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Theses and dissertations (Management Sciences)

Permanent URI for this collectionhttp://ir-dev.dut.ac.za/handle/10321/14

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Subject: search.filters.subject.Financial literacy

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    The impact of financial knowledge on the economic empowerment of women entrepreneurs in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa
    (2023) Kandolo, Ka Muzombo; Lekhanya, Lawrence Mpele
    Entrepreneurial activities play crucial roles in poverty alleviation, job creation, economic development and empowerment worldwide. However, women entrepreneurs face numerous challenges, including insufficient financial knowledge, gender inequality, and lack of productive assets, which limit their access to finance and economic empowerment. To address this gap, this study aims to examine the effect of financial knowledge on the economic enablement of women entrepreneurs in Durban, South Africa, and to contribute to the academic literature on women entrepreneurship by applying feminist theories. The study collected quantitative data from 400 women entrepreneurs using a Likert-scaled questionnaire and analysed it using Structural Equation Modelling Technique. The findings reveal the challenges faced by women entrepreneurs in Durban, including lack of financial knowledge and management skills, gender inequality, and limited opportunities for education and productive assets. The study suggests new feminist philosophies and a conceptual model for policymakers and women-owned businesses to promote women's economic empowerment. However, the study's limitations include a limited sample size and reliance on selfreported data. Future research should explore financial knowledge's impact on women's economic empowerment in other provinces, with larger and more diverse samples, and employ a mixed-methods approach for a comprehensive understanding of women entrepreneurs' challenges. Finally, future studies could examine the effectiveness of specific interventions aimed at increasing financial knowledge and promoting women's economic empowerment in the context of entrepreneurship
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    The level of financial literacy of agribusiness entrepreneurs in Zimbabwe
    (2023) Gumbo, Lilian; Vengesai, Edson; Marimuthu, Ferina
    Agribusiness is the cornerstone of the Zimbabwean economy as most people survive on agricultural related activities, and it is regarded as the first step to fighting poverty among the rural population. However, the sector has not been performing well in terms of productivity due to various factors, which include poor management of borrowed funds, higher loan defaults, and financial exclusion. The study sought to assess the level of financial knowledge, financial behaviours, and financial attitudes of agribusiness entrepreneurs. Pragmatism research philosophy guided this research. The study made use of the mixed method approach and sequential mixed method research design. Quantitative data was first collected using a questionnaire, followed by interviews that were conducted to build upon quantitative results. Multistage cluster sampling and convenience sampling were used to select research participants. The study also sought to determine the major factors affecting the financial literacy of agribusiness entrepreneurs and the nature of financial products demanded by agribusiness entrepreneurs. Research findings established that agribusiness entrepreneurs: (1) have low financial knowledge, (2) exhibit poor financial behaviours, and (3) have good financial attitudes except for diverting a portion of business loans for personal use. The general level of financial literacy was very low among agribusiness entrepreneurs but extremely low among women, lowincome earners, those with low levels of education, and those living with several dependants below 18 years. Most smallholder agribusiness entrepreneurs earned very low incomes of less than US$500 per month due to lower yields and, therefore, could not afford bank loans usually charged at very high interest rates. Agribusiness entrepreneurs usually relied on non-financial products like rotational savings (mukando in Shona), selling something owned and family and friends to make ends meet. There was a disassociation between financial products needed by agribusiness entrepreneurs and the products offered by financial institutions. The study developed and recommended a financial literacy operationalisation model for agribusiness entrepreneurs for consideration by policy makers.