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51. Determinants of Tourism Demand in the SADC Region

Author:
Johane Moilwa Motsatsi
Publication Date:
03-2018
Content Type:
Working Paper
Institution:
Botswana Institute for Development Policy Analysis
Abstract:
This study estimates the determinants of tourism demand in Southern Africa Development Community (SADC) region using Generalised Least Squares (GLS) estimation procedure and panel data for the period 1997-2015. The results obtained suggest that the elasticities of tourism demand with respect to real capital investment on the tourism sector, real exchange rate, real gross domestic product (GDP), proportion of population with access to internet and global peace index are positive, while that with respect to inflation rate is negative. These results imply that for any country in the SADC region to attract more arrivals of tourists: it should invest significantly on the tourism sector, in terms of upgrading tourism infrastructure; implement exchange rate policy that is favourable to international tourists; and promote a reputation of being a peaceful and less corrupt country. Since tourism has strong linkages with other economic sectors, it is an ideal prospect for economic diversification.
Topic:
Development, Tourism, Diversification, and Regional Economy
Political Geography:
Africa and Botswana

52. Determinants of Service Sector Growth in Botswana

Author:
Mpho Raboloko
Publication Date:
03-2018
Content Type:
Working Paper
Institution:
Botswana Institute for Development Policy Analysis
Abstract:
This study examines the factors affecting service sector growth and development in Botswana. Using annual time series data from 1980 to 2015, the study employs the auto regressive distributed lag (ARDL) estimation technique to identify the factors that contribute to service sector growth. The results show that gross national expenditure, domestic credit to the private sector and gross fixed capital formation contribute positively to the growth of the service sector in Botswana. However, trade openness is found to negatively impact the growth of service sector in the country. The policy implication of the results is that in formulating service oriented policies, government should focus on factors that augment the growth of services sector. Specifically, government should increase spending on the service sector and its sub-sectors. Also, the banking sector should avail credit to the private sector as this is essential for the growth and development of the service sector.
Topic:
Development, Economic Growth, Services, and Capital Formation
Political Geography:
Africa and Botswana

53. Financing SMEs In Botswana: Factors Influencing Access to Credit

Author:
Goitseone Khanie
Publication Date:
03-2018
Content Type:
Working Paper
Institution:
Botswana Institute for Development Policy Analysis
Abstract:
This study examines factors influencing access to credit by SMEs in Botswana. Using the 2010 World Bank Enterprise Survey, and employing logit model for analysis, we find that access to credit is influenced by gender, citizenship and experience of the entrepreneur; as well as firm-size, sector of business,sales and land ownership. Therefore, public policy must pay attention to the diversities of SMEs’ socio-economic characteristics as well as the business environment in which they operate when implementing finance assistance progammes. Measures to develop SMEs must be carefully focused, aiming at providing incentives for financial institutions to play an active role in SME financing. Government must formulate policies that will make finance institutions relax their requirements and lending procedures which tend to discourage borrowing. Similarly, public policy must be focused on strengthening the business acumen of SMEs through trainings and workshops, such that they are perceived attractive to financiers.
Topic:
Finance, Entrepreneurship, Business, Public Policy, and Credit
Political Geography:
Africa and Botswana

54. Determinants of Self-Employment in Botswana

Author:
Tshepiso Gaetsewe
Publication Date:
03-2018
Content Type:
Working Paper
Institution:
Botswana Institute for Development Policy Analysis
Abstract:
The global market is rapidly recognizing the importance of entrepreneurship and selfemployment, especially in growing the economy, creating jobs and reducing poverty. This paper employs the logit regression model to investigate the determinants of selfemployment in Botswana, using the 2009/2010 Botswana Core Welfare Indicator Survey (BCWIS) data. The results reveal that individuals who are male, citizens, educated and living in cities are less likely to be self-employed than their counterparts. On the other hand, the age of the entrepreneur positively influences the likelihood of self-employment, as well as being a widow. Public policy needs to empower females and rural dwellers in terms of skills and entrepreneurship training in order to enhance their success in their self-employment activities. In addition, government should continue with its efforts of providing assistance to the youth for entrepreneurial development in order to reduce unemployment.
Topic:
Entrepreneurship, Public Policy, Economic Development, and Self-Employment
Political Geography:
Africa and Botswana

55. Public Policy Implementation Prospects and Challenges in Botswana: Case of the National Policy on Care for People With Disabilities

Author:
Marumo Omotoye
Publication Date:
03-2018
Content Type:
Working Paper
Institution:
Botswana Institute for Development Policy Analysis
Abstract:
People with disabilities (PWDs) are often subjected to economic and social exclusion. This paper assesses factors that contribute to, and/or hinder the implementation of Botswana’s national disability policy. Despite the Government of Botswana’s efforts to uplift marginalised and vulnerable groups, PWDs remain disenfranchised as a result of social, physical and legislative barriers. Data was collected from secondary data sources and analysed using thematic analysis. The Analysis of Determinants of Policy Impact (ADEPT) approach, which aims to explain and influence policy development and policy impact implementation with four determinants: goals, obligations, resources and opportunities, was adopted. The study’s findings show that 22 years after its adoption, the National Policy on Care for People with Disabilities has not resulted in the desired policy outcomes, let alone achieved its objective of improving the lives of people with disabilities. While the Policy has the potential to be an important tool in achieving social inclusion and protecting the rights of PWDs, implementation gaps remain, essentially limiting its effectiveness.
Topic:
Economics, Disability, Public Policy, Exclusion, and Society
Political Geography:
Africa and Botswana

