering in the Eastern Cape
- Authors: Mazorodze, Tasara
- Date: 2011
- Subjects: AIDS phobia -- Research -- South Africa -- Grahamstown HIV infections -- Employees -- Research -- South Africa AIDS (Disease) -- Employees -- Research -- South Africa
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MA
- Identifier: vital:3016 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1002525
- Description: Despite the acknowledged reality that HIV-related stigma is a major barrier to effective HIV prevention and treatment, and perhaps because it is complex in nature, few local empirical scales have been developed to measure stigma and to be able evaluate the impact of anti-stigma interventions. Whilst the development of two recent South African HIV-related stigma scales can be celebrated as a major breakthrough, the reliability and validity of these scales across contexts remains largely unknown. This research project employs these two local, and competing, HIV-related personal stigma scales - the first developed by Kalichman et al. (2005) and the second developed by Visser, Kershaw, Makin and Forsyth (2008)-to compare the psychometric properties of the scales and to obtain a measure of HIV-related stigma with a sample of 246 service staff employed at either Rhodes University Catering Division or the Hi-Tec Security company, both organisations located in Grahamstown, a small town in the Eastern Cape, South Africa. Both organisations are major employers of semi-skilled workers in this local context. The results suggest that the Visser et al. scale (2008) reports slightly better psychometric properties than the Kalichman et al. (2005) scale for this sample. Furthermore, the security guards appear to be more stigmatising than the caterers, and it is suggested that this might be a consequence of the combined influences of normative occupational roles and workplace context. Results also show that participants who practices safe sex, know someone with HIV and/or who have been tested for HIV show lower levels of HIV-related stigma. Finally, personal stigma scores are generally lower than attributed stigma scores, which might offer a useful point of intervention.
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How an eco-school sanitation community of practice fosters action competence for sanitation management in a rural school : the case of Ramashobohle High School Eco-Schools Community of Practice in Mankweng circuit Polokwane Municipality Capricorn district in Limpopo Province, South Africa
- Authors: Manaka, Ngoanamoshala Maria
- Date: 2011
- Subjects: Sanitation -- South Africa -- Management -- Citizen participation Public utilities -- South Africa -- Management -- Citizen participation Sanitation, Rural -- South Africa Sanitation -- Study and teaching -- South Africa School children -- Health and hygiene -- South Africa School hygiene -- South Africa Sanitation -- Health aspects -- South Africa
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MEd
- Identifier: vital:1917 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1007319
- Description: Providing adequate sanitation facilities for the poor remains one of the major challenges in all developing countries. In South Africa, an estimated 11,7% of the schools are without sanitation. The South African government has a constitutional responsibility to ensure that all South Africans have access to adequate sanitation. When sanitation systems fail, or are inadequate, the impact of the health of the community, on the health of others and the negative impact on the environment can be extremely serious. In rural South African schools, many Enviro-Ioo toilets are available today. They are designed to suit a variety of water scarce areas and where there is a high risk of contamination of ground water resources. It is important to realize that any Enviro-Ioo system programme requires an education programme to ensure that the principles of use and maintenance are clearly understood by the user group. Their maintenance requires more responsibility and commitment by users. This study is an interpretive case study that indicates how sanitation in a rural Ramashobohle High School in Polokwane municipality was managed through an EcoSchools Sanitation Community of Practice, and how this developed action competence for sanitation management in the school. The study established that the earlier practice and knowledge of the Ramashobohle Eco-Schools community of practice exercised in maintaining Enviro-Ioo systems was inadequate; unhealthy and unsafe according to the data generated through focus group interviews, observations, interviews, action plan, workshops and reflection interviews. The data generated also indicates that the Eco-Schools community of practice was not committed to maintaining sanitation in their school because they were not sharing sanitation knowledge; they were not communicating and not updating one another concerning Enviro-Ioo systems maintenance as they had no adequate knowledge as to how to maintain the facilities; and the school management was also not supportive and was not taking responsibility. The study shows how this situation was turned around as an Eco-Schools Sanitation Community of Practice focussed on developing action competence in the school community. It provides a case based example of how knowledge and action competence, supported by an Eco-Schools Community of Practice, can find and implement solutions to inadequate sanitation management practices in rural schools, and shows how members of the school community can be engaged in learning how to manage and maintain school sanitation systems through a participatory process that develops action competence. The study points to important dimensions of developing action competence, such as providing knowledge and demonstrations, inviting experts to the school, involving learners in observations and monitoring and in ensuring that adequate facilities are available. In particular, a workshop conducted by Enviro-Ioo consultants, organised and supported by the Eco-Schools Sanitation COP, together with a follow up action plan, provided the main impetus for changes in practice in the school and served to support action competence development. Finally the study provides research findings and recommendations for further research.
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How integrated are the African stock exchanges?: evidence from long term comovement, returns and volatility spillovers
- Authors: Kambadza, Tinashe Harry Dumile
- Date: 2011
- Subjects: Stock exchanges -- Africa Money market -- Africa Globalization -- Economic aspects -- Africa International economic relations
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MCom
- Identifier: vital:1017 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1002752
- Description: Stock market linkages have implications for portfolio diversification, asset pricing, monetary and regulatory policy as well as financial stability. This study examines the extent to which African stock markets are linked using daily data for the period 2000-2010. The study is divided into three main parts each focussing on the ways in which integration of the stock markets can be viewed. Firstly, we analyse the long run co-movement of the stock markets using both bivariate and multivariate Johansen (1988) and Johansen and Juselius (1990) cointegration approaches. Secondly, we analyse returns linkages using Factor analysis and the Vector Autoregressive (VAR) models. In the Factor Analysis model, we used two extraction methods, namely Principal Component Analysis and the Maximurn Likelihood technique. The VAR model was extended with impulse response, variance decomposition and block exogeniety. Thirdly, we analyse the behaviour of volatility and the volatility linkages among the stock markets. We initially analysed and modelled volatility in each stock market using the GARCH, EGARCH and GJR GARCH and then examined the long-term trend of the volatility. Conditional volatility series for each country were then estimated using the most appropriate model and were analysed using VAR, block exogeniety, impulse response and variance decomposition to determine the extent of their linkages. The findings of the study are as follows: Both the bivariate and multivariate models found slim evidence of cointegration amongst the stock markets, suggesting that there were opportunities for portfolio diversification for investors. In general, the financial crisis had very little impact on the long-run relationships of the stock markets. Results for the returns linkages showed that there were limited retums linkages with the exceptions of South African-Namibia and Egypt-Morocco to a lesser extent. South Africa was found to be the most endogenous, whilst Ghana and Nigeria were the most exogenous on the continent. We regards to volatility, we found that it was asymmetric and persistent across all the stock markets with long term trend of volatility showing that it significantly increased for most of the markets. Finally, there were limited volatility linkages, only between South Africa, Egypt and Namibia, implying that African stock markets are still largely segmented from each other. However, the linkages between South Africa and Egypt could have negative effects as they could lead to the spread of contagion effects during times of crises. Therefore, policymakers should consider revising and improving policies to enhance economic integration on the continent.
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