bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Integration and Transformation for Viability Jamila Khato
Authors: Warsi Jamila Khatoon , . Jahanzeb Shah , . Shoaib Bin Naeem
Published: January 2020

Viability is a challenge that all the organizations face these days. As a result of this they need to introduce changes at various levels, through a change process. The halfhearted decisions regarding change result in confusion at all the levels. Services of experts as external consultants are hired for such an organizational development need. These consultants are responsible to communicate openly and discuss the reasons and consequences of the planned actions. Changing environment should be kept in view while implementing the change. Similarly, the capacity of the team should be improved and the consultants should refrain from imposing actions. Viability is an internal need of an organization; therefore, the decision to change should be made and enforced internally. The support from field specialist, external consultant, as a facilitator should be used to remain on track and have whistle blowers around in case of problems.
A Regional Analysis of Corn Yield Models: Comparing Quadratic versus Cubic Trends
Authors: Annan Francis
Published: January 2020

This study investigates county-level corn yield trend models using quadratic and cubic trend estimations. The study empirically revealed that the cubic trend is more appropriate for yield data from the West, Midwest and South regions. The linear and the quadratic trend models were respectively found to be more appropriate for yield data from the Plains and Atlantic regions. Results suggest that the data should be allowed to determine the appropriate trend relationships to avoid trend misspecification. Additionally, the yield trends are found to be inconsistent across all the regions. Different locations tend to exhibit different yield trends. It is therefore recommended that differences between regions be recognized when we conduct yield trend tests and not to generalize our results to other regions.
The Commitments Statement: A New Statement for Creditors
Authors: Kangarlouei Saeid Jabbarzadeh , . Rezgar Talebpour Asl , . Asghar azizi
Published: January 2020

Much has been written lately concerning the failure of several major corporations to report their financial statuses accurately. Enron, Global Crossing, IBM and others have failed to provide accurate information to their investors and to provide full disclosure of liabilities that would influence the valuation. The present paper is focusing on creditors as a main group of accounting information users, which have been neglected, in field of information presentation. To solve this problem we introduce a new financial statement called â€œthe commitments statementâ€. In the beginning, we point out financial reporting goals and users` informational needs. Then, we mention the issue, which creditorsâ€™ informational needs have not been well provided; and the reasons are explained. We continue with inspection of providing information related to solvency and recognition of financial flexibility of entities. Finally, we introduce â€œthe commitments statementâ€ and explain how to provide this statement. We end with the conclusion section.
The Impact of Marketing Mix and Market Orientation on Export Performance
Authors: Usman Muhammad , . Muhammad Bilal Kayani , . Faisal Haroon , . Muhammad Aslam Khan
Published: January 2020

The study focuses on the marketing mix and market orientation on export performance due to the significance of foreign businesses. Theory posits that marketing mix and market orientation have a positive impact on export performance. Although the paper is conceptual base and the model proposed is required to check their reliability that firm with size, information system, and commitment with availability of market mix and market orientation formally. However, with the modification of technology enhances the export performance in a better way. The authors concluded that the practical implementation of exportâ€™s marketing strategies identically facilitated the companies for future success.
Paretoâ€™s Law As Structural Economic Synapse
Authors: Trifu Alexandru
Published: January 2020

Starting from the observations of Italian economist Vilfredo Pareto, in the early days of XX-th century, refering to personal income distribution, we are coming to understand that it is not enough heightens the wealth of a nations, so that collective welfare to increase. It requires that the wealth created to be equitably distributed and not equally. Today, the famous Paretian Principle 80/20 demonstrates that we must wisely use the resources (i.e. 20%), enhance productivity, competitiveness and sustainability of the entities on the markets, so as to maintain the favourable results in 80 % ratio, but also to be overcome. Due to the elements composing the concept of Paretoâ€™s Law, but mainly to the practical use of the theoretical pattern of an ex-post nature, we consider it a true synapse within economics, in order to facilitate an well-functioning of the society and economy and to motivate a rising of productivity in all domains.
International Studentsâ€™ Expectations and Perceptions of Service Quality: The Case of a Higher Education Institution in South Africa
Authors: Govender Jeevarathnam P , . Dion T Noel
Published: January 2020

