At present, the development of the regional economy is very rapid and widespread. However, due to increasingly prominent problems such as the low level of technological innovation and the unreasonable industrial structure, the economic growth rate has declined. Therefore, it is particularly important to use the circular economy network to study the transformation and upgrading of the regional economy. It clarifies the stakeholders in the process of transformation and upgrading of manufacturing enterprises. Its benefits in the network are given, and symptoms and mobilization methods and the obstacles and solutions to the development of mobilization among various subjects are drawn. In addition, it also emphasizes the equivalence between intelligent products and human subjects in this network. Because of the intelligence carried by products under the current background, diversified connotations and functions are becoming more and more abundant. The empirical results show that the pulling coefficients of residents' consumption level, the development of modern service industry, and urbanization rate to economic growth are 0.1812, 0.7165, and 0.1635, respectively, while the pulling coefficient of Gini coefficient to economic growth is −0.1785.

Path of Regional Economic Transformation and Upgrading Based on Recurrent Neural Network

Abstract Microfinance institutions (MFIs) are a prominent financial inclusion initiative in many developing countries. In Zimbabwe, however, less is known about microfinance borrowers, determinants of loan utilisation and borrowers’ repayment behaviour. Demonstrating that MFIs serve those who are economically marginalised and traditionally excluded from the formal financial system is useful in a country where most of the economic activities are in the informal sector. This study investigated the factors associated with the utilisation of microfinance loans and delinquency among microfinance borrowers using the Poisson, logit and the zero-truncated Poisson regression models on 6165 unique borrowers in Zimbabwe. The study findings revealed that microfinance loans were significantly more likely to be accessed by low-income individuals, who took small loans with relatively high instalments. Women were less likely to access microfinance loans, and reliable borrowers were more likely to access repeat loans. The level of income, number of previous loans and loan terms explained the delinquency among borrowers. Largely, the findings suggest that microfinance in Zimbabwe serves the needs of the low-income group. However, policies that seek to improve access to credit for women and youth remain a priority.

https://doi.org/10.1080/23322039.2022.2111799

On the predictors of loan utilization and delinquency among microfinance borrowers in Zimbabwe: A Poisson regression approach

Women and youth in developing countries remain unserved or underserved by formal financial services. The rise of digital financial services (DFS), including mobile money, provides a promise to accelerate financial and economic inclusion to these population segments. As a result, both academic researchers and policy makers are increasingly interested in understanding the role of gender and age in the use of DFS across use cases. To nuance this, the current study analyses data from a sample of 3000 respondents collected during the second quarter of 2022 from the ten provinces of Zimbabwe. Results from multivariate logit models, controlling for some socio-economic factors, show that in Zimbabwe, gender is not a significant predictor of receiving income through digital means, making payments for goods and services digitally, or for the frequency of DFS use. On the other hand, youth lag in the use of DFS, especially for making payments for goods and services, and in the frequency of use. Besides the findings on gender and age, the study reveals that the level of education, the source of income, locality, and the level of income are important determinants of how individuals use DFS in Zimbabwe.

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On the Role of Gender and Age in the Use of Digital Financial Services in Zimbabwe

Whilst literature has many monetary and economic policies that were enacted before and after the dawn of the New Dispensation in Zimbabwe the country still faces a downward trend in terms of economic recovery. This study reviews the various policies put in place by the government and their impact on socio-economic development of Zimbabwe. A review of Zimbabwe’s economic history shows that the country dropped from being one of the best economies in Sub-Saharan Africa and now ailing and characterised by hyperinflation, agricultural challenges, corruption, very high tax regime, huge domestic and foreign debts, increase in consumer prices and being a chief net importer of most goods or services. The study was underpinned by a case study survey from Singapore’s revival with both qualitative and quantitative instruments used. The study found out that even though the land reform had an impact on economic performance, corruption, party-power politics and absence of an economic institute eroded any necessary contribution to economic transformation and industrialization in Zimbabwe. The study also revealed that the bilateral and multi-lateral agreements that were enacted in the dawn of the new dispensation have not yielded the desired economic revival transformations. The study recommended establishment of an economic institute to direct policy as well as removal of unethical practices in both public and private sectors so as to ensure financial and economic discipline.

Towards Pragmatic Economic Policies: Economic Transformation and Industrialization for Revival of Zimbabwe in the New Dispensation Era

The purpose of the study was to assess how external costs impacted on the overall performance of road freight transport sector in Zimbabwe. Both internal and external dynamics play a huge role on the decisions made by operators and mangers in freight transport business. Freight transport is key to socio- economic development of a country and hence there is need to scrutinize how external costs impact on the performance of such entities. This was a quantitative study of road freight transport sector across Zimbabwe with a population of 1256 registered companies and a randomly picked sample size of 384. A total of 384 questionnaires were distributed and 291 were retrieved giving a response rate of 75.6%. study found out that external costs such as accidents, traffic congestion and environmental pollution, if go unchecked have a huge impact on profitability margins due to fines for non-compliance, compensation and insurance costs. The study recommends development of a company policy document that would outline the scope and actions to be taken to ameliorate the negative impact of external costs on business performance.

