Browsing by Subject "economic development"

Now showing 1 - 4 of 4
  • No Thumbnail Available
    Item
    Open Access
    Africa on the rise: prospects for growth and development
    (2014-09-29) Rotberg, Robert
    This course will demonstrate how sub-Saharan Africa is emerging successfully from its long era of stagnation, conflict and troubled democracy to provide prosperity and real hope for its peoples. It will discuss prospects for future economic growth, for political and social success and for the creation of a new middle class. It will consider prospects for a demographic dividend as populations expand and cities grow and fill with young people, reducing conflict and social ills. Health and educational requirements, the contribution of mobile phones to change, China’s important role, good governance, good leadership, and the role that South Africa can play in the new Africa, will all be explored. LECTURE TITLES 1. Africa’s new prosperity: rapid growth and more to come 2. The coming population explosion and its consequences 3. The mobile telephone revolution and its impact on health and educational reforms 4. China’s role for good and ill 5. Governance, leadership and the role of South Africa
  • Thumbnail Image
    Item
    Open Access
    South African Energy Policies for Sustainable Development
    (University of Cape Town, 2005) Winkler, Harald; Alfstad, Thomas; Howells, Mark
    This report models a range of energy policies for sustainable development in South Africa and evaluates the results against energy indicators of sustainable development. Demand- and supply-side policies exist that can contribute both to energy objectives, and also to broader sustainable development goals. The report builds on previous work on a South African profile on energy for sustainable development (ERC 2004a), identifying, modelling and evaluating future policy options. The purpose of the report is to present possible energy futures for the country and to demonstrate how indicators of sustainable development can be used to assess options. This method, we argue, provides the means for policymakers to identify synergies and trade-offs between options, and to evaluate them in economic, social and environmental dimensions.
  • Thumbnail Image
    Item
    Open Access
    The nexus between growth of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) and youth employment in Eritrea
    (2019) Malamulo,Terence Crayl; Mukuddem-Petersen, Janine
    Economic growth and development are strategic for the overall development of a country. Micro, small and medium enterprises play a surmountable role in economic growth and development. Among other contributions, they provide jobs in an economy. Several developing countries, such as Eritrea, face limited private sector growth, yet also have the need to invest in the creation of enough and decent job for youths. Hence, this study intended to identify the prominent factors that deter the growth of micro, small and medium enterprises as well as the connection between their growth and youth employment, using a case study of Eritrea. The study used econometric research method. Through stratified sampling and a questionnaire, it collected data from 76 micro, small and medium enterprises. In the analysis, it used ordinal and binary logistic regressions, chi-square and correlation tests. The study concludes that there is no sufficient evidence that the growth of micro, small and medium enterprises influences youth employment. It finds that the growth of micro, small and medium enterprises is deterred by obstructive access to raw materials, obstructive banking regulations and obstructive general business regulations and policies. The study recommends improvement of the macro-economic conditions for pro-business sector growth, establishment of a policy on development of micro, small and medium enterprises, and a gradual liberalization of the private economy. Further, it proposes an impact investing based growth model of micro, small and medium enterprises to increase certainty on employment creation contribution. It suggests that an investment in micro, small and medium enterprises for youth employment creation that does not address the identified deterrents faces a significant impact risk.
  • No Thumbnail Available
    Item
    Open Access
    The pitfalls and promises of Chinese-led special economic zones for African development
    (2024) Phillips, James; Chien, Jing; Black, Anthony
    This dissertation seeks to critically assess the potential of Chinese-led Special Economic Zones (SEZs) in Africa to achieve development objectives and align with the strategic interests of host countries. The research is informed by the exceptional growth trajectory of China, which has resulted in increased Chinese economic engagement with the global south, including the proliferation of Chinese-led SEZs overseas. To shed light on this phenomenon, this work conducts a case study of the Lekki Free Zone – one of China's flagship overseas SEZs in Africa – analyzing the factors pivotal to successful SEZs and supporting development objectives, as well as China's role as an investor and partner. The research findings reveal a pattern of unmet expectations in the achievement of a multitude of development objectives set forth by the zone developer and host country. Notwithstanding these shortcomings, the zone has seen significant modern infrastructure developments, suggesting potential for future growth. Yet, the study identifies an enduring imbalance. This is evident as the Chinese-led SEZ model in Africa seemingly prioritizes the interests of Chinese investors, at times overshadowing the developmental needs of host countries. Such a trend raises questions about the sustainability and equity of these partnerships. The study further synthesizes the findings to provide recommendations for policymakers, investors, and other stakeholders that seek a relationship of more symmetrical benefit.