Growth and Development Commons^™

Europe: Ready To Rebound, Singapore Management University

Perspectives@SMU

Increasing trade, investment, and immigrant integration are keys to Europe’s economic vitality

Homegrown Or Imported? Frugal Innovation And Local Economic Development In Zambia, Iva Peša

Southern African Journal of Policy and Development

Innovation and entrepreneurship have the potential to stimulate economic growth. Yet it remains unclear whether top-down or bottom-up innovations are more likely to lead to local economic development. By looking at three cases of frugal innovation on the Zambian Copperbelt, in the spheres of housing, water and energy, it will be argued that polycentric innovation (which connects local and international actors) is most likely to generate inclusive development. Yet even a polycentric approach does not guarantee desired outcomes, as innovation remains context specific.

The Politics Of Social Entrepreneurship In Cameroon, Aaron Danowski

Independent Study Project (ISP) Collection

Social entrepreneurship, a practice that combines nonprofit missions and business principles in pursuit of social impact, is a growing phenomenon that has the potential to empower millions of people around the world through a decentralized approach to social problem solving. In this paper, I examine the state of social entrepreneurship in Cameroon, exploring how social entrepreneurship is defined in the Cameroonian context by local actors, and the ways in which Cameroonian social entrepreneurs interact with macro, meso, and micro level politics and partners to create sustainable social impact. From November 7 through December 7, 2015, I conducted in-person interviews with …

Ganga: River Health And Livelihood: An Exploration In The Relationship Of Women’S Health And Water In The Garhwal Region, Caroline Lutkewitte

India: Public Health, Policy Advocacy, and Community

Overall, the intention of this study is to provide a bases for understanding how the livelihood of Himalayan women affects the health of the Ganga and vice versa. An apparent paradox between the destruction caused by development and one’s own spiritual and religious fulfillment may explain the diminishing quality of the Ganga. Through interviews with Garhwali women and observations of lifestyles along the Ganga, a concept of women’s interaction with water was determined. These perceptions and uses of water were compared to perspectives on degradation of the river. Pollution and water diversion projects serve as two of the largest struggles …

Community Owned Renewable Energy In North Coast Nsw Social Housing, Kelly Leatherman

Independent Study Project (ISP) Collection

This study assesses the feasibility of implementing community owned renewable energy (CORE) technology in social housing units in North Coast NSW. I completed this study by conducting interviews with three renewable energy policy experts to ascertain the current state of renewable energy and CORE in NSW. Second, I conducted four interviews with separate social housing unit employees/residents to understand their interpretation of current barriers to implementing renewable energy in the social housing and if any of the units currently have any renewable energy technology or energy efficiency programs in place. After finishing this assessment, I did a comparative analysis with …

Assessing The Sustainability Of Selective Logging In Ankarabolava-Agnakatrika New Protected Area, Eileen Nakahata

Independent Study Project (ISP) Collection

Over the past 50 years, more than 90% of dense low-altitude humid forest in the District of Vangaindrano has been lost to deforestation and the remaining fragments continue to be threatened by slash and burn agriculture and selective cutting by local populations. These activities are driven by widespread poverty, population growth, and lack of development, which have made subsistence increasingly difficult. This study investigates logging rates and the stock of five commercially valuable trees in the Ankarabolava-Agnakatrika New Protected Area. Fifteen 1000m² transects were established systematically within the territory of the Matanga commune. Within each transect data was collected …

Facilitators Of Empowerment Lead In Sustainable Rural Development: A Case Study Of Thanda, Emma Milford

Independent Study Project (ISP) Collection

In a world searching for more innovative models of development, it is important to highlight successful programs that offer insight into effective, impactful interventions. In this study, I investigate Thanda as a case study for rural sustainable development where investment in individual empowerment results in community empowerment. Thanda was founded in 2008 with the original intent of addressing the orphan crisis due to the HIV/AIDS epidemic in rural communities near Hibberdene, South Africa. Since then, Thanda has implemented afterschool education programs, feeding programs, agricultural development programs, early childhood development programs, and a 100% green community center. Their curriculum emphasizes critical …

