Research Articles (Economics)

Permanent URI for this collectionhttps://hdl.handle.net/10566/490

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Now showing 1 - 20 of 130

Audit quality from a service perspective: a systematic literature review
(John Wiley and Sons Inc, 2025) Botha Lise Muriel; De Jager Phillip; Toerien Francois
Audit quality is a multidimensional and latent construct that researchers struggle to evaluate and interpret. This paper follows an interdisciplinary approach by systematically reviewing the literature on audit quality evaluation from a service quality perspective. This service perspective, aligned to stakeholder theory, allows us to consider various stakeholder perspectives. We review the literature through the AUDITQUAL audit quality dimensions to identify areas for further research. These higher-order audit quality dimensions reflect the competence, independence, relationship, and service quality aspects of audit quality. We follow a systematic literature review methodology informed by the 2020 Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) statement and supported by the Rayyan software tool. Our review shows that the competence, independence, and relationship dimensions usually form the foundation for audit quality research and assumptions. In contrast, only one aspect of client attributes within these dimensions—namely, earnings management—is well developed. Furthermore, the service (functional) quality dimension is shown to have the most potential for future insight into audit quality evaluation. Finally, only a few studies have empirically tested the audit quality construct in a multidimensional sense as most have focused on only one or two dimensions using proxies. Empirical research into audit quality can benefit from taking a service quality view to broaden our understanding and testing thereof.
Artificial inteligence for inclusion: a public BRICS financial AI platform
(Financial University under The Government of Russian Federation, 2026) Josie, Jaya; Chetty, Krish; Gopal, Nirmala
The paper is a result of a comprehensive and systematic approach to reviewing the growing opportunities for BRICS countries in introducing artificial intelligence into a mutual financial platform. The subject of the study is the AI as a factor of BRICS cooperation and its growth in finance. The purpose of the study is to identify measures that stimulate the introduction of AI into a shared public financial infrastructure platform by implementing the methodological combination of structured and reproducible guidelines, incorporating elements of the PRISMA method in particular. The task of the research team is to search for scientific answers to the urgent questions of current artificial intelligence inequality between nations and to come to the conclusion that BRICS nations should develop and implement a shared public AI platform to enhance accessibility to general and specialized information as well as equity for marginalised communities in all member countries. It is pointed out that such AI platform have to be organized in a way that enshrines principles of data sovereignty. Mechanisms and international AI strategies for meeting the challenges are introduced. The developed proposal is unique. Other initiatives have not yet received adequate justification. The project of such a scale demands not only funding, but also dedicated professionals as well as open-source software development instruments. These issues represent promising areas for further research.
Patient-cost studies on self-administered treatment (SAT) for drug-sensitive tuberculosis compared to facility-based directly observed treatment, short-course (DOTS): a protocol for a systematic review
(BMJ Publishing Group, 2025) Christian, Carmen; Ndlangalavu, Yonela
Many patients with tuberculosis (TB) suffer from a huge economic burden, even though TB services are often provided free of charge at the point of care. Costs can create significant barriers, hindering patients’ access to TB treatment. These costs include direct medical costs (such as consultation fees), direct non-medical costs (such as transportation costs) and indirect costs (such as wages foregone). This systematic review aims to synthesise the best available evidence on economic evaluations of patient-cost studies on self-administered treatment (SAT) for drug-sensitive TB compared with facility-based directly observed treatment, short-course (FB DOTS), globally
The algorithmic mine: enhancing managerial effectiveness and organisational agility in the mining industry through artificial intelligence – a spatially aware predictive framework
(AOSIS (pty) Ltd, 2026) Mpundu, Mubanga; Gosho, Talent
Background: This research critically examines the integration of artificial intelligence (AI) within the mining industry, focusing on their capacity to enhance both managerial effectiveness and organisational agility. Aim: This article addresses the existing literature’s limitations by introducing a novel, spatially aware predictive framework tailored to the unique challenges of mining operations. Setting: While existing literature acknowledges the transformative potential of AI in mining, it often lacks concrete strategies for implementation and fails to address the inherent spatial variability of mining operations. This study proposes the spatially aware predictive framework, leveraging AI to optimise resource allocation, predictive maintenance and environmental management. Method: A systematic literature review was conducted, employing Boolean logic across Web of Science, Scopus and IEEE Xplore databases, focusing on publications from 2019 to 2025. Results: Managerial effectiveness and organisational agility are paramount for success in the increasingly complex and dynamic mining industry. The integration of advanced technologies such as AI offers a powerful means to enhance operational efficiency, improve decision-making and achieve sustainable growth. The spatially-aware predictive framework provides a practical roadmap for implementing these technologies, realising their full potential and moving beyond fragmented and spatially unaware applications. Conclusion: This study proposes the spatially aware predictive framework, leveraging AI to optimise resource allocation, predictive maintenance and environmental management creating an AI-circular business model (AI-CBM). Contribution: This study proposes a novel spatially aware predictive framework, leveraging AI to optimise resource allocation, predictive maintenance and environmental management, which creates an AI-CBM.
