Domestic tourist spending and economic development: The case of the North West Province

Globally, tourism is the largest and fastest growing industry, outpacing all other industries. In South Africa, tourism is widely regarded as a growth catalyst, able to generate much-needed income and employment opportunities. The market potential of domestic tourism has, however, been downplayed in favour of international tourism. This research argues that tourism – especially domestic tourism – can contribute significantly to regional growth and development in South Africa. A survey was carried out among domestic tourists in the North West Province, one of the poorest provinces in South Africa. This survey was used to draw up a demographic and spending profile of the average domestic tourist in the province, and to determine the possible implications of this spending on different macroeconomic variables in the province.     

The determinants of rural and urban household poverty in the North West province of South Africa

Based on standard poverty measures, the extent of poverty in the North West province is on average worse than in South Africa. For instance, the poverty gap ratio for North West is twice that of the South African average, and the FGT index is three times as high. This article therefore aims to identify the determinants of rural and urban poverty in the North West province of South Africa. Using data gathered from a survey of 593 black households across the province, probit model estimates suggest that the major significant determinants of household poverty in both rural and urban areas are education and household size. A difference between rural and urban poverty is, first, that extra female adults in a rural household raise the probability of poverty. Secondly, having a migrant (out) worker as head of the household in rural areas lowers the probability of poverty, while this does not apply to urban households. A sensitivity analysis for the robustness of the results over a range of poverty lines reveals that the impact of education is much stronger for poorer households than for more wealthy households.     

Rural schools and educational technology: A case study of rural schools in the Molopo district,Mafikeng

This article examines the position and conditions of rural schools around Mafikeng (North-West Province, South Africa) with relation to the Technology Learning Area – a core component of Curriculum 2005. Technology Education (TE) has been undergirded by the launching of the Science and Technology Campaign by the national Ministry of Education at the introductory phase of Curriculum 2005. Given the well-known limitations on the capacity of rural schools to engage meaningfully and productively with both technological and science education, this pilot study investigates the pre-planning and strategising by relevant stakeholders. The article also focuses on the career aspirations of learners, and career guidance and expectations on the part of the teaching staff and parents, with reference to the acquisition of competencies in the Technology Learning Area by learners. Financial contributions by rural communities to school funds and security provisions for these schools which, it is envisaged, will house instructional materials for TE, are confronted and analysed.     

Manufacturing enterprises and marketing planning in a mining area of the North West Province,South Africa: lessons for local business support centres

This paper examines the extent to which manufacturing SMMEs (small, medium and micro enterprises) see marketing planning as important for their businesses in the area of the North West Province known as PKOSH (Potchefstroom, Klerksdorp, Orkney, Stilfontein and Hartbeesfontein). It identifies lessons for local business support centres, based on a case study of manufacturing businesses in this region. The literature suggests that appropriate marketing planning will increase profitability, but it was found that most manufacturing industries in this area do not plan their marketing appropriately. This is largely because of their close relationship with and dependence on the mining industry, which is at present extremely volatile, with mine closures imminent. Against this background, the authors argue that local business support centres should have a much better understanding of local business trends and should provide information to help businesses open up markets beyond their immediate environment.     

南有西湖，北有明湖

1958年．大明湖被正式辟为公园。如今．大明湖即将“还湖于民”。高高的围墙将被拆除．大明湖将从“深闺”中掀起盖头来．成为“城中湖”而不是“园中湖”。     

流动人口子女义务教育问题剖析

本文通过分析我国在保障流动人口子女（主要是农民工子女）义务教育问题方面出台的政策变迁,以及这个问题的解决进程,指出流动人口女子义务教育问题的解决具有长期性和复杂性,并从转变流入地政府观念、拓宽资金渠道、加强数量监控等方面提出切实解决这个问题的政策构想。     

Labour market discrimination in the North West province of South Africa

This article provides an econometric estimate of labour market discrimination in the North West province of South Africa. Using data obtained from the October 1995 Household Survey, it was found that in 1995 statistically significant gender discrimination exists against women in North West's labour market. The male discriminatory wage advantage of 127 per cent and the female discriminatory disadvantage of 195 per cent were ascribed to the overrewarding and underrewarding of some personal characteristics of males and females, respectively. Productivity differentials of 40 per cent in favour of females and a premium paid to women measuring 71 per cent also exist. Discrimination explains 50 per cent of the wage gap between genders, while productivity differentials and the premium account for 13 and 37 per cent respectively. The study supports 'affirmative action' and suggests policies that aim to alter the occupational distributions, and these may need to target educational decisions made prior to labour market entry.     

A note on black economic well-being in the North and West

Conclusion These very positive gains in economic well-being for certain categories of black families do not surprise us. Those in which the head is under 35 and live in the North and the West have had relatively more opportunity open to them as a result of some of the strong enforcement policies of the late sixties and affirmative action programs. This group of the black population, by and large, is better educated, more mobile, and more job-ready. It is, therefore, in a position to be more productive and thereby earn relatively higher incomes when society relaxes some of its discriminating tendencies. No such advantages, however, are available to the households headed by females or older households which comprise the overwhelming members of families in poverty.     

