|
|
The spillover effects of quantitative easing on major emerging economies: the case of South Africa
Kaulinge, Ndilimeke Nelao Mbabyona
In this study, I analyse the potential spillover effects of large-scale asset purchases (LSAP) or quantitative easing (QE) implemented by the US Federal Reserve Bank (US Fed) and European Central Bank (ECB) on the South African economy. To start, I survey the literature and summarize the general themes that arise. The two main themes that I focused on for my research were that QE depreciated global currency rates and raised sovereign bond rates and that strong country fundamentals mitigated against the spillover effects of QE. I highlight the importance of macroeconomic and financial variables in determining the effects of QE, therefore the chosen model incorporates interest rates, credit default swap spreads, debt to GDP ratio, GDP growth, inflation, market capitalization to GDP and credit ratings. I quantify the effects of QE on South African long-term government bond yields and foreign exchange rates using a vector autoregressive (VAR) model, while making use of monthly data from March 2009 to December 2021. I measure the shock of QE using impulse response functions with a 24-month horizon. I found that QE implemented by the US Fed and the ECB significantly affected long-term government bond yields and foreign exchange rates in South Africa, and that they responded more to US QE than to ECB QE. While acknowledging that the model does not account for certain structural and socio-economic issues prevalent in South Africa today, I recommend that policymakers take steps toward developing domestic policies and institutions, maintaining a robust current account balance, reducing energy shortages, and maintaining political stability.
|
|
|
Aggressor and Victim: Main characters and their psychological development in J.M. Coetzee's Disgrace
Čechurová, Markéta ; Chalupský, Petr (advisor) ; Ženíšek, Jakub (referee)
This thesis aims to analyze characters of Disgrace by J.M. Coetzee from a psychological point of view, suggest possible motives and interpretations of their behaviour as well as to discuss their development, and analyze the environment they are set in. First, the thesis focuses on providing theoretical background of the novel and its author, as well as on a brief introduction to the historical development of the Republic of South Africa in which the plot of Disgrace is set. The theoretical part also defines terms relevant to the practical part, such as rape, corrective rape, and sexual violence, and provides a brief psychological typology of its victims and perpetrators. The practical part is focused on a psychological analysis of the main characters, David and Lucy, as well as an analysis of Melanie, Petrus, and Pollux. Using the theoretical background, the thesis explores their psychological development, and the reasons behind their behaviour, and further discusses, whether they could be considered victims or perpetrators of sexual violence. KEYWORDS Coetzee, Disgrace, South Africa, psychological development of characters, sexual violence
|
|
|
Hybrid Governance in Post-Apartheid South Africa
Voloskyi, Glib Artemovich ; Berg, Julie (advisor) ; Kazharski, Aliaksei (referee) ; Dowd, Caitriona (referee)
The hybrid governance theory has facilitated the shift beyond the state-centric perspective on security governance. Yet the theory has never been tested under the conditions absent from an active or recent military conflict. It tends to neglect the relations between the state and non- state security actors and superfluously praises non-state and hybrid security orders. The paper elaborates on these academic gaps. Based on secondary data, it investigates hybrid security governance in South Africa. The paper demonstrates that hybrid security governance can exist in a non-conflict setting. It discusses the patterns of the emergence of non-state security actors, their relations with the population and the state. The findings are found to be consistent with the hybrid governance theory, though there are a number of peculiar features. Additional studies on hybrid governance in a non-conflict setting will help to distinguish the features of South African hybrid security from the general logic of hybrid security governance in a non-conflict setting.
|
|
|
Margaret Thatcher's foreign policy in domestic and foreign press between 1979 and 1990
Štěpánková, Martina ; Šmíd, Marek (advisor) ; Petráček, Tomáš (referee)
This master's thesis will focus on Margaret Thatcher's foreign policy, starting with her appointment as Prime minister of Great Britain in 1979 and ending with her resignation in 1990. Next it will reflect on the social and political situation in Europe during her reign. The key element of this paper will be the analysis of domestic and foreign press, both democratic and communist, in which the student will target the Falkland war, policy towards European Economic Community, the North Ireland conflict solution, attitude towards African continent and the Soviet Union, the Persian Gulf war and also special relationship between the Great Britain and United States of America. The goal of the student's research shall be a complex overview of the press in the period in question, put into the context of foreign policy of the first woman in charge of Great Britain.
|
|
|
British Colonisation of South Africa during the First Half of the 19th Century
Miler, Pavel ; Skřivan, Aleš (advisor) ; Valkoun, Jaroslav (referee)
In 1796, the first time the British occupied the Cape, a former Dutch colony in 1806 then definitely. British colonial policy in South Africa was initially influenced by the former practice of the Dutch East India Company. Problems inherited from the past involving government, law and the institution of slavery. Very thorny questions were slave trade and land ownership. In 1807 a law was adopted to ban the import of slaves in the colonies of the British Empire. In 1809 was issued collection of laws by Lord Calendon called Calendon code. In 1811 Governor John Cradock established circulation courts. In 1820 arrived in the Cape Colony of British settlers in 4000 to increase proportion of the white population of British origin. In 1828 was issued Ordinance 50, in 1833 Britain abolished slavery law with effect from 1838. These government actions led to disputes with the Boer population, which peaked in 1836, leaving Boers in the so-called Great Trek, which had a significant impact on indigenous communities strains disrupted at the time mfecane and led to the establishment of the independent Boer republics. Key words: Africans - Boers - Cape of Good Hope - colonial policy - emancipation - Great Britain - Great Trek - South Africa - slavery
|
|
|
Quotas in politics as a way to obtain equality between the sexes?