Assessing patient satisfaction with the services provided under the National Health Insurance scheme at the outpatient department of the levy Mwanawasa University Teaching Hospital in Lusaka, Zambia
(The Beryl Institute, 2025) Mpundu, Mubanga; Mwambazi, Wesley Kapaya
The National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS), introduced in Zambia in 2019 to enhance healthcare financing and service delivery, still faces challenges impacting patient satisfaction. This study assesses and investigates the factors influencing patient satisfaction with NHIS-provided services at a third-level tertiary public hospital. The study was conducted at the outpatient department (OPD) of Levy Mwanawasa University Teaching Hospital (LMUTH) in Lusaka, Zambia, deliberately chosen as one of the largest publicly financed tertiary referral hospitals and among the first NHIS-accredited facilities. A cross-sectional survey was conducted with 270 respondents using a modified SERVQUAL 5-point Likert scale questionnaire, whose reliability was assessed via Cronbach’s Alpha. Data were analysed using descriptive and inferential statistics, with mean satisfaction percentages calculated. The results showed that 83% of the respondents were satisfied with the NHIS-provided services and 17% were not. Education level, duration of NHIS enrollment, communication from the National Health Insurance Management Authority (NHIMA), drug availability, staff attitude, and waiting time were identified as significant factors. However, the key predictors of NHIS patient satisfaction identified were employment status (OR = 0.237, p = 0.030) and communication and feedback from NHIMA (OR = 2.922, p = 0.001). While these findings show a high NHIS satisfaction level similar to some studies conducted in Nigeria and Ghana, future research should explore the long-term effects and satisfaction levels, including the accessibility and affordability of NHIS services across various demographic groups and regions within Zambia.
Identifying the prospects of decent job creation along the value chain of plastic recycling
(Routledge, 2023) Bala, Siwaphiwe; Christian, Carmen; Yu, Derek
This study examined the barriers and challenges for decent job creation along the value chain of plastic recycling that street waste pickers (SWPs) face in the urban regions of Cape Town with a mixed method research design. The findings from the descriptive case study’s primary survey data indicated that the informal recycling economy in these regions has little to no barriers of entry. Initiatives to absorb individuals into this economy could potentially help decrease the unemployment level of unskilled and lowly educated people. On average, SWPs earn about R155 for a day’s waste and R632 for a week’s waste. The econometric results revealed that SWPs from the coloured population group who do not have access to trolleys yield statistically significantly lower earnings. Assisting SWPs through the provision of trolleys and protective gear could potentially be an advantage to sustain their income and create decent employment opportunities for SWPs.
Examining child labour activities in South Africa
(Springer, 2025) Yu, Derek; Murozvi, Simba; Herwel, Clinton
Background: South Africa is a developing country characterised by high unemployment, poverty and inequality. Thus, it is possible child members of households are exploited to help the households survive financially. Objective: This study investigated child labour activities in South Africa, and examined the impact of various personal- and household-level factors (including labour market status of adult members) on child labour incidence. Methods: Data from the Survey of Activities of Young People (SAYP) released by Statistics South Africa was analysed to derive descriptive statistics relating to child labour activities. Probit regressions were also conducted to investigate the impact of various factors on child labour probability. Results: Children involved in child labour were predominantly African rural residents who did not attend schools at the time of the survey, and came from households with only one employed adult member on average. These children spent four to five hours per week on economic activities in unskilled elementary occupations, and the key reasons for involving in these activities were to earn pocket money for themselves and assist their families. Regarding the results of probit regressions, children coming from households with a greater number of employed adult members were less likely to be in child labour, but the result was only statistically significant in 2015. Conclusions: Child labour does exist in South Africa, particularly amongst households with a low number of employed adult members. Numerous socio-economic problems (such as poverty and adult unemployment) would need to be addressed to fully eradicate child labour incidence.
