Determinants of investments : a comparative study of RSA Retail Savings Bonds and stokvel

Abstract

This research established the determinants of the investment choices between the RSA Government Retail Bonds and the stokvel by salaried individuals. The research carried out a comparative analysis between the two investment instruments. The main data was drawn from FinMark for the period 2011 to 2015. The research used a combination of data tables and graphs to analyse frequency (distribution) of use in each of the investment choices. The research used Pearson’s Chi square and Fishers’ t-test to determine the distribution, independence and Cramer’s V coefficient was applied to establish the correlation between the investment choices and the demographic under review. The outcome of the research indicated that more than risk or return inherent in the investment instruments under review, social, psychological and cultural disposition towards these investment instruments played a significant part in influencing the investment choices under review. Furthermore, lower educated individuals at low salary levels had the highest usage in stokvel and the highly educated at the higher level of education opted to invest in the RSA Government Retail Bonds. There was a very low usage in both the investment instruments by the ‘no formal education’ and primary education levels. Pearson’s Chi square and Fishers’ exact tests indicated that, race, education, location and salary levels can be used to explain the differences in investment choices between the RSA Government Retail Bonds and stokvel. According to these tests, age was statistically insignificant to explain the effects of the demographics under review on making investment choices. The results indicate that racial, educational, salary and location differences need to be properly factored into the policy development in so far as investment and savings are concerned.