Volume II - The Northern Cape Provincial Spatial Development ...

3.4 Change Indices for Municipalities
As mentioned previously, it was not possible to compute temporal change indices for the full
complement of indicators. Consequently, change is measured on 27 variables, combined to
four indicators, namely Human Resources, Economic Sectors, Market Size and Human
Development Needs. The Human Resources, Economic Sectors and Market Potential is
combined to obtain a composite Development Potential Index, representing the counterpart
for the Human Needs Index. In most cases variables measure change between 2001 and 2007.
Table 3.5 contains details regarding the specific variables used to create the change indices for
the municipalities. The table provides a brief explanation of the data sources and statistical
procedures used to generate each of the 27 variables.
Human Resources Change: This index consists of three variables measuring change between
2001 and 2007 in the total size and quality of the labour force. These change variables are
computed from the variables used for the cross-sectional profiles of municipalities in 2001
and 2007.
Economic Sector Change: Five variables were used to compute this index. Four of these
(Sector Diversity, Primary and Tertiary workforces) are similar to those used for the 2007
municipal profiles. Temporal data for Gross Value Added values were not available. This
variable is replaced by change in the value of total annual retail sales between 2000 and 2007.
Market Potential Change: The size of markets was measured by two variables. These are
measures of population size and total gross personal income of the inhabitants of local
municipalities between 2001 and 2007. The accessibility measures are not incorporated as
physical distances to metropolitan markets are invariant over time.
Human Development Needs Change: Seventeen of the original nineteen variables used in the
measurement for towns were used to measure change in the human needs levels of
municipalities between 2001 and 2007. The two variables not included are the Matriculation
pass rate and the Minimum Level of Living index. Apart from these all the change variables
are based on the data from the 2001 and 2007 census and community surveys.
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