1,720,958 research outputs found
An Analysis of Determinants of Private Investment in Zimbabwe for the Period 2009- 2011
No full textAn analysis of Determinations of Private Investment in Zimbabwe for the period 2009-2011 is a published article of the Finance Department.,The study set out to analyse the determinants of private investment post the introduction of the multi-currency
system in Zimbabwe (2009-2011). This was prompted by the sluggish growth in private investment thereby
crippling the economy?s growth on the large. Variables identified for the study include political risk, GDP,
national savings, inflation, interest rates, public investment, trade terms and debt servicing. To enhance the
analysis, the study assumed correlation analysis and multiple regression in an effort to examine how private
investment related to each identified variable as well as the net effect of each variable on private investment.
Though most results from correlation analysis are contrary to the research?s expectations, treating the
variables for co and multicollinearity gave theory aligned results in regression analysis. The study, though not
out rightly disregarding correlation results identifies political risk, interest rate, GDP, debt servicing and trade
terms as key determinants of private investment over the study period. Key though is the realisation that,
statistical significance of results is independent of the practicality of economic principles. In a bid to foster
economic growth and increase private investment, the study recommends the promotion of political stability,
the attraction of FDI, enabling a structured public-private dialogue and promoting Government investment in
infrastructure development among others
Financing structure and financial sustainability: evidence from selected Southern Africa development community microfinance institutions
Get PDFThesis (PhD)--Stellenbosch University, 2017.ENGLISH SUMMARY : Despite the burgeoning interest in microfinance, research has shied away from addressing the relationship between financing structure and the financial sustainability of microfinance institutions (MFIs) as evidence on the same remains sparse. Considering the commercialisation trend, this thesis closes this gap by examining the relationship between the financing structure and financial sustainability for selected Southern Africa Development Community (SADC) MFIs. The effort was informed by the need to have financially sustainable MFIs that can consistently provide financial services to the marginalised, and hence advance outreach in the poverty–stricken region. The thesis comprises a blend of four research papers that address: (1) a conceptual review of ‘financial sustainability’ as applied in microfinance, (2) the essence of the life cycle theory (LCT) in explaining financial sustainability, (3) financing structure and financial sustainability, as well as (4) the relationship between the financing structure and outreach (depth and breadth). Assuming panel data on 60 selected MFIs drawn from the MIX over a period of six years, the study applies robust panel framework (fixed and random effects models) as well as binary–outcome models (probit and logit models). The results show that MFI age alone cannot explain the level of financial sustainability. Rather, the ability to manage default risk by reducing the portfolio at risk as well as embracing cost–efficiency by minimising both operational and financing costs improves chances of financial sustainability. Generally, MFIs are not financially sustainable — supporting evidence from earlier studies. ‘Young’ MFIs emerge more financially sustainable signifying a new trend variant from the propositions of the LCT. Further evidence reveals that financial sustainability is sensitive to the financing sources employed by MFIs as well as the number of active borrowers. Regulatory costs also limit the role of deposits in spurring financial sustainability. Moreover, results demonstrate that outreach depth is significantly constrained by debt financing; whilst equity, deposits and ‘new’ MFIs have a significant positive effect on outeach depth. Outreach breadth is promoted by deposits only; whilst equity, debt and ‘new’ MFIs limit it. The study suggests the adoption of proper credit risk analysis done through credit bureaus and client screening technology to reduce adverse selection and moral hazard. In addition, a strong loan recovery strategy can also limit outstanding loans. Embracing cost–efficiency through the use technology such as mobile banking and cost–cutting innovation in lending may reduce the operating costs for MFIs. Also, financing costs incurred through the use of costly borrowings can be controlled by reducing borrowings, thereby improve chances of attaining financial sustainability. The removal of controls on lending rates and the promotion of efficient financial markets through appropriate regulatory framework go a long way in reducing the cost of borrowing, allow for the raising of equity capital as well as stimulating financial sustainability. Regulation that promotes competition; reduce regulatory costs and allow for the establishment of ancillary financial infrastructure (credit bureaus) helps in improving transparency in the microfinance sector.AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING : Ten spyte van die groeiende belangstelling in mikrofinansies, het navorsing weg van die aanspreek van die verhouding tussen finansiering struktuur en die finansiele volhoubaarheid van microfinanciering instellings (MFI) as getuienis op dieselfde weggeskram bly yl. Met inagneming van die kommersialisering tendens, hierdie tesis sluit hierdie gaping deur die ondersoek van die verhouding tussen die finansiering struktuur en finansiele volhoubaarheid vir geselekteerde Suider-Afrikaanse Ontwikkelingsgemeenskap (SAOG) MFI. Die poging is deur die behoefte om finansieel volhoubaar MFI wat konsekwent kan verskaf finansiele dienste aan die gemarginaliseerde, en dus bevorder uitreik in die armoede-geteisterde gebied het. Die tesis bestaan uit 'n mengsel van vier referate wat spreek: (1) 'n konseptuele oorsig van 'n finansiele volhoubaarheid 'soos toegepas in mikrofinansies, (2) die essensie van die lewensiklus teorie (LCT) in die verduideliking van finansiele volhoubaarheid, (3) finansiering struktuur en finansiele volhoubaarheid, asook (4) die verhouding tussen die finansiering struktuur en uitreik (diepte en breedte). Die aanvaarding van data paneel op 60 gekies MFI uit die mengsel oor 'n tydperk van ses jaar, die studie van toepassing is sterk paneel raamwerk (vaste en ewekansige effekte modelle) asook binere-uitkoms modelle (probit en logit-modelle). Die resultate dui daarop dat MFI ouderdom alleen die vlak van finansiele volhoubaarheid nie kan verduidelik. Inteendeel, die vermoe en die standaard risiko te bestuur deur die vermindering van die portefeulje in gevaar asook die aanvaarding van koste-doeltreffendheid deur die vermindering van beide operasionele en finansieringskoste verhoog kanse op finansiele volhoubaarheid. Oor die algemeen, MFI is nie finansieel volhoubaar - ondersteunende bewyse van vorige studies. 