South Africa has recently seen a significant increase in international student enrolments in recent years. In order to be competitive, attention needs to be given to service quality with a view to being the institution of preference. This paper therefore seeks to assess international studentsâ€™ expectations and perceptions of service quality. A census was conducted among the 215 international students, using the SERVQUAL model as the measuring instrument. The results indicate that there are gaps between international studentsâ€™ expectations and perceptions on the five service quality dimensions. An analysis of variance was conducted to test for significant differences between three biographical variables viz. faculty of study, qualification enrolled for and region of residence versus the five dimensions of service quality, on both expectations and perceptions. Recommendations are presented on how the institution can enhance service quality among its international students.
Mentorship Programmes within the Small and Medium Sized Contractor Development Programme: A Case Study of the Free State Province, South Africa
Authors: Mofokeng Godfrey
Published: January 2020

The South African government has been implementing various small and medium sized contractor development programmes in an effort to redress the legacy created by apartheid government. The programmes fulfil such an objective through awarding construction projects to the historically disadvantaged Black contractors to enable them develop competent skills, build viable construction firms, create jobs and redistribute wealth. A mentorship programme was put in place to assist the contractors with technical, managerial, contractual and business impediments they might be encountered in the project execution and in running the construction business. The main aim of the paper was to conduct an evaluation of the contractor development mentorship programme in South Africa using the Free State Province as a case study. Questionnaires were distributed to 120 small and medium contractors in the Free State Province, and a review of literature was undertaken. Financial factors were found to be amongst the leading causes of contractorsâ€™ failures. It was also established that educational qualification and experience in the construction industry have an effect in a contractorâ€™s failure or success. A lot of contractors revealed that they were not exposed to the Contractor Development Programmes like in other provinces hence 74% did not participate in any contractor development programmes and only 26% did participate. The paper concluded with recommendations on how mentorship within the contractor development programme can be improved.
Measuring Aversion to Health Risks
Authors: Eisenhauer Joseph G.
Published: January 2020

Researchers have commonly used financial gambles to assess risk preferences, though attitudes regarding monetary gambles may differ from those concerning health risks. Moreover, the conventional measure of risk preferenceâ€”the Pratt-Arrow coefficient of relative risk aversionâ€”is a point-elasticity suitable only for trivial risks, whereas the risks pertaining to medical treatmentâ€”often involving life-ordeath decisionsâ€”are quite substantial. Our objective is to examine attitudes toward health risks and the variables that influence those attitudes. In addition to the conventional metric, we employ an alternative measure of risk aversion designed for large-scale risks; the latter is calculated as an arc-elasticity of marginal utility. Both measures are applied to responses from a health preference survey, which incorporates a standard gamble over longevity. Measured risk aversion is then related to health and demographic variables using multiple linear regressions. Our research suggests that tolerance of health risks may be influenced by an endowment effect reflecting the asymmetry of medical information between patients and providers. We also find that the arc-elasticity measure captures more of the significant differences and has a stronger correlation to demographic and socio-economic variables than does the more traditional point-elasticity measure, indicating that the conventional measures of risk aversion are indeed ill suited to large-scale risks such as those involving health. In addition, our results suggest that health-related risk preferences may differ from financial risk attitudes. Although our sample is relatively small and largely homogeneous, these results collectively provide a basis for replication and a justification for additional study on the measurement of risk aversion with regard to health.
Can Euro Zone Survive and Long Prosper?
Authors: Dimitrios Dapontas
Published: January 2020

The current problems on the aftermath of the global credit crunch left the weakest Euro countries in the turbulence of a debt crisis, which has been spread in five countries (Greece, Ireland, Portugal, Italy and Spain respectively) and raised the question of a Euro zone future survival. The surviving barriers have to do with limitations and restrictions on the single market, the lack of political union and different monetary policy targets. Incentives to secede are also present. However, a possible withdraw of a country would have high cost for all the participants and it could lead to monetary unionâ€™s demolition. The costs related with a possible withdraw are high, thus it is difficult for a country to leave a union. In the recent debt crisis, the countries accepted bailouts from their counterparts and international organizations in order to prevent the Euro zone collapse spreading the crisis further. Three possible Euro zone future scenarios are analyzed. The volunteer or not breakup of the union and reintroducing of national currencies, the breakup of the Euro zone to two currencies consisting Optimal Currency Areas (OCAs)is analyzed by using thirteen equally weighted optimum area criteria and the imposition of an interest equalization tax(IET) in order to make the Euro zone a single OCA. The results show that the asymmetries lead to the crisis persists in a possible two Euros area and this scenario cost is higher than union dissolutionâ€™s. An IET can help Euro zone in the short time to develop sustainable characteristics.
The Impact of Trade Liberalization on Labor Market of Developing Countries: What can Literature tell us?
Authors: Mrabet Zouhair
Published: January 2020