Fair Trade Or Fake Trade? Specialty Coffee Certifications And Development In Uganda, Eliza Cummings

Independent Study Project (ISP) Collection

This project examined the relationship between specialty coffee certifications and development. The focus was exploring the local and national implications Fairtrade coffee certifications have in Uganda. Coffee is a critical commodity, accounting for 15 percent of Uganda’s foreign exchange and engaging over one million households in production. Currently, specialty certified coffees including Fairtrade, Rainforest Alliance, and 4C make up only four percent of total production. However, under Uganda’s 2013 National Coffee Policy, there is a target to expand specialty production to 24 percent. It is therefore imperative to understand how these specialty certifications affect primary producers participating as well as …

From Private To Public Women’S Cooperatives And The Construction Of A Public Sphere, Cecilia Garza

Independent Study Project (ISP) Collection

This independent study project will explore how participation in the economy benefits women in more ways than just economically. Using the example of five cooperatives functioning in the Moroccan Rif, this paper will investigate how access to the economy not only provides women with supplemental income but also allows them to leave the home and build networks within their communities. These examples will illustrate how illiterate, rural women, who would usually be seen as powerless in the public eye, are taking advantage of the trainings, income and communities they gain from their participation in cooperatives to claim independence and prove …

The Making And Re-Making Of Dolpo Identity: A Case Study Of Do-Tarap, Lin Zhu

Independent Study Project (ISP) Collection

The unbelievably harsh environment in Dolpo forces people to be self-sufficient based on agriculture and husbandry, two sectors that complement each other very well. The condition also requires plentiful communal works for survival. Dolpo’s geographical isolation on the one hand, limits Dolpo-pas from encountering others, and on the other hand, prevents the presence of the central government. Before the 1960’s, Dolpo still remained as a politically autonomous region under the Kingdom of Nepal. However, based on interviews conduced with both local villagers and outsiders such as governmental officials and Nepalese, the paper argues that, starting from the 1960’s, Dolpo-pas began …

An Interactive Research Study On For-Profit Microfinance And Its Continued Social Impact, Rachael Peroutky

Independent Study Project (ISP) Collection

Though the world is changing rapidly, the problem of poverty and the push for human development have been debated for as long as anyone can remember. Outdated strategies for human development are not sustainable in this new globalized world. The relatively young and growing field of microfinance is hoping to be the answer for sustainable human development and poverty elimination. This study analyzes the impact of microfinance on human development through two major questions. Firstly, to what extent and in what ways can microfinance impact the poor? This research question is multifaceted and will seek to address some of the …

Sembrando El Cambio: Agroecología Cuencana Y Paradigmas Del Desarrollo, Erin Walters

Independent Study Project (ISP) Collection

Durante mi tiempo en Cuenca, tuve la oportunidad de observar varios modelos de producción agroecológica: primero con el Proyecto de Agricultura Urbana (PAU) donde tienen dos granjas que producen comida para poblaciones vulnerables de Cuenca, y segundo con una familia perteneciente a la Asociación de Productores Agroecológicos del Austro (APAAUSTRO), que cultiva para la subsistencia y vende los alimentos extras. Analizo la historia y la estructura de estos tipos de producción, contextualizándolas en el proyecto y la política del desarrollo “convencional” y la Revolución Verde. Exploro cómo difieren de lo que tradicionalmente se considera el desarrollo, por virtud de varios …

Patagonia Con Poder: El Éxito De La Oposición Frente El Proyecto Hidroaysén, Nathaniel Korn

Independent Study Project (ISP) Collection

This investigation analyzes the movement in opposition to the HidroAysén project in Southern Chile that is often referred to as and uses the slogan “Patagonia Sin Represas” (Patagonia Without Dams). The investigation is framed through collective action theory, the study of what incentives and other factors create the conditions for mobilization and group action. In the context of social movements it is usually argued that there needs to be a better cost-benefit scenario for each actor to be involved than there is to not be involved in the movement. Immediately following return of democracy to Chile in the 1990’s social …

