Thesis (MBA)--Stellenbosch University, 2002. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: The relationship between competitiveness and FDI inflow was investigated in this study. South
Africa needs FDI to stimulate the economy with the ultimate goal of reducing unemployment
and improving the quality of life of the population. Substantial FDI inflow was expected after
the peaceful transition to a multi-party democracy in 1994.
The data of the IMD World Competitiveness Yearbook (WCY) was used to measure
competitiveness. The UN Human Development Index was used to determine the progress of
human development. The annual World Investment Report published by UNCTAD was used to
determine a framework of the determinants for FDI. The determinant framework as proposed by
UNCTAD was used to evaluate the extent and importance of each determinant for FDI. This
included the FDI policy framework, business facilitation measures and economic determinants
(Market seeking, Resource seeking and Efficiency seeking).
The competitiveness of South Africa was evaluated using the IMD WCY measurement. The
IMD ranking of South Africa declined after 1994 and then stabilised. The trend of the UN HDI
was detailed and the negative effect of HIV/AIDS on life expectancy could clearly be identified.
The examination of the FDI inflow to South Africa during the period 1994 to 2000 showed that
it did not reach anticipated levels. No correlation between competitiveness and FDI inflow could be found for South Africa.
Brazil was selected as a benchmark for South Africa due to its similar social, political and
economical structure. Brazil succeeded in attracting substantial FDI inflows after 1994 when its
economy was stabilised. Brazil's ranking in the IMD WCY improved during the period from
1994 to 2000. The UN HDI rating for Brazil has improved throughout the past 25 years.
HIV/AIDS has no effect on the forecasted national life expectancy figures due to the low
infection rate in Brazil. A strong correlation between competitiveness and FDI inflow was found
for Brazil. As the competitiveness ranking improved, the FDI inflow into Brazil increased and
Vice versa.
South Africa and Brazil were compared according to the relative strength of determinants to
attract FDI, the strength of each competitiveness indicator and overall competitiveness ranking.
South Africa compared very well with Brazil in terms of the FDI policy framework as well as the FDI business facilitation measures. In terms of efficiency seeking FDI, South Africa
exceeded Brazil in the strength of its productivity and physical infrastructure, although Brazil
was superior in skill level and scientific knowledge of the population. Resource seeking
determinants are not strong in both countries. Brazil has an advantage over South Africa in that
its population of 160 million is attractive for market seeking FDI.
When the FDI inflow per capita was compared between South Africa and Brazil, the poor
performance of South Africa was evident. Brazil also outperformed South Africa in terms of the
IMD World Competitiveness Yearbook ranking. The IMD uses empirical data as well as data
collected through surveys of business people in the ranking process. The survey data capture the
perceptions of a country held by potential investors. Often perceptions override empirical data
during the investment decision.
The reason for South Africa's poor FDI inflow performance during the period 1994 to 2000 is
difficult to resolve. The benchmarking with Brazil showed that the strength of the determinants
(excluding market seeking) was on par with Brazil.
The conclusion was made that the importance of various FDI determinants varies between
regions of the world. Investment decisions involving Africa are made differently than in for
example South America. UNCTAD data showed that resource seeking (oil & petroleum) FDI
determinants with a high reward ratio was the only reaIly strong attraction for investment in Africa. The negative perceptions of Africa including civil unrest, famine and economic
instability continue to influence the FDI inflow to South Africa. Although efficiency seeking
together with a FDI policy framework and business facilitation measures attract FDI to a country
in South America (Brazil), it is not sufficient to attract FDI to a country in southern Africa
(South Africa).
South Africa must change the international perceptions of the continent by creating a positive
investment climate throughout Africa through strong, responsible leadership. The government
must expand the knowledge and skill level of the population beyond basic education to enable
them to participate in the international information and technology marketplace. Huge
investments are required to create a culture of learning and self improvement in the population
of South Africa. A high level of skills and knowledge will attract efficiency seeking FDI. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Die doelwit van hierdie studie is om die verhouding tussen die internationale mededingendheid
van 'n land en direkte buitelandse investering in die land te ondersoek. Suid-Afrika benodig
direkte buitelandse investering om die ekonomie te stimuleer met die doel om werkloosheid te
verminder en die lewenstandaard van die bevolking te verhoog. Na die demokratiese verkiesing
van 1994 en die vreedsame oorgang tot 'n veelparty regering was daar groot verwagtinge van
substansiële buitelandse investering.
Die data van die IMD se World Competitiveness Yearbook (WCY) is gebruik om
mededingendheid te evalueer. Die Verenigde Nasies se Human Development Index (HDI) is
gebruik om die vordering van menslike ontwikkeling te bepaal. Die World Investment Report
(WIR) van UNCTAD se raamwerk van determinante vir direkte buitelandse investering is
gebruik om die omvang en belangrikheid van elke determinant te bepaal. Die UNCTAD
raamwerk sluit die buitelandse investeringsbeleid, die besigheidsfasiliteringsmaatstawwe en
ekonomiese determinante (markgedrewe, natuurlike brongedrewe en effektiwiteitgedrewe ) in.
