Electronic (internet and mobile) banking is inevitably the future way of banking across all market spectrum in Namibia. Although most business categories have migrated to the technological banking, small and medium enterprises (SME) business operator are still utilising the conventional and traditional method of banking particularly those in the least developed area of the country. The objective of this research is to study and assess the factors that influence the behavioural intention to use and actual usage of electronic (mobile and internet) banking services among SMEs in Namibia. This study utilizes quantitative approach by administering survey questionnaires to collect data from the targeted sample of 132 SMEs in three towns of Otjiwarongo, Oshakati and Outapi. The study has used structured questionnaires based on the UTAUT2 model to assess and provide answers to the factors that affect the behavioral intention to use and usage behaviour of mobile and internet banking. The data were analysed using confirmatory factor analysis to examine the reliability, composite reliability and average variances explained of the constructs assessed. Finally, ordinary least squares and logistic regression techniques were employed to identify the explanatory of behavioural intention to use and usage behaviour of electronic banking services. From the analysis, the results shows that factors such as performance and effort expectancy, social influence and facilitating conditions influence the acceptance of the banking technologies however habit has been found to have a considerable prediction power in explaining the behavioural intention to use internet and mobile banking among SMEs in Namibia to adopt the electronic banking while facilitating condition and habit are the strongest drivers of the acceptance of technology in the consumer settings. The study provides practical recommendations and challenges to banks, regulator and mobile operator to develop alternative strategies to absorb the SME sector into the new banking platform.

The South African economy has been lagging its forecasted economic growth statistics in recent years, particularly following the worldwide economic recession of 2008. The year-on-year economic growth of South Africa is forecasted to continue to be lower than other developing countries. SMMEs are a significant contributor to a countries GDP and most franchises are classified as SMMEs. Entrepreneurs in the SMME space often use franchises to not only penetrate the market but to grow existing ventures. In its annual report for the year 2016, the Franchise Association of South Africa (FASA) states that the franchise industry contributed an estimated 11.6% to South Africa’s GDP. When applying for finance at most institutions, prospective franchisees are required to also contribute to the total funding required; this is known as owner’s contribution. This study explores what challenges franchisees experience in trying to raise owners’ contribution and how the y overcame these challenges. It further explores what prospective franchisees can learn from the experiences of the participants. Through research conducted predominantly through an online survey and interviews to a limited extent, this study found that the franchise model has many advantages, but also has disadvantages. One of the main disadvantages remains the accessibility of finance, particularly that most financiers and franchisors require substantial owners’ contribution. Many participants faced challenges when having to raise owner’s contribution They most used personal savings and donations or borrowings from friends and family. The negative impacts that were identified were mainly personal stress and anxiety, strained personal relationships and delays in personal and/or business plans. In conclusion, in attempting to address these challenges highlighted by participants, recommendations are made to all stakeholders on how to overcome some of the challenges identified.

A stark worldwide reality is that there is a shortage of affordable housing, which is a fundamental economic indicator and key to addressing social policy objectives including poverty reduction. Post-independence, housing in Namibia has been classified a national priority, and as such, the government has passed legislation in favour of committing to housing delivery. The housing demand continues to outstrip the supply, and this is further intensified by urbanisation, high unemployment in the country, high house prices, and a shortage of serviced land. Resultantly, the Namibian government is continually targeting to increase land supply and to incentivise the private sector. This research was centred on the challenges faced by multiple stakeholders that are challenged with financing affordable housing. The stakeholders included a private equity fund manager tasked with a mandate of providing affordable residential property, property developers, and beneficiaries of affordable housing (homeowners). The efforts in support of affordable housing finance are not solely limited to end-user housing finance (e.g. mortgage financing), but additionally include the implementation of the housing value chain, including the land acquisition process, title deed registrations and transfers, and the construction process. The mortgage market is focused on the middle and higher-income market segments. Some financial institutions offer products that do not require down payments. Despite this, many Namibians cannot access loan financing due to affordability, bureaucratic processes, high indebtedness and lack of education about the mortgage process. Therefore, this study undertook to understand the challenges in financing affordable housing covering three main stakeholders: a fund manager, developers and homeowners. This study employed a qualitative approach to analyse data from the fund manager and developers while the sequential explanatory mixed-method approach was used to analyse the data from homeowners. From the analysis, we identified the challenges pertaining to the fund manager to be the length of land titling and registration process, acquisition of unserviced land from local authorities, the reliance of funding from single investor participants, and end-user financing bureaucracy (mortgage financers). The challenges faced by the developers were found to be linked to land acquisition, funding acquisition, building plan approvals, as well as other issues such as the high cost of building materials. The homeowner challenges were identified from the quantitative analysis as the lengthy bank application process, associated costs, and lengthy approval processes. From the qualitative analysis, the challenges identified pertained to the lengthy application processes at the financial institutions, the associated costs and lengthy bureaucratic approval processes. Based on the findings, the research proposed the need for increased engagement and negotiations to lift the stringent conditions placed by local authorities in order to provide serviced land for the purposes of affordable housing; the availing of additional capital to fund managers; the revision of the systems used in order to shorten the time it takes to register and transfer properties; in addition to the lengthy, bureaucratic, and stringent bank requirements and processes.

