Thesis (Ph. D.)--Stanford University, 2002. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 309-323).

Typescript (photocopy). / Digitized by Kansas Correctional Industries

After twenty years of democracy, the most pressing problem facing South Africa is the absence of sustainable economic growth and job creation. Since 1994, major economic reforms and adjustments have been made, which were seen as a requirement for achieving economic growth and development. However, despite these efforts, unemployment in South Africa remains a challenging problem. The main objectives of the study are, firstly, to examine South Africa’s economic policy initiatives implemented since 1994. Secondly, to determine whether the issue of unemployment has improved under a review of the economic policies that have been implemented since 1994. Finally, this is achieved by examining the changes in employment and, more specifically, the changes in the cost-neutral change in the capital/labour (K/L) ratio between 1995 and 2013 by means of a historical Computable General Equilibrium (CGE) modelling approach. The literature study focuses on employment, growth and human capital theories to reflect on the present state of knowledge and to contribute to evidence-based policy debates. It also provides an overview of South Africa’s economic policy, programmes and strategy decisions and of the country’s economic stance since the transition to democracy in 1994, with a specific focus on the labour market. Historical CGE modelling, applied using the PEKGEM – a dynamic CGE model of the South African economy, was chosen to examine the relationship between growth and structural changes under the different economic and development policies in South Africa between 1995 and 2013. The primary aim was to determine how the dynamics and structure of South African employment changed during the period in which these policies were implemented, using the historical CGE modelling approach. The focus was primarily on changes in the capital and labour markets across all sectors over this period. The results indicate an increase in capital relative to labour (K/L) over the period 1995 to 2013, despite the increase seen in the rental price of capital relative to wages (PK/PL). To better understand the structural shift, the theoretical specification of the capital/labour preference within PEKGEM was considered. The results suggests that at any given ratio of real wages relative to the rental price of capital, industries would choose a K/L ratio 8.1 per cent higher in 2013 than it would have in 1995. Considering the fact that South Africa has a comparative advantage in unskilled labour-intensive goods, especially given the country’s abundance of labour and high levels of unemployment, the shortcomings of South Africa’s economic policies in addressing the pressing issue of unemployment is emphasised. / MCom (Economics), North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2015

After twenty years of democracy, the most pressing problem facing South Africa is the absence of sustainable economic growth and job creation. Since 1994, major economic reforms and adjustments have been made, which were seen as a requirement for achieving economic growth and development. However, despite these efforts, unemployment in South Africa remains a challenging problem. The main objectives of the study are, firstly, to examine South Africa’s economic policy initiatives implemented since 1994. Secondly, to determine whether the issue of unemployment has improved under a review of the economic policies that have been implemented since 1994. Finally, this is achieved by examining the changes in employment and, more specifically, the changes in the cost-neutral change in the capital/labour (K/L) ratio between 1995 and 2013 by means of a historical Computable General Equilibrium (CGE) modelling approach. The literature study focuses on employment, growth and human capital theories to reflect on the present state of knowledge and to contribute to evidence-based policy debates. It also provides an overview of South Africa’s economic policy, programmes and strategy decisions and of the country’s economic stance since the transition to democracy in 1994, with a specific focus on the labour market. Historical CGE modelling, applied using the PEKGEM – a dynamic CGE model of the South African economy, was chosen to examine the relationship between growth and structural changes under the different economic and development policies in South Africa between 1995 and 2013. The primary aim was to determine how the dynamics and structure of South African employment changed during the period in which these policies were implemented, using the historical CGE modelling approach. The focus was primarily on changes in the capital and labour markets across all sectors over this period. The results indicate an increase in capital relative to labour (K/L) over the period 1995 to 2013, despite the increase seen in the rental price of capital relative to wages (PK/PL). To better understand the structural shift, the theoretical specification of the capital/labour preference within PEKGEM was considered. The results suggests that at any given ratio of real wages relative to the rental price of capital, industries would choose a K/L ratio 8.1 per cent higher in 2013 than it would have in 1995. Considering the fact that South Africa has a comparative advantage in unskilled labour-intensive goods, especially given the country’s abundance of labour and high levels of unemployment, the shortcomings of South Africa’s economic policies in addressing the pressing issue of unemployment is emphasised. / MCom (Economics), North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2015

