M.Com. (Economics) / The objective of this thesis is to describe the nature of the South African economic system for the period 1970-1985 in macroeconomic terms. As an introduction to the specific analysis of the South African economic system, the author also discusses the socio-economic nature of economic systems per see Based on an identification- and classification framework which was developed as a result of a literature survey in this regard, the author made extensive use of the Quarterly Bulletins of the South African Reserve Bank and the South African Statistical Service's two-yearly publication of collective South African statistics in order to analyse the nature and extent of the most important macroeconomic variables in the South African economy. As a resu 1t of the macroeconomic analysis, the author came to a number of conclusions regarding the South African economic system during the period 1970-1985. The conclusions were, inter alia: The South African economic system could best be described as a mixed economy in which the Government played a substantial and increasingly important role in terms of its contribution to the GDP and other important macroeconomic variables. Although South Africa experienced an average increase in its real GDP of approximately 2,6% per year, the country had an average yearly population growth of 2,8% during the relevant period, with the result that the real per capita GOP in 1985 was lower than the corresponding 1970 figure. It should also be noted that the GOP declined in real terms for the first time in fifty years between 1981 and 1983 and between 1984 and 1985. Other meaningful conclusions concerned the drastic decline in the purchasing power of the Rand, the substantial influence of the foreign sector of the economy, the disparity between the average compensation packages for the White and Nonwhite subgroups of the population, the changing importance of the different sectors of the economy in terms of their contribution to the GOP and other economic variables, an increase in the percentage of women who were active in the economy during this period, the poor performance of the multi input index of productivity, sharp fluctuations in company savings and a greater reliance on passive forms of business income.

A discourse submitted to the Faculty of Town and Regional Planning, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, in fulfilment of the requirements for Master or Science in Development Planning. / Development planning plays an important role in integrating the actions and behaviours of groups and individuals with the needs of the economy. and thus in ensuring the continued reproduction of capitalism. An understanding of the history of development planning in South Africa and in Southern Pinetown through the tools of regulation theory, shows how the apartheid "development planning process' for a limited amount of time, arguably favoured the needs of racially skewed capital by securing stability and control over an exploited, black workforce, Within the post apartheid era characterised by constant and unprecedented change, development planning needs to become impregnated within the fabric of society. The role for planners and the local state is therefore to impart a strategic planning mind set into the diverse forces and components, whose combined actions together create the urban form. / Andrew Chakane 2019

Professor Lord Nicholas Kaldor (1908 - 1986) made original and important contributions to the theory of the firm, to Keynesian economics, to growth and distribution theory, to equilibrium economics, and to thinking about domestic and international economic policy. However, the emphasis of this thesis is Kaldor's contribution to growth and distribution theory namely, Kaldor's three laws of growth, and the application thereof to the South African economy. According to Kaldor (1966) the industrial sector, manufacturing in particular, is deemed to be the engine of growth and is generally referred to as Kaldor's engine of growth hypothesis. Kaldor's first law states that there is a strong positive correlation between the growth of manufacturing output and the growth of overall GDP. The second law states that there is a strong positive correlation between the growth of manufacturing output and the growth of productivity in the manufacturing sector. The third law states that there is a strong positive correlation between the growth of manufacturing output and the growth of productivity outside of the manufacturing sector or in the non-manufacturing sector. The general finding of this thesis is supportive of the Kaldorian approach to economic growth in South Africa. Hence, the manufacturing sector is an engine of growth in the South African economy. Given the importance of the manufacturing sector, and future economic growth in South Africa, investment and policy formulation should be increasingly geared towards promoting this sector. / Thesis (M.Comm.)-University of Natal, Pietermaritzburg, 2003.

No description available.