56. Empowering women through international tourism: What we know and need to know

Author:
Fenohasina Rakotondrazaka Maret, Harsh Parikh, and Rachel Wilder
Publication Date:
07-2017
Content Type:
Commentary and Analysis
Institution:
Urban Institute
Abstract:
The United Nations designated 2017 as the International Year of Sustainable Tourism for Development, and for good reason. The tourism industry generates 10.2 percent of global GDP and employs 1 in 10 workers. Women make up more than half of the tourism workforce, which makes the industry’s growth a unique opportunity to empower women across the world. But we need additional data to better understand how women intersect with this burgeoning industry.
Topic:
Gender Issues, Tourism, Women, Partnerships, and International Development
Political Geography:
Africa, Botswana, and Global Focus

57. Viewing society from space: Image-based sociocultural prediction models

Author:
John M. Irvine, Richard J. Wood, and Payden McBee
Publication Date:
12-2017
Content Type:
Working Paper
Institution:
Afrobarometer
Abstract:
Applying new analytic methods to imagery data offers the potential to dramatically expand the information available for human geography. Satellite imagery can yield detailed local information about physical infrastructure, which we exploit for analysis of local socioeconomic conditions. Combining automated processing of satellite imagery with advanced modeling techniques provides a method for inferring measures of well-being, governance, and related sociocultural attributes from satellite imagery. This research represents a new approach to human geography by explicitly analyzing the relationship between observable physical attributes and societal characteristics and institutions of the region. Through analysis of commercial satellite imagery and Afrobarometer survey data, we have developed and demonstrated models for selected countries in sub-Saharan Africa (Botswana, Kenya, Zimbabwe). The findings show the potential for predicting people’s attitudes about the economy, security, leadership, social involvement, and related questions, based only on imagery-derived information. The approach pursued here builds on earlier work in Afghanistan. Models for predicting economic attributes (presence of key infrastructure, attitudes about the economy, perceptions of crime, and outlook toward the future) all exhibit statistically significant performance. Although these results are encouraging, several avenues for advancement and improvement are proposed. Initial analysis of new methods for image processing and feature extraction have identified several avenues for promising enhancements.
Topic:
Sociology and Geography
Political Geography:
Kenya, Africa, Zimbabwe, and Botswana

58. Youth Unemployment in Africa: Capacity Building and Innovative Strategies

Publication Date:
12-2017
Content Type:
Special Report
Institution:
The African Capacity Building Foundation (ACBF)
Abstract:
The aim of this Occasional Paper produced by the African Capacity Building Foundation is to provoke evidence-based discussion, and encourage further investigation on the critical capacity challenges to be addressed to tackle youth unemployment in Africa. The paper assesses the causes and impacts of youth unemployment in Botswana, Namibia, South Africa, and Swaziland. It profiles and characterizes the status and nature of youth unemployment as well as the strategies and programs—and identifies the challenges, implications, and gaps—to find ways to address it. Stakeholder and expert consultations with development partners, government, the private sector, and nongovernmental organizations in addressing youth unemployment were carried out, as such research is crucial for identifying capacity gaps and key policy aspects to address it. The consultations were complemented with a review of success stories and best practices to inform strategies and capacity development interventions aimed to tackle youth unemployment and refine policy approaches toward inclusive, employment-creating, and sustainable economic growth.
Topic:
Development, Economic Growth, Youth, Capacity, Unemployment, Economic Development, and Sustainability
Political Geography:
Africa, South Africa, Swaziland, Namibia, and Botswana

59. Policy and Institutional Dimensions of Africa's Political Economy in an Age of Globalization

Publication Date:
01-2017
Content Type:
Special Report
Institution:
The African Capacity Building Foundation (ACBF)
Abstract:
The advent of political independence allowed most Sub-Saharan countries to determine the appropriate mix of policies and institutions that would enable them to achieve rapid socioeconomic development. But experiences across the continent have so far yielded mixed results, and the search for an effective political economy model in the face of a rapidly globalizing world remains an ongoing challenge for most countries. In this study produced by the African Capacity Building Foundation (ACBF) Strategic Studies Project, we ask why some developing countries seem to be growing much faster and have much better socioeconomic performance than others. Indeed, what macroeconomic policies and institutions should Sub-Saharan countries pursue to enable more sustainable, lasting, and inclusive growth while dealing with the challenges that a rapidly changing political and economic world order present? The study’s main intention was to generate knowledge to enhance the efficacy of Africa’s political economy and development pathways by identifying alternative macroeconomic policy and institutional options that can be deployed to enable deeper socioeconomic transformation.
Topic:
Political Economy, Economic Policy, and Capacity
Political Geography:
Africa, Tanzania, Egypt, and Botswana

60. Canaries in the Coal Mines: An analysis of spaces for LGBTI activism in southern Africa

Author:
Mark Gevisser
Publication Date:
12-2017
Content Type:
Special Report
Institution:
The Other Foundation
Abstract:
Like coal miners used caged canary birds, whose death was a warning sign of toxic gases in the mine tunnels, homosexual women and men, and transgender and intersex people in southern Africa are at the coalface of the multiple dangers in many of our societies today. How our societies treat lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and intersex (LGBTI) people is symptomatic of the dangers facing all people who are excluded in some way or another in our societies, by those who have a grip on social, economic, and political power. To assess the depth and nature of social exclusion of LGBTI people across southern Africa and better understand how LGBTI groups are organizing to transform that reality, the Other Foundation commissioned studies of ten countries in southern Africa: Angola, Botswana, Lesotho, Malawi, Mauritius, Mozambique, Namibia, Swaziland, Zambia and Zimbabwe participated in the development of the studies.
Topic:
Human Rights, LGBT+, Exclusion, and Activism
Political Geography:
Africa, Mozambique, Zimbabwe, Angola, Zambia, Malawi, Swaziland, Namibia, Mauritius, Botswana, Lesotho, and Southern Africa