The effects of international remittances on expenditure patterns of the left-behind households in Sub-Saharan Africa
- Authors: Ajefu, Joseph B. , Ogebe, Joseph O.
- Date: 2021
- Subjects: Expenditure , Households , International remittances
- Language: English
- Type: Journal article
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10210/490459 , uj:44754 , Citation: Ajefu, J.B., Ogebe, J.O., 2021. The effects of international remittances on expenditure patterns of the left-behind households in Sub-Saharan Africa. , DOI: 10.1111/rode.12721 , ISSN:13636669
- Description: Abstract: This article explores the effects of international remittances on the expenditure patterns of households in Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA). This article focuses on five countries in SSA, which are some of the destinations that account for the highest receipt of international remittances. We analyze both aggregate and distributional effects of international remittances on expenditure patterns of households. To investigate the distributional effect of international remittances, we adopt the instrumental variable quantile (IV-quantile) regression framework that allows us to simultaneously address the endogeneity of international remittances and possible heterogeneity in the impact of international remittances on households’ expenditure patterns. We instrument for international remittances by using the economic conditions in migrants’ countries as an instrument for international remittances. Our results show that the receipt of international remittances increases expenditures on food, durables, education, and health. Using the IV-quantile regression, we find the effects of international remittances on household expenditure on food, durables, education, and health increase across the different expenditure quantiles.
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The relationship between savings and economic growth at the disaggregated level
- Authors: Guma, Nomvuyo , Bonga-Bonga, Lumengo
- Date: 2017
- Subjects: Savings , Corporates , Households
- Language: English
- Type: Articles
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10210/241427 , uj:24855 , Citation: Guma, N. 2017. The relationship between savings and economic growth at the disaggregated level.
- Description: Abstract: While the literature, both international and in South Africa, is relatively rich in studies on the determinants of foreign direct investment as well as the determinants of savings, none of the work done on South Africa has made use of disaggregated savings data to understand whether there is an observable difference in the marginal propensity to save of the different economic sectors. Thus, this paper attempts to assess the marginal propensity to save by the household, corporate and government sectors in South Africa. The results of the econometric analysis demonstrate that the greatest responsiveness of savings to GDP growth occurs amongst corporates. These findings should inform the South African government on how to regulate sectoral taxation that intends to encourage savings, given the low level of savings in the country.
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Household cooking fuel use patterns and determinants across Southern Africa : evidence from the demographic and health survey data
- Authors: Makonese, Tafadzwa , Ifegbesan, Ayodeji P. , Rampedi, Isaac T.
- Date: 2017
- Subjects: Households , Choice determinants , Cooking fuel
- Language: English
- Type: Article
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10210/254331 , uj:26617 , Citation: Makonese, T., Ifegbesan, A.P. & Rampedi, I.T. 2017. Household cooking fuel use patterns and determinants across Southern Africa : evidence from the demographic and health survey data.
- Description: Abstract: Improving access to modern energy sources is critical to enhancing the quality of life of many people in developing countries. In southern Africa, the majority of rural and poor urban households are dependent on solid fuels to meet their cooking needs. To date, there is scarce information in the literature on household cooking fuel patterns across southern Africa. Using household fuel data from the Demographic and Health Survey (DHS), this study investigated cooking fuel types and the determinants of their choice by households in selected countries in sub-Saharan Africa. The data on household cooking energy were subjected to descriptive and inferential statistics. Results show that 25% of sampled households in all seven countries have access to electricity, while 66% rely on biomass for cooking. Chi-Square analyses revealed a statistically significant relationship between place of residence and type of cooking fuel, and between access to electricity and type of cooking fuel. Results from multiple regression analysis showed that socio-demographic factors such as access to electricity, household size, the level of education, and wealth index have a positive influence on the type of cooking fuel used in this region. However, access to electricity does not imply that households will negate the use of traditional fuels. These results have implications for household air pollution, health, policy and environmental sustainability. It is recommended that energy interventions in this region need to consider demand factors and have to be less supply driven, advocating for continued use of multiple fuels from a suite of options.