This paper reviews recent developments of the impact of trade liberalization on labor market in developing countries (henceforth DC). Many studies suggest that there is a benefit impact of trade liberalization on abandon factor of production (unskilled labor in the case of DC). However, several others works show a reversal trend in these countries such as increased in relative employment and relativeâ€™s wages of skilled labor. These later results contradict the prediction of Heckscher Ohlin Stolper-Samuelson model (HOSS) model. To reconcile theory with this empirical controversy some authors have tried to extend the traditional theory of international trade by relaxing one or more assumptions of model. The main message that can be learned about this problem is that neither empirical nor theoretical research have advanced an explanation for this puzzling. By comparing the result of the impact of trade liberalization on labor market in the Latin America and the East Asian regions, we show that differences in countries characteristics play a role to explaining this puzzling.
On Governance and the Demographic Transition
Authors: Mbiekop Flaubert
Published: January 2020

It is now conventional wisdom that institutions shape household fertility choices, especially in developing countries. However, deeper insights into the mechanisms at play are still needed. This paper develops a game-theoretical framework with a simple overlapping-generations model to show how a typical household may come to prefer bearing and raising numerous children as a savings scheme for retirement and not rely on conventional outlets for saving when facing weak institutions. On the one hand weak institutions increase the risk that individuals may lose their savings if relying on conventional outlets. On the other hand, childbearing as an investment/savings scheme carries with it the risk that disguised or complete unemployment may prevent grown children from providing the expected old-age financial support. The typical household thus trades off between both types of risks, yet with more control in the latter case, as the likelihood of unemployment can be reduced by carefully selecting a child quality-quantity strategy. Mild conditions are sufficient to show that sound institutions induce less fertility and foster private saving and oldage consumption. A simple voting experiment unveils a tricky socio- economic dynamics whereby wealthier households may have stakes supporting weak institutions.
An Evaluation of the Emerging Teen Market in Durban, South Africa: Some Marketing Implications
Authors: Veerasamy Dayaneethie
Published: January 2020

Children between the ages of eight and twelve, known as teenagers or teens, have become a lucrative customer base. These teens are considered to be â€˜in betweenâ€™ the traditional child and teenager stages of development. South African society has undergone a sweeping change in its vital institutionâ€“the family. Trends such as smaller family size, single parent households, dual incomes and postponing children until later in life means that society is increasingly becoming cash rich and time poor. Guilt plays a major contributing role in spending decisions as time-stressed parents substitute material goods for quality time spent with teens, therefore opening a floodgate to marketers who monopolize on this pang and guilt factor. Guilt consumerism has now transformed teens into key players in marketing strategies. This research paper aims to provide an insight into the rising consumerism in teens due to the â€˜nagâ€™ and â€˜pesterâ€™ power- bug that has fuelled marketing tactics.
The Relationship between Trade Openness and GDP Growth Rate: The Case of South Africa (1994Q1-2008Q4)
Authors: Mosikari Teboho Jeremiah
Published: January 2020

Despite substantial economic restructuring, South Africaâ€™s post-1994 export performance is less than what might have been expected or hoped for. The study examines the trade-openness ledgrowth hypothesis in the South African economy. Further, the study uses conventional cointegration approach called Johansen cointegration technique to determine the long-run relationship between trade openness and GDP growth. The cointegration tests show that there exists long-run relationship between trade openness and GDP growth at 1% and 5% significance level. Therefore, the study also applies an error correction model to determine the speed of adjustment and the short-term determinants of GDP growth in South Africa. In considering trade openness measures, it indicates that they are generally less pivotal and have an even smaller effect than had been anticipated. The study also adopts Granger causality tests to examine whether growth in trade openness stimulate GDP growth (or vice versa). The results suggest that in all trade openness measures that are used, there is weak evidence suggesting causality from GDP to exports or vice versa. The study recommends that openness trade policy will be beneficial strategy for South Africa in the long-run. Therefore, it is suggested that the South African government continue the policy of trade openness.
Do Exchange Rate Series Present General Dependence? Some Results using Recurrence Quantification Analysis
Authors: Aparicio Teresa , . Dulce Saura
Published: January 2020

In this paper, we apply a methodology based on the â€œRecurrence Quantification Analysisâ€ to four daily exchange rate returns series. Our aim is to discover if they exhibit some kind of underlying structure, and to find an economic explanation for the behavior of exchange rates. Our results show the existence of structure in all series that, in certain cases, can be identified as non-linear deterministic. We also conclude that, in general, the underlying structure tends to disappear in the most recent periods.
Trade Liberalisation, Economic Growth and Human Resource Development in Nigeria: Causal Implications (1980-2009)
Authors: Gabriel Aremo Adeleke
Published: January 2020

