Suchergebnisse

AbstractThe paper evaluates the onset of first and second demographic transitions amongst the four main ethnic subpopulations of the metropolitan areas of Tshwane, Johannesburg and Ekurhuleni in Gauteng Province, South Africa. Extracting data from the 1996 and 2011 censuses, the results indicate that Asian women experienced second demographic transitions during the study period, while White women already achieved these transitions by 1996. These subpopulations are characterized by high singulate mean ages of marriage, increasing cohabitation rates, low singles rates, below replacement fertility, and increasing fertility postponement. There is also the emergence of double‐peaked fertility rates as these populations have different fertility peaks, due to female education and career decisions. Black and Coloured women show characteristics of first demographic transitions with low changes in cohabitation and singles rates, declines in fertility to replacement level fertility and low fertility postponement. Black women have very high but rapidly declining singulate mean ages of marriage. This is evidence that Black subpopulations are replacing traditional extended marriage customs with western marriage patterns, which conforms to the modernization trends in first demographic transitions.

AbstractThe rapid increase in South African electricity prices in the past eight years has been overseen by a proactive, policy‐oriented regulator, National Energy Regulator of South Africa (NERSA). Regulatory governance theory proposes that regulation is most effective when the roles of different organizations are clearly defined. While the laws establishing the regulator comply with this requirement, effectiveness of regulation is challenged by a weak ministry, overlapping spheres of regulatory influence and competing goals among the parties involved. It is hypothesized that this impacts the outcomes of the regulatory institution. Using an institutional analysis and development methodology, the interactions between the regulator, the energy ministry, municipal electricity distributors and National Treasury are investigated. Attempts to change the institutional rules have largely been unsuccessful because of the threat they posed to the constitutional and financial interests of municipalities. The regulator, with support from National Treasury, has been largely successful in ensuring compliance by municipalities to its administrative processes and its prescribed tariff escalation rates. It has been less successful at ensuring standardization of business tariffs across electricity distributors. The regulator's tariff objectives have prioritized protection of the poor rather than economic development. The major pro‐poor initiative of the regulator is the inclining block tariff (IBT) which has effectively subsidized electricity consumption of low usage households. This occurred at the expense of municipal revenues, rather than other consumers.

AbstractThis study examines demographic transitions in South African neighbourhoods by analysing household composition, the relation between household types and neighbourhood characteristics, and patterns of convergence and divergence of household structures in the City of Tshwane between 1996 and 2011 at neighbourhood level. The study finds the growth of households linked to high population in‐migration, ageing populations, declining birth rates and declining household size. Nuclear family households are declining in favour of single person households and extended family households. Spatially, nuclear family households are also increasingly clustering, while single person households are concentrating in rural areas. Associated with these shifts in household structures is increasing poverty and decreasing real household incomes, despite decreasing unemployment. The regressions indicate a club convergence, with single person households tending to poverty, racial segregation, migration, and inferior housing, whereas nuclear family households tending to locational stability, newer and housing, and high owner occupancy in housing. There is also a club convergence towards extended family households among poorer households in previously disadvantaged areas. Household structures still evidence historical inequalities, but racial diversity is increasing in predominantly white neighbourhoods, in association with declining neighbourhood poverty in those areas.

AbstractIncreased interest in the study of economic resilience emanates from the need to assess how different regions respond to shocks and stresses. This provides a clear and objective determination of resilient and non‐resilient regions and informs the formulation of strategy options for economic resilience. This paper analyses the economic resilience of city‐regions in Zimbabwe and highlights how resilient these cities have been to shocks since 2000. Above all, this paper shows that, among the studied variables, population size, level of infrastructural development and built‐up area density have not had a clear impact on the cities' economic resilience trends.

AbstractSince the end of apartheid, inter‐metropolitan corridors have become a cornerstone in the spatial development policy framework of cities in South Africa. Integrated Development Plans are central in this process and form a strategic element of the National Development Plan 2030. Using 2001 and 2011 census data, this study investigates socio‐economic conditions along the designated Western Development Corridor of the City of Johannesburg. The purpose of the study is to determine the extent to which pre‐existing conditions were conducive to its designation as a development corridor and to assess the appropriateness of the policy to achieve its goals as a "Freedom Corridor."