'Jong' MFI na vore meer finansieel volhoubaar aan te dui 'n nuwe tendens variant van die stellings van die LCT. Verdere bewyse toon dat finansiele volhoubaarheid is sensitief vir die finansiering bronne in diens van MFI asook die aantal aktiewe leners. Regulatoriese koste ook die rol van deposito te beperk in stijgende finansiele volhoubaarheid. Verder het die resultate toon dat uitreik diepte aansienlik beperk word deur skuldfinansiering; terwyl aandele, deposito's en 'nuwe' MFI het 'n beduidende positiewe uitwerking op outeach diepte. Outreach breedte word bevorder deur net deposito's; terwyl aandele, skuld en 'nuwe' MFI beperk dit. Die studie dui daarop dat die aanvaarding van behoorlike krediet risiko-analise gedoen deur kredietburo's en klient screening tegnologie om ongunstige seleksie en morele gevaar te verminder. Daarbenewens kan 'n sterk lening herstel strategie ook uitstaande lenings te beperk. Omhels koste-doeltreffendheid deur die gebruik van tegnologie soos mobiele bankdienste en koste te sny innovasie in uitleen kan die bedryfskoste vir MFI verminder. Ook, finansieringskoste gely deur die gebruik van duur lenings kan beheer word deur die vermindering van lenings en sodoende kanse bereiking finansiele volhoubaarheid te verbeter. Die verwydering van kontroles op uitleenkoerse en die bevordering van doeltreffende finansiele markte deur middel van toepaslike regulerende raamwerk gaan 'n lang pad in die vermindering van die koste van lenings, voorsiening te maak vir die verkryging van aandele kapitaal sowel as stimulerend finansiele volhoubaarheid. Regulasie dat mededinging bevorder; verminder regulatoriese koste en voorsiening te maak vir die vestiging van bykomende finansiele infrastruktuur (krediet buro) help in die verbetering van deursigtigheid in die mikrofinansies sektor.Doctora
Going Beyond Counting First Authors in Author Co-citation Analysis
Get PDFThe present study examines one of the fundamental aspects of author co-citation analysis (ACA) - the way co-citation
counts are defined. Co-citation counting provides the data on which all subsequent statistical analyses and mappings
are based, and we compare ACA results based on two different types of co-citation counting - the traditional type that
only counts the first one among a cited work's authors on the one hand and a non-traditional type that takes into
account the first 5 authors of a cited work on the other hand. Results indicate that the picture produced through this non-traditional author co-citation counting contains more coherent author groups and is therefore considerably clearer. However, this picture represents fewer specialties in the research field being studied than that produced through the traditional first-author co-citation counting when the same number of top-ranked authors is selected and analyzed. Reasons for these effects are discussed
Variations on the Author
Get PDF“Variations on the Author” discusses two of Eduardo Coutinho’s recent films (Um Dia na Vida, from 2010, and Últimas Conversas, posthumously released in 2015) and their contribution to the general question of documentary authorship. The director’s filmography is characterized by a consistent yet self-effacing form of authorial self-inscription: Coutinho often features as an interviewer that rather than express opinions propels discourses; an interviewer that is good at listening. This mode of self-inscription characterizes him as an author who is not expressive but who is nonetheless markedly present on the screen. In Um Dia na Vida, however, Coutinho is completely absent form the image, while Últimas Conversas, on the contrary, includes a confessional prologue that moves the director from the margins to the center of his films. This article examines the ways in which these works stand out in the filmography of a director who offers new insights into the notion of cinematic authorship
Appropriate Similarity Measures for Author Cocitation Analysis
Get PDFWe provide a number of new insights into the methodological discussion about author cocitation analysis. We first argue that the use of the Pearson correlation for measuring the similarity between authors’ cocitation profiles is not very satisfactory. We then discuss what kind of similarity measures may be used as an alternative to the Pearson correlation. We consider three similarity measures in particular. One is the well-known cosine. The other two similarity measures have not been used before in the bibliometric literature. Finally, we show by means of an example that our findings have a high practical relevance.information science;Pearson correlation;cosine;similarity measure;author cocitation analysis
Dispelling the Myths Behind First-author Citation Counts
Get PDFWe conducted a full-scale evaluative citation analysis study of scholars in the XML research field to explore just how different from each other author rankings resulting from different citation counting methods actually are, and to demonstrate the capability of emerging data and tools on the Web in supporting more realistic citation counting methods. Our results contest some common arguments for the continued
use of first-author citation counts in the evaluation of scholars, such as high correlations between author rankings by first-author citation counts and other citation
counting methods, and high costs of using more realistic citation counting methods that are not well-supported by the ISI databases. It is argued that increasingly available digital full text research papers make it possible for citation analysis studies to go beyond what the ISI databases have directly supported and to employ more
sophisticated methods
koamabayili/VECTRON-author-checklist: VECTRON author checklist
No full textWe have done our best to complete the author checklist relating to the use of animals in the hut study. Note that the objective for the hut study was to evaluate the IRS treatment applications for residual efficacy against Anopheles mosquitoes, including the local An. coluzzii mosquito population. Cows were only used to attract mosquitoes into the huts and no tests were carried out directly on the cows. The author checklist is intended for use with studies where experiments are carried out on animals, which is why we have had such difficulty in completing this for the hut study, as many of the questions do not relate to how the cows were used
Author-wise bibliometric analysis based on entropy.
No full textAuthor-wise bibliometric analysis based on entropy.</p
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