Mottlová, Markéta ; Bíba, Jan (advisor) ; Vargovčíková, Jana (referee)
The main purpose of this text is to answer a question whether quotas in politics create conditions for obtaining equality between the sexes. Women's consistent underrepresentation in legislatures constitutes a democratic deficit and quotas are suggested as a possible means of attaining women's equal participation in political decision-making. Arguments for and against quotas will be showed. Quotas are aligned with several concepts - a politics of presence, descriptive representation and differentiated citizenship. It will be also explained why the unequal distribution of the unpaid labor of the family is a major obstacle for women to gain equality in politics. It will be described what types of quotas are actually applied, what are the effects of gender quotas in terms of numbers as well as the empowerment of women and under what conditions are women politicians able to make use of their positions as elected politicians. Attention will be paid to some years of experience with the implementation of quotas in Africa, whether the inclusion of women in politics furthers democratization and interests of women. South Africa will be showed as a country in which gender quotas are applied with success. In contrast negative effects of quotas in certain political system and context will be pointed out.
|
|
|
Traveler Čeněk Paclt (1813-1887) - the first Czech that has ever been to all five continents in respect to historical anthropology
Kříž, Jaroslav ; Opatrný, Josef (advisor) ; Binková, Simona (referee)
This dissertation analyzes the life of Czech traveler Čeněk Paclt (1813 - 1887), who was born in the town of Turnov. Čeněk Paclt belongs to the most famous Czech travelers. He is also the first Czech, who has provably traveled through all five inhabited continents and has left written evidence about his journeys. Fundamental part of this thesis is focusing on his life and describes his adventures, which he had come across on the five continents. The thesis is written in historical, and employs historical anthropology, which focuses on a single individual in the course of human events, as one of the main methodological approaches. Secondarily, this thesis elaborates Paclt's personality and his view on aboriginal cultures, which he encountered during his travels, and Paclt's relationship towards his hometown is also mentioned. Furthermore, the dissertation touches upon traveling background in Czech nation during 19th century.
|
|
|
Boer Wars and the Perception of them in Czech Society
Kadlecová, Markéta ; Hnilica, Jiří (advisor) ; Pokorný, Jiří (referee)
This bachelor's thesis deals with the topic of the Boer wars and their relation to Czech society. Its aim is to find out whether this conflict initiated any reaction from the Czech nation. Based on research of contemporary Czech journals and Czech literature, it shows the perception of war and mediates the attitude toward both sides involved. The Boer wars were the conflict between Great Britain and the Boer republics (the Transvaal Republic and the Orange Free State) which took place between the years 1880-1881 and 1899-1902. This thesis concentrates mainly on the second war which gained certain public note throughout the world. The Boer wars earned not only considerable attention from Czech journals but became an inspiration for literary works in the Czech lands as well. Moreover, certain Czech volunteers could be found as participants of the war.
|
|
|
The impact of HIV/AIDS on reproductive behaviour in South Africa
Šustová, Šárka ; Hulíková Tesárková, Klára (advisor) ; Šídlo, Luděk (referee)
The main aim of this thesis is to analyse the impact of HIV/AIDS on the reproductive behaviour of population of South Africa, its four racial groups and its nine provinces since the half of 1980's. Before the analysis of the impact of HIV/AIDS on reproductive behaviour was made, it was shown how big the problem of HIV/AIDS is in South Africa. The HIV incidence and prevalence were used for this purpose. The impact of HIV/AIDS was noticeable from the comparison of levels of fertility between HIV positive and negative women. The impact of HIV/AIDS on reproductive behaviour was further assessed using the decomposition methods and the statistical and epidemiological indicator called population attributable change. The results of analyses revealed the exceptional position of South Africa between other African countries that suffer from HIV/AIDS as well. A regression analysis showed that the growing prevalence of HIV increases the overall level of fertility. At the end of the thesis the projection of fertility till 2030 was made to illustrate the theoretical development of fertility provided that nobody become infected with HIV since the beginning of 2010.
|
|
|
Informal Economy: A micro-level analysis
Vu Duc, Cuong ; Levely, Ian Vandemark (advisor) ; Cingl, Lubomír (referee)
This paper analyzes association of informal economy with demographic charac- teristics. The first part introduces the definition and composition of the informal economy and sets the theoretical background. It presents its consequences and causes from different points of view. In the second part, we isolate characteris- tics that predict the propensity to work in the informal economy using the probit model. The work finds that the direction of individual effects matches with find- ings in Latin America reported by Perry et al. (2007). Keywords Informal economy, Shadow economy, South Africa, econometrics
|
guest ::
