An investigation into food-away-from-home consumption in South Africa

Food policy that ignores food-away-from-home (FAFH) in a developing country like South Africa will be misleading given changes in demand for food over time. This study contributes to our understanding of the factors that influence the demand for FAFH in South Africa. Using panel data from the Income and Expenditure Survey, this study analyses the effects of income and socio-demographic variables on FAFH expenditure using a double-hurdle model. The results show that small-sized households headed by younger white females/males and living in an urban settlement are most likely to purchase FAFH while male-headed households spend more than female-headed households. Furthermore, income of the household head is an important determinant of household FAFH expenditures. The income elasticity of expenditure on FAFH is inelastic and a normal good. The small size of the participation elasticities means that growth in the FAFH sector will be driven by households with existing expenditure.     

The relationship between financial sector development and savings mobilisation in South Africa: An empirical study

This article examines the link between financial sector development and savings mobilisation in South Africa for the period 1980–2012. Taking the life-cycle hypothesis as our theoretical background and using Johansen co-integration that allows for hypothesis testing, the empirical results revealed a long-run relationship between savings, interest rates and financial sector development. We find an inverse relationship between the interest rate and savings, implying that South Africans are net borrowers because the income effect overwhelms the substitution effect. This in part explains the low level of savings in recent time. Important policy lessons for boosting the national savings rate are discussed.     

An analysis of factors affecting access to credit in Lesotho's smallholder agricultural sector

The agricultural sector in Lesotho is underperforming mainly due to the inability of smallholders to move from traditional agriculture to a more scientific and technology-based one. Among the challenges inhibiting the ability of smallholders to make the step up is access to financial services, especially credit. The purpose of this study was to examine the factors that may influence the ability of smallholders to access finance by making use of a logistic regression model within the principle component regression framework. The results revealed that the ability of smallholders to access finance, and the potential to make the transition towards a more scientific and technology-based agriculture sector, is influenced by the level of farm and non-farm income, remittances and pension, farm size, availability of family labour, land ownership, savings and repayment ability. The results present important information in terms of guiding institutional arrangements needed to improve credit availability in Lesotho.     

An application of the extended Technology Acceptance Model in understanding technology-enabled financial service adoption in South Africa

The last 10 years have seen a significant increase in the provision of consumer services through technology. Computers, mobile phones, the Internet and self-service kiosks are examples of technology platforms that have enabled services to be offered to consumers in new ways. In South Africa, technology-enabled financial services have the potential to expand financial inclusion, especially at the bottom of the pyramid. There is a need to understand how consumers adopt technology-enabled services. Using grounded theory, an enhancement to the Technology Acceptance Model is proposed and developed to explain adoption of technology-enabled financial services. Confirmatory factor analysis is used to validate the model against data obtained from a survey. The proposed model fits the data well. Implications of the model are discussed.     

Financial crises and reform of the international financial system

Between December 1994 and March 1999, Mexico, Thailand, Indonesia, Korea, Malaysia, Russia and Brazil experienced major financial crises, which were associated with massive recessions and extreme movements of exchange rates. Similar crises have threatened Turkey and Argentina (2000 and 2001) and most recently Brazil (again). This article discusses the reform of the international financial system with a focus on the role of the IMF—reforms directed at crisis prevention, and those intended to improve the responses to crises. The article concludes with an appraisal of what has been achieved, and what remains to be done to make the international financial system safer. JEL no. E5, E6, F3, F4, G1     

The effectiveness of financial incentives in controlling the health care expenditures of seniors

This paper examines whether financial incentives imposed on health insurers are effective or not in containing the health care expenditures of seniors. Under the Japanese health care system, the degree of financial incentives to restrain the health care expenditures of seniors varied significantly among almost 5300 insurers. The extent to which the strength of financial incentives is related to the actual health care expenditures is analyzed. The results indicate that financial incentives do not appear to restrain expenditures significantly.     

An investigation into the quantitative properties of the specific factors model of international trade

This paper presents a specification of a fundamental and popular model in the theory of international trade, the specific factors model. Data from 24 sectors of the Japanese economy are used. Simulated comparative static elasticities extend basic trade theory by uncovering and postulating the following quantitative properties:

1. (i) near factor price equalization with free trade;

2. (ii) high levels of specialization and trade across trading partners; and

3. (iii) concentrated benefits and diffused costs of protection.

Free trade can thus be expected to nearly equalize prices of similar inputs across countries and lead to high levels of specialization and trade.     

