Carbon taxes are considered an important environmental policy instrument for the improvement of environment quality in developing countries. Despite these premises, the implementation of the carbon tax policy in developing countries has lagged behind. The aim of this study is to analyse how carbon tax influence environmental quality and economic performance in South Africa. Such a country-oriented inquiry is envisaged to have some positive policy implications for the South African economy and other developing nations. The analysis was conducted using a static computable general equilibrium (CGE) model of South Africa, which was expected to capture the observed structure of South Africa’s economy. Furthermore, the parameters of the CGE equations were calibrated to observed data from a social accounting matrix (SAM) for 2015. The results show that environmental tax has negative effects on gross domestic product with the energy sectors which are generally the most polluting sectors suffering higher output losses due to the environmental tax. Household consumption is significant reduced by 2.34% due to the reduction in emissions as a result of carbon tax policy. According to the study findings, policy-makers should consider an initial 5% carbon tax policy which may results in achieving reasonably good environmental quality without losing on investment, fixed capital investment and government revenue.

Competition in the insurance sector is an important element since it leads to the reduction in risk and uncertainty, enables efficient resources allocation, enhances product innovation, enhances economic growth and improves efficient production of financial services. The study evaluates competition in the insurance sector in Zimbabwe during the period 2010–2017. Of interest is the evolution of competition during the period when the economy had transitioned from hyperinflation. How competition evolved during this period is of interest due to the changes in macroeconomic management styles that were experienced after the hyperinflation period. Of novelty to this study is the use of the Boone Indicator, one of the new empirical industrial organisation methods. The method is premised on the idea that efficient firms achieve higher market shares or profits. The study established that competition was moderate in the insurance industry during the study period. The results further revealed that there was no significant difference in competition in the periods 2013–2017 and 2010–2012. The study recommends that the government should ensure that the macroeconomic environment is conducive for businesses to compete. The economy should be prevented from sliding into hyperinflationary environment, which negatively impacts policy holders as well as insurance companies. The government should put in place pro-growth policies to ensure insurance companies thrive. It has been shown that since the economy started experiencing moderate growth rates, there has been increased activity among insurance companies.

The Journal of Economic and Financial Sciences promotes research in auditing, corporate finance, corporate governance, economics, econometrics, financial accounting, financial management, financial planning, investment management, management accounting and taxation in the emerging market field.

Efficiency is generally defined as the capacity to deliver desirable results with little effort or input. A bank cannot afford to allocate limited resources at random in a competitive market. Only once the efficiency factors have been identified can resources be allocated in a conscious and effective manner. The study investigates the determinants of technical efficiency of banks in the SADC region. The study is significant in the SADC region as the block is trying to create a robust and stable banking system. This is driven by the desire to stay away from the current global financial system volatility and the region is working to develop an integrated banking system. The results show that the banks are relatively inefficient with the level of inefficiency around 40 percent. The efficiency of the banks is determined by the level of capitalisation, size of the bank, research costs and automation of the banks. The results of the study imply that that there is great scope for the banks in the SADC region to increase their efficiency. Improved efficiency will ensure banks provide services at a lower cost to clients. The study recommends adequately capitalizing banks, increasing the asset base of the banks, investing in research and the automation of the banking systems.

The study evaluates the nature of market structure, and the degree and determinants of market power in the Zimbabwean banking sector during the period 2009-2014. The study employs the Lerner Index approach method to assess the market power of banks. The Lerner Index approach assists in measuring the extent to which a bank has market power to set its price above marginal cost. The study results established that the banking sector operates under monopolistic competition, confirming that banks possess some market power in pricing their products. This is a result of the nature of products sold by the banking sector, which are differentiated but close substitutes. The study found that the market power of banks increased during the period and was derailed by the memorandum of association which was signed between banks and the central bank. The study established that market power is determined by capital adequacy, non-performing loans, liquidity risk, cost income ratio, economic growth, and regulatory interventions. The study recommends that the government should ensure that it puts in place measures that enhance economic growth and should desist from interfering with the operations of market forces.

This study empirically examined the relationship between human capital development and economic growth in Zimbabwe for the period 1980 to 2015, using time series analysis techniques of co-integration, error correction model, and Granger causality tests. The study was motivated by changes which have characterised the financing of human capital since the country attained independence. A decade after independence, the government was able to adequately finance the social sectors; however, thereafter government financing has been declining since the adoption of the structural adjustment programme. The findings of this study indicate the existence of a short-run and long-run relationship between human capital development and economic growth in Zimbabwe. On the direction and significance of the relationship, the result is mixed. Human capital development, proxied by government expenditure on health, had a significant positive impact on economic growth—both in the short run and the long run—reaffirming that a healthy labour force will be more productive and efficient. Human capital development, proxied by government expenditure on education, was found to negatively impact economic growth in the long run. In conclusion, a positive relationship between human capital development and economic growth in Zimbabwe was found, although the relationship is weak.