M.Comm. / In considering the challenges and pitfalls of South Africa's global integration, the circumstances preceding the liberalisation attempt of the 1980's were considered. The De Kock approach to liberalising the economy was unsuccessful owing to the real side of the economy not being in a position to support the liberalisation of the dynamic financial sector. The role of sequencing appears to have been ignored. The lack of government stabilisation was a primary factor contributing to the failure of this liberalisation attempt. Foreign investors, who had been attracted by the well-developed financial sector, lost confidence when exposed to the accompanying backward real sector. Contrary to authorities' initial aim, this premature liberalisation attempt was fatally disrupted by trade and financial sanctions imposed against South Africa. This placed South Africa's ability to meet its international debt commitments in jeopardy. Foreigners refused to roll over debt, and this resulted in a debt standstill in September 1985. To save the crumbling economy, a surplus on current account of balance of payments had to be imposed as a policy measure in order to pay back foreign debt. Although this may have seemed sensible to the authorities at the time, the negative effect that such a policy of price adjustments would have on investment, and therefore growth, was ignored. On examining the correlation between investment and the current account post 1985, it is clear that the current account was in surplus as investment declined. This strongly suggests that investment was the adjustment variable which induced the current account surplus. This paper suggests that such a situation could have been avoided had more attention been given to the sequence in which the economy was opened up. A Smithian approach is proposed. Regression analysis is employed in order to develop an investment function. This model clearly shows that a depreciating exchange rate impacts negatively on investment. Thus the maintenance of a current account surplus was not in the interests of investment growth, and hence economic growth. Rather than relying on balance of payments adjustments, South Africa should possibly have allowed a greater role for organised sequencing. The first step in the Smithian series is the liberalisation of the real sector. Recent World Trade Organisation negotiations have contributed to progress in this regard. The real sector is making good progress in integrating with the world economy. However, it is possibly being hindered by the reluctance of the government to liberalise the foreign exchange market. Stabilisation, the second step in the series is being hindered by the aforementioned reluctance in terms of the foreign exchange market, and by fiscal policies which are lagging behind the progress of monetary policy. The primary problem in terms of fiscal policy is that the authorities have yet to recognise the complementarity of price as well as income adjustments. Financial markets are liberalising fast. The primary concern here is that these markets are opening up in favour of foreigners, rather than in favour of residents. Such lopsidedness may hinder the effectiveness of a liberalisation attempt. Therefore, if South Africa is to open up its economy in the well structured Smithian manner, we need to: speed up foreign exchange market liberalisation; recognise the complementary role of price and income adjustments in attaining a tighter fiscal stance; attempt to open up the financial sector in favour of residents as well as non-residents.

Thesis submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements of the Master of Arts Degree In Development Studies at the University of the Witwatersrand, Department of Sociology, 2016 / Online resource (vii, 75 leaves) / According to a report provided by Consortium for Refugees and Migrants in South Africa (CoRMSA, 2011), Zimbabwean migrants in South Africa are estimated to be between one and two million, although the actual figures remain elusive. Many of these migrants do not possess legal documentation (Tevera and Zinyama, 2002) and as a result, it is difficult for them to access financial services in the South African financial institutions, since these institutions require documentation such as valid passports with visas, proof of residence and salary slips. In light of this, undocumented migrants in South Africa are facing challenges in saving, borrowing, investing and remitting money back home. As a result, they are at risk as they may become vulnerable to loan sharks and conmen if they access financial services informally. In relation to that, the study investigates how undocumented migrants in South Africa access financial services and how this may affect their lives. The researcher found it important to conduct a first-hand investigation onto the strategies and experiences of undocumented self-employed Zimbabwean migrants who might be financially excluded in South Africa. Studying the experiences of undocumented migrants in South Africa is important as it allows for an exploration of their reactions and views about their financial exclusion or inclusion. It is also of paramount importance for us to comprehend how some people who are financially excluded worm their way into the social and economic milieu that are in large measure hostile to them. Thus the present study aims to ensure that the voices of undocumented immigrants who are financially excluded are equally heard in order for us to appreciate the harsh realities that confront them. The research focuses on undocumented self-employed Zimbabweans (street vendors, hairdressers and barber men) in the Pretoria Central Business District (CBD). The study draws on the concepts of Human Security and 'Alternative Economic Repertoires' to understand the strategies employed by undocumented Zimbabweans in South Africa in the face of financial exclusion and the insecurities that they encounter. The research follows a qualitative approach on the basis that qualitative research enables the researcher to construct meanings and interpret the behaviours of undocumented self-employed Zimbabwean migrants. In-depth interviews and participant observations were conducted in order to explore strategies in this regard. This enabled the researcher to deeply explore the experiences, views and feelings of these migrants. / MT2017