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A Study on Externally Driven Costs for Road Freight Transportation in Zimbabwe

The main aim of road freight transport is transporting of goods by road. It is the most developed area of transport. The advantage of road transport is the direct transport from the sender to the recipient, faster, easier transportation resulting from technology, availability and operability. The disadvantages of this type of transport are traffic intensity dependence on the state network of road infrastructure and negative impact on the environment. The significance of calculation in transport is so important. It helps carriers to inform on the efficiency and profitability of the services provided, also in allocation of pricing services for budgetary purposes, but also for reducing of cost. This study interrogated the inherent relationship between transport costing and organizational competitiveness in the Zimbabwe Road Freight Sector. The study was prompted by an observation that most road freight companies collapsed before even they reach the five-year mark of trading. Literature is awash with transport costing models and there seemed to be a disparity in the conceptualization and application of these to real business scenarios. That led to the use of somewhat firefighting costing strategies with no meaning results. This was a quantitative study of road freight transport sector across Zimbabwe with a population of 1256 registered companies and a randomly picked sample size of 384. A total of 384 questionnaires were distributed and 291 were retrieved giving a response rate of 75.6%. study found out that the idea of transport costing was alien in the minds of many operators and managers as they used borrowed rates from competitors to price their own services without looking at the cost build up to the rate. This led to unprofitable operations. The study findings established that transport costing has a positive effect on organizational competitiveness. The study recommends training and development into transport costing and inclusion of this concept as a stand-alone module in Zimbabwean Education curriculum.

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Inherent Relationship Between Transport Costing and Organizational Competitiveness: A Case of the Road Freight Sector in Zimbabwe

The culture of an organization is influenced as the organization faces and learns how to cope with external and internal encounters. Those principles are maintained as the organization's way of doing business offers an effective adaptation to environmental problems and maintains success. The study sought to ascertain the importance of organizational culture in road freight transport sector in Zimbabwe. The road freight sector has been characterized by unprofessional behaviour and incompetent management. Organizational culture is key to defining the uniqueness of an organization, brand, philosophy, and how it relates to business ethics and all other stakeholders. Globally organizational culture has been given great eminence and priority as strategy followed culture in business performance. This was a quantitative study of road freight transport sector across Zimbabwe with a population of 1256 registered companies and a randomly picked sample size of 384 registered road freight companies out of 1256 companies from which data were collected. A total of 384 questionnaires were distributed and 291 were retrieved giving a response rate of 75.6%. Structured questionnaires were used to collect data. Reliability was checked using Cronbach’s alpha (?). Before conducting structural equation modelling, data were validated using exploratory factor analysis, convergent validity, and discriminant validity. SPSS® version 21 and AMOS® version 21 were used to analyse the data. The findings showed that organizational culture can help to mediate the relationship between transportation costs and firm competitiveness. The findings suggest that organizational culture has a significant impact on the relationship between transportation costs and firm competitiveness. The study also found out that all the registered companies that took part in the research confirmed that the value of time phenomenon was alien to their business organisational culture practices as they worked on assumptions. They also indicated loss of business due to customer complaints. The study recommends policy formulation for companies that emphasizes standard operating procedures and good time management as organisational culture for firms to be competitive.

/pdf/mediation-role-of-organizational-culture-on-transport-6orajrd5.pdf

Mediation Role of Organizational Culture on Transport Costing

From a business viewpoint, freight transportation is a necessity in the globalized world we live in. Companies are becoming more dependent on goods from various different locations worldwide and the demand for coordinated transportation is increasing. The aim of the study was to ascertain if Road Freight Transport Sector in Zimbabwe respected the value of time aspect in their operations. Value of time is a sound principle that strategically propels the business into the future. Literature highly recommends the value of time concept for business success as a key to customer satisfaction and an international best practice. This was a quantitative study of the road freight transport sector across Zimbabwe with a population of 1256 registered companies and a randomly picked sample size of 384. A total of 384 questionnaires were distributed and 291 were retrieved, giving a response rate of 75.6%. The study findings indicate that value positively influence firm competitiveness. This implies that travel time and reliability influences company’s reputation, profitability, customer satisfaction and market share. Several empirical studies have reached similar findings (Chi, King-lok, Steven, 2012; Song et al, Gitae, 2017) that value of time has positive impact on firm competitiveness. Study also found that all the registered companies that took part in the research confirmed that the value of time phenomenon was alien to their business practices as they worked on assumptions. They also indicated a loss of business due to customer complaints. The study recommends policy formulation for companies that emphasizes standard operating procedures and good time management for firms to be competitive. The study results and interpretation show that value of time positively influences firm competitiveness. Results imply that if firms in the road freight sector conduct regulars servicing of their fleet, train their employees, plan routes properly, respond to their customers and manage risks there can remain competitive.

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Tapiwa C Mujakachi

Papers

Towards Pragmatic Economic Policies: Economic Transformation and Industrialization for Revival of Zimbabwe in the New Dispensation Era

A Study on Externally Driven Costs for Road Freight Transportation in Zimbabwe

Inherent Relationship Between Transport Costing and Organizational Competitiveness: A Case of the Road Freight Sector in Zimbabwe

Mediation Role of Organizational Culture on Transport Costing

Value of Time Drives Operational Costs of Road Freight Transport Operators (RFTO): A Case Study in Zimbabwe