Electronic Theses and Dissertations (Masters)

Permanent URI for this collectionhttps://hdl.handle.net/10539/37936

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    Original equipment manufacturers' perspectives of barriers to the adoption of electric vehicles in South Africa
    (University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, 2023) Kupa, Ramaabele Yolanda; Soko, Milford
    The introduction of EV’s to the automotive industry is not new, there is evidence that the first electric vehicle was developed more than three decades ago (Chege, 2021), however the pursuits of its development at the current moment have become increasingly aggressive due to some of the technological breakthroughs and environmental advantages it brings forth. The environmental degradation due to global warming caused by greenhouse gas emissions has become a global concern and mission to address. Automotive vehicles are amongst the highest contributors to these emissions. EV’s offer solutions to environmental degradation. Electric vehicles offer less noise pollution, smaller carbon footprint through the life cycle of the vehicle compared to their combustion engine counterparts. Furthermore, EV’s have challenged countries to rethink their energy distributions entirely. Due to the benefits EV’s bring forth, adoption has thus increased across the world over the years. Much of this increase in adoption numbers is owed to assistance offered by government and OEMs in the form of incentive schemes during the purchase phase and in ownership costs. There are however challenges which continue to hinder other countries from adopting electric vehicles, especially developing countries such as South Africa. This paper unpacks issues around the poor adoption of EV’s from an OEM’s perspective in South Africa. The seven local OEM’s stakeholders are some of the greatest enablers for the adoption. South Africa is known as the gateway to Africa through its diversified supply chain, it further houses the highest number of OEMs in Africa. Studies from the 2022 Delloitte’s consulting report shows that combustion engine vehicles are still leading in sales locally, and government’s focus is more on the export market (Deloitte , 2019). The EV market might be growing globally post Covid-19 throughout the world but local sales contribution is small. The study uses semi structured qualitative interviews conducted with 15 industry experts from different OEM’s, government, and academia. It then uses the TOE framework and literature from published papers and journals to unpack these findings. Issues which emerged from the analysis include lack of charging infrastructure, energy complexities with regards to an overloaded energy grid which cannot further support EV adoption or home charging. Other issues included government support with regards to regulations, enforcement and enabling policy development. Lack of public acceptance of EV’s due to high ownership costs such as import tax. Other issues noted include lack of incentives as compared to countries with leading EV sales. Product development issues such as batteries and driving range were noted. This study is aimed at enabling decision makers in the academic institutions, automotive OEMs, and government bodies on key topics that could promote EV sales locally if addressed. It further identifies the linkages and relationships of the issues. These recommendations made stand to benefit OEMs through improved sales which can drive production volumes and thus employment in the automotive industry. Future studies can be conducted to rank the identified issues for a more focused approach. They can also examine issues from a customer’s perspective, drawing on Insights from the business vs customer, or simply demand vs Supply
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    Is the Fed Hindering Development? Impacts of US interest rates on growth, income distribution and macroeconomic policy space in developing countries: a demand-led growth model
    (University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, 2023) Vaz, João Emboava; Hein, Eckhard; Lavoie, Marc; Tinel, Bruno
    The US Fed has responded to recent inflation pressures with the most rapid interest rate hike since the 1979-82 Volcker’s disinflation. The hike in the beginning of the 1980s was followed by harsh external crises in the developing world, especially in Latin America. The current situation adds tot that the role the US monetary policy plays on quickly shifting massive capital flows in a world of open and volatile capital accounts (Rey, 2015). On the other hand, interest rate levels remain low on historical levels and developing countries come from decades of relative growth and record international reserve accumulation. Following the recent development in external policy space debates, this thesis aims to understand how a deterioration of external conditions, especially through higher foreign interest rates, may impact growth, income distribution, and macroeconomic policy space in developing countries.