Die mededingendheid van Suid-Afrika is geëvalueer op grond van die IMD WCY proses. Die
Suid-Afrikaanse posisie op die IMD ranglys het na 1994 verswak, maar daarna gestabiliseer. Die
negatiewe effek van MIV/VIGS op die lewensverwagting van die bevolking is duidelik sigbaar
in die tendens van die Verenigde Nasies se HDI vir Suid-Afrika. Die direkte buitelandse
investeringsinvloei (1994 - 2000) na Suid-Afrika het nie aan die verwagtinge voldoen nie. Daar
kon geen korrelasie tussen mededingendheid en buitelandse investering vir Suid-Afrika gevind
word nie.
Brasilië is geselekteer as 'n maatstaf vir Suid-Afrika as gevolg van die sosiale, politieke en
ekonomiese oorenkomste tussen die lande. Brasilië het daarin geslaag om grootskaalse
buitelandse investering te lok nadat sy ekonomie in 1994 gestabiliseer het. Brasilië se posisie op
die IMD ranglys het gedurende die periode 1994 tot 2000 verbeter. Die Verenigde Nasies se
HDI syfer vir Brasilië het verbeter gedurende die afgelope 25 jaar. Aangesien die MIV/VIGS
besmettingsyfer baie laag is in Brasilië, het dit geen effek op die lewensverwaging van die
bevolking nie. 'n Sterk korrelasie is gevind tussen mededingendheid en buitelandse
investeringsinvloei na Brasilië. Soos Brasilië se posisie op die IMD se mededingendheidsranglys
verbeter het, het buitelandse investering terselftertyd toegeneem en vice versa. Suid-Afrika en Brasilië is vergelyk in terme van die relatiewe sterktes van die determinante om
buitelandse investering te trek, die sterkte van elke mededingendheidsindikator en algehele
posisie op die IMD se mededingendheidsranglys. Suid-Afrika het baie goed vergelyk met
Brasilië in terme van die direkte buitelandse investeringsbeleidsraamwerk asook die
besigheidsinvestering en fasiliteringsmaatstawwe. In terme van effektiwiteitsgedrewe direkte
buitelandse investering, het Suid-Afrika vir Brasilië geklop op die vlak van werkerproduktiwiteit
asook die beskikbare infrastruktuur. Determinante vir natuurlike hulpbrongedrewe direkte
buitelandse investering is nie sterk in enige van die twee lande nie. Brasilië het die verdere
voordeel dat sy bevolking van 160 miljoen markgedrewe direkte buitelandse investering lok.
Die vergelyking van direkte buitelandse investering për kapita tussen Suid-Afrika en Brasilië het
getoon dat Suid-Afrika in hierdie opsig swak gevaar het. Brasilië het ook beter gevaar in terme
van die IMD se mededingendheids ranglys. Die IMD gebruik empiriese data sowel as data van
meningsopnames van sakeleiers. Die meningsopname data weerspieël die persepsie van
sakeleiers oor 'n land. Dikwels kan persepsies deurslaggewend wees tydens die keuse van 'n
belegging.
Die rede vir Suid-Afrika se lae buitelandse beleggingsinvloei tydens 1994 tot 2000 is moeilik
om te bepaal. Die vergelyking van Suid-Afrika met Brasilië het getoon dat die meederheid
determinate van Suid-Afrika op standaard is.
Die gevolgtrekking is gemaak dat die belangrikheid van determinante vir buitelandse investering
tussen lande verskil. Beleggingsbesluite vir Afrika word anders gemaak as byvoorbeeld in Suid-
Amerika. UNCTAD toon aan dat natuurlike hulpbroninvestering (olie en petroleum) met 'n hoë
winsverhouding, die enigste sterk determinant vir belegging in Afrika is. Die negatiewe
persepsies oor Afrika (onluste, hongersnood en ekonomiese onstabiliteit) beïnvloed steeds die
invloei van buitelandse belegging na Suid-Afrika. Alhoewel doeltreffenheidsgedrewe
buitelandse investering saam met 'n investeringsbeleidsraamwerk en
besigheidsfasiliteringsmaatstawwe voldoende is om buitelande beleggings te lok na 'n land in
Suid-Amerika (Brasilië), is dit nie die geval vir 'n land in Suider-Afrika (Suid-Afrika) nie. Suid-Afrika moet die internasionale beeld van die Afrika kontinent verander deur 'n positiewe
beleggingsklimaat dwarsdeur Afrika te skep. Dit kan bewerkstellig word deur sterk,
verantwoordelike leierskap in Afrika deur Suid-Afrika. Omdat basiese opleiding onvoldoende is,
moet die regering die kennis en vlak van vaardighede van die bevolking uitbrei. Dit sal die
bevolking in staat stel om deel te neem aan die internasionale mark vir informasie en tegnologie.
Groot beleggings is nodig om 'n kultuur van kundigheid en selfverbetering onder die bevolking
van Suid-Afrika te vestig. 'n Hoë vlak van vaardighede en kennis sal doeltreffendheidsgedrewe
buitelandse investering na Suid-Afrika lok.
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:netd.ac.za/oai:union.ndltd.org:sun/oai:scholar.sun.ac.za:10019.1/52898 |
| Date | 03 1900 |
| Creators | Venter, Gideon Jordaan |
| Contributors | Breytenbach, W. J., Stellenbosch University. Faculty of Economic & Management Sciences. Graduate School of Business. |
| Publisher | Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University |
| Source Sets | South African National ETD Portal |
| Language | en_ZA |
| Detected Language | Unknown |
| Type | Thesis |
| Format | 121 p. : ill. |
| Rights | Stellenbosch University |
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