Human Capital and Environmental Sustainability Nexus in Selected SADC Countries
- Sibanda, Kin, Gonese, Dorcas, Garidzirai, Rufaro
- Authors: Sibanda, Kin , Gonese, Dorcas , Garidzirai, Rufaro
- Date: 2023
- Subjects: Human capital , Enviromental degradation , Pooled mean group , SADC countries
- Language: English
- Type: Article
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/11260/15386 , vital:80093 , https://doi.org/10.3390/resources12040052
- Description: This paper sought to examine the nexus between human capital and environmental sustainability in Southern African Development Community (SADC) countries. This contemporary topic has not received much attention in the region, hence the need to investigate the nexus between human capital and environmental sustainability. The paper used one of the most recent methodologies, namely, the pooled mean group (PMG) estimation technique, to assess this relationship from 1980to 2021. The findings of the study are that human capital increases environmental sustainability in the long run in SADC countries. This implies that as human capital increases, countries will see an increase in technological innovations and research and development, enabling the mitigation of environmental degradation in the region. Therefore, it is imperative for the region to embark on human capital programs that improve environmental sustainability.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2023
- Authors: Sibanda, Kin , Gonese, Dorcas , Garidzirai, Rufaro
- Date: 2023
- Subjects: Human capital , Enviromental degradation , Pooled mean group , SADC countries
- Language: English
- Type: Article
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/11260/15386 , vital:80093 , https://doi.org/10.3390/resources12040052
- Description: This paper sought to examine the nexus between human capital and environmental sustainability in Southern African Development Community (SADC) countries. This contemporary topic has not received much attention in the region, hence the need to investigate the nexus between human capital and environmental sustainability. The paper used one of the most recent methodologies, namely, the pooled mean group (PMG) estimation technique, to assess this relationship from 1980to 2021. The findings of the study are that human capital increases environmental sustainability in the long run in SADC countries. This implies that as human capital increases, countries will see an increase in technological innovations and research and development, enabling the mitigation of environmental degradation in the region. Therefore, it is imperative for the region to embark on human capital programs that improve environmental sustainability.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2023
Natural Resource Rents, Institutional Quality, and Environmental Degradation in Resource-Rich Sub-Saharan African Countries
- Sibanda, Kin, Garidzirai, Rufaro, Mushonga, Farai, Gonese, Dorcas
- Authors: Sibanda, Kin , Garidzirai, Rufaro , Mushonga, Farai , Gonese, Dorcas
- Date: 2023
- Subjects: Enviromental degradation , Institutional quality , Natural rents
- Language: English
- Type: Article
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/11260/15392 , vital:80096 , https://doi.org/10.3390/su15021141
- Description: Environmental degradation concerns are increasing worldwide. Moreover, in sub-SaharanAfrican countries, these concerns are dominant because of an abundance of natural resources andexhaustion of these natural resources that tend to cause carbon emissions. This has created a hugeinterest among academics in investigating the relationship between natural resources, institutionalquality, and environmental degradation. Since the sub-Saharan countries are resource-rich, the currentstudy investigates how the natural resource rents and institutional quality impacted environmentaldegradation in selected sub-Saharan African countries from 1994 to 2020. Through employing theGMM estimation technique, the findings show that natural rents are positively linked with environ-mental degradation. This is closely related to the Environmental Kuznets Curve (EKC) hypothesis,which stipulates that environmental degradation worsens at the initial stage of the economic develop-ment of developing countries. The study has also found that rules and regulations set by governmentshave not been implemented in a manner that reduces environmental degradation in the region. Worthnoting is that the region should collaborate and design its environmental policies in line with theSustainable Developmental Goals. This is the first step towards environmental sustainability.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2023
- Authors: Sibanda, Kin , Garidzirai, Rufaro , Mushonga, Farai , Gonese, Dorcas
- Date: 2023
- Subjects: Enviromental degradation , Institutional quality , Natural rents
- Language: English
- Type: Article
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/11260/15392 , vital:80096 , https://doi.org/10.3390/su15021141
- Description: Environmental degradation concerns are increasing worldwide. Moreover, in sub-SaharanAfrican countries, these concerns are dominant because of an abundance of natural resources andexhaustion of these natural resources that tend to cause carbon emissions. This has created a hugeinterest among academics in investigating the relationship between natural resources, institutionalquality, and environmental degradation. Since the sub-Saharan countries are resource-rich, the currentstudy investigates how the natural resource rents and institutional quality impacted environmentaldegradation in selected sub-Saharan African countries from 1994 to 2020. Through employing theGMM estimation technique, the findings show that natural rents are positively linked with environ-mental degradation. This is closely related to the Environmental Kuznets Curve (EKC) hypothesis,which stipulates that environmental degradation worsens at the initial stage of the economic develop-ment of developing countries. The study has also found that rules and regulations set by governmentshave not been implemented in a manner that reduces environmental degradation in the region. Worthnoting is that the region should collaborate and design its environmental policies in line with theSustainable Developmental Goals. This is the first step towards environmental sustainability.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2023
