Faculty of Social Sciences Theses and Dissertations
http://hdl.handle.net/10311/1226
University of Botswana Graduate theses and dissertations2024-03-28T11:53:14ZSome economic implicatios of large salary increase for government employees: a computable general equilibrium model analysis for Botswana
http://hdl.handle.net/10311/2473
Some economic implicatios of large salary increase for government employees: a computable general equilibrium model analysis for Botswana
Madi, Otsile
This study analysed the economic implications of the 2019 salary increase for Government employees in Botswana. The study used the static computable general equilibrium (CGE) model that has been calibrated to the 2011 social accounting matrix (SAM) database for Botswana for 2011. The shock examined is a 16.5 percent increase in Government employees’ wages. The simulation results showed that increase in public sector incomes has contractionary effects on the economy. GDP at both market prices and at factor costs and absorption decreased in the short run. While household consumption and government budget deficit increased, investment, employment, indirect taxes, total imports and exports decreased and there was a depreciation of the exchange rate. Household welfare gain was disproportionately distributed to households in cities and towns and less to those in rural areas. The impact on activities was also uneven. The construction, other manufacturing, general government and other mining contracted whereas others sectors expanded. The policy implication that arise is that, the increase in government wages should be implemented with another policy tool to ensure that the beneficial effects of salary increase on households is not accompanied by contraction in economic activity.
A dissertation submitted to the Dept. of Economics, Faculty of Social Sciences, University of Botswana in partial fulfillment of the requirement of the degree of Masters in Economics. Citation: Madi, O. (2020) Some economic implications of large salary increase for government employees: a computable general equilibrium model analysis for Botswana, University of Botswana.
2020-11-01T00:00:00ZIllegal trade in wildlife products as a threat to Botswana’s national security
http://hdl.handle.net/10311/2468
Illegal trade in wildlife products as a threat to Botswana’s national security
Rakenosi, Matshwenyego Marx
Poaching and illegal trade in wildlife products have become a global concern leading to the decline in wildlife in developing countries such as Botswana. The purpose of this study was to investigate the causes of illegal trade in wildlife; how illegal trade in wildlife products threatens the country’s national security and how Botswana can combat illegal trade in wildlife products. Illegal trade in wildlife products is done on a national and international scale in Botswana. Data were analyzed to give a comprehensive descriptive narrative guided by themes that emerged from data collected through reviewing of literature. The study’s central findings were that poor socio-economic conditions faced by some rural communities compel people to participate in illegal trade in wildlife products and poaching. Furthermore, the study established that illegal trade in wildlife products and poaching is used as a source of finance by terrorists and other criminals thereby threatening the security of the state. The study concluded that collaborating with the community stakeholders and improving the lives of rural people may help combat illegal trade in wildlife.
A dissertation submitted to the Dept. of Political and Administrative Studies, Faculty of Social Sciences, University of Botswana in partial fulfillment of the requirement of the degree of Masters in Defence and Strategic Studies. Citation: Rakenosi, M.M. (2020) Illegal trade in wildlife products as a threat to Botswana’s national security, University of Botswana.
2020-01-01T00:00:00ZThe relationship between inflation and unemployment in Botswana: analysis of the Phillips curve
http://hdl.handle.net/10311/2467
The relationship between inflation and unemployment in Botswana: analysis of the Phillips curve
Gobhoza, Omponye Daisy
The study conducts a Phillip’s curve analysis of the relationship between unemployment and inflation in Botswana. In investigating inflation-unemployment nexus, cointegration is tested using autoregressive distributive (ARDL) bounds testing approach on the yearly data from 1980 to 2017. The paper initially investigates a bivariate regression between inflation and unemployment, where the proxies used are change in price levels and output gap respectively. To make the investigation robust and yield relevant results, control variables are added; real GDP, real exchange rate, nominal interest rates, import prices and lastly broad money supply. Post establishing presence of strong cointegration effects between inflation and unemployment, ARDL coefficient diagnostics for cointegration and long run form are used to find the impact of unemployment and other control variables on inflation. Unemployment is found to not have a significant impact on inflation, failure to identify a significant relationship between inflation and unemployment implies that existing high levels of unemployment has little to do with the current low inflation rate experienced in Botswana. Import prices are found to have a significant impact on inflation. The last interesting finding of the study is that depreciation of the Pula against the Rand leads to inflation while interest rates have no significant impact on inflation. This is then perhaps a call for monetary policy authorities to focus more on the crawling peg between Botswana and its trading partners. To increase employment Authorities should consider lowering the crawling peg (depreciating the pula) against its trading partners. While this may lead to a modest increase in inflation, this will have a significant impact since Botswana is a net importer.
A dissertation submitted to the Dept. of Economics, Faculty of Social Sciences, University of Botswana in partial fulfillment of the requirement of the degree of Masters in Economics. Citation: Gobhoza, O.D. (2020) The relationship between inflation and unemployment in Botswana: analysis of the Phillips curve, University of Botswana.
2020-06-01T00:00:00ZThe impact of education level, age and ICT on voting patterns in Botswana
http://hdl.handle.net/10311/2465
The impact of education level, age and ICT on voting patterns in Botswana
Borupile, Alice Kakale
This study sought to assess and examine how a citizen’s level of education, age and social media use impacts voting and voting patterns in the context of Botswana. The study also intended to find out the extent to which Independent Electoral Commission embarks on voter education in order to find out if it was indeed delivering on its mandate. Purposive sampling was used in order to obtain a working sample of 51 respondents from the population with semi-structured questionnaires being administered to the respective respondents. A positive impact of education on voting was found which was indicative of a sense of civic duty. Moreover a higher youth voter turnout was reported, and the respondents concurred with the importance of social media in influencing how an individual votes, as well as its potential to improve voting and elections, more specifically, voter education.
A dissertation submitted to the Dept. of political and Administration Studies, Faculty of Social Sciences, University of Botswana in partial fulfillment of the requirement of the degree of Masters in Politics and International Relations. Citation: Borupile, A.K. (2020) The impact of education level, age and ICT on voting patterns in Botswana, University of Botswana.
2020-06-01T00:00:00Z