scholarly journals Bank Capital and Profitability: An Empirical Study of South African Commercial Banks

2019 ◽  
Vol 22 (3) ◽  
pp. 99-116
Author(s):  
Charles Nyoka
Keyword(s):  
South Africa ◽  
Point Of View ◽  
Strategic Decision ◽  
Bank Capital ◽  
Policy Decisions ◽  
Return On Equity ◽  
Developed Economies ◽  
The Usa ◽  
Principal Aspect ◽  
Methods Of Moments

Bank capital is a principal aspect of regulation and will determine how long a bank remains in business from a regulatory point of view. Prior research on the relationship between capital and profitability has largely focused on developed economies, especially the USA, and Europe and the results have been inconclusive. There is no evidence of such research done to date that focuses on an emerging economy such as South Africa. Using South Africa as a unit of analysis and using the Generalised Methods of Moments (GMM), and Panel Two Stage Least Squares (2SLS) or Pooled IV method as the estimation techniques, this study tested the hypothesis that there is a positive and statistically significant relationship between bank capital and profitability. The results provided evidence of a positive relationship between capital ratio (CAR), return on equity (ROE) and return on assets (ROA). From a bank specific strategic decision‑making perspective, this would assist financial institutions and investors in tailoring investment decisions in response to policy decisions that relate to bank capital. From the public policy perspective, this would assist both governments and regulators in formulating better‑ informed policy decisions regarding the importance of bank capital.

scholarly journals Analysis of the Capital Structure of Commercial Banks

2021 ◽  
Vol 21 (3) ◽  
pp. 45-69
Author(s):  
A. A. Perfilyev ◽  
L. P. Bufetova ◽  
Binbin Shen
Keyword(s):  
Capital Structure ◽  
Banking System ◽  
Point Of View ◽  
Capital Adequacy ◽  
Bank Capital ◽  
State Of The Economy ◽  
The Usa ◽  
The Stability ◽  
The Capital Structure

The article presents a regression analysis of banking determinants and their impact on the capital structure of banks for the period 2011–2019 on an extensive statistical base of the countries of India, Russia, China, the USA and banks in the Eurozone. The study proceeds and is based on the empirical results of the analysis of the structure of bank capital, carried out for individual countries up to the specified period. These results turned out to be quite contradictory regarding the significance of different determinants of the structure of bank capital. Understanding the influence of the determinants on the stability of the banking system, the article attempts to explain the differences for the period 2011–2019, when the countries' banking systems adopted the Basel 3 capital adequacy requirements. It is shown that 1) the capital structure of banks is influenced not only by banking determinants, but also by development conditions, regulatory institutions, the state of the economy, which is evidence of the need to analyze the problems of forming the capital structure of banks by countries, types of banks, etc.; 2) banking determinants between 2011 and 2019 explain the variation in bank capital structure to a significant extent and regulatory action is relevant for all countries. From the point of view of the peculiarities of the formation of the structure of bank capital and the role of the regulator in this case, directions of modification of relevant theories of capital structure are proposed.

scholarly journals Boundaries of solidarity: a meta-ethnography of mask use during past epidemics to inform SARS-CoV-2 suppression

2021 ◽  
Vol 6 (1) ◽  
pp. e004068
Author(s):  
Po Man Tsang ◽  
Audrey Prost
Keyword(s):  
South Africa ◽  
Risk Perception ◽  
Healthcare Access ◽  
Individual Responsibility ◽  
Trust In Government ◽  
Political Leaders ◽  
Collective Levels ◽  
The Social ◽  
Social Meanings ◽  
The Usa

