Browsing by Author "Utouh, Harold"

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Soft skills as a problem and a purpose for Tanzanian industry: Views of graduates
(Economic Insights – Trends and Challenges , 2020) Mutalemwa, Darlene ; Utouh, Harold; Msuya, Norah.
Recently, the aim of enhancing graduate employability for industries has been constantly on the Tanzanian policy agenda and has been defined as one of the priorities of higher education. Yet much evidence suggests the skills mismatch and hiring talent is of great concern to employers around the globe. When it comes to ‘hard’ data with reference to ‘soft’ skills in the Tanzanian context, there is a dearth of empirically verifiable statistics from an academic standpoint. The study takes up this challenge to study what soft skills really mean to the end-users – 391 postgraduate students who are completing their studies at a Tanzanian public university and are working and / or preparing to enter the labour market. Findings indicate that equipping graduates with the soft skills required in a particular job or industry for today and those of tomorrow is a global challenge, in Tanzania it is even more worrisome. Based on the study findings, the study offers new insights into the importance of soft skills at the workplace as well as providing a foundation for universities to support the ‘job-readiness’ and ‘employability’ of graduates to meet industrial needs.
The impact of trade liberalization on the performance of Tanzania’s export sector – a time series analysis from 1980 to 2019
(Oeconomia, 2023) Utouh, Harold
Aim: This article aims to enhance understanding of the impact of trade liberalization on Tanzania’s export performance. As many studies conducted, both in developing and developed countries, have yielded mixed results and the relationship varies across different nations, it is difficult to provide a definitive answer to the question of whether trade liberalization affects Tanzania’s export sector without first conducting an empirical analysis. Methods: This study employs a quantitative research methodology because it allows for a larger sample size, greater objectivity, and accuracy. Due to the nature of the study and the data used, a statistical study design was chosen. Macroeconomic data spanning 1980 to 2019 was obtained from the World Bank and the Tanzania Bureau of Statistics to analyze the effects of trade liberalization on export performance using vector error correction and autoregressive distributed lag models. Results: The results reveal a significant positive correlation between trade liberalization and subsequent export performance, as well as the interdependencies between trade liberalization and foreign direct investment (FDI) strategies. There is a reciprocal relationship between trade liberalization and exchange rates, implying the significance of competent exchange rate management in enhancing export competitiveness. Conclusions: The study concludes that trade liberalization, FDI, and export performance have a long-term positive correlation. This implies that a carefully executed trade liberalization policy is crucial not only for the expansion of the export industry sector and the influx of capital but also for the transformation and development of the nation growth.
The nexus between foreign direct investment and nominal exchange rate, real GDP, and capital stock in Tanzania
(Acta Sci. Pol. Oeconomia, 2023) Utouh, Harold; Tile, Augustino
The paper aims to examine the relationship between FDI and the nominal exchange rate, real GDP, and capital stock in Tanzania using quantitative research methods and an econometric analysis. The analysis aims to provide insights into the factors that affect FDI and contribute to the existing literature on the relationship between FDI and economic growth. Methods: This study examines the relationship between FDI inflow, real GDP, capital stock, and the normal exchange rate in Tanzania using a robust research methodology. The study employs STATA 15 software and Akaike’s Information Criteria (AIC), Schwarz Information Criteria (SC), Final Prediction Error (FPE), and the Hannan Quinn (HQ) Information Criteria. In addition, the autoregressive model, the Johansen co-integration test, and the Toda-Yamamoto Granger causality (modified WALD) tests were employed to determine the optimal lag. Results: The results indicate a bidirectional relationship between the nominal exchange rate and FDI in Tanzania, with FDI inflows influencing the nominal exchange rate volatility and vice versa. Furthermore, the results indicate that real GDP, capital stock, and the nominal exchange rate exert a unidirectional influence on FDI influx in Tanzania. Conclusions: The nominal exchange rate and capital stock have positive and negative correlations with foreign direct investment. Like many other African economies, Tanzania remains vulnerable to external forces despite making significant strides in stabilizing the exchange rate. It is recommended that the Central Bank of Tanzania – along with those of other African nations with similar economic structures – maintain a stable nominal exchange.