M.Com. (Economics) / Please refer to full text to view abstract

M.Com. (Economics) / Please refer to full text to view abstract

Research report submitted to the School of Architecture and Planning, University of the Witwatersrand, in fulfilment of the requirements for the Master of Science in Development Planning, 2016 / In South Africa, the promotion of economic zones by government is marked by a paradox. The Department of Trade and Industry promote economic zones in the promise of “regional development” (Department of trade and industry 2014). However, scholars including Chinguno (2009, 2011) and Robbins (pers. communication 2015) have argued that economic zones are not designed for this purpose. In particular, economic zones have been criticised for having minimal positive economic impact on adjacent communities (ibid.). This research as a result is located under the broad theme of economic impact or effects of economic zones, with a specific focus on induced economic effects of the Coega mega-project on businesses in Motherwell. In this research induced economic effects are understood in the context of income spending that result from direct effects (employment) of the Coega mega-project. Income spending as a lens has been used to investigate the manner in which workers employed at Coega mega-project spend their income, with a particular interest on whether these workers do or not spend their income on businesses that are operating in Motherwell. Motherwell is one of the adjacent communities - to the Coega mega-project - that have been targeted by the Coega mega-project for development (Nelson Mandela Bay Municipality 2010a). This community as a choice or area of study is interesting since the existence of the Coega mega-project is encourage by the Nelson Mandela Bay Municipality because of its potential to create jobs and foster economic growth in Motherwell (see Nelson Mandela Bay Municipality 2010a, 2010b, 2014b). Primary data resulting from a survey that involved 30 workers demonstrates that there is about 10 different ways in which workers at Coega spend their income. This include renting accommodation - buying food, clothing/cosmetics, fuel - paying for medicine/doctor visits, child care, education, recreation and transportation. Moreover, workers at Coega who participated in this research also spend their income by sending it to family members and they also save their income with banks. This research reveals that none of the workers who do not stay in Motherwell are spending their income on businesses that are operating in Motherwell. Moreover, this research also reveals that most of the income from the workers who stay in Motherwell is spent on businesses that are not operating in Motherwell. As a result of these challenges amongst other challenges for Motherwell - identified in this research - I have concluded this research by providing an intervention of what could be done to address issues of poverty and unemployment in Motherwell through income spending of workers at Coega. I have suggest that Motherwell should be developed to offer a safer and accessible urban structure/environment, characterised by mix of land uses at specific nodes that responds to income spending of workers at Coega. / MT2017

A research dissertation submitted in partial fulfilment of a Master of Management in Public Policy (MMPP) The University of Witwatersrand Wits School of Governance 26 February 2015 / This research dissertation investigates what factors drive poverty in South Africa using annual data from 1996 to 2013. In an attempt to contribute towards a better understanding of what contributes to poverty in South Africa, the researcher adopted three types of research questions: a contextual research question, a main research question and an applied research question. The central questions of this study was “what drives poverty in South Africa?” and “how do these drivers influence poverty trends in South Africa?” The study recognises poverty as a multi-dimensional phenomenon, in addition to the unidimensional money-metric definition of poverty for analysis purposes. Consequently although the study adopts the monetary definition of poverty as a framework to poverty analysis; it also incorporates other variables that capture the multi-dimensional nature of poverty relevant to the South African context. The study uses various data analysis tools including descriptive statistics, line graphs, bivariate analysis, and trend analysis to investigate the relationship between poverty and the variables in this study. Consistent with Klasen (2000) and Finn et al. (2013), the main findings were that there is a negative relationship between poverty and government expenditure on health, housing, energy, public order and safety, and access to credit in South Africa. On the contrary, government expenditure on education is found not to reduce poverty in South Africa, neither is unemployment found to increase poverty in South Africa. The research concluded that although certain variables are expected to reduce or increase poverty, remedial policy interventions by Government and country specific economic structure mitigate these a prior expectations. From these findings the researcher makes recommendations, contributing to how scholars (and government) can further their attempt to alleviate poverty in South Africa. / MT 2018