BackgroundMany countries aiming to suppress SARS-CoV-2 recommend the use of face masks by the general public. The social meanings attached to masks may influence their use, but remain underinvestigated.MethodsWe systematically searched eight databases for studies containing qualitative data on public mask use during past epidemics, and used meta-ethnography to explore their social meanings. We compared key concepts within and across studies, then jointly wrote a critical synthesis.ResultsWe found nine studies from China (n=5), Japan (n=1), Mexico (n=1), South Africa (n=1) and the USA (n=1). All studies describing routine mask use during epidemics were from East Asia. Participants identified masks as symbols of solidarity, civic responsibility and an allegiance to science. This effect was amplified by heightened risk perception (eg, during SARS in 2003), and by seeing masks on political leaders and in outdoor public spaces. Masks also acted as containment devices to manage threats to identity at personal and collective levels. In China and Japan, public and corporate campaigns framed routine mask use as individual responsibility for disease prevention in return for state- or corporate-sponsored healthcare access. In most studies, mask use waned as risk perception fell. In contexts where masks were mostly worn by patients with specific diseases (eg, for patients with tuberculosis in South Africa), or when trust in government was low (eg, during H1N1 in Mexico), participants described masks as stigmatising, uncomfortable or oppressive.ConclusionFace masks can take on positive social meanings linked to solidarity and altruism during epidemics. Unfortunately, these positive meanings can fail to take hold when risk perception falls, rules are seen as complex or unfair, and trust in government is low. At such times, ensuring continued use is likely to require additional efforts to promote locally appropriate positive social meanings, simplifying rules for use and ensuring fair enforcement.

Peanut Web Blotch: I. Cultural Characteristics and Identity of Causal Fungus1

1984 ◽  
Vol 11 (2) ◽  
pp. 109-114 ◽  
Author(s):  
R. A. Taber ◽  
R. E. Pettit ◽  
G. L. Philley
Keyword(s):  
South Africa ◽  
Cultural Studies ◽  
Mycelial Growth ◽  
Fungal Species ◽  
Optimum Temperature ◽  
Cultural Characteristics ◽  
Foliar Disease ◽  
The Usa

Abstract A foliar disease of peanuts, previously unreported in the USA, was found in Texas in 1972. The pathogen was identified as a species of Ascochyta. Further cultural studies have revealed this fungus to be Phoma arachidicola Marasas, Pauer, and Boerema. Pycnidia form profusely at 20 C and 25 C. Pycnidiospores are borne on short pycnidiosphores and are predominantly one-celled in culture. Spores produced in pycnidia on infected leaflets become 1 septate. Large 1-septate spores, as well as an occasional 2-septate spore, may form in culture. Optimum temperature for mycelial growth in 20 C; little or no growth occurs at 5 C or above 30 C. The teleomorphic state develops in the field on fallen leaflets and can be induced to form in the laboratory on sterilized peanut leaflets between 15 and 20 C. Cultures derived from single ascospores form pseudothecia. Pycnidiospores, ascospores, and chlamydospores are all infective units. Because this fungus produces hyaline ascospores and pseudoparaphyses, it has been transferred to the genus Didymella as Didymella arachidicola (Choch.) comb. nov. Comparisons with 15 isolates causing web blotch of peanut in the USA, Argentina, and South Africa indicate that web blotch symptoms are produced by the same fungal species.

Psychometric Testing as an Unfair Labour Practice

1986 ◽  
Vol 16 (3) ◽  
pp. 79-86 ◽  
Author(s):  
J.M. Taylor ◽  
E.J. Radford
Keyword(s):  
South Africa ◽  
Ethnic Groups ◽  
Test Scores ◽  
Psychometric Testing ◽  
Moderator Variable ◽  
Ability Test ◽  
Labour Relations ◽  
Ability Tests ◽  
Labour Practice ◽  
The Usa

The concept of unfair labour practice has been introduced into South Africa through the Labour Relations Act and it is argued that certain psychometric testing practices can be interpreted as falling under the definition of an unfair labour practice. Empirical results are presented indicating that different ethnic groups obtain significantly different mean ability test scores. A case-study is cited to show that this would result in underprediction of performance on a criterion for the lower scoring of two groups if test scores are regarded as comparable. It is argued that any interpretation of psychometric data in South Africa that does not take account of possible differences between ethnic groups is likely to ignore a significant moderator variable, given the history of ethnically based discriminatory practices in this country. Arguments based on meta-analytical research in the USA, to the effect that psychometric ability tests do not discriminate unfairly against disadvantaged groups if the same tests and norms are used, should not be assumed to hold in South Africa. Various conceptions of what constitutes fairness in selection are considered, and it is concluded that there is a need for employers to make explicit in their selection policies the trade-off between economic and social costs of employment practices. Finally, some implications for users of psychometric tests in industry are considered, in order to forewarn of likely developments in this field.