This study examines the interactions between derivatives trading, portfolio flows and economic growth in South Africa over the period 2000: Q1 to 2018: Q4. As derivatives are widely accepted as effective risk management solutions in developed nations, and can facilitate capital flows to emerging markets, there is a need to investigate the empirical relationships between derivatives, portfolio inflows and economic growth. A vector error correction model was used in addition to conducting Granger causality, impulse response functions and variance decomposition tests to analyse the relationship between the factors of interest. The efficiency of the model was established using standard diagnostics, which confirmed the overall significance of the model. The VECM results find a positive short- and long-run relationship between portfolio flows, derivatives trading and economic growth in South Africa. The Granger causality tests, impulse response analysis and variance decompositions find a short-run relationship only between portfolio flows and derivatives trading. The implications are thus that derivatives trading can lead to an increase in portfolio flows.

Regional integration has been a key ambition, vision and standing agenda of the African continent for the past two decades. The recent signing of the Africa Continental Free Trade Agreement (AfCFTA) (signed by 54 of the 55 members of the African Union as of July 2019) brings to the fore the urgent need to accelerate the implementation of what has been thus far an elongated period of planning and discussion. One of the key mandates of the AfCFTA is to ensure acceleration of intra-African trade and boost Africa’s trading position in the global mark et by strengthening Africa’s common voice and policy space in global trade negotiations (African Union, 2018). Intra-regional trade can be considered as a quick avenue for the continent and its respective Regional Economic Communities (RECs) such as the Southern African Development Community (SADC), to implement this agenda by leveraging collective resources and opportunities such as increased focus on the establishment of regional value chains (RVCs). Currently, the SADC region has been at the forefront of driving regional trade integration (RTI) in the continent; however, intra-regional trade is still only but a fraction of the RECs total global trade, averaging 5-7% of total trade in 2015-2017. Because of the myriad of challenges in the region – including but not limited to the low rate of RTI, poor infrastructure, poor institutions, unstable political environments, and slow economic growth – RECs, let alone the continent as a whole, cannot take part in and capitalise on the opportunities from complex trade networks through global and regional value chains. Moreover, when African countries do participate in global value chains, they find themselves at the lower end of the value chain where it is harder to reap the benefits due to the unequal distributional effects of such trade activities. This study therefore examined the key factors that drive RTI, and sought to ascertain the relationship between regional value chains and regional trade integration. Lastly, the study aimed to uncover the contribution to economic growth of such trade activities. Thirteen SADC countries are observed over the period 2000-2017 using panel data analysis and various key estimation techniques to ensure robustness of the models used. The study finds that there are definitely key factors that drive regional trade integration in the REC that require increased focus from policy makers and trade activity participants as they have the potential to change the trajectory of the region and the continent’s trade landscape. The study also indisputably finds a two-way relationship between RTI and RVCs, suggesting that if key aspects of these activities are addressed, this would lead to a mutual increase in these factors as they are highly complementary activities. Lastly, the study confirms the positive impact that RTI and RVCs would have on economic growth attributed to an increase in the level of productive economic trade activity thereby contributing to the gross domestic product (GDP) of countries as individuals and as a collective. The study therefore concludes that there should be more focus from policy makers and all key trade activity stakeholders on driving regional trade integration and participation in regional value chains as the benefits could prove highly rewarding to the SADC RECs and the continent as a whole. Such increased focus will ensure that the region is fully capitalising on the unique strengths of the African continent and driving collective growth and development.

