Assessing the Impact of Ease of Doing Business and Corruption on Economic Growth for Africa Free Trade Zone (AFTZ) Member States

A positive economic growth is one crucial macroeconomic objective of every nation. Many countries have formed regional as well as international trading blocs in an attempt to enhance economic growth and maximise welfare of each member state, the AFTZ member states are not an exception. This paper seeks to investigate the impact of ease of doing business and corruption on economic growth of AFTZ member states. The study employed a panel data analysis for the period 2010-2016, using Stata Statistical Software. The study findings for the bloc, indicated that corruption, trading across borders, getting credit, registration of property, dealing with construction permits, and starting business have a significant impact on the bloc’s economic growth; with insolvency resolving and investor protection of concern as well. Paying attention to country effects test, with the quest for efficient results, the study further divided the AFTZ bloc into 3 groups using average GDP as the determining variable. The usual 3 panel models were run for each group, with efficiency noted from the reported adjusted R-squared and overall R-squared. The study recommends each member state to pay particular attention to the identified affecting variables for improved economic growth. The onus to improve economic wellbeing of each state does not lie on the bloc only but on individual efforts as well, since individual differences prevail. All this will enable the broader efficacy and vision of AFTZ to be realised

Assessing the Impact of Ease of Doing Business and Corruption on Economic Growth for Africa Free Trade Zone (AFTZ) Member States

A positive economic growth is one crucial macroeconomic objective of every nation. Many countries have formed regional as well as international trading blocs in an attempt to enhance economic growth and maximise welfare of each member state, the AFTZ member states are not an exception. This paper seeks to investigate the impact of ease of doing business and corruption on economic growth of AFTZ member states. The study employed a panel data analysis for the period 2010-2016, using Stata Statistical Software. The study findings for the bloc, indicated that corruption, trading across borders, getting credit, registration of property, dealing with construction permits, and starting business have a significant impact on the bloc’s economic growth; with insolvency resolving and investor protection of concern as well. Paying attention to country effects test, with the quest for efficient results, the study further divided the AFTZ bloc into 3 groups using average GDP as the determining variable. The usual 3 panel models were run for each group, with efficiency noted from the reported adjusted R-squared and overall R-squared. The study recommends each member state to pay particular attention to the identified affecting variables for improved economic growth. The onus to improve economic wellbeing of each state does not lie on the bloc only but on individual efforts as well, since individual differences prevail. All this will enable the broader efficacy and vision of AFTZ to be realised

TOWARDS A PERSPECTIVE FOR UNDERSTANDING ANALYSIS OF IRREGULAR MIGRATION OF FEMALE LABOUR FROM ZIMBABWE TO SOUTH AFRICA

The main objective of this paper was to give a broader perspective of irregular migration of female labour from Zimbabwe to South Africa. The paper is premised on a broader study carried out on three provinces of Zimbabwe, namely Masvingo, Manicaland and Matabeleland. Employing a qualitative approach, the paper shows the multidimensional perspectives of migration in general and the specific perspectives relating to irregular migration of female labour from Zimbabwe to South Africa. The paper shows how irregular migration can be understood as a flow process. Furthermore, we come up with a   Ten Ideas Matrix for defining and understanding irregular migration. In the paper, we also develop a comprehensive framework which is an amalgamation of GIS, theoretical as well as empirical literature to help us to hypothesize probable drivers of irregular migration of female labour from Zimbabwe to South Africa.

EXPLORATORY ANALYSIS OF RECIDIVISM OF UNREGULATED CIRCULAR MIGRATION AMONG ZIMBABWEAN IRREGULAR FEMALE LABOUR MIGRANT DEPORTEES

Employing an exploratory analysis using a sample of 20 female Zimbabwean deportees from South Africa, the paper looks into the main factors which stimulate repeat of unregulated circular migration. Besides this, the study aimed at providing deep insights into the lived experiences of the deportees who have a preference for repeat migration in its unregulated form with implications for policy to Zimbabwe as well as South Africa. The study showed the importance of cost and benefit analysis as an important argument in circular migration decisions by the female deportees.  Findings also show that young women showed strong desire to embark on unregulated circular migration and made up to 35 % of the respondents. Factors such as unpaid salaries from former employers, lack of access to documentation,  attachment with destination country, educational qualifications, experience in circular migrations, unfinished projects at home are some of the factors pushing the deportees to unregulated circular migration.  Despite xenophobia being a threat to most migrants in South Africa, 60 % of the respondents expressed little worry about this societal ill. JEL classification:  j01, j15, j61,i38 Key words: Deportees, Circular Migration, Recidivism, South Africa, Zimbabw