The study examined the causal links among trade liberalisation, economic growth and human resource development in Nigeria with a view to identifying the nexus connecting these three variables. Inferences of causality were drawn within the framework of Vector Auto-regression model employing techniques of analysis involving unit root test, cointegration and Granger causality tests. The findings that emerged from the analysis show that economic growth granger-caused both poverty level and trade liberalization in Nigeria. Besides, trade liberalization equally predicted poverty level. The study therefore concluded that it is desirable for government to initiate strategies that would further boost economic growth in Nigeria in order to alleviate poverty and to derive maximum benefits from trade liberalization. In addition, government should further diversify the productive base of the economy, and ensure proper integration of the key sectors of the economy to enhance output growth. In order to reduce poverty level, trade liberalization needs to be further embraced using multi-dimensional approaches such as more tariff reduction, and systematic reduction or removal of other forms of quantitative and qualitative restrictions on goods and services.
Participative Management as a Critical Ingredient for TQM
Authors: Parumasur Sanjana Brijball
Published: January 2020

Increasing competition has necessitated the need for human capital to ensure continuous improvement in quality in order to secure customer satisfaction, loyalty and sustainable development. This study aims to assess managerial perceptions of the extent and nature of participative management (delegation, involvement/empowerment, coaching, supportive leadership style) that takes place in the organization in efforts to achieve total quality management. Biographical influences on these managerial perceptions are also assessed. A sample of 202 managers (middle, senior, top) was drawn using a stratified random sampling technique. Data was collected using a pre-coded, self-developed questionnaire and analyzed using descriptive and inferential statistics. The findings reflect managers believe that participative management takes place at a moderate pace in the organization with the greatest focus being on coaching, followed by supportive leadership style, delegation and lastly, involvement/empowerment. Based on the results, recommendations for bringing about effective delegation, enhancing involvement/empowerment, ensuring valuable coaching and nurturing a supportive leadership style in efforts to accomplish TQM are presented.
Airline Service Quality in South Africa and Malaysia- An International Customer Expectations Approach
Authors: De Johan W
Published: January 2020

This study attempts to identify the various service and value factors that matter most to domestic airline passengers in South Africa and to benchmark it with the domestic airline industry in Malaysia that has similar airline services. A survey methodology involving face-to-face interviews was employed to conduct interviews with 196 participants from South Africa and 189 from Malaysia. Respondents were targeted on a convenience basis. Despite the use of this non-probabilistic sampling method, the data that were yielded showed high levels of internal consistency. A random splitting of each of the two datasets (i.e. South Africa and Malaysia) and subsequent comparison of firstly, demographic characteristics and secondly, the average ratings of key items revealed no significant differences, thus confirming repeatability or reproducibility of measurement. Trained fieldworkers assisted with the interviews. The findings revealed the following. The first research objective identifies those aspects that respondents typically consider most and least important when travelling on a domestic airline. The mean importance ratings obtained for each of the service items were calculated and ranked from highest to lowest scores. The items were ranked within the four broader service dimensions for the two samples. The first dimension is labelled â€˜convenience of bookingâ€™ and the results reveal considerable similarities between the two samples, with both South African and Malaysian respondents rating online booking opportunity as the most important aspect within these dimensions. The second service dimension investigated in the study is â€˜cabin service scapesâ€™. The item that was rated most important by both South African and Malaysian respondents was comforts of the seats. The third service dimension labelled â€˜cabin crewâ€™. Cabin crew's credibility obtained the highest average importance rating. The last dimension studied was labelled â€˜timeliness of flightâ€™. The top rated item was on-time departures and arrivals.
Can Owner-Manager Characteristics Signal Small Business Loan Default Propensity?
Authors: Eresia-Eke Eresia-Eke
Published: January 2020

The potential of small businesses is inhibited by a cocktail of problems of which inaccessibility to finance is pre-eminent. This problem is linked to the lendersâ€™ risk estimation, often based on financial indicators which small businesses are not adept at using to signal their performance ability. This situation, especially in South Africa, with a history of a people who were previously disadvantaged does not aid the development of small businesses that may well be the antidote for overcoming the strain of poverty and unemployment in the country. This study stems from the human capital theory and investigated possible relationships between owner-manager characteristics and loan default propensity. The aim being to unveil non-financial variables, associated with the owner-manager which could be relied upon by lendersâ€™ to estimate the loan default propensity of the small business borrower. Primary data collected in South Africa were empirically analysed for possible associations between owner-manager characteristics and loan default propensity. Results revealed business size-dependent differences in the association between certain ownermanager characteristics and business loan default propensity. The implication of this for all stakeholders is that considerations for small business lending should be sensitive to business size.
The Influence of Frame Dependence on Investment Decisions made by Listed Property Fund Managers in South Africa
Authors: Lowies Gert Abraham , . Christiaan Ernst Cloete
Published: January 2020