Trade Openness and Unemployment in Selected Southern African Development Community (SADC) Countries
- Gonese, Dorcas, Sibanda, Kin, Ngonisa, Phillip
- Authors: Gonese, Dorcas , Sibanda, Kin , Ngonisa, Phillip
- Date: 2023
- Subjects: Unemployment , Trade openness , Panel data , Pooled mean group , SADC
- Language: English
- Type: Article
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/11260/15405 , vital:80098 , https://doi.org/10.3390/economies11100252
- Description: The relationship between trade openness and unemployment in Southern African Development Community (SADC) countries remains an area of significant interest and concern. While trade openness is often advocated for fostering economic growth and development, its potential effects on employment outcomes are complex and multifaceted. Understanding the nature and nuances of this relationship within the SADC region is crucial for policymakers and stakeholders seeking to design effective strategies that balance the benefits of trade openness with the goals of reducing unemployment and promoting inclusive growth. This study evaluates the effect of trade openness on unemployment in SADC from 1980 to 2019 using panel ARDL (pooled mean group—PMG) estimation techniques. The findings of the study show that trade openness and exports negatively impact unemployment, whereas imports positively affect unemployment in the long run. This suggests that while boosting exports and real trade, openness decreases unemployment, and imports increase job losses in the long run in the SADC region. This calls for more caution on trade openness regarding what to export and import when addressing regional unemployment reduction policies.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2023
- Authors: Gonese, Dorcas , Sibanda, Kin , Ngonisa, Phillip
- Date: 2023
- Subjects: Unemployment , Trade openness , Panel data , Pooled mean group , SADC
- Language: English
- Type: Article
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/11260/15405 , vital:80098 , https://doi.org/10.3390/economies11100252
- Description: The relationship between trade openness and unemployment in Southern African Development Community (SADC) countries remains an area of significant interest and concern. While trade openness is often advocated for fostering economic growth and development, its potential effects on employment outcomes are complex and multifaceted. Understanding the nature and nuances of this relationship within the SADC region is crucial for policymakers and stakeholders seeking to design effective strategies that balance the benefits of trade openness with the goals of reducing unemployment and promoting inclusive growth. This study evaluates the effect of trade openness on unemployment in SADC from 1980 to 2019 using panel ARDL (pooled mean group—PMG) estimation techniques. The findings of the study show that trade openness and exports negatively impact unemployment, whereas imports positively affect unemployment in the long run. This suggests that while boosting exports and real trade, openness decreases unemployment, and imports increase job losses in the long run in the SADC region. This calls for more caution on trade openness regarding what to export and import when addressing regional unemployment reduction policies.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2023
Unveiling the Green Impact: Exporing the Nexus Between Trade Openness and Enviromental Quality in South Africa
- Dingiswayo, Unathi, Sibanda, Kin, Dubihlela, Dorah
- Authors: Dingiswayo, Unathi , Sibanda, Kin , Dubihlela, Dorah
- Date: 2023
- Subjects: Trade openness , Carbon emissions , Granger casuality test , Autoregressive Distributed Lag Bounds , South Africa
- Language: English
- Type: Article
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/11260/15399 , vital:80099
- Description: In light of the escalating concerns about environmental sustainability and the profound impact of international trade on environmental outcomes, the study's focal point was to empirically investigate the relationship between trade openness and environmental quality in South Africa from 1994 to 2018. In order to achieve the goal, the research utilised the Autoregressive Distributed Lag (ARDL) Bounds method and the Granger causality test for analysing data. The ARDL Bounds approach was chosen for its ability to examine both short-run and long-run relationships, while the Granger causality test provided insights into the direction of causality between the variables. This combination of robust econometric techniques enhances the reliability and depth of the study's findings, leading to a more comprehensive understanding of the complex relationship between trade openness and environmental quality in the country. The analysis results revealed a significant and positive relationship between trade openness and carbon emissions in the short and long run. The Granger causality test also indicated a unidirectional causality from trade openness to environmental quality. These implications are paramount for the South African government's policy formulation. In order to tackle the environmental issues that come with open trade, the government must put in place trade agreements that will enhance its ability to address these concerns efficiently. One crucial step is reducing trade barriers on environmental goods, facilitating increased access to green technologies at lower costs. Moreover, the government should prioritise enacting and enforcing strict environmental laws to avoid the "pollution haven hypothesis," which often affects low-income countries.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2023
- Authors: Dingiswayo, Unathi , Sibanda, Kin , Dubihlela, Dorah
- Date: 2023
- Subjects: Trade openness , Carbon emissions , Granger casuality test , Autoregressive Distributed Lag Bounds , South Africa
- Language: English
- Type: Article
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/11260/15399 , vital:80099
