This dissertation examines the internationalisation of production and its implications for the role of government in South Africa's industrial development. The research has two specific areas of focus. The first is a case study of government policy formulation and implementation in the instance of competition policy. The second is a study of firms in the plastics sector. Through an analysis of secondary data on the performance of manufacturing sub-sectors it is demonstrated that the expectations of the policy of trade liberalisation have not been realised in South Africa, nor are the outcomes consistent with the orthodox trade theory underpinning the policy framework. Understanding government policy formulation and its influence on economic outcomes requires a deeper analysis of the nature and extent of the internationalisation of production. Close examination of the formulation and implementation of competition policy reveals the influence of large established business in setting the terms of the debate and the way in which internationalisation affects the relative strengths of interests. The study utilised case-study interviews and participatory observation to collect information on the formal and informal policy processes, the negotiation of the policy agenda, decisionmaking within this agenda, and establishment and operation of the institutions responsible for implementation of the new legislation. A survey of plastics firms complemented by in-depth interviews of selected firms enabled an analysis of the importance of the internationalisation of production for the sector. This revealed the importance of relationships beyond those involving either trade or ownership. The survey focused in particular on the factors underlying production changes, and the relationship between domestic competition and international competitiveness. The combination of methodologies and research areas allowed the central research question to be approached from different sides, integrating understandings of firm behaviour and government policy in an approach embodying a dynamic interpretation of internationalisation.
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:bl.uk/oai:ethos.bl.uk:341903 |
| Date | January 2000 |
| Creators | Roberts, Simon |
| Publisher | Birkbeck (University of London) |
| Source Sets | Ethos UK |
| Detected Language | English |
| Type | Electronic Thesis or Dissertation |
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