Behavioural finance describes investorsâ€™ and managersâ€™behaviour in terms of their interactions, andhow their behaviour subsequently influences financial and capital markets. One aspect of behavioural finance, frame dependence, reflects the fact that decision-makers may model decisions about problems using subjective frames. Such decisions may lead to errors in judgement. This studyâ€™s objective was to determine whether frame dependence influences listed property fund managers in South Africaâ€™s property investment decisions.Therefore, the study examinedquestionsrelating to the disposition effect and loss aversion,as well asfactors influencing selling decisions and the time and difficulty involved in making buying and selling decisions. The study surveyed the fund managers of all South African-based property funds listed on the Johannesburg Securities Exchange (JSE). Non-parametric statistical measures were used.The resultsreveal the presence of the disposition effect and a strong desire to cut losses as a motivating factor to sell a property. In the context of the difficulties associated with, and time spent in, buying new properties, it appears that South African property fund managers are, to some extent, lossaverse. This study recommends that fund managers be alerted to the presence of frame dependence in their decisions, so that they canincorporate it in their normative investment strategies.They need to know that they are loss averse in their investment decision-making, resulting ina possible loss of perfectly positioned, profitable investment opportunities. This study expands the body of knowledge surrounding property investment decision behaviour in an emerging market.
A Review of Performance Evaluation Measures for Actively-Managed Portfolios
Authors: Hsieh Heng-Hsing
Published: January 2020

In the recognition that investment management is an on-going process, the performance of actively-managed portfolios need to be monitored and evaluated to ensure that funds under management are efficiently invested in order to satisfy the mandate specified in the policy statement. This paper discusses the primary performance evaluation techniques used to measure a portfolioâ€™s basic risk and return characteristics, risk-adjusted performance, performance attribution and market timing ability. It is concluded that the Treynor measure is more suitable for evaluating portfolios that are constituents of a broader portfolio, while the information ratio is useful for evaluating hedge funds with an absolute return objective. Although the Sharpe ratio and M-squared arrive at the same evaluation result, M-squared provides a direct comparison between the portfolio and the benchmark. With regard to the analysis of portfolio performance attribution, it is found that the return-based multifactor model of Sharpe (1992) is not suitable for analyzing the performance of hedge funds that engage in short-selling, leverage and derivatives. Additional factors generated by factor analysis could be used as factors in the extended model of Sharpe (1992) to analyze hedge fund return attributions. Finally, the Treynor and Mazuy (1966) model and the Henriksson and Merton (1981) model essentially distinguish the market timing ability from the security selection ability of the portfolio manager.
The Term Structure of Interest Rates: A Cointegration Analysis in the Non-Linear STAR Framework
Authors: GÃœNEY Pelin Ã–GE
Published: January 2020

This paper analysis the term structure of interest rates for the Group of Seven (G7) countries. In addition to standard cointegration testing procedures, a cointegration test in a nonlinear smooth transition autoregression (STAR) framework developed by Kapetanios et al. (2006) is also employed. While the standard cointegration test results suggest the existence of cointegration relationship between short and long-term interest rates for Canada, France, Italy, Japan, and US data, these tests fail to establish a cointegration relationship for Germany and the United Kingdom. In case we take account of cointegration with non-linear adjustment, the results provide clear evidence of cointegration for all countries except Germany. Our finding implies that, especially in the case of UK, we may achieve important implications by taking account of possible nonlinearities. Overall, our findings support the proposition of expectation hypothesis for all of the G7 countries except Germany.
A Study on the Knowledge Implementation Strategy and its influence on the Knowledge Sharing Attitude among Knowledge Workers and Individual Job Performance
Authors: Lim Tong-Ming , . Angela Lee
Published: January 2020