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Thesis MA (Political Science. International Studies))--University of Stellenbosch, 2007. / This thesis is, in essence, a theoretically informed, qualitative study of an intermediate power coalition in international trade negotiations. More specifically, it critically evaluates the cooperation of India, Brazil and South Africa (IBSA) in the World Trade Organisation (WTO). The IBSA Dialogue Forum was established in 2003. This was also the year the three emerging countries first drew attention to their collective bargaining potential. First, they were instrumental in negotiating a waiver in the WTO that allowed for relaxed patent restrictions on the import of generic drugs for countries in the developing world facing health emergencies. Then, they also played a central role in the collapse of the WTO talks held in Cancun, 2003. This study looks at what IBSA aims to achieve in the WTO and then tries to establish whether it is possible for the initiative to achieve these aims (in the WTO). It asks, firstly, what kind of coalition IBSA forms in the WTO. Then, it asks whether it makes sense for India, Brazil and South Africa to form this type of coalition. Finally, it discusses some of the complexities involved in the three countries’ claim that it speaks for the “developing South”. The study makes use mainly of a neo-liberal institutionalist theoretical approach, while being open to constructive debate and critique from the reflective school. Ultimately, the study argues that the challenges that bind these countries also constrain each of them. The three countries might be emerging, but they are also developing countries with limited capacity that face serious developmental challenges. In addition, these countries of the South are situated in complex regional environments. In the WTO, IBSA aims to cement a coalition through processes that promote the cooperative dimensions of interaction and minimise conflictual ones. This innovative approach to cooperation does provide some hope. How they use their collective capacity will prove decisive. No doubt, successful cooperation will require hard work, especially as the coalition will have to deliver concrete results not only to domestic constituencies, but also to the developing world as a whole.

In this thesis, I study the economic policy models supported by influential academic economists in Brazil over the eleven years following the implementation of the Plano Real. I focus on two economic research institutions: the Economics Department at the Pontifícia Universidade Católica do Rio de Janeiro (PUC-Rio) and the Institute of Applied Economic Research (IPEA). I first show how economists affiliated with these institutions were in a position to influence policy due to their prestige, academic power, and strong formal and informal ties to the policymaking bureaucracy. I then analyze working papers published by PUC-Rio and IPEA from 1995-2005 and show that the institutions produce three distinct, coherent economic policy discourses. I conclude by showing parallels between economic policy outcomes in Brazil during the period and the economic policy ideas found in the working papers. / text

The central government has attached great importance to the development of rural enterprises in China. As a result, rural enterprises have developed rapidly and become an important part of the national economy. The primary aim of this study was to examine how public policy has influenced the development of rural enterprises. The changes in public policy since 1978 did play a positive role in developing rural enterprises. These positive roles have been manifested in the ideological base of policy, financial and tax policies, improving management and technological strategy.

In this thesis the author undertook a poverty and policy analysis. It is argued that it is important to understand the nature, magnitude and context of poverty before one can undertake an informed policy prescription. Existing theories of poverty, welfare regimes and social policies offer a lot of useful lessons for policy, but have limitations in offering a single model for Rwanda. The thesis demonstrated that, not only is Rwandan poverty multifaceted and deep, but it is characterized by a poverty conflict trap that can be traced back to the entire post colonial period. The author argued however that the current policy is not only inefficient in targeting poverty, but it may be unable to meet the challenges of growth, redistribution and conflict mitigation. The thesis, after further analyzing policy options, puts forward a package that is needed to reduce poverty in Rwanda in the long term and to break the poverty conflict trap. The prescribed package is put forward as a comprehensive and institutionalized social policy, which Rwanda so far does not have.

This study examined the role the Malaysian government played in developing the Malaysian economy as a means to eliminating poverty and inequality and explored the lessons South Africa can learn from Malaysia's development experience. Under British colonial rule Malaysia developed a divided multi-ethnic society characterised by gross inequality and high levels of poverty. Jolted by the 1969 race riots and in a major departure from the laissez-faire economic policy, the government embarked on the New Economic Policy in 1970. This ambitious twenty-year social engineering plan ushered in greater state intervention in the economy. It greatly reduced poverty among indigenous Malays and made substantial progress towards achieving inter-ethnic economic parity.