There is a constant need to seek new catalysts for economic growth in various regions of the world, particularly within Sub-Saharan Africa. Financial development and remittances could be potential catalysts, but this has been strongly debated in empirical research. This study, therefore, analysed the financial development-remittance-growth nexus, but from the context of the Southern African Development Community from 2004 to 2014. The aim of this study was two-fold. Firstly, it analysed the short-run dynamics of interaction between various aspects of financial development and remittances on the economic growth rate (real gross domestic product). Secondly, it analysed the long-run dynamics. In this study four broad institutional channels of financial development were analysed, namely, access, depth, efficiency, and stability. The empirical model was estimated using the two-stage least-squares technique and the two-step system generalised method of moments technique. The empirical findings showed a significant relationship with the interaction between financial efficiency and remittances on the economic growth rate, but only in the short run (ceteris paribus). However, this study could not establish whether this interaction had a positive or negative effect on the economic growth rate. Nonetheless, financial access and financial stability had a significantly negative effect on the economic growth rate, both in the short and long run (ceteris paribus). Remittances and foreign direct investments generally had an insignificant effect on the economic growth rate (ceteris paribus). Further findings suggest that remittances were a-cyclical in nature. Overall, it is recommended that policy discussions analyse implications of increasing competition among financial institutions and remittance service providers to reduce intermediation costs.

Cities in developing countries have recently started to focus on retention and aftercare programs to stimulate local economic development. Buffalo City, through the success of its collaboration with key corporates like Mercedes Benz South Africa, could leverage local growth for the development of the economy through the establishment of collaborative agreements with existing investors. A robust investment promotion and aftercare program could serve to attract new investors, while promoting reinvestment from within current investors. The main aim of the study is to investigate whether the establishment of an official public and private sector partnership will not only serve to attract investment but will also provide critical aftercare and reinvestment services. In addition, the study examines key aspects relating to investment promotion and aftercare to review the learning gained to establish Buffalo City as an investment destination. It further engages diverse stakeholders who share their experiences of investment promotion and aftercare in Buffalo City. The research reviews investment promotion agencies like Wesgro and Durban Investment Promotion Agency. This study examines investment in Brazil, who like South Africa has a huge population dependant on grants, and Vietnam, who like South Africa is faced with huge infrastructure challenges. The research also reviews Malaysia’s visionary move to facilitate business development which positioned Malaysia as one of the 20 best economies in the world. The literature review also explores Tangier, a Moroccan City, which like Buffalo City has a river port which facilitated economic development providing local inhabitants with modern infrastructure and amenities, unlocking the economic potential of the city. Both qualitative and quantitative research methodologies are used in this study to address nine research questions to determine whether current Buffalo City investors are satisfied and how the city is positioned as an investment-friendly destination. The analysis of the literature was incorporated into questionnaires for the face-to-face interviews and self-administered surveys for the respondents. An electronic questionnaire will be used as the main instrument to collect both qualitative and quantitative data. The questionnaire will consist of both closed ended and open-ended questions. Respondents will select a single option which is for calculation of statistical information and percentages of various types. Closed-ended questions thus enables the researcher to arrive at opinions about a product or service in a more efficient manner. Open-ended questions will be used at the end of the questionnaire to elicit accurate feedback and recommendations from the respondents as well. Ranking will be used to ascertain which six factors in order of importance respondents regard as most crucial in relation to service delivery. The findings from the research illustrates that Buffalo City does not have an official public and private sector partnership with a dedicated focus on aftercare services. This is demonstrated by 54,5% of respondents who indicate that they have a good relationship with BCMM, while the remaining 45,6 do not believe BCMM is competent. It is interesting to note, that 63,3% of respondents perceive Buffalo City to be an investor friendly destination, while 36,4% do not believe this to be the case. This further demonstrates the critical need for an effective aftercare program. The findings from the data also suggests that by improving basic service delivery, repairing roads, introducing cleaning and greening programs, improving public amenities, upgrading infrastructure and engaging with stakeholders, Buffalo City will not only position itself to retain current investors but will also attract new investors who will create jobs and enhance the economic growth and development of the city. The city will need to adopt a more robust and focused approach to investment promotion and facilitation in order to compete and succeed in both national and global markets. Buffalo City has to ensure that policies, regulatory frameworks and basic service delivery are enhanced to enable to improve the city’s investment offering. The city has to focus on the establishment of a dedicated investment aftercare program not only to attract new investment, but also to retain current investors. Buffalo City needs to identify its competitive advantage as an investment destination, to meaningfully participate in foreign direct markets and to grow the local economy. The city must restructure and reorganize the regional ambition of investment winning and job creation to position itself as an attractive investment destination with a competitive business environment.