- Description: In light of the escalating concerns about environmental sustainability and the profound impact of international trade on environmental outcomes, the study's focal point was to empirically investigate the relationship between trade openness and environmental quality in South Africa from 1994 to 2018. In order to achieve the goal, the research utilised the Autoregressive Distributed Lag (ARDL) Bounds method and the Granger causality test for analysing data. The ARDL Bounds approach was chosen for its ability to examine both short-run and long-run relationships, while the Granger causality test provided insights into the direction of causality between the variables. This combination of robust econometric techniques enhances the reliability and depth of the study's findings, leading to a more comprehensive understanding of the complex relationship between trade openness and environmental quality in the country. The analysis results revealed a significant and positive relationship between trade openness and carbon emissions in the short and long run. The Granger causality test also indicated a unidirectional causality from trade openness to environmental quality. These implications are paramount for the South African government's policy formulation. In order to tackle the environmental issues that come with open trade, the government must put in place trade agreements that will enhance its ability to address these concerns efficiently. One crucial step is reducing trade barriers on environmental goods, facilitating increased access to green technologies at lower costs. Moreover, the government should prioritise enacting and enforcing strict environmental laws to avoid the "pollution haven hypothesis," which often affects low-income countries.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2023
Trade liberalisation, the real exchange rate and sectoral employment : a case study of South Africa
- Authors: Sibanda, Kin
- Date: 2016
- Subjects: Foreign exchange rates Employment (Economic theory) Free trade -- South Africa
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Doctoral , PhD
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10353/12777 , vital:39360
- Description: This study examined the relationship between trade liberalisation, the real exchange rate and sectoral employment in South Africa for the period 1994 to 2014. Firstly, using quarterly time series data, the Autoregressive Distributed Lag (ARDL) technique was employed to formally check if South African real exchange rates are responsive to trade liberalisation. This was done to see if trade liberalisation impacts real exchange rates in South Africa, to the extent that they cannot be controlled concurrently in the subsequent models. Based on the ARDL results, trade liberalisation does not have a significant effect on the exchange rate. However, when the real exchange rate is an independent variable of trade liberalisation, the results show that real exchange rates affect trade, specifically the export propensity index. The next step was to assess the impact of trade liberalisation and real exchange rate on sectoral employment using quarterly panel data for South Africa from 1994 to 2014 controlling for both sector-specific and macro-economic variables. The study employed diverse panel data analysis techniques to separate the sectoral effects, starting with broad sectors followed by the disaggregated sectors, to identify the sectors most affected by real exchange rates and trade liberalisation. The Generalised method of Moments (GMM) results reveal that a unit increase in exchange rate (implying appreciation), causes employment to go down by about 9 percent in South Africa. The same relationship is depicted from the Pooled Mean Group (PMG) estimations in both the short run and long run. Random coefficients (betas) show that the real exchange rate negatively affects the primary and secondary sector with a positive but insignificant effect on the tertiary sector. The sub-sectors negatively hit hard by real exchange rates are communication, mining and transport. The results also show that trade liberalisation is linked to both job destruction and job creation. The static models reveal that trade openness has a statistically positive and significant impact on employment in the short run while the PMG estimator results show that the effect is negative and only significant in the short run. The dynamic models (GMM and PMG) showed trade liberalisation (as proxied by trade openness and import propensity) has a statistical and significantly positive short run impact on employment. This implies that selective trade liberalisation strategies are needed in order for South Africa to maximise the gains from trade.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2016
- Authors: Sibanda, Kin
- Date: 2016
- Subjects: Foreign exchange rates Employment (Economic theory) Free trade -- South Africa
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Doctoral , PhD
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10353/12777 , vital:39360
- Description: This study examined the relationship between trade liberalisation, the real exchange rate and sectoral employment in South Africa for the period 1994 to 2014. Firstly, using quarterly time series data, the Autoregressive Distributed Lag (ARDL) technique was employed to formally check if South African real exchange rates are responsive to trade liberalisation. This was done to see if trade liberalisation impacts real exchange rates in South Africa, to the extent that they cannot be controlled concurrently in the subsequent models. Based on the ARDL results, trade liberalisation does not have a significant effect on the exchange rate. However, when the real exchange rate is an independent variable of trade liberalisation, the results show that real exchange rates affect trade, specifically the export propensity index. The next step was to assess the impact of trade liberalisation and real exchange rate on sectoral employment using quarterly panel data for South Africa from 1994 to 2014 controlling for both sector-specific and macro-economic variables. The study employed diverse panel data analysis techniques to separate the sectoral effects, starting with broad sectors followed by the disaggregated sectors, to identify