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    An analysis of transient and chronic multidimensional poverty in South Africa between 2008 and 2017
    (University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, 2024) Munzhelele, Tumelo
    This study derives a Multidimensional Poverty Index (MPI) for each wave using data from the South African National Income Dynamics Study (NIDS) between 2008 to 2017. The MPI is measured using the counting method of Alkire and Foster (2011). In addition, the duration approach of Foster (2009) is used to measure, depending on the MPI, whether households suffer multidimensional chronic or transient poverty. Furthermore, variables that increase a household's likelihood of experiencing chronic or transient multidimensional poverty as opposed to never experiencing multidimensional poverty are found using multinomial logit regression analysis. The results show that the MPI decreased from approximately 7% to 4% between 2008 and 2017. Additionally, the share of South African households which experienced multidimensional poverty decreased from approximately 15% to 10% between 2008 and 2017. However, the intensity of poverty has only decreased by two percentage points from 44% during the same period. This indicates that there has not been much progress in the number of dimensions in which poor households are deprived even as multidimensional poverty decreased. Years spent in school for adults living in the household and unemployment were the dimensions which contributed the most towards the MPI for households that were either chronically or transiently poor. Approximately 73% of households in South Africa never experienced Multidimensional Poverty between 2008 and 2017. Based on the specified deprivation score cut-off, between 1% and 13% of South African households were living in chronic multidimensional poverty. Transient multidimensional poverty affected more than 25% of South Africans. Notably, a higher portion of South Africa's multidimensional poverty is transitory in nature. Black households and female-headed households had the highest incidence of both chronic and transient multidimensional poverty. The multinomial logit model indicates that the likelihood of experiencing chronic or transient multidimensional poverty is higher among households led by individuals without formal education, those with an economically inactive head, and those based in rural areas.
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    The role of loyalty programmes on retail fuel site profitability in Gauteng
    (University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, 2021) Mtungwa, Muzi; Lamola, Medupi
    Loyalty programmes are one of a number of instruments used by businesses to retain existing customers, attract new customers and in the process retain them over a long term to sustain business profitability. They have been extensively investigated in the developed world with models developed to explain their role in customer retention. In the developing world, they are still being studied to understand if the models that have been developed in the developed world can be extended to the developing countries. Loyalty programmes were extended to the fuel retail industry in 2010 by First National Bank (FNB) and its oil partner, Engen Petroleum. The role of these programmes in the fuel retail industry and their correlation to profitability, whether positive or negative has received little attention from researchers. Here, the author reports on the correlation of these programmes to business profitability. The report shows that there is a positive correlation between these programmes and the profitability of an oil company, while at the same time the report supports the assertion by the non-loyalty programme oil companies that these programmes have a negative effect on their business. These non- loyalty programme oil companies which have a market share of less than 7 percent have been forced to exit the retail industry due to the introduction of these programmes by the major oil companies and their partners. The findings recommend that the role of these programmes in the fuel retail industry is further researched as the authourities do not allow for discounting of the retail price of petrol
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    An assessment of the determinants of IT entrepreneurs' level of awareness of the most common causes of start-ups failures in Johannesburg, South Africa
    (University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, 2023) Mkhavele, Nhlamulo
    In South Africa, more than 70% to 80% of small to medium-sized businesses (SMMEs) fail within the first three years. In order to gain insight into the level of awareness of IT start-up entrepreneurs regarding the causes of SMME failure, this study conducted an empirical review of the literature and developed a hypothetical framework, the study builds on the work done by Justino Vicente on the factors influencing the failure of small enterprises in order to achieve its objective. It then makes recommendations for future research on the topic. In the aftermath of several economic adversities, prominent among them unemployment, poverty, and HIV and AIDS, SMME failure and success are key among national strategic concerns in the Republic of South Africa, where this study is being conducted in the Johannesburg region. The research employed a quantitative research methodology and the main instruments for gathering data was a survey/ questionnaire, and the snowball sampling method was used. 100 ICT start-ups owners and managers received surveys. The statistical package for the social sciences (SPSS) program was employed to analyse the quantitative data collected. Tables, pie charts, and bar charts were used to display the statistically descriptive results. Due to the many different reasons why SMMEs fail, this study focused its conclusions on the following factors: determinants of IT entrepreneurs' level of awareness of the most common causes of start-ups failures in Johannesburg, South Africa, determinants of accessibility to information of the most common causes of start-up failures and the willingness of entrepreneurs to consume information related to start-up failures were also presented. Among the results of failure include unemployment, societal ills, poverty, and loss of revenue. The study concludes by recommending various interventions to improve the level of awareness