Services trade regulatory restrictiveness and downstream productivity in the common market for Eastern and Southern Africa Region
(Adonis and Abbey Publishers Ltd, 2025) Mashura, Shingirirai; Foders, Federico
The study employed the productivity growth model to investigate the effect of services trade regulatory restrictions in the Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA) region. The study found that services trade regulatory restrictions have a negative and statistically significant effect on downstream productivity which increases with institutional quality. In addition, the findings show a negative and statistically significant inverse relationship between commercial presence and downstream productivity. Sectoral analyses show a positive and statistically significant coefficient for financial services restrictions across all sectors. While a significant negative coefficient is estimated for transportation services across all downstream sectors, the coefficient for telecommunications services is significantly negative for manufacturing and services sectors only. The findings of this study underscore the importance of institutional quality in services trade liberalisation.
Determinants of non-performing loans in Namibia’s banking sector using composite indices
(Adonis and Abbey Publishers Ltd, 2025) Undji, Valdemar J; Sheefeni, Johannes P.S.
This study investigates the determinants of non-performing loans (NPL) in Namibia’s banking sector using six composite indices (macroeconomic, bank-specific, monetary, interest rate, financial and institutional) spanning from 1996Q1 to 2021Q4. The Autoregressive Distributive Lag (ARDL) and pairwise Granger causality modelling approaches are respectively employed and the result shows that over the long-run, both the macroeconomic and interest rate index influence NPL. In the short-run, however, the study reveals that previous levels of NPL, macroeconomic, interest rate and institutional indices affect NPL altogether. In terms of causality, a long-run causal relationship is found between all the variables employed in the model. In the short-run, a unidirectional causal relationship running from the macroeconomic index to NPL and from NPL to the interest rate index as well as from NPL to the institutional index is registered. The study underscores some policy implications that are worth considering.
Economic and non-economic satisfaction as interlocking constructs in B2B sales relationships
(OpenJournals Publishing AOSIS (Pty) Ltd., 2024) Ferro-Soto, Carlos; Roberts-Lombard, Mornay; Padin, Carmen
This study tests a research model that reflects the nomological relationship between satisfaction as a two-dimensional construct and continuity, coordination, and cooperation in business-to-business (B2B) sales relationships.
Access to tuberculosis care in South Africa during the COVID-19 pandemic: a scoping review
(AOSIS (Pty) Ltd, 2025) Appel, Kayla; Nackerdien, Faeez; Christian, Carmen
BACKGROUND: Tuberculosis (TB) remains a major public health issue in South Africa, a high-burden TB country. The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has exacerbated challenges in accessing essential TB services. This scoping review explores how access to TB care was impacted during the pandemic. AIM: This research aimed to review original studies on access to TB care in South Africa during the COVID-19 pandemic using a scoping review methodology. METHOD: A scoping review was conducted using the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses for Scoping Reviews (PRISMA-ScR) guidelines. Five databases were systematically searched for original peer-reviewed research published between 2020 and 2022. Data were extracted and synthesised using the Penchansky and Thomas framework of healthcare access. RESULTS: Three studies met the inclusion criteria. The review identified significant disruptions in TB service delivery during the pandemic, including reduced diagnostic capacity, healthcare facility closures and economic barriers. Patients reported delayed diagnoses and increased stigma, while healthcare workers faced resource shortages and operational challenges.