Knowledge is asset that empowers individual and organizations to stay competitive in a borderless business world. For organizations that successfully deploy knowledge sharing and reuse, they have claimed to have observed job performance improvement. Even though the success or failure of KM implementation have been aggressively investigated by researchers, nevertheless, besides factors such as culture, business strategy, size, capacity and needs of organizations, KM strategy may vary depending on the organizationsâ€™ eco-system. Hence, there is a need to investigate organizations operate in Malaysian to understand influences of KM strategy and its influence to knowledge sharing atttitude among knowledge workers in the organizations. And the effect of KM strategy and knowledge sharing atttitude on individual job performance. The research subjects are IT related companies in Malaysia that practise knowledge sharing. MSC status companies will be invited to participate. Questionnaire will be sent to these companies to solicit responses. Structural Equation Modelling (SEM) will be adopted as analysis technique to analyze the responses from research subjects that take part. In this research, a selected group of companies in Kuala Lumpur/Selangor/Klang Valley will be interviewed to collect their views for qualitative analysis. Campbell Job Performance Theory will be used in the research to evaluate performance of knowledge workers in organizations. Questionnaire survey will be circulated to knowledge workers to collect their responses. The outcomes of the research provides a better understanding of the relationships between KM implementation strategy, knowledge sharing attitude, and individual job performance of knowledge workers.
A Bound Test Analysis of Effects of Monetary Policy Shocks on Output and Prices in Nigeria 2000-2010
Authors: Tolulope Apanisile Olumuyiwa
Published: January 2020

The study examined the effects of monetary policy shocks on output and prices in Nigeria. This is done through an empirical analysis of the effects of anticipated and unanticipated monetary policies on output and prices. Quarterly data from 2000:1 to 2010:4 were used. The long-run ARDL estimates indicate positive and significant effects of anticipated monetary policy on output and prices while unanticipated monetary policy was insignificant. Thus, the findings provide a significant departure from the existing diversity of evidences of empirical literature on the monetary policy actions and macroeconomic variables nexus. The study therefore suggested the use of a one fit for all policy instrument in stimulating output growth and prices in the economy rather than using one specific measure which could lead to the failure of monetary policy in Nigeria.
The Effect of Customer-Company Relationship on Internet Adoption in Jordanian Small and Medium Enterprises
Authors: Al-Abdallah Ghaith Mustafa
Published: January 2020

Internet is a new effective way to conduct business and marketing. It is used widely in the developed countries because of its unquestionable benefits especially for small and medium enterprises (SMEs) where internet provides great potential for such firms to compete world wild. SMEs are very important component of the national economies and are estimated to account for 80 percent of global economic growth. In developing countries, such as Jordan, internet adoption for marketing activities can be very helpful to SMEs. The main objective of this research is to examine the customer-company relationship effect on internet adoption in Jordanian SMEs, and highlight the actual use of internet in SMEs that adopted internet for marketing activities. One main and three sub- hypotheses were formed based on the literature review and previous studies. A restricted research methodology was used and the hypothesis was tested over a proportional systematic random sample obtained from the official records of Amman Chamber of Commerce. Data was collected through questionnaires, 270 personally submitted questionnaires were distributed to the decisions makers in Jordanian SMEs. Statistical Package for the Social Science (SPSS) was chosen to describe and analyze the data of 253 filtered and screened questionnaires. Results and discussion, conclusion, and recommendations were provided.
Role of Student Ratings of Lecturers in Enhancing teaching at Higher Education Institutions: A case study of the Durban University of Technology
Authors: Dorasamy N.
Published: January 2020

Evaluation of the quality of programmes by students is considered an important assessment instrument in determining programme effectiveness within higher education institutions. Student ratings of lecturers are only a partial assessment of programmes, since other evaluations beyond studentsâ€™ perceptions are also considered important within higher education institutions. Student ratings are not only important in determining how students perceive their programmes within a highly competitive higher education landscape in South Africa, but also highlight the strengths and weaknesses of programmes which can be used as an impetus for programme enhancement, especially in view of the increasing number of students entering higher education, while government spending is steadily diminishing. The purpose of this study is to assess student ratings of teaching competencies that can be used for programme evaluation. A quantitative approach was used to analyse the various elements within specific domains in the lecturer evaluation instrument used by the Faculty of Management Sciences at the Durban University of Technology (DUT). The data reported are suggestive of the usefulness of identifying student ratings of important teaching competencies, which is considered as important in a growing student centred orientation within higher education institutions. The article offers constructive analysis of student ratings of various teaching competencies across departments in the faculty, while highlighting strategies to ensure enhanced validity of student ratings. Student ratings of lecturers provide valuable information for faculty to use in programme assessment and consequent programme enhancement. Further, student ratings of lecturers encourages a studentâ€™s voice through confidential participation, thereby ensuring that the student experience is fore grounded at the learning and teaching interface.
Relationship between Fiscal Deficit and Public Debt in Nigeria: an Error Correction Approach
Authors: Folorunso Benjamin Ayodele
Published: January 2020