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    Benchmarking the Technical Efficiency of South African Municipal Water Utilities: A Double-Bootstrap Dea Approach
    (University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, 2023-03) Matutu, Amanda; Dikgang, Johane
    Efficiency enhancement in the water sector can help to optimise the use of available resources and mitigate the impact of climate change on water resources, while promoting sustainable water usage. Ultimately, this can lead to cost savings that may be channelled into enhancing service delivery and expanding access to water. Benchmarking is considered a useful method for improving water sector efficiency. The production frontier approach is the most commonly used technique for benchmarking, which can be computed using either non-parametric techniques, including data envelopment analysis (DEA), or parametric methods, including stochastic frontier analysis (SFA). A review of the literature reveals that DEA has become the most frequently used method for efficiency analysis in the water sector. Though a predictable approach, the DEA method may be influenced by measurement errors and anomalies, and it cannot be used to draw statistical conclusions. To address this problem, the double-bootstrap DEA technique was introduced, which permits statistical inference in DEA models. This technique helps the researcher to estimate efficiency scores that have been corrected for bias, and also identifies the factors that influence efficiency. For these reasons, this research employs double-bootstrap DEA to evaluate the efficiency scores of municipal water utilities in the South African water sector. The truncated double-bootstrap regression outcomes show that water consumer debt, consuming units receiving free water, and the effects of climate change (such as temperature variation and altered rainfall patterns) all impact the relative efficiencies of municipal water utilities. The results indicate notable distinctions in rankings and efficiency scores between the double-bootstrap DEA model and the traditional DEA model for both urban and rural municipal water utilities. Using the regression model, this research discovered that water consumer debt and consuming units receiving free water are significant factors influencing the efficiency of urban and rural municipal water utilities. These findings raise concerns about the prospects of South African municipal water utilities, particularly their ability to strike a balance between supporting indigent households and securing revenue for maintenance and future water infrastructure development, as well as efficiently managing water consumer debt and addressing the effects of climate change to deliver desired results consistently and sustainably.
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    Examining the relationship between household debt and economic performance in South Africa
    (University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, 2023-02) Karombe, Stephen; Fasanya, Ismail
    High level of debt has been a major concern in the South Africa recent times. The prevalence of high debt levels hinders savings and investments, thus exerting a detrimental influence on economic growth. This surge in debt can be attributed to the consumer boom experienced in the past decade and the recent proliferation of credit cards, which have made it easier for consumers to access goods and services. This study evaluates the link between household debt and economic performance and characterises the implications of changes in household debt on economic growth in South Africa using the Toda Yamamoto VAR framework, using quarterly data covering the period 2008Q1 to 2022Q2. The connection between household debt and economic growth lies in the Life Cycle Hypothesis. The following findings are discernible from the analysis. First, the study finds that there is a bi-directional relationship between economic growth and mortgage loans and a unidirectional relationship between economic growth and household debt to disposable income ratio. Second, household debt to disposable income has a significant impact on economic growth, whilst the debt service ratio insignificantly affects economic growth with a smaller margin. Third, economic growth responds positively to mortgage loans, while a positive response to household debt exists which is transitory and positive. These results suggest that policymakers should encourage economic agents to take mortgage loans to boost economic growth in the short run. Household debt may be used to boost the economy in the short run but may deter economic growth in the long run. In the meantime, nothing maybe be done in items of debt service ratio as it has no significant impact, however, constant monitoring may be applied to avoid creeping in of debt overhang in the future. Access to household debt should be monitored and controlled since high debt significantly impacts economic growth in the long run
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    Associations between economic preferences and behavioural health intentions among young adults living in an informal settlement
    (University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, 2023-03) Andrady, Wayne Jude; Booysen, Frikkie