Drivers, barriers and enablers of a South African circular solar pv module supply chain: a focus on reuse
(SAGE Publications Ltd, 2025) Crozier, Marguerite Nicole; Schenck, Catherina; Ntsala, Palisa Gemina
End-of-life (EOL) solar photovoltaic (PV) module waste is a pressing issue, given the expansion of solar PV adoption and the burgeoning number of modules that will enter EOL in the next decade. The drive towards reuse is that it could offer a means to retain the value in PV modules, reduce pollution, bring renewable energy (RE) closer to the average household and offset the costs of recycling. Primary research was undertaken on the perceptions of actors along the South African PV value chain. Interviews were held with key informants in energy and e-waste, and a questionnaire was administered to the solar sector. The findings were interpreted in terms of drivers, barriers and enablers of a PV module circular economy with a specific focus on reuse. The study found that the key enablers were enforcing existing environmental legislation, which includes a mandatory Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) system, employing EPR fees towards waste system interventions and establishing quality assurance of second-hand products through testing and standards. Barriers to reuse were identified as being complex trade-offs between reuse, recycling and design, as well as the need for international standards and ensuring the market demand and viability of second-life modules. Research on higher-order circular economy activities, such as reuse and repair, has been limited in developing countries, including South Africa. The study adds to the body of knowledge in providing a potential framework for the development of a circular economy for PV modules in South Africa and offers broad policy recommendations for reuse.
Austerity measures, infrastructure and economic development in South Africa (1996–2019)
(Vilnius University Press, 2023) Mali, Kukhanyile; Sheefeni, Johannes
The paper aims to establish whether austerity measures promote economic development, improve infrastructure development, and whether they exacerbate infrastructure backlogs. The methodology used is a quantitative research method, sourcing secondary quarterly data from the South African Reserve Bank. The VAR model is used to analyse data between 1994 and 2019. The results showed that austerity measures have a significantly negative role in economic development. Also, they slow down investments that are crucial for infrastructure development. The results also pointed to the exacerbation of infrastructure backlogs caused by austerity measures
Investigation of the youth informal entrepreneurship landscape in South Africa
(Unisa Press, 2022) Murozvi, Simbarashe; Adams, Charles; Yu, Derek
The South African economy is characterised by high and continuously rising youth unemployment levels and rates. While countervailing interventions have been attempted in the formal sector, support for youth employment and informal sector entrepreneurship has received limited attention from policymakers. This is a rare study that examined South African youth entrepreneurship by analysing all five available waves of the seriously under-utilised Survey of Employers and Self-Employed (SESE) data, focusing on youth entrepreneurial activities. Youth (15–34 years) and adult (at least 35 years old) informal entrepreneurs were distinguished, before deriving descriptive statistics on business activities, with a specific focus on site of operation, management, employment and net profit use in youth-owned enterprises.
Integration of the Ukrainian economy into the euro-Atlantic community in the context of internationalization and globalization processes: Concept and assessment
(Baltija Publishing, 2022) Mantsurov, Igor; Barvinok, Alina; Dovhoteles, Vadym
The purpose of the article is to present the author's point of view on the conceptual apparatus that clarifies the definition of such economic categories as "internationalization", "economic integration", "inclusiveness", "globalization", etc. As a result, the essence of the processes of internationalization and integration of Ukraine into the democratized economic system of Euro-Atlantic countries is revealed. The object of the study is to analyze the complex processes of internationalization, globalization and integration of the Ukrainian economy into the competitive environment of Euro-Atlantic countries. The research methodology is based on general scientific and fundamental provisions of economic theory, international economics and statistics. The conceptual basis of the article is the world economic theories on the assessment of globalization processes in the development of the world economy. Processing and analysis of statistical data, modeling and forecasting of the identified trends were carried out using modern software.
Status of living standards in Nigeria between 2010 and 2013
(Taylor and Francis Group, 2020) Jaiyeola, Afeez Olalekan; Bayat, Amiena
Nigeria experienced a drop in the poverty rate to an average of56.1% between 1999 and 2007. This could be attributed to themeasures taken by the civilian government against adminis-trative corruption, increased domestic and foreign investmentsand some implemented agricultural policies. These effortswere thwarted by subsequent administrations with devastatingeffects on the Nigerian population. Despite an average annualeconomic growth rate of 6% between 2004 and 2010, theincidence of poverty has remained high, increasing from54.7% in 2004 to 60.9% in 2010. The high rate of poverty inNigeria has reached alarming proportions. It is in recognition ofthis that this study analyzes the variations in poverty across thesix geopolitical zones of Nigeria, including the rural and urbanareas
Do Share Allocations to the Indigenous Investor Drive the Demand for IPOs?
