https://hdl.handle.net/10646/186 2026-04-12T17:42:28Z https://hdl.handle.net/10646/3869 Assessing potential economic costs and benefits from a Zimbabwe-China Free Trade Agreement Hazvina, Fanuel; Makochekanwa, Albert; Mumvuma, Takawira This study investigated the potential impacts of the formation and implementation of a Zimbabwe-China Free Trade Area (FTA). The study employed the World Integrated Trade Solution (2015), Software for Market Analysis and Restrictions on Trade (WITS?SMART), to investigate the potential impacts of the FTA on exports, imports, tariff revenue and the overall welfare in Zimbabwe. The findings were that $44.39 million worth of new trade will be created with China while around $34.9 million trade will be diverted resulting in a positive net trade effect of $9.49 million for Zimbabwe. The results also suggest that Zimbabwe will lose around $44.68 million in tariff revenue. The study recommends that if Zimbabwe is going to commit itself to trade liberalization with China, it will have to come up with a new fiscal revenue base to compensate for the loss in tariff revenue. This can be done through putting more emphasis on non-trade taxes revenue sources as well as putting in place efficient fiscal revenue collection mechanisms. The study also recommends that since the FTA is also likely to affect welfare through employment losses welfare losses in Zimbabwe as imports from China will displace local production, there is need for undertaking adjustment programs that enhance skills and productivity in order to facilitate the relocation of labour into sectors where production will be expanding as a result of the FTA. 2016-12-01T00:00:00Z https://hdl.handle.net/10646/3868 Impact of public health expenditure on health outcomes in Zimbabwe (1980-2014) Makochekanwa, Albert; Madziwa, Cecilia The aim of the study is to investigate the impact of public health expenditure as a percentage of GDP on health outcomes (measured as life expectancy at birth, infant mortality rate, and under-five mortality rate) in Zimbabwe for the period 1980-2014. The study employs an Ordinary Least Squares (OLS) model to analyze the impact of public health expenditure on health outcomes. The regression results reveal that public health expenditure is an important factor which contributes positively towards health outcomes and specifically that increases in public health expenditure have the impact of reducing infant and under-five mortality and increasing life expectancy. The results also shows that GDP per capita, gross female secondary enrollment, physicians per 1000 people as well as political environment are the major determinants of life expectancy at birth, infant mortality rate and under-five mortality rate in Zimbabwe. The policy recommendations from this study are that the Zimbabwean government should prioritise increasing public health expenditure whilst at the same time ensuring that education of females remains a priority. Furthermore, policies aimed at retaining medical personnel should be implemented. An economic policy that increases productivity in the economy should also be implemented to ensure increased GDP per capita. Existence of a conducive political environment is critical to the achievement of positive health outcomes as it contributes to good governance which is essential for efficiency in the health delivery system. 2016-12-01T00:00:00Z https://hdl.handle.net/10646/3867 The effects of corporate income tax incentives on mining firms’ investments in fixed assets: The case of Zimbabwe (2009-2011) Madzivanyika, Ezera; Kadenge, Phineas G. This article evaluates the effects of corporate income tax incentives on individual mining firms’ investments in fixed assets. The main objective was to assess whether corporate income tax incentives have improved Zimbabwe mining firms’ investments in fixed assets for the period 2009 to 2011. Panel data econometrics methodology was employed, using firm level data that was obtained from a sample of thirty-seven mining firms. A positive relationship between capital redemption allowances and firms’ investment in fixed assets was confirmed. It was also established that a positive relationship existed between assessed losses carried forward and investment in fixed assets. On the contrary, a negative and significant relationship was confirmed between corporate income taxes and the investment variable. Effective tax rates were found to have no effects on investment in fixed assets. The study recommends that the identified corporate income tax incentives are necessary, but should be granted with caps or sunset clauses in line with modern trends and best practice in the granting of tax incentives. 2016-12-01T00:00:00Z https://hdl.handle.net/10646/3562 Pricing the informal sector: Evidence from Zimbabwe's urban informal metal firms Zhou, Honest The main purpose of this paper is to investigate the price-setting behaviour of Zimbabwe's urban informal metal firms. In order to achieve this objective, data collected from 647 urban informal metal entrepreneurs is used. The study reveals that the majority of urban informal metal enterprises' customers are households and individuals. Empirical results indicate that urban informal metal entrepreneurs do not set their prices in a chaotic manner but use established economic principles of setting prices. Cost-plus and bargaining are the most popular theories recognised by the entrepreneurs. The cost-plus technique is the dominant strategy used by entrepreneurs followed by the bargaining strategy. While the cost-plus technique suggests uniform prices, this is rejected by the bargaining strategy which suggests that prices are set on a case- by- case basis. Evidence suggests that the entrepreneurs' pricing decisions are mainly influenced by cost factors. Apart from covering production costs the entrepreneurs' pricing decisions also emphasize 'ethical objectives' by charging 'what the market can bear'. From the two dominant pricing strategies, two issues are central to the entrepreneurs' pricing decisions that is, covering costs of production and minimizing the loss of customers. 2014-06-01T00:00:00Z