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Household cooking fuel use patterns and determinants across Southern Africa : evidence from the demographic and health survey data
- Authors: Makonese, Tafadzwa , Ifegbesan, Ayodeji P. , Rampedi, Isaac T.
- Date: 2018
- Subjects: Households , Choice determinants , Cooking fuel
- Language: English
- Type: Article
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10210/270644 , uj:28771 , Citation: Makonese, T., Ifegbesan, A.P. & Rampedi, I.T. 2018. Household cooking fuel use patterns and determinants across Southern Africa : evidence from the demographic and health survey data. Energy & Environment, 29(1):29–48. DOI: 10.1177/0958305X17739475
- Description: Abstract: Improving access to modern energy sources is critical to enhancing the quality of life of many people in developing countries. In southern Africa, the majority of rural and poor urban households are dependent on solid fuels to meet their cooking needs. This has adverse effects on health, productivity, and environmental sustainability. To date, there is scarce information in the literature on household cooking fuel patterns and choice determinants across the southern African region. Using household fuel data from the Demographic and Health Survey (DHS), this study investigated cooking fuel types and the determinants of their choice by households in selected countries in sub-Saharan Africa. The data on household cooking energy were subjected to descriptive and inferential statistics. Results show that 25% of sampled households in all seven countries have access to electricity, while 66% rely on biomass for cooking. Chi-Square analyses revealed a statistically significant relationship between place of residence and type of cooking fuel, and between access to electricity and type of cooking fuel. Results from multiple regression analysis showed that socio-demographic factors such as access to electricity, household size, level of education, and wealth index have a positive influence on the type of cooking fuel used in this region. However, access to electricity does not imply that households will negate the use of traditional fuels. These results have implications for household air pollution, health, policy and environmental sustainability. It is recommended that energy interventions in this region need to consider demand factors and have to be less supply driven, advocating for continued use of multiple fuels from a suite of options.
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Extending credit to the low-income and poor households in South Africa: a system of principles
- Authors: Mashigo, Mariann Polly
- Date: 2008-06-10T05:46:53Z
- Subjects: Poor in South Africa , Credit , Households
- Type: Thesis
- Identifier: uj:9521 , http://hdl.handle.net/10210/594
- Description: In this study, extending credit to the low-income and poor households in South Africa: a system of principles is analysed. Access to credit plays a major role in improving the living standards of the households that are plagued by financial shocks. Access to credit enables the low-income and poor households to bridge the effects of financial shocks and/or emergencies such as illness, funerals, fire and theft and to improve household conditions in general. Currently, the low-income and poor households in South Africa find it difficult to access credit from the formal financial sector. The fundamental problem underlying inaccessibility of credit is ascribed to uncertainty, which presents complications in the delivery of such credit to the households. Different theoretical aspects like fundamental uncertainty, incomplete (asymmetric) information, limits to perfect arbitrage, bounded rationality, and market microstructures, for example, give rise to the uncertainty problem which then makes it difficult for formal financial institutions (as lenders) and borrowers to conduct financial transactions and, therefore, limits the provision of credit, especially to the low-income and poor households. The uncertainty problem implies that the low-income and poor households remain deprived of need-based credit and are further marginalised. The main objective of the study is to derive a system of principles that can act as a first point of reference in dealing with the uncertainty problem, thereby assisting in improving access to credit by the low-income and poor households in South Africa. The study adopts both qualitative and quantitative methods of research which are clearly expressed and substantiated to validate the study. To overcome the problem of uncertainty, the study recommends the development of a system of principles as a strategic instrument of dealing with the problem and to improve access to credit by the low-income and poor households in South Africa. Such a system is based on the seven principles, namely, socialisation, collateral substitution, decentralisation, localisation, customisation, training and government/judicial policies as an important benchmark to initiate the transformation of the uncertainty problem associated with extending credit to the low-income and poor households. The importance of such a system is based on the fact that the principles are interrelated, for example, they use peer pressure and monitoring as substitutes for collateral in securing credit and also minimises the transaction and administrative costs of financial contracts. Lending and borrowing activities take place under perfect and certain environment. , Dr. C.H. Schoeman
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Assessment of household energy poverty levels in Louiville, Mpumalanga, South Africa
- Authors: Mgwambani, Shalala , Kasangana, Kevin K. , Masekameni, Daniel , Makonese, Tafadzwa , Gulumian, Mary , Mbonane, Thokozani P.