This research examined the impact of diaspora remittances on the economic growth of Zimbabwe using data collected from 1995 to 2018. The study further assessed whether the impact was realisable in the short-run or in the long-run. The results from the cointegration test and the causality test show that Diaspora Remittances have a long-run causal impact on economic growth in Zimbabwe. The results also show that the causal impact is unidirectional running from remittances to economic growth. In the short-run, the results reflected that remittances were failing to have a significant impact on the country’s economic growth. These findings thus suggest that the nation of Zimbabwe requires complete and concise solutions to drive the country’s economic growth. Particular attention should be paid to the country’s growth enhancers in the long-term like diaspora remittances. The policy-makers should strive to develop a strong institutional framework that facilitates the channeling of remittances to productive uses. Finally, the policy-makers should craft policies that aim at increasing the diaspora remittances inflows through formal channels as one of the measures to enhance sustainable economic growth of the country.

Life insurance has over the years emerged as one of the drivers of financial sector development. The savings mobilisation and financial intermediation functions have backed the growing importance of this investment source. Low penetration levels in Zambia have pointed to a vast untapped market and a potential source of financial sector development. Life insurance growth prospects in the country remain optimistic on the back of a growing population and increasing urbanisation. This study examined the impact of selected macroeconomic variables, namely income, inflation and financial development on life insurance demand in Zambia using annual time series secondary data from the period 1995 to 2017. The study utilised the Augmented Dickey-Fuller (ADF) test, Vector Autoregressive model (VAR) Autoregressive Distributed Lag (ARDL) and the Error Correction Model (ECM) in conducting econometric investigations. Findings from the study show that financial development negatively influences life insurance, while inflation has a positive effect at a 5% significance level. Further, the study finds no significant long-term relationship between income and life insurance. However, in the shortrun, a unidirectional causal relationship between life penetration and income exist. In conclusion, the study recommends that the Government prioritises the expansion of the financial sector through the central bank and other regulators in the industry. Policy reforms should be aimed at increasing financial inclusion and deepening the financial sector, as well as increasing access to financial services and products. The study further recommends that life insurance companies should augment Government efforts by increasing sensitisation and marketing of life insurance products and services.

The topic of the impact of government spending on economic growth has previously been extensively researched, however the evidence is inconclusive to make a ruling. The purpose of this study was to examine the empirical relationship between government spending and economic growth for the BRICS (Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa) over the period 1994-2014 by observing GDP as the dependent variable and Education, Health, Infrastructure and Defense as the independent variables. The study was based on panel data analysis of data obtained from secondary sources. The analysis process began with summarizing the data using descriptive statistics. Following this was the process of regression analysis in order to determine the relationships between GDP and Health, Education, Defense and Infrastructure. We checked for Multicollinearity using Variance Inflation Factors (VIF’s) and used the Hausman Test to determine which statistical model to use. The study followed the fixed effects statistical model. The empirical results support the null hypotheses that health, education and defense have a long-tern relationship with GDP. The study however found that there was no long-term relationship between GDP and infrastructure.