In Chapter 7, it was argued that improved satisfaction of basic needs could in principle lead to increased labour productivity and, via a comulative process, to increased output and income levels. Higher incomes could in turn mean further improved satisfaction of basic needs, greater labour productivity and even greater output and income levels. Thus the satisfaction of basic needs could be seen as a means towards the end of improved living standards and the reduction of poverty, and hence an instrument of development policy. From the analysis of basic needs in Ciskei, it is apparent that government expenditure has been such that the "core" basic needs have evidently been catered for, at least to some extent, for some time. Yet, there has been nothing like a concerted strategy, and expenditure on basic needs was the result of ad hoc measures, rather than a conscious strategy or development policy as such. Basic needs were therefore seen simply as ends in themselves, rather than as means to the end of self-sustained economic development. In the case of Ciskei, more information about the satisfaction of basic needs, especially health, and water supply and sanitation, is required at the present stage. Such information should not only be seen in quantitative terms (as "inputs"), but also be evaluated qualitatively (as "outputs"). In other words, basic needs should be viewed functionally as thresholds to the goal of self-sustained economic development. This applies particularly to educatfon, where the total supply may be misleading, more significant measures being quality, access and actual consumption. Data for health, and water supply and sanitation, are not readily available, and again should reflect access and usage as well as availability. Nutritional data should not only reveal the extent and nature of poor nutrition (malnutrition) but also its causes, such as, inadequate expenditure on food on account of low income levels, or inappropriate nutritional patterns of consumption. Data on shelter should take into account the appropriateness of standards and types of shelter, rather than simply the number of houses as such. At the same time, the extent to which basic needs are complementary should be investigated; e.g. the effect the improved satisfaction of education would have on shelter, shelter on health, etc. The stronger such complementarities, the lower total government expenditure on basic needs would have to be. Similarly, if expenditure on basic needs is inappropriate or ill-directed, a revision of standards and redirection of resources may be necessary. In the case of Ciskei, it may well be that total expenditure on basic needs may not be inadequate as such at the present stage, but rather that co-ordination of existing expenditure is required to yield a purposive development policy. A powerful case for the suitability of a Basic Needs strategy for Ciskei may be suggested by the intermediate nature of economic development within its borders. To the extent that some basic needs are already satisfied, at least to some degree and some more than others, certain preconditions for economic development can be said to already exist. Yet it cannot be claimed that Ciskei has reached the "take-off" stage into self-sustained economic growth in the Rostovian sense. Nevertheless, a deliberately co-ordinated Basic Needs strategy may well move Ciskei away from the danger of slipping back into the so-called "Low-Level Equilibrium Trap." In other words, a more scientifically designed, co-ordinated and deliberately applied strategy, whereby basic needs become the means towards self-sustained economic growth, should at least be able to establish the "preconditions for take-off" necessary for sustained economic development.

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This study examines the relationship between fiscal policy and economic growth in South Africa for the period 1994-2014. This study examines the relationship between fiscal policy and economic growth within the context of the endogenous growth theory. Three models are estimated. The variables included in the first model are; real GDP, aggregate government expenditure, total taxes and private investment. The second and third models disaggregate government expenditure into productive and non-productive and taxes into distortionary and non-distortionary. The Vector Autoregressive is used to estimate the relationship between fiscal policy and economic growth. The data is quarterly in frequency. The findings of the study suggest that government investment expenditure has negative impact on growth, while government consumption expenditure has positive impact on growth. Furthermore, the findings of the study are that direct taxes have negative impact on the economy while indirect taxes have positive impact on economic growth.

The study examines land and agrarian reforms in democratic South Africa focusing on projects implemented under the Comprehensive Rural Development Programme (CRDP) since 2009. Focusing on Bushbuckridge municipal area, the study reviews wide ranging transformative efforts initiated to address agrarian sector inequalities and rural poverty. The review illustrates that modest achievements have been made in restructuring the apartheid political geography manifesting in high levels of asset poverty amongst rural populations and vulnerability to food insecurity. While several factors are explored to explain this, it is discernible that a disjuncture exists between the social justice imperatives and the neoliberal development ideology adopted since transition to democracy. Adopting the sustainable livelihoods approach, the study examines whether the CRDP is adequate to address the needs for land equity in redistribution and to improve rural livelihoods in Mpumalanga, with particular focus on Bushbuckridge municipal area. Furthermore, the study examines the extent to which the implementation of CRDP has met the objective of equitable land redistribution as specified in the policy and also explores the outcomes of implementation, whether necessary conditions to promote the small-scale agricultural sector have been created; for instance, investments in agricultural infrastructure, support services such as credit measures, inputs and capacity building programmes for subsistence sector farming. Through a qualitative inquiry challenges are identified regarding the achievement of equity in land distribution and sustainable livelihoods. The conclusive chapter argues for paradigm shifts in land acquisition, public engagement, gender equity, funding models for subsistence farming, intersectoral co-operation, funding of rural infrastructural projects particularly markets and agro-processing facilities.