西部中小城市规划创新的若干思考

着眼于中国西部中小城市规划工作在深化政府行政管理体制改革、加强城市规划培训、加强规划编制基础工作、有针对性地研究适合西部中小城市特点的规划编制管理办法等方面进行探讨,并提出进一步提高中小城市规划工作水平的改革创新思路。     

Human resource development and growth: improving access to and equity in the provision of education and health services in South Africa

This paper demonstrates the importance of improving access to and equity in the provision of essential services such as education and health for enhancing human development. A major constraint to accelerating and sustaining economic growth in South Africa is the shortage of skilled human resources. Human capital formation (through appropriate education, training and health) is vital for growth. However, for sustained growth to reduce poverty and unemployment, human capital of a ‘higher order’ than the system is currently producing, in both quantitative and qualitative terms, must be generated. The paper reviews progress in the education and health sectors and identifies the challenges. It stresses the need for policy makers to recognise the link between education and health outcomes and the provision of clean water, adequate sanitation, cheap and accessible transport and effective nutrition programmes. Addressing only the education and health services is unlikely to lead to optimal outcomes in these sectors.     

Determinants of labour force participation in the North West province of South Africa

Based on data extracted from the 1995 October Household Survey of Statistics South Africa, this study has found that potential income is a major factor in labour force participation by African women in the North West province of South Africa. Other significant determinants of participation for both genders are age, education, region, marital status and relationship to the head of the household. The results imply that significant discrimination against African women still exists in the North West province, which partly explains the much lower participation rate for African women (64 per cent), compared with that of African men (86,5 per cent). The study supports the North West government's development strategy of developing human resources to eradicate poverty.     

安徽省农村居民消费结构的ELFS模型解析

本文在分析安徽省农村居民消费水平和结构的具体特点的基础上,从消费者的效用最大化原则出发,引入了Luich的扩展线性支出系统(ELES)模型,并运用模型及其关联信息,对农村居民生活消费结构变动规律、现状作了实证分析.据此指出目前安徽省农村居民消费结构存在的问题和缺陷.     

西市场:引领西部新商圈

作为老济南人,一提到西市场,可谓无人不知,无人不晓。从某种意义上说．西市场在济南人的心中有着举足轻重的地位,即使现在出现很多类似的市场以及大型商超,济南人对西市场的感情依旧深厚。西市场经历了近百年的发展历史,如今已经成为了济南西部乃至全省。全国重要的小商品批发市场,周围随之兴起的商圈同时极大带动了西部甚至整个济南的经济发展。可以说．西市场的发展壮大引领了包括西部在内的整个济南新商圈的发展壮大。     

我国农村房屋买卖合同中存在的问题及解决途径

农村房屋买卖合同在农村房屋买卖中占有很重要的地位,历年来都是农村房屋买卖的根基。随着农村经济的发展和城乡交流的加强,农村房屋买卖逐渐增多。由于我国现行规定之间存在相互冲突甚至矛盾的情况,并且对农村房屋买卖合同的制度保障不够,因此其间引发的纠纷越来越多,现实中法院对此判决不一,执行较困难,政府部门对此买卖合同采用的办法与经济发展之现实以及农房买卖发展有密切的关系,因而进一步地加强与完善此方面的立法理论研究对建立社会主义新农村有着重要的现实意义。文章就我国农村房屋买卖合同中存在的问题作出分析,以期为解决农村房屋买卖中存在的诸多纠纷提供一些意见与建议。     

More similar and less equal: Economic growth in the European regions

More Similar and Less Equal: Economic Growth in the European Regions. — This paper examines the growth process of 109 European regions using a new data base. Applying various statistical tools, it concentrates on per capita income and labor productivity. The main results are the following: There has been a clear process of aggregate productivity convergence across the European regions over the 1980s. At the sectoral level, there has not been convergence in agriculture, while the industrial and services sectors show ß-convergence. Most crucially, the regional dispersion in per capita income has remained almost constant so that the differences in wealth conditions of the European citizens are still extremely high.     

Declining rates of return to education: evidence for Indonesia

In 1977, American labour economist Richard Freeman documented a fall in the return to education in the US, and attributed it to the expansion of the country's education sector. This article shows, similarly, that the returns to education in Indonesia generally declined between 1993 and 2007–08, following the large-scale expansion of the sector. The changes, however, were reasonably modest, and sometimes differed between males and females. This suggests that both recent growth in the education sector (which by itself could depress the return to education) and uneven growth across the Indonesian economy (which could differentially increase demand for graduates at various levels of education) have played a role in determining the pattern of change over time in the profitability of education in Indonesia.     

融资：东北老工业基地改造的重心——兼谈东北振兴的必要性

东北是中国工业的摇篮，那里最早形成独立、完整的工业体系，被称为共和国的长子。可是，最近十多年来，随着东南沿海地区经济的崛起，东北经济的传统地位被迅速取代。在中国经济的版图上，东北正面临着边缘化的危险。为此，最近国家提出了振兴东北的战略，尤其是温家宝总理在东北老工业基地改造座谈会上的讲话，为东北老工业基地调整和改造战略定下了基调。