Die impak van regionalisasie in Suider-Afrika op Suid-Afrika se ontwikkelingsdoelstellings
- Authors: Hanekom, P. B.
- Date: 2012-08-16
- Subjects: Regional economic disparities - Case studies , Africa, Southern - Economic conditions , Africa, Southern - Economic integration , South Africa - Economic conditions
- Type: Thesis
- Identifier: uj:9479 , http://hdl.handle.net/10210/5910
- Description: M.A. , The main purpose and objective of this study was to evaluate and determine the impact of regionalisation in Southern Africa on South Africa's developmental goals. With regionalisation coming to the fore as a contemporary reality of the international political