Thesis (MTech (Public Management))--Cape Peninsula University of Technology, 2009 / In order to understand the phenomenon of the rising black middle class, Bruger et aI., (2004:134) concluded in their study of the black middle class that, it was the asset deficit which was evident in the African population that accounts for the difference in the consumption behaviour of the' black middle class from their counterparts in other races. Asset deficit is described as the accumulation of luxury goods that include expensive automobiles and property. When the acquisition of such assets is gained through credit, as is the case with the credit worthy middle class, the individual debt of these individuals rises as the acquisition of such assets continue. The purpose of this study was to investigate the creation and sustainability of the black middle class that anchored in political stability encourages social contentment and economic development. The findings of this process offered an opportunity for the state, banks and corporate organisations to review its policy priorities in order to make savings, investment and 'special structure' support networks a priority when dealing with sustainability matters for the black middle class. It is therefore, important that the recommendations provided in the study will sustain the black middle class, which would maintain social peace by indicating economic progress that has only now, since democracy, been available to Africans through the expansion of the black middle class. The thesis explains the challenges, which this class faces in its sustainability that will foster a deeper appreciation of the most effective ways to alleviate poverty and to economically enfranchise Africans. These had been the original objectives behind the government's programmes and initiatives.

Ph.D. (Economics) / It has been noticed several times in the past that, in comparison with the development of the country as a whole, the economic development of the Western Cape proceeds at a slower rate. In this respect transport is quoted as being one of the major bottle-necks. The aim of this study is to ascertain the influence of transport on the economic development of the Western Cape, as it is determined by the geographical position of this region and the influence of the availability, cost and quality of transport on the competitive position of the industrial and trade sectors of the Western Cape. The contribution which transport can make towards the creation of employment for the fast-growing population (mainly the Colored population) of the Western Cape, has been kept in mind throughout the study.

M.Ed. / Poverty is a serious concern all over the world. This phenomenon hinders development, particularly in rural areas where the majority of families are living below the poverty line. In many rural communities the RDP programme did not reach the majority of people. The study is aimed at finding out the extent, perceived causes and consequences of poverty in Homu A and Homu C near Giyani. The families regarded as the more impoverished in the two villages were selected as participants of the study. One member from eight families in each village was interviewed in this qualitative study. The collection of data was made through survey interviews as suggested by Silverman (1993), observations, and the recording of artefacts on poverty. A literature review was conducted to construct a theoretical framework for the inquiry. The findings show that many people in these areas are extremely poor. They are physically, socially and psychologically affected by poverty. They are helpless because they believe there is nothing they can do to develop themselves and their villages. Their helplessness hampers development of these communities. The findings also indicate that there is a need for informal and non-formal programmes to educate and empower the community members to combat poverty. These programmes should be linked with income generating projects to equip the community members with skills needed for the economy.