the sectors most affected by real exchange rates and trade liberalisation. The Generalised method of Moments (GMM) results reveal that a unit increase in exchange rate (implying appreciation), causes employment to go down by about 9 percent in South Africa. The same relationship is depicted from the Pooled Mean Group (PMG) estimations in both the short run and long run. Random coefficients (betas) show that the real exchange rate negatively affects the primary and secondary sector with a positive but insignificant effect on the tertiary sector. The sub-sectors negatively hit hard by real exchange rates are communication, mining and transport. The results also show that trade liberalisation is linked to both job destruction and job creation. The static models reveal that trade openness has a statistically positive and significant impact on employment in the short run while the PMG estimator results show that the effect is negative and only significant in the short run. The dynamic models (GMM and PMG) showed trade liberalisation (as proxied by trade openness and import propensity) has a statistical and significantly positive short run impact on employment. This implies that selective trade liberalisation strategies are needed in order for South Africa to maximise the gains from trade.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2016
The impact of real exchange rates on economic growth: a case study of South Africa
- Authors: Sibanda, Kin
- Date: 2012
- Subjects: Economic development -- South Africa , Foreign exchange -- South Africa , Interest rates -- South Africa , Money supply -- South Africa , Free trade -- South Africa , Saving and investment -- South Africa , Devaluation of currency -- South Africa , Currency question -- South Africa , South Africa -- Economic policy
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , M Com
- Identifier: vital:11469 , http://hdl.handle.net/10353/d1007129 , Economic development -- South Africa , Foreign exchange -- South Africa , Interest rates -- South Africa , Money supply -- South Africa , Free trade -- South Africa , Saving and investment -- South Africa , Devaluation of currency -- South Africa , Currency question -- South Africa , South Africa -- Economic policy
- Description: This study examined the impact of real exchange rates on economic growth in South Africa. The study used quarterly time series data for the period of 1994 to 2010. The Johansen cointegration and vector error correction model was used to determine the impact of real exchange on economic growth in South Africa. The explanatory variables in this study were real exchange rates, real interest rates, money supply, trade openness and gross fixed capital formation. Results from this study revealed that real exchange rates, gross fixed capital formation and real interest rates have a positive long run impact on economic growth, while money supply and trade openness have a negative long run impact on economic growth in South Africa. From the regression results, it was noted that undervaluation of the currency significantly hampers growth in the long run, whilst it significantly enhances economic growth in the short run. As such, the policy of depreciating the exchange rates to achieve higher growth rates is only effective in the short run and is not sustainable in the long run. Based on the findings of this study, the researcher recommended that misalignment (overvaluation and undervaluation) of the currency should be avoided at all costs. In addition, the results of the study showed that interest rates also have a significant impact on growth and since interest rates have a bearing on the exchange rate, it was recommended that the current monetary policy in South Africa should be maintained.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2012
- Authors: Sibanda, Kin
- Date: 2012
- Subjects: Economic development -- South Africa , Foreign exchange -- South Africa , Interest rates -- South Africa , Money supply -- South Africa , Free trade -- South Africa , Saving and investment -- South Africa , Devaluation of currency -- South Africa , Currency question -- South Africa , South Africa -- Economic policy
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , M Com
- Identifier: vital:11469 , http://hdl.handle.net/10353/d1007129 , Economic development -- South Africa , Foreign exchange -- South Africa , Interest rates -- South Africa , Money supply -- South Africa , Free trade -- South Africa , Saving and investment -- South Africa , Devaluation of currency -- South Africa , Currency question -- South Africa , South Africa -- Economic policy
- Description: This study examined the impact of real exchange rates on economic growth in South Africa. The study used quarterly time series data for the period of 1994 to 2010. The Johansen cointegration and vector error correction model was used to determine the impact of real exchange on economic growth in South Africa. The explanatory variables in this study were real exchange rates, real interest rates, money supply, trade openness and gross fixed capital formation. Results from this study revealed that real exchange rates, gross fixed capital formation and real interest rates have a positive long run impact on economic growth, while money supply and trade openness have a negative long run impact on economic growth in South Africa. From the regression results, it was noted that undervaluation of the currency significantly hampers growth in the long run, whilst it significantly enhances economic growth in the short run. As such, the policy of depreciating the exchange rates to achieve higher growth rates is only effective in the short run and is not sustainable in the long run. Based on the findings of this study, the researcher recommended that misalignment (overvaluation and undervaluation) of the currency should be avoided at all costs. In addition, the results of the study showed that interest rates also have a significant impact on growth and since interest rates have a bearing on the exchange rate, it was recommended that the current monetary policy in South Africa should be maintained.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2012
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