Institutions Of Higher Education And Cultural Heritage Tourism: A Case Study Of The Crooked Road, Virginia's Heritage Music Trail, Terence Michael Gilley

Educational Leadership & Workforce Development Theses & Dissertations

The southwest region of Virginia has an unstable economy, which cycles through periods of growth and decline. The strategic plans for southwest Virginia propose cultural heritage tourism as a sustainable industry for economic development of this rural region. Institutions of higher education provide education and training for a qualified workforce and community service. This qualitative, single case study on The Crooked Road, Virginia’s Heritage Music Trail examines the roles of institutions of higher education with regard to cultural heritage tourism for sustainable community and economic development in rural areas. The data sources for this study are the administrators of …

The Impact Of Labour Productivity On Economic Growth: The Case Of Mauritius And South Africa, Jack Jones Zulu, Benjamin Mattondo Banda

Southern African Journal of Policy and Development

This study explores the impact of labour productivity on economic growth in Mauritius and South Africa. We establish that investments in physical capital have a positive effect on labour productivity and by implication on economic performance. Labour employment in industry is counterproductive, while the cumulative effect of new technologies on labour productivity is negligible in the three-year intervals. It is the initial stock and subsequent accumulation of human capital that stimulates faster output growth in both countries.

Of Land, Food, And Scale, Singapore Management University

Perspectives@SMU

The competing needs for infrastructure, agriculture, and scale could decide the success of The Asian century

The Role Of The Media In Communicating Developments In Foreign Exchange Management In Nigeria, Stanley Egbochukwu

Bullion

The branch of journalism that tracks, record, analyses and interprets the economic changes that took place in a society is Financial Journalism. it is said to be a subject of unprecedented circumstance because financial and business stories nowadays move at a digital driven speed. the interpretation and presentation of the up to day activities in the financial world comes with high level of research and cooperate understanding. the Nigeria economy is heavily dependent on import and this records can be presented to the public through the media.

Financial Inclusion And Growth Of The Banking System In Nigeria, Hogan E. Bassey, Fagge A. Inuwa, Ukeje H. Nkechinyere

Bullion

Financial inclusion suggests an innovative concept which helps to achieve sustainable development, by making available financial services to the unbanked and underbanked with the help of financial institutions. The concept of financial inclusion gained popularity from year 2000. Thus, it is a great weapon to overcomes financial backwardness. This paper attempts to assess the current status of financial inclusion by examining recent policies and developments toward achieving financial inclusion in Nigeria. Specifically, the framework aimed at enhancing financial inclusion in Nigeria while also supporting the growth and stability of the financial sector, including policies around microfinance, mobile payment, KYC, electronic …

The Doha Round And Globalization: A Failure Of World Economic Development?, William E. Keating

Theses and Dissertations

The objective of this thesis is to analyze the WTO’s Doha Round and its numerous developmental objectives, assess the major issues that led to its stagnation, as well as examine the economic prospects for developing nations and the potential future of international trade and development.

Giving A Voice To The Powerless: Participatory Monitoring & Evaluation As A Tool For Inclusive Development Through Microfinance, Evan T. Burke

Capstone Collection

The greatest experts on the situation of the marginalized peoples of the world are the marginalized communities themselves. This paper explores how participatory monitoring & evaluation can be a powerful tool for giving voices to marginalized communities, ensuring that the voices of beneficiaries and local stakeholders are heard and inform sustainable project design. It analyzes a participatory monitoring and evaluation methodology implemented for women’s credit cooperatives in Gujarat, India by the Human Development & Research Centre, and examines lessons to be learned to design evaluations facilitating inclusive development.

Strategies for the monitoring and evaluation of microfinance have evolved along with …