- Date: 2018
- Subjects: Energy poverty , Energy use , Households
- Language: English
- Type: Conference proceedings
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10210/267564 , uj:28389 , Citation: Mgwambani, S. et al. 2018. Assessment of household energy poverty levels in Louiville, Mpumalanga, South Africa.
- Description: Abstract: In this paper, an assessment of the extent of household energy poverty and the implications of socio-economic status of the households in Louiville (a rural settlement in Mpumalanga province, South Africa) is made. In total 165 households were sampled over the course of two years. A survey was conducted from a sample of 165 households recording objective data of energy expenses and subjective data about households’ satisfaction with current energy sources versus what they can afford vis-à-vis their income. Using the objective approach, the results showed a high prevalence, over 84% (n= 138), resulting from both the escalation of energy prices and low household income. Among the households under the poverty threshold, high dependence on traditional fuels including wood, coal and candles was noted for cooking, heating and illumination purposes. The subjective indicator analysis showed that, although the majority of households use traditional fuels for cooking and heating, over 91% of these households are not satisfied with their current energy share owing largely to energy affordability. In conclusion, the establishment of affordable energy tariffs for the poor can address several energy inequalities in the poor settlement.
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Relationship between education and households’ electricity-saving behaviour in South Africa : a multilevel logistic analysis
- Authors: Mulamba, Kabeya Clement
- Date: 2021
- Subjects: Households , Electricity-saving , Education
- Language: English
- Type: Article
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10210/482878 , uj:43803 , Citation: Mulamba, K.C. 2021. Relationship between education and households’ electricity-saving behaviour in South Africa : a multilevel logistic analysis.
- Description: Abstract: This paper examines the relationship between the education level of household heads and households’ energy-saving practices at the micro-level in South Africa. It uses the community survey of 2016 as data source. Multilevel logistic models are estimated to account for similarities between households in same municipalities. The results point to a significant and positive relationship between the education level of household heads and households’ energy-saving practices. One can therefore infer that a household whose head is educated is more likely to have light bulbs, switch off lights in the house when not in use, and switch off appliances at the wall (not with remotes) when not in use than households whose heads have no education. Therefore, education offers a tool to incentivise households to save electricity, which will also contribute indirectly to the effort of addressing the challenges of climate change, amongst others.
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A qualitative study on solar energy use in South Africa
- Authors: Nocwanya, Sanele , Agumba, Justus N.
- Date: 2016
- Subjects: Gauteng , Households , Photovoltaic systems , Solar water heaters
- Language: English
- Type: Conference proceedings
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10210/93785 , uj:20390 , Citation: Nocwanya, S. & Agumba, J.N. 2016. A qualitative study on solar energy use in South Africa.
- Description: Abstract: Many South African citizens and residents are dependent on Eskom for electricity distribution. Its’ limited energy distribution and its’ ever increasing cost has taken its toll on the consumers. The citizens might be motivated to adopt solar energy technology to circumvent this problem. It is therefore imperative to establish, additional information that warrants investment in solar energy technology. Furthermore, it is imperative that consumers are presented with a database of information to the efficiency of solar power in households who have already implemented solar energy technology. It can therefore be suggested that there is paucity of research in South Africa in relation to challenges and benefits of using solar energy. In this regard a study was conducted in Gauteng province, in the city of Johannesburg, in South Africa to fill this gaps. The data was collected using semi-structured interviews. The target population for the current study were the suburban households which had solar photovoltaic (PV) and solar water heaters (SWHs) installation. A total number of 15 respondents were interviewed. The data was analysed using Tesch’s open coding approach. The findings suggest that these Johannesburg suburban households shared similar positive experiences and negative experiences from the use of solar energy systems. The findings suggest that the use of solar energy saved on electricity. However they experienced water leakage from their geysers. The findings from this qualitative research is of particular importance to the South African households who are considering an alternative solar energy supply.
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