FUEL PRICE ADJUSTMENTS AND GROWTH OF SMES IN THE NEW JUABEN MUNICIPALITY, GHANA (Published)
Fuel as a major energy consumed has its price been unpredictable. Due to this unpredictability, policy makers always try to adjust its price to meet the prevailing world market prices. This study sought to evaluate fuel price adjustments and growth of SMEs in the New Juaben Municipality of Ghana. The specific objectives were to: find out whether fuel price adjustment affects SMEs negatively or positively, and explain the effect of fuel price adjustment on employment, turnover and output of SMEs in the New Juaben Municipality. This study was a social survey with a sample size of 204 and a purposive sampling was used to illicit information from respondents in which quantitative and qualitative analysis were undertaken. The results of the study showed that, increases in fuel price due fuel price adjustment result in increases in transportation costs, raw material costs, capital costs and other costs but have a negative relationship with consumer real income. In addition, increases in fuel price constrained the growth of SMEs. The study recommended that, government should take steps to subsidize the fuel costs of SMEs to enhance their growth which could lead to increase in employment. SMEs should be provided with managerial training to enhance their understanding of their activities
Keywords: Fuel Price Adjustments, Ghana, Growth, New Juaben Municipality, SMEs
ANALYSIS OF PRODUCTIVITY, PROFITABILITY, INCOMES AND RETURN ON INVESTMENTS IN YOUTH SMES IN NIGER DELTA, NIGERIA (Published)
The objective of this study was to identify profitable and viable SMEs which could form a basis for an economic empowerment programme for the restive unemployed youths in the Niger Delta Region. The focus of the study is on SMEs which are registered with the co-ordinating agency of government and are therefore considered bankable by financial institutions. A survey of SMEs was conducted in four major urban centres of Aba in Abia State, Uyo in Akwa Ibom State, Benin in Edo State and Port Harcourt in Rivers State and their environs. The cities were purposively selected because they are known centres of economic activities around which industrial establishments and SMEs cluster in the region. The SMEs were registered by government agencies, under eleven categories, with unequal number of enterprises. One hundred enterprises were purposively selected in each of the four centres, for a total of four hundred, ensuring that all enterprise types, in each category, were represented. Applying the simple analytical tools of total factor productivity, net income (NI) and rate of return on total investment (RRTI), the ten most viable SMEs were identified for the states as follows: Abia; metal fabrication, garments, interlocking tiles, concrete electric poles, printing works, saw mills, metal construction, paints, air conditioner and refrigerator repairs and restaurant; Akwa Ibom, paints, oil palm processing, garment/fashion, furniture works, leather bags, bakery and confectionery, metal construction, electronic repairs, brick making and wood arts. Edo, Auto electric, air conditioner and refrigeration, fish production, candle production, oil palm processing, auto mechanics, wood arts, metal works, poultry production and garment/fashion. Rivers: Hair dressing, fish production, metal works, oil palm processing, foot wears, aluminum and glass fabrication, cassava processing, air conditioner and refrigeration, block moulding, restaurant.
Keywords: Niger-Delta, Productivity, Profitability, Rate of Return, SMEs, Youths
Bundle Pricing Strategy and Performance of Small and Medium Enterprises in Kenya (Review Completed - Accepted)
The main objective of this study was to determine the relationship between bundle pricing strategy and the performance of the SMEs, Kenya. The researcher found out that there was positive correlation between bundle pricing and performance. The researcher therefore concluded that the company should focus its efforts on bundle pricing strategy because there is some level of effect of the pricing strategy on the number of customers, customer loyalty and quality of food and service. The researcher recommended that the company managers should be educated more on the bundle pricing strategy emphasizing on how it is used and its benefits
Keywords: : Enterprises, Performance, SMEs, bundle pricing strategy