Philosophiae Doctor - PhD (Development Studies)

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https://hdl.handle.net/10566/17447

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Browsing by Author "Le Roux, Pieter"

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    Poverty and government expenditure: an assessment of the impact of government expenditure and interventions on poor groups with a focus on Rwanda
    (University of the Western Cape, 2004) Musahara, Herman; Le Roux, Pieter; Institute for Social Development; Faculty of Arts
    In this thesis the author undertook a poverty and policy analysis. It is argued that it is important to understand the nature, magnitude and context of poverty before one can undertake an informed policy prescription. Existing theories of poverty, welfare regimes and social policies offer a lot of useful lessons for policy, but have limitations in offering a single model for Rwanda. The thesis demonstrated that, not only is Rwandan poverty multifaceted and deep, but it is characterized by a poverty conflict trap that can be traced back to the entire post colonial period. The author argued however that the current policy is not only inefficient in targeting poverty, but it may be unable to meet the challenges of growth, redistribution and conflict mitigation. The thesis, after further analyzing policy options, puts forward a package that is needed to reduce poverty in Rwanda in the long term and to break the poverty conflict trap. The prescribed package is put forward as a comprehensive and institutionalized social policy, which Rwanda so far does not have.
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    Social welfare policies and child poverty in South Africa: a microsimulation model on the child support grant
    (University of the Western Cape, 2011) Dinbabo, Mulugeta Fitamo; Le Roux, Pieter; Wright, Gemma; Institute for Social Development; Faculty of Arts
    The study assessed the extent of child poverty in South Africa using five different policy scenarios, and modelled the impact on poverty and inequalities of people living in households with children using the Foster-Greer-Thorbecke (FGT) index of poverty measurement, including poverty rate P0, (headcount index ratio), poverty gap index P1, (the depth of poverty), and the severity of poverty P2 (squared poverty gap index). Societal welfare inequalities have been measured using the Gini co-efficient. In general, the scenario analysis was based on the 2007 population baseline and 2008 government policy rules. The results of the study clearly indicate that there is a positive correlation between cash transfer (Child Support Grant) and a reduction in poverty and the inequalities of people living in households with children in South Africa. An increase in the Child Support Grant amount and the number of child beneficiaries, in modelling, produced a positive effect in addressing increasing child poverty and vulnerability. In addition, the research process identified four interrelated gaps that hinder the successful implementation of the social welfare policies underlying the Child Support Grant to reduce the poverty and inequality profile of people living in households with children in South Africa. First, inadequate understanding of the constitutional rights of the child exists. Second, failure to use proven best practice of institutional arrangements and implementation modalities was identified. Third, lack of political will for the championship of a universal basic income grant (UBIG) is present. Fourth, insufficient research, monitoring and evaluation (M&E) and dissemination of best practices is done. Within the context of the above mentioned analysis, the study finally brings into focus general observations gained from the investigation and provides recommendations to policy makers and other stakeholders.