The principal objectives of this empirical study were to test the hypothesis that eduction is a major determinant of people's earnings differentials and to calculate private and social rates of return to education of blacks in South Africa excluding Transkei, Bophuthatswana, Venda and Ciskei. Basically, the data for working men and women used in the study were extracted from the 1985 current Population survey files comprising a sample representative of the black population. Lifetime earnings profiles are constructed from these data for five educational levels, namely, no schooling up to standard 1, standards 2 to 4, standards 5 to 7, standards 8 to 9 and standard 10. Schooling is assumed to account for 60% of the income differentials between these profiles, after adjustment for the differing probabilities of finding work of persons in specific age-education groups. Imputed average household outlays on schooling are taken as the private direct cost of education supplemented by estimates of per pupil spending by the various government departments responsible for black schooling for calculation of the social costs per year of primary and secondary schooling. Indirect cost in the form of imputed foregone earnings are included from standard 5 (age 15) onwards. The resulting private internal rates of return to education of males are about 16% at primary level and 24% for secondary schooling. Corresponding social rates of return are about 6% for primary and 15% for secondary education. The estimates for females indicate that between no schooling and standards 2 to 4 level, the private and social rates of return are -1% and -4% respectively, from standards 2 to 4 to standards 5 to 7 level, private returns of 12% and social returns of 4% are reported and for the remaining secondary school phases private returns of 32% and social returns of 15% are estimated. It is implied that black education is receiving minimal government financial assistance compared to those of the other population groups. The evidence of the results of the study indicates that; besides education, marital status, locational, regional and occupational variables also influence earnings differentials, the governments responsible for black education should emphasize human capital investment in relation to physical capital investment, on average more educated persons are better off than the less educated ones and with the exception of female early primary schooling, generally, it is worthwhile for an individual to undertake a certain educational programme investment

The Depression of 1929-1933 was a world-wide phenomenon, in which "no aspect of the economy, no part of the world, escaped devastation". ¹ Accordingly the study of a medium sized rural town in South Africa during the period of the Depression, should show effects and reactions that were, in general, indicative of worldwide trends. In choosing Graaff- Reinet, I felt that being a close-knit community , with its urban and rural populations closely associated with each other, and the white, coloured and black sections of the population interdependent, it adequately represented a microcosm of South Africa as a whole. Then, too, Graaff- Reinet was ideally suited to illustrate the reality, that in South Africa during the Depression " the farmers were the most heavily hit of all". ² The single most significant product of the Graaff- Reinet district was wool, which at the time of the Depression was South Africa's second most important export, and consequently the well-being of the whole district depended largely on the market performance of this product . During the Depression the price of wool dropped drastically and the Graaff-Reinet farmers suffered in consequence . Graaff-Reinet also went, almost according to a blueprint, through the general phases of the Depression. The privations of the farming community led to the financial embarrassment of the local financial institutions causing their collapse , which in its turn led to the widespread hardship of everyone in the town. But these events all had a particular Graaff-Reinet quality, and the twists to the general outline are rooted deep in the local character of the district . Historically Graaff-Reinet is extremely interesting. It is the fourth oldest town in South Africa, being established in 1786, and in studying Graaf-Reinet one cannot but become conscious of the immense tradition and the awareness of history , which all its people have. The study itself starts with a general outline of the Worldwide Depre ssion, its causes and results, then moves on to the Depression in South Africa . The study of Graaff-Reinet in the Depression is divided into three basic sections, the Farmers, the Townspeople, and the Politics of Graaff-Reinet during the Depression. All three contain their own sub-divisions dealing with different aspects. In the Graaff-Reinet sections are included references to national events, tying them to, and explaining the course of, local happenings. In short the study becomes the story of how the Depression effected the people of Graaff-Reinet, how they suffered during this period and how they reacted to it. A final concluding section deals with their general recovery from the Depression. ¹ Heaton, H. : Kruger, D. W. The Economic History of Europe. p. 696. ²The Making of a Nation; a history of the Union of South Africa 19l0 - 1960. p. 158.

In a world where almost half of the population lives in poverty, the alleviation of poverty is a serious developmental challenge for many states. Microfinance has grown in popularity as a means for achieving poverty reduction all over the world. Due to the success of microfinance institutions, such as the Grameen Bank, in achieving self-sufficiency and improving the lives of its clients, the expectations for similar institutions are high. MFIs attempt to find a balance between business and development goals. It is not necessarily a contradiction to be a business seeking profit as well as being an institution committed to development. However, the values coupled with these two objectives are sometimes conflicting. Thus it is important to see how equilibrium can be achieved and to note what sacrifices must be made in order to reach a balance. This thesis will focus on examining and assessing the challenges faced by South African MFIs in balancing development goals while at the same time having to be self-sufficient. The Small Enterprise Foundation will be used as a case study to consider the particular experiences of a South African MFI. The evaluation of the unique challenges that the South African landscape presents will provide a context in which to understand microfinance operations and a clearer understanding of the particular problems and challenges faced by the South African micro-finance industry in balancing the achievement of development goals against the imperative to be self sustainable in providing services to the poor. Through that understanding the common conception of what makes a “successful” MFI will also be challenged.