AN EMPIRICAL ANALYSIS OF THE DETERMINANTS OF EARNING AND EMPLOYMENT: DOES TRADE PROTECTION MATTER?

Empirical studies that directly analyze the effect of trade policies on earnings and employment across countries is notably absent in the international trade literature. Most of the previous work focuses on the effects of trade policy on income distribution and economic growth. This paper differs from the earlier studies in that it directly analyzes the effect of trade policies on earnings in the manufacturing and agricultural sectors, and on the unemployment rate. A theoretical model that accounts for cross-sector labor migration and urban unemployment is developed. Reduced form equations derived from the model are analyzed empirically via cross-country regression analysis. Besides trade policy, machine use in the agricultural sector, per capita land holdings, capital investments in the manufacturing sector and the adult literacy rate are the other explanatory variables incorporated in the empirical analysis.Tariffs, Employment, Earnings, Rural, Urban

Interaction between length and curvature in haptic shape perception

Kappers, A.M.L. [Promotor]Bergmann Tiest, W.M. [Copromotor

Teachers' perspectives on the implementation of life orientation as a learning area

The aim of this research project then was to investigate a particular dimension related to the implementation of the Life Orientation learning area within a particular rural primary school in the Kwa-Zulu Natal region. Since the teacher has been identified as a key role player in the successful or unsuccessful implementation of a new curriculum, the primary focus was on the teacher per se. Fullan’s emphasis (1991:117) on teachers’ thoughts (what they think) and actions (what they do), raises two subsequent questions, namely What do teachers at this particular school do with regard to the implementation of the (new) Life Orientation learning area? and What do these teachers think about the implementation of the (new) Life Orientation learning area? In this study, I focused on the second question, namely What do teachers think about the implementation of the (new) Life Orientation learning area? Within the context of this study, it is assumed that the teachers’ thoughts also include their opinions, viewpoints, attitudes and beliefs about the implementation of the Life Orientation curriculum. The term ‘perspective’ has thus been used as encompassing term and the main research question defined as What are teachers’ perceptives about the implementation of the (new) Life Orientation learning area?

The internal and external consistency of a speech reception threshold test for isiZulu speakers with normal hearing sensitivity

Background and objectives: This study investigated reliability, particularly the internal and external consistency, of a new isiZulu speech reception threshold (SRT) test. Methods: To examine internal consistency, 21 adult isiZulu speakers with normal hearing sensitivity completed the SRT test using the first and second halves of the SRT wordlist in the same test session. To examine external consistency, a separate 23 adult isiZulu speakers with normal hearing sensitivity completed the SRT test, using the whole word list on two occasions 4 weeks apart. Consistency of SRT test scores in these test conditions was measured using intraclass correlation coefficient analyses (a measure of the consistency or reproducibility of different observations of the same quantity) and Bland and Altman analyses of agreement (a comparison of measurement error with the expected variation amongst subjects). Results: Intraclass correlation coefficient values ranged from 0.69 to 0.79, showing the isiZulu test scores were highly consistent between the test and retest conditions used in this study. Bland and Altman analyses showed that isiZulu speakers with normal hearing sensitivity can be expected to return isiZulu SRT test scores that differ by no more than 7.5 dB HL - 8.7 dB HL between original and repeat assessments. Conclusion: The isiZulu SRT test was reliable, showing high internal and external consistency, when used to assess first-language speakers of isiZulu with normal hearing sensitivity. These findings warrant continued development of the isiZulu SRT test for eventual clinical use. This development should include validating this test on first-language speakers of isiZulu with and without hearing loss

Biochemical variation during ovarian vitellogenic growth in a hill stream teleost Garra mullya (Sykes) due to cadmium toxicity

Some biochemical variations during ovarian vitellogenic growth in hill-stream teleost Garra mullya due to sublethal concentration of cadmium has been discussed. Total protein, cholesterol and glycogen in ovary and liver along with gonadosomatic index (GSI) and hepatosomatic index (HSI) in Cd-treated fish exhibited significant decrease while liver glycogen remained unaltered

Impact Implementation of PSAK 70 Related to Tax Amnesty on Reporting of the Firm (Case Study on CV Btari Senja)

This study aims to test how big the impact of the application of PSAK (Statement of Financial Accounting Standards) 70 to the Financial Statement of CV Btari Senja before and after tax amnesty applied. The sampling technique used is the triangulation time technique (triangle time). The sample is determined using the credibility method. This research uses the data of CV Btari Senja Financial Report in 2015 and 2016. The results of this study stated that the application of PSAK 70 related tax amnesty greatly affect the Financial Statements at CV Btari Senja, especially in Reports of Debt and Assets

Factors that promote or hinder maternal health service provision by female community health volunteers in rural Nepal

Female Community Health Volunteers (FCHVs) provide basic Maternal Health Services (MHSs) to pregnant women and mothers in their communities. Their contribution to maternal health has been praised, as Nepal managed to reduce its maternal mortality by more than two-thirds and met the Millennium Development Goal 5. However, little published evidence is available on FCHVs’ views and the factors that promote or hinder their services. This thesis explores the role of FCHVs in MHS provision in two regions (the hill and Terai ) of Nepal, from the perspectives of health workers, service users, and FCHVs themselves. A qualitative approach was adopted using semi-structured interviews, focus group discussions (FGDs) and field notes. Interviews were conducted with 20 FCHVs, 11 health workers and 26 women in villages from the two study regions. In addition, four FGDs were held with 19 FCHVs and field notes were taken throughout the data collection. Data were analysed using thematic analysis. Findings indicate that FCHVs play an important role in MHS provision in the hill villages where there is limited access to professional healthcare. The FCHVs detected pregnancies, referred them for health check-ups, accompanied them for deliveries and assisted in child-births. They also distributed medicines and informed women on the availability of safe abortion services. In both regions, the FCHVs raised health awareness among pregnant women/mothers casually or through organised meetings. In the hill villages, they used interesting casual approaches to share maternal health information, for example, singing folk songs with health messages in them or visiting new mothers with nutritious food hampers. Such services were beneficial to the women in the remote villages, who otherwise would not have received any healthcare. The FCHVs also shared maternal health messages through regularly organised mothers' group meetings. Unfortunately, these meetings were also used for monetary discussions, which left a little time for discussion on health topics. Such activity combined with the lack of FCHVs’ education often proved to be counterproductive on their service provision. They have a desire to volunteer, as they saw their service as social responsibility, felt empowered and enjoyed community recognition. However, a lack of financial and non-financial incentives was the key hindrance for them followed by perceived community misconceptions regarding their voluntary status. The FCHVs’ illiteracy and older age also affected their services. Finally, various health systems related factors also hindered their services: a lack of access to medical supplies, inadequate training and supervision. In general, volunteers in the terai region were less supported than those in the hill region. In addition, a perceived lack of respect by some health workers towards volunteers and a lack of coordination between government health centres and NGOs were noted. Overall, the study found that most interviewees perceived FCHVs as a valuable resource in improving the maternal health of the poor women. In some remote hill villages, they are the only MHS providers. Therefore, their contribution to MHS needs to be recognised and respected by both the health workers and the communities. It is important that FCHVs are provided with context specific support - incentives, access to supplies and supportive supervision - to enable them to deliver services more productively and to ensure that these services flourish in the future