U.S. Emissions Trading and what it can teach us for a Post-Kyoto World

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Fabian Krause
Keyword(s):  
International Law ◽  
Emissions Trading ◽  
Basic Research ◽  
Point Of View ◽  
The European Union ◽  
Trade Data ◽  
Trading Systems ◽  
Republic Of China ◽  
Economic Fundamentals ◽  
The Usa

Major CO2 emitters such as individual states of the USA, the People's Republic of China and the European Union continue to rely on emissions trading systems to reduce CO2 emissions. Against this background, this thesis examines four emissions trading systems in the USA. For this purpose, the legal and economic fundamentals of emissions trading are presented in detail. Subsequently, emissions trading systems are analyzed from an economic as well as a legal point of view based on criteria defined for this purpose and the results are embedded in the context of national and international law. For this purpose, the author conducts extensive basic research by processing the available emissions and trade data.

scholarly journals The use of real life contexts in the CTA: Some unintended consequences

Pythagoras ◽  
2009 ◽  
Vol 0 (69) ◽  
Author(s):  
Sarah Bansilal
Keyword(s):  
South Africa ◽  
Real Life ◽  
Unintended Consequences ◽  
Assessment Programme ◽  
Assessment Tasks ◽  
The Usa ◽  
The Common ◽  
The Uk ◽  
Assessment Activities

The Common Tasks for Assessment (CTA) was a new assessment programme that was introduced in 2002 in South Africa for all Grade 9 learners. The purpose of this paper is to articulate some concerns around the use of contextualised assessment activities in the CTA. The study reported here was carried out in 2003. Data for the study was generated from lesson observations and interviews with the participant teachers and groups of learners. It is argued that although the intentions behind the design of the CTA are well meaning and noble, there are in fact some learners who may be unintentionally disadvantaged by the design of the CTA which uses an extended context as a source for all the assessment tasks. In this paper two unintended consequences of using ‘real life’ contexts are identified and the implications of these are discussed, by linking the observations to research carried out in the UK and the USA.

scholarly journals Dignity, religion and freedom of expression in South Africa

2011 ◽  
Vol 67 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Jacobus C.W. Van Rooyen
Keyword(s):  
South Africa ◽  
South African ◽  
Freedom Of Expression ◽  
Sense Of Self ◽  
Point Of View ◽  
National Pride ◽  
Form Part ◽  
Self Worth ◽  
Constitutional Right ◽  
The Republic

The issue that this article dealt with is whether, in South African law, speech that infringes upon the religious feelings of an individual is protected by the dignity clause in the Constitution of the Republic of South Africa. The Constitution, as well as the Broadcasting Code, prohibits language that advocates hatred, inter alia, based on religion and that constitutes incitement to cause harm. Dignity, which is a central Constitutional right, relates to the sense of self worth which a person has. A Court has held that religious feelings, national pride and language do not form part of dignity, for purposes of protection in law. The Broadcasting Complaints Commission has, similarly, decided that a point of view seriously derogatory of ‘Calvinistic people’ blaming (some of) them as being hypocritical and even acting criminally is not protected by dignity. It would have to be accompanied by the advocacy of hatred as defined previously. The author, however, pointed out that on occasion different facts might found a finding in law that religion is so closely connected to dignity, that it will indeed be regarded as part thereof.

scholarly journals IAU (Maser) Symposium 287 Summary

2012 ◽  
Vol 8 (S287) ◽  
pp. 506-515 ◽  
Author(s):  
Karl M. Menten
Keyword(s):  
South Africa ◽  
Rio De Janeiro ◽  
State Of The Art ◽  
The State ◽  
Cosmic Masers ◽  
The Usa

Almost exactly twenty years ago, the first of a series of conferences dedicated to cosmic masers took place in Arlington, Virginia in the USA (March 9–11, 1992). Two more followed, each on a different continent, in Mangaratiba, near Rio de Janeiro, Brasil (March 5–10, 2001) and in Alice Springs, Australia (March 12–16, 2007). As at all others, a large part of the international maser community convened from January 29 to February 3, 2012 in splendid Stellenbosch, South Africa, to discuss the state of the art of the field.

Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document