陕南农村妇女就业权实现途径探索

陕南地区作为经济较为贫困地区,当地农村妇女文化水平普遍不高,妇女主要参与以种植业为主的单一农业劳动。由于不具备农业劳动以外的其他劳动技能,其就业权实现状况不佳,这是制约当地妇女社会地位提高的主体因素之一。结合陕南山区经济的特点,重点发展地方经济,加强职业技能培训,提高文化水平、科技素质、政府财政补贴等途径,提高就业机会,实现农村妇女的就业平等权。     

Welfare measures and the composition of the bottom decile: The example of gender and extreme poverty in South Africa

We examine the composition of the bottom decile in South Africa using three alternative measures of socio-economic status (SES): an asset index, household income per capita and household expenditure per capita. We show that the gender composition of the bottom decile is sensitive to the measure used. We discuss possible reasons for these discrepancies, highlighting gender differences in asset ownership and location. This has implications for the use of asset indices for identifying the poorest members of society.     

苏南、浙北、浙南产业集群发展的共性和个性分析

苏南、浙北和浙南产业集群发展模式是中国具有代表性的产业集群发展模式,三者在促进县域经济发展、与专业市场耦合联动和开拓国际市场方面具有共性,在发展路径、发展模式、组织形式、外部环境和政府作用方面存在较大差异。     

我国基本养老保险基金收支平衡的财务分析

文章根据我国近年来的相关数据资料,通过基金运动的收支平衡关系,对我国目前基本养老保险基金的缴费率进行了计算,并探讨各相关财务指标对基金缴费率的影响程度。     

城市化进程中城郊土地利用问题的探讨

目前,随着经济发展和城市化进程的加速,城郊土地被征用的范围在不断扩大,相应的矛盾和问题也在不断增加。如何采取有效对策,化解土地征用中的矛盾和问题,实现对城郊土地的合理合法利用,是一个亟需深入探讨的重要现实问题。     

后金融危机时代我国能源法的使命

本文从后金融危机时代我国能源发展所面临的问题入手,探讨我国能源法的使命,认为在新的背景下其使命是维护能源安全和能源使用公平。因此,须通过完善我国能源法制建设,推动经济增长方式转变,实现能源利用的可持续发展。     

论多元文化心理咨询在中国的发展

西方的心理学者已经认识到了传统心理咨询的局限,并逐渐形成了多元文化咨询理论.由于我国是一个多民族的国家,有悠久的历史,各地区经济文化发展水平不同,因此在引入多元文化心理咨询时,要考虑到我国的国情,根据我国社会的特点和人们的文化、民族、地区、信仰、性别、受教育程度的不同,有针对性地开展心理咨询,以期推动我国心理咨询事业健康发展.     

论东亚区域合作中的美国因素和主导权问题

东亚区域合作是我国所在的亚太和东亚地区的两大机制(以APEC为代表的亚太合作机制和以东盟+3、东亚峰会为代表的东亚合作机制)之一。重视东亚区域合作是我国大周边战略的关键,但是,相对于亚太合作或亚太合作机制,东亚合作机制的建设难度更大,东亚一体化的目标更加遥不可及,主要难题是如何处理美国因素和解决主导权问题。     

我国国有商业银行产融结合的制度约束与创新

本文选取我国国有商业银行为产融结合的研究对象,并且主要运用制度分析方法,从制度的角度来分析我国国有商业银行产融结合的内在制约因素,指出要着重进行我国国有商业银行的内部制度创新,从更深层次的体制层面,加快推进我国国有商业银行产融结合的进程。     

影响陕西省城市化进程的若干因素分析

影响城市化进程的主要因素包括经济发展水平、工业化和服务业。本文通过分析发现,陕西省城市化水平与人均GDP有明显的正相关关系;城市化前期的主要拉动力量是工业化,而城市化中后期主要依靠服务业发展;但与陕西省城市化相关性更大的是服务业的就业人口比重。因此,提高城市化进程需要大力发展服务业,以增加服务业就业人口。     

新庭审方式下公诉人功能定位新论

根据我国法律规定,公诉人庭审功能应定位为控诉和法律监督.但在新庭审方式下公诉人控诉功能得以实质化的同时,公诉人还应发挥被告人的人权保障功能,而庭审监督则应从其庭审功能中剥离出去.     

湖南西部地区内部经济差异研究论纲

由于采取倾斜发展的战略,湖南西部地区内部已出现明显经济差异,并且差异程度呈扩大趋势,因此必须对该地区内部经济差异基本特征、变化规律及趋势作出准确测定,并适时对经济差异进行客观准确的预警.