The paper examined the nexus between fiscal deficit and public debt in Nigeria. Public debt was disaggregated into domestic and external debt with a view to analyzing the causal relationship and relative effect of both categories of debt on fiscal deficit. Time series data were collected from Statistical Bulletins published by the Central Bank of Nigeria from 1970 to 2011. Except for inflation rate that was I(0), the unit root test results revealed stationarity of fiscal balance, public debt and its components, income, exchange rate and rate of interest series at their first difference; they are I(1) series. Pair-wise Granger causality results support bi-directional relationship between fiscal balance and public debt as well as its domestic component while causality run only from external debt to fiscal deficit. Johansen cointegration results also confirmed the existence of cointegrating relationships at 5 per cent level of significance. In addition, error correction estimates revealed that fiscal balance had significant positive relationship with debt in Nigeria in both the short and long run. The results showed that 1 per cent increase in public debt resulted in an increase of 1.85 per cent in fiscal deficit. In addition, 1 per cent increase in fiscal deficit resulted into 0.08 per cent increase in public debt. The paper further confirmed that domestic debt has greater impact on fiscal deficit than external debt. The paper concluded that the Nigerian government should consider appropriate mix of domestic debt and external debt as a mean of financing budget deficit.
Crime and the Regional Disparities in Tourist Inflows: A Case Study of South Africa
Authors: Moyo Busani
Published: January 2020

The aim of this study is to investigate the impact of crime proxied by different indicators on regional tourist inflows to South Africa. The estimations are carried out using the Johansen estimation techniques. Monthly data gathered from March 2003 to April 2011 is employed and the results from the estimations found that total crime has a negative effect on tourists from Africa, North America, Central and Southern America, West and Southern Europe. However, the level of crime in the country appears to have no influence at all to tourist from the Middle East whilst those from Asia are more sensitive to the level of sexual crime. At the different categories of crime investigated, tourists react differently. In line with the findings of the existing literature, the real exchange rate and world income remain to have a significant effect on tourist inflows from most of the regions.
Impact of Shocks to Public Debt and Government Expenditure on Human Capital and Growth in Developing Countries
Authors: Kgakge-Tabengwa Grace G.
Published: January 2020

This paper examines the implications of shocks to public debt and government expenditure on the development of human capital and growth within a model that explicitly recognizes the role of fiscal constraints through introducing the government budget constraint for a set of selected developing countries 1 from 1980-2013. This is mainly to capture fiscal challenges facing developing countries in developing human capital which is fundamental for sustainable growth. The dynamics of our model results reveal that high stocks of public debt, beyond the 30-40% debt/GDP threshold, depress the effect of human capital on output growth through limiting government expenditure resources available for developing human capital. Although we find that government expenditure has a positive role to play in developing human capital, sustainability becomes questionable particularly for countries where there are fiscal constraints. We conclude that developing countries which face fiscal challenges such as high public debt and poor revenue prospects to back government expenditure sustainably, cannot solely develop human capital based on the strength of their domestic resources, underscoring the need for specific supportive global fund for human capital development. The key policy implication calls for public debt management strategies and efficient government expenditure management frameworks supported by sustainable revenue prospects to provide fiscal sustenance impetus to enhance the growth process in developing countries.
A Welfare Based Approach for choosing the Inflation Targeting and the Exchange Regime in Tunisia
Authors: Soulaima Abdelli
Published: January 2020

The inflation targeting is considered as an attractive monetary policy strategy in order to handle the inflation rate and improves the credibility of the central bank. The paper provides a stochastic dynamic general equilibrium model with the specificity of employing a small open economy. This model analyzes the impact of different regimes of inflation targeting and exchange rate in Tunisia in terms of the welfare loss and describes some aspects of the Tunisianâ€™s economy. The results displays that the social loss is higher under the managed exchange rate than the flexible exchange rate regime for all the shocks. Then in terms of the inflation targeting index, it demonstrates that the consumer prices index outperforms the domestic inflation except for the productivity shock, in contrast to the result of (Parrado, 2004). Finally the strict is superior to the flexible inflation targeting except with the foreign inflation and the domestic interest rate shock.
Decision Factors in Medical Tourism: Evidence from Burmese Visitors to a Hospital in Bangkok
Authors: Yin Nay Lynn
Published: January 2020

