The impact of previous knowledge and experience on the entrepreneurial attitudes of Grade 12 learners

No Abstract Available South African Journal of Education Vol.25(2) 2005: 89-9

Perceptions of entrepreneurship as a career option in South Africa: An exploratory study among grade 12 learners

Job creation and poverty alleviation are two pressing challenges facing South Africa today. South Africa’s capacity to address the high unemployment and poverty levels are partly hampered by a poorly developed entrepreneurial culture. An entrepreneurial culture that enhances the supply of effective entrepreneurs at all age and population groups could contribute to economic growth and address both unemployment and poverty. This article investigates the perceptions of entrepreneurship as career option by Grade 12 learners in a specific region in South Africa, as the youth could be viewed as the logical group from which new entrepreneurs should emerge in future. The majority of the surveyed learners seem to have a positive disposition towards small business entrepreneurship as an eventual career, although considerable differences exist in terms of self-image, locality and ethnic backgrounds

Equity in development and access to health services in the Wild Coast of South Africa: the community view through four linked cross-sectional studies between 1997 and 2007

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>After election in 1994, the South African government implemented national and regional programmes, such as the Wild Coast Spatial Development Initiative (SDI), to provoke economic growth and to decrease inequities. CIET measured development in the Wild Coast region across four linked cross-sectional surveys (1997-2007). The 2007 survey was an opportunity to look at inequities since the original 1997 baseline, and how such inequities affect access to health care.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>The 2000, 2004 and 2007 follow-up surveys revisited the communities of the 1997 baseline. Household-level multivariate analysis looked at development indicators and access to health in the context of inequities such as household crowding, access to protected sources of water, house roof construction, main food item purchased, and perception of community empowerment. Individual multivariate models accounted for age, sex, education and income earning opportunities.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Overall access to protected sources of water increased since the baseline (from 20% in 1997 to 50% in 2007), yet households made of mud and grass, and households who bought basics as their main food item were still less likely to have protected sources of water. The most vulnerable, such as those with less education and less water and food security, were also less likely to have worked for wages leaving them with little chance of improving their standard of living (less education OR 0.59, 95%CI 0.37-0.94; less water security OR 0.67, 95%CI 0.48-0.93; less food security OR 0.43, 95%CI 0.29-0.64). People with less income were more likely to visit government services (among men OR 0.28, 95%CI 0.13-0.59; among women OR 0.33, 95%CI 0.20-0.54), reporting decision factors of cost and distance; users of private clinics sought out better service and medication. Lower food security and poorer house construction was also associated with women visiting government rather than private health services. Women with some formal education were nearly eight times more likely than women with no education to access health services for prevention rather than curative reasons (OR 7.65, 95%CI 4.10-14.25).</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>While there have been some improvements, the Wild Coast region still falls well below provincial and national standards in key areas such as access to clean water and employment despite years of government-led investment. Inequities remain prominent, particularly around access to health services.</p

Happiness and health behaviours in Chilean college students: A cross-sectional survey

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Happiness has been associated with a range of favourable health outcomes through two pathways: its relationship with favourable biological responses to stress and with healthy lifestyles and prudent health behaviours. There are a substantial number of cross-cultural studies about happiness, but none of them has studied the association of happiness with perceived stress and health behaviours in Latin American samples. Therefore, the aim of this study was to examine the association between general happiness and these variables in a Latin American sample.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>We conducted a survey to examine the status of 3461 students aged between 17 and 24 years old (mean age = 19.89; SD = 1.73) who attended University of Santiago de Chile during 2009. The healthy behaviours indexes assessed were the frequency of daily physical exercise, fruits/vegetables intake, breakfast and lunch intake, smoking, alcohol and other drugs consumption. We also included the assessment of perceived stress and Body Mass Index. All of them were evaluated using a self-report questionnaire.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>The univariate and multivariate binary logistic regression analyses showed that being female and younger was related to a higher happiness, as well as that people self-reporting daily physical activity, having lunch and fruits and vegetables each day had a higher likelihood (OR between 1.33 and 1.40) of being classified as "very happy". Those who informed felt stressed in normal circumstances and during tests situations showed a lower likelihood (0.73 and 0.82, respectively) of being considered "very happy". Regarding drug consumption, taking tranquilizers under prescription was negative related to "subjective happiness" (OR = 0.62), whereas smoking was positive associated (OR = 1.20).</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>The findings of this study mainly support the relationship between happiness and health outcomes through the two pathways previously mentioned. They also underscore the importance of that some healthy behaviours and person's cognitive appraisal of stress are integrated into their lifestyle for college students. Additionally, highlight the importance of taking into account these variables in the design of strategies to promote health education in university setting.</p

The fiscal system and objectives of GEAR in South Africa: Consistent or conflicting?

This paper critically examines the attainability of the targets set out in the South African Growth, Employment and Redistribution strategy (GEAR). The GEAR document envisaged an economic growth rate of 4.2% per annum, on average, with a rapid expansion of employment over the five-year period ending in 2000. However, actual performance thus far falls short of GEAR projections, except for definite progress towards a reduction of the budget deficit. The current macroeconomic conditions, an over-regulated labour market, prohibitive taxation, low savings and high crime rates make it difficult to stimulate entrepreneurship and attract sufficient investment, especially of a labour absorbing nature, to meet the GEAR projections. The GEAR targets evidently need to be scaled down.</jats:p

On the emergence of firms and sick institutions

Organisations and firms are formed by people and entrepreneurs. Firms can become sick just as people do. Not all firms live forever. This paper examines the emergence of "sick" institutions. Organisations can become unhealthy when there is a mismatch between goods and services they produce and the external environment in which they operate. Survival and fitness of an organisation depend on its ability to respond and adapt cost-effectively to the changing environment. Entrepreneurship, n-Achievement and productivity of individuals are critical to an organisation's health. A thorough diagnostic framework of symptoms of organisational ills is required before prescribing any therapy, to bring about a healthy organisation. The future belongs to healthy firms, with adaptable strategies and resources that optimally fit the changing environment.</jats:p

Street vending in the Eastern Cape: Survival strategy or conduit to entrepreneurship?

Although South Afiica consistently registered positive economic growth rates since the democratic government took office in 1994, this economic expansion has not been accompanied by a surge of new formal sector jobs. The public and private sectors have been shedding labour, partly in response to globalisation and domestic economic realities. Consequently, more and more individuals are taking to street vending to create jobs for themselves. This article examines the dynamics of street vending and investigates whether it is merely a survival mode of existence or a conduit to formal entrepreneurship. The results of the study indicate that only 15 per cent of the surveyed operators may graduate to formal entrepreneurship in the medium or long term. It seems highly unlikely that a substantial number of high profile entrepreneurs would emerge from this mass of survivalist traders. For most street traders, the informal economy is not a conduit to entrepreneurship, but a survival strategy. From a development perspective, the way forward for street vendors is to transform their ventures into more value-adding operations that can provide sustainable livelihoods for themselves, and in due course jobs for others.</jats:p