(MDPI, 2023) Tajuddin, Ahmad Hakimi; Gopal, Kanesh; Mohd-Rashid, Rasidah; Mehmood, Waqas; Sadik-Zada, Elkhan Richard
The purpose of this paper was to investigate the impact of allocating shares to the indigenous (Bumiputera) investors on the oversubscription ratio of IPO. This factor is unique to Malaysian IPOs and would enable us to reflect the signaling theory. Data on 348 IPO firms listed on Bursa Malaysia over a span of 17 years from 2002 to 2018 were examined using a cross-sectional regression analysis. The findings demonstrated no significant impact arising from the fractions of shares allocated to Bumiputera investors on the oversubscription ratios, except that the revised guidelines on the Bumiputera equity requirement had a significant negative influence on oversubscription. Further tests showed that the influence of such share allocation on oversubscription was moderated by firm size, which was proxied by market capitalization. The findings lend support to the signaling theory, indicating that the demand for IPOs will be slightly higher for larger firms listed in bigger markets.
Investigating volunteer activities in South Africa
(Taylor and Francis Group, 2023) Fondling, Jaydro; Murozvi, Simbarashe; Yu, Derek; Mtshali, Nothando
This is the first South African study that analysed all three availablewaves of Statistics South Africa’s Volunteer Activities Survey data,which was linked to the Quarterly Labour Force Survey in the third quarter of the same year (2010, 2014 and 2018). The empirical findings showed that volunteers were predominantly female Africans without Matric, aged 25–34 years and resided in the urban areas of KwaZulu-Natal, Gauteng and Limpopo. In 2018the labour force participation rate and unemployment rate of the volunteers were 62% and 34% respectively. These rates were both a bit higher than the corresponding rates of people who did not volunteer. The volunteers spent 20 h in the past four weeks on volunteering activities relating to service work and elementary occupations. More than 85% of volunteers did not expect to receive anything back. For those who indicated otherwise, they most likely expected to receive out-of-pocket expenses and food.
The South African labour market, 1995–2015
(Taylor and Francis Group, 2016) Festus, Lyle; Kasongo, Atoko; Moses, Mariana
This study investigates the changes in the South African labourmarket in the post-apartheid period. While unemploymentincreased over the 1995–2015 period, employment also increased.Nonetheless, the extent of employment increase is not rapidenough to absorb all net entrants into the labour force, resultingin increasing unemployment, or an employment absorption rate of65.3%. Unemployment is concentrated in specific demographicallyand geographically defined groups, most notably Africans, thelowly educated and those aged below 30 years, residing in ruralareas in Gauteng. Finally, four worryingfindings are observed:youth jobseekers aged below 30 years struggle tofind theirfirstjob; chronic unemployment is more serious for the relatively olderjobseekers (aged 45 years or above) with past work experience;employees working for small, medium and micro enterprises stillstagnate at approximately 3.5 million; and jobseekers from theolder age cohorts are less likely to actively seek work by enquiringat workplaces and answering job advertisements.
Employed yet poor: Low-wage employment and workingpoverty in South Africa
(Taylor and Francis Group, 2020) Feder, Jade; Yu, Derek
Working poverty exists worldwide and has shown an increase inprevalence over the past few decades. Over the years, there hasbeen an increase in the number and severity of low-wageemployment, which in turn contributes significantly to poverty.Whilst paid employment has generally been considered as thepredominant means to survivefinancially, salaries may be too lowto maintain reasonable living standards. South African research onlow-wage employment and working poverty in particular, are rare.Using data from thefirst four waves of the National IncomeDynamics Study, this studyfills the existing research gap byexamining low-wage employment, working poverty, and low-wage poverty. The empiricalfindings indicated that all threegroups are predominantly lowly-educated, middle-aged Africanfemale employees involved in elementary occupations in theinformal sector.

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