Medical tourism is a significant factor in Thailandâ€™s economy as the country aims to develop more high value-added activities to escape from the middle income trap. The country has a number of highly advanced private sector hospitals, with western-trained physicians and the legendary service levels provided in Thailand. There are several prime targets for promoting medical tourism, which include the Middle East and South Asia, as well as some western countries, but one which is often ignored is neighboring Myanmar. This country is emerging from military dictatorship and has an unequal society in which there are a number of wealthy individuals unable to find the level of medical service they require in their homeland. Many Burmese people speak English, which is the international language of tourism and medicine. For such people, Thailand is a logical destination in the search for high-quality medical tourism. However, little if any research has been conducted to determine the levels of satisfaction that patients and their carers have received in Thailand and what improvements in service would be required. This paper aims to fill that gap to some extent by reporting on a quantitative survey of 200 Burmese users of a well-known private sector hospital in Bangkok. Their levels of satisfaction are charted and this leads to discussion of the meaning of their visit and its overall impact and benefit.
Chinese Economic Development and Leadership Strategy: The Challenges of Creating Competitive Advantage
Authors: Adisu Kinfu
Published: January 2020

In the last three decades Chinaâ€™s economic development have achieved great many things some of which are 73 or more companies among the Global Fortune 500 (E & Y Report, 2012). This progress accelerated the country second to the US in its ranking. In addition, Chinese companies are expected to represent close to one fifth of all Global 500s by the 2020. The economy consistently grew 10 percent for the past decades and is anticipated to recover from the recent global financial crisis faster than some Western nations (Ju and Mirza, 2012). The economic growth has created debate among two camps; the skeptics are projecting the bust is near, while the cohorts claim to foresee continuity in the general direction. The purpose of this paper is therefore, to examine Chinaâ€™s economic development in light of an assertive strategic leadership that created sustainable economic development and distinguish the challenges of implementing a strategy to create competitive advantage through multiple economic systems; a market lead economy and a robust state developmentalism. The main question is; could it be possible for China to continue on the path of economic development and create a competitive advantage? If so, what are the opportunities and the challenges? Examination of the questions by using Institutional theory, leadership strategy, economic growth and institutional development theories indicated that continuity of the economic development depends on an assertive leadership and liberalization. Also, China should look into its own brand, and create unique or differentiated products, methods and processes that can sustain economic development. The local sector has similar characteristics as western market lead economy; that the managers are motivated by financial incentives that are received when their decision lead to an overall profit.
Perceived Effectiveness of Municipal Financial Management on the Performance of Inventory Stock Management in Local Government of South Africa
Authors: NZUZA Zwelihle Wiseman
Published: January 2020

This paper reports on the perceived effectiveness of municipal financial management (MFM), on the performance of inventory stock management, by South African local government. The study aimed to evaluate and discuss various factors affecting the effectiveness of MFM on the performance of inventory stock management, in a local municipal government of South Africa, with specific reference to the Kwa-Zulu Natal (KZN) Province. The MFM Act was used as a theoretical framework for the study, and a quantitative research method was applied. The questionnaire was formulated based on information obtained from the literature, and was distributed to only one KZN local government department. The sample consisted of 57 respondents, selected using a census sampling method. The results indicate that there is significant relationships between experience and performance of inventory stock management (p=.003a,b*), experience and effectiveness/efficiency of MFM (p=.000a,b*),as well as experience and the economic viability of MFM (p=.000b,c*).Interestingly, the respondents also indicated that, although there is good inventory stock management, there is a weak relationship between the effectiveness/efficiency, economic viability, and transparency of MFM. This study recommends that further research should aim to advance financial management skills in South African local government, in order to build financial management capacity to deal with inventory stock management issues. This should enable communication with other related structures and improve the understanding of each otherâ€™s efforts in the organization.
Microfinance, Poverty Alleviation and Sustainability: Towards a New Micro-Finance Model for Zimbabwe
Authors: Mago Stephen
Published: January 2020

The main aim of this paper is to propose the development of a new microfinance model that can approximate sustainability in Zimbabwe. The secondary purpose is to find out whether the same model can be replicated in other developing countries. The paper adopted a mixed methodology. A crosssectional data collection method was preferred because data was collected during the time of high volatility in the country. Questionnaires, interview schedules were combined to collect data from villagers involved in microfinance programmes. Data were collected from 250 households in the Masvingo rural district area of Zimbabwe. The findings show that the two polar models are biased, hence the need for the â€˜middle of the road approachâ€™/â€˜hybrid modelâ€™ for the provision of microfinance services to the poor in order to achieve the twin objectives of poverty alleviation and sustainability. The paper is limited to a Masvingo district of Zimbabwe, thus replication could become a challenge. This article attempts to develop a â€˜middle of the roadâ€™ model for microfinance in Zimbabwe. According to our knowledge, there is no study that has attempted to do the same.