Marais, J. G. L.Napier, M.Visagie, JustinMmbadi, Elelwani2024-06-132024-06-132024http://hdl.handle.net/11660/12575Thesis (Ph.D.(Development Studies))--University of the Free State, 2024This thesis investigated the contribution of informal settlement upgrading to asset-building, economic inclusion of the poor, and poverty alleviation in Freedom Square, Bloemfontein, South Africa. Employing a mixed method approach, the study combined quantitative data from a longitudinal research project spanning three decades and qualitative insights gathered through interviews with 19 households purposively selected. The quantitative data analysis investigated how informal settlement upgrading has facilitated asset-building and economic integration in Freedom Square. Moreover, the thesis investigated the dynamics of intergenerational asset transfers and the role of informal settlement upgrading in fostering economic integration over generations. Understanding the importance of asset-building through housing initiatives and how these contributed to improving the overall well-being of disadvantaged households received special attention. Through in-depth qualitative interviews, the study investigated how impoverished households viewed the upgraded houses and developed assets, shedding light on their strategies, challenges, and successes in asset accumulation. Some of the selected findings of the thesis are as follows: • The upgrading of Freedom Square has resulted in significant intergenerational transfer of household assets. • Upgrading Freedom Square also increased the productive, consumer and financial assets of the households, but not household income and labour market participation. • Through employing the logistic regression model used in Chapter 6, the study found five significant key predictors contributing to households having a larger or a smaller house in Freedom Square. • Lastly, the upgraded houses meant shelter, investment, and stability to residents of Freedom Square. This thesis concluded that policy debates in South Africa need to consider a more nuanced classification of the welfare state theory characteristics. Furthermore, states need not overemphasise asset-based and income-based welfare as they have limitations. This research also showed that upgrading the Freedom Square informal settlement contributed to asset accumulation in ways different from those proposed by Moser. Furthermore, the intergenerational transfer of household assets from first-generation to second-generation settlers is an important creator of assets. Lastly, the study highlighted that asset integration is paramount for households to build assets and move out of poverty successfully.enInformal settlement upgradingwelfare state theoryincome-based welfareasset-based welfareasset-buildingasset-accumulationintergenerational asset transferlongitudinal researchlogistic regression modelThesisUniversity of the Free State