    The emergence of non-communicable diseases in South Africa, most notably among the urban poor, is resulting in an increased burden of diseases. Since NCDs can develop in distinct periods of the life course, post-adolescence-intentions to engage in health behaviours need to be investigated. Furthermore, there is consistent evidence that health behaviours are associated with economic preferences. Yet, it is unclear whether economic preferences are also associated with behavioural health intentions. Objectives: The study aims to examine how risk-taking and patience are associated with behavioural health intentions among young adults in a poor informal urban settlement in South Africa. The study also explores whether there are gender differences in behavioural health intentions and whether these economic preferences contribute to gender gaps in behavioural health intentions. Data and Methods: The study utilized secondary survey data collected from a sample of 240 young adults using a structured questionnaire. The study collected data on behavioural intentions for seven health- protective and health-harming behaviours. Risk-taking and patience are measured using qualitative, quantitative and combined measures from the Global Preference Survey. Ordered probit and seemingly unrelated regression models were estimated and t-tests were employed to quantify gender gaps, followed by the Blinder-Oaxaca decomposition analysis. Findings The study reveals that economic preferences have a moderate association with behavioural health intentions among young adults. However, these results seem contradictory to priori expectations and further research is required. Our findings emphasize the importance of recognizing and addressing the limitations associated with imperfect measures of economic preferences when investigating their association with health behavioural intentions
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    Perceived returns to mathematics and student achievement: the South African case
    (University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, 2023) Gamieldien, Mohamed Faarez; Casale, Daniela
    This study investigates the relationship between students’ perceived returns to mathematics – the future benefits a student believes they will obtain from studying mathematics – and mathematics achievement in South Africa. The study expands the scarce literature on the role of non-cognitive skills (and specifically extrinsic motivation) in education in South Africa. The 2019 Trends in International Mathematics and Science Study (TIMSS) South Africa dataset was used to perform Ordinary Least Squares (OLS), Instrumental Variable (IV), and Fixed Effects (FE) estimations of the model. The study finds that perceived returns to mathematics has a positive and statistically significant relationship with mathematics achievement. Further, it was found that the positive relationship that intrinsic motivation has with mathematics achievement is increased when perceived returns to mathematics is high, but that students with low intrinsic motivation for mathematics do not perform significantly differently when their perceived returns to mathematics is higher. This provides important insight into the interaction between different types of cognitive skills. Additionally, high perceived returns to mathematics had a large and significant positive relationship with mathematics achievement for students in rural schools, and the positive relationship between perceived returns to mathematics and mathematics achievement shrunk as one progressed to a more urban school location. This shows that perceived returns to mathematics matter more for students in challenging circumstances, but, importantly, the study finds that students with high perceived returns to mathematics in rural schools still perform worse than students with low perceived returns to mathematics in urban schools. This is an important finding in the South African context where gross inequalities in education persist: non-cognitive skills are important for educational achievement, but more needs to be done to improve the functionality of poor schools in South Africa
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    The Contribution of lifestyle risk factors on Wealth-related inequalities in Self-assessed Health and Chronic Diseases in South Africa
    (University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, 2023-05) Rosaros, Gosego Mmereki Andrew; Rossouw, Laura
    There is a growing epidemiological transition from communicable diseases to non- communicable diseases (NCDs) in low- and middle-income countries. The expected pace and scale of the shift to NCDs will overwhelm the healthcare systems of many lower-income countries. A significant contributor to NCDs is lifestyle risk factors such as episodic drinking, smoking, and an unhealthy diet. This study aims to measure the contribution of current alcohol and cigarette consumption to wealth-related health inequalities in South Africa. The health measures used will be self-assessed health (SAH) and specific NCDs. This study uses data from 4178 male and 6087 female participants captured in the South African Demographic and Health Survey (DHS) in 2016. This study estimated the wealth-related health inequalities using the Erreygers’ corrected concentration index (CCI) and then estimated the Wagstaff decomposition of the concentration index to establish the contribution of alcohol and cigarette consumption to wealth-related inequalities in health outcomes. The concentration index findings indicate that the burden of morbidity is statistically significantly concentrated among individuals in wealthier quintiles for several health outcomes, except respiratory problems, which is significantly concentrated among lower wealth quintiles for males. The Wagstaff decomposition reveals that current alcohol consumption and cigarette consumption contributions to wealth-related health inequalities are smaller than the contributions of some socioeconomic and demographic factors, including wealth, educational attainment, marital status, and age. In conclusion, this study proposes that redistributing wealth towards poor individuals will likely decrease South Africa's income-related health inequalities and implement anti-smoking campaigns and advertising policies