This paper examines the determinants of net interest margins (NIMs) in four regional blocks in Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA). Using bank-level data,we find that countries with a high level of operating costs, a lowlevel of non-interest income, a high ratio of equity to total assets and high treasury-bill interest rates have higher NIMs. Moreover, high operating costs are associated with low measur…

We employ both the Panzar and Rosse (1987) and the Bresnahan (1982) models to test for competition in the South African banking sector.We find evidence consistent with monopolistic competition in the South African banking sector. While this may be considered relatively good news for consumers that South African banks are not acting as a cartel, there is need for policies and other intervention…

In this article, we examine the relationship between primary school fees and education quality and access over the past forty years in seven sub-Saharan African countries. School fees were introduced as a means for revenue-constrained governments to fund the improvement and expansion of primary education. Recently there has been a move towards their abolition. We find that the introduction of f…

In this series, we explore technology-related themes and topics. The series aims to discuss and demystify what may be new areas for some readers and to consider their relevance to English language teachers.

Sex chromosomes have evolved independently in many different taxa, and so have mechanisms to compensate for expression differences on sex chromosomes in males and females. Different clades have evolved vastly different ways to achieve dosage compensation, including hypertranscription of the single X in male Drosophila, down regulation of both X’s in XX Caenorhabditis, or in activation of one …

Phytophagous pentatomid insects can negatively impact agricultural productivity and the brown marmorated stink bug (Halyomorpha halys) is an emerging invasive pest responsible for damage to many fruit crops and ornamental plants in North America. Many phytophagous stink bugs, including H. halys, harbor gammaproteobacterial symbionts that likely contribute to host development, and characterizati…

Intercultural Communicative Competence is a paramount goal of modern foreign language teaching. It is the ability to communicate in culturally sensitive and contextually appropriate ways with speakers from other cultures. Being able to apologize is one component of this competence. Uttering apologies allows learners to rectify breaches of social norms in order to restore social harmony and main…

Cryptochromes (Crys) are light sen sing receptors that are presentinall eukaryotes. They mainly absorb light in the UV/ blue spectrum. The extant Crysconsist of two subfamilies, which are descendants of photo lyases but are now involved in the regulation of circadian rhythms. So far, knowledge about the evolution, phylogeny,and expression of crygenesis stills carce. The inclusion of cry sequenc…

This article reports on a survey of Swedish EFL teachers’ attitudes towards, and dependence on, ELT coursebook packages in the light of recent research into digital literacy. The results showed that while ICT is making massive inroads into language classrooms in technologically advantaged countries like Sweden, the coursebook package still has its place assured among trainee teachers, at leas…

This article argues that the most commonly used lesson plan pro formas in language teacher education are inappropriately premised on an outcomesbased approach to teaching, one that is in conflict with what we know about how languages are learnt and how experienced teachers teach. It proposes an alternative, affordance-based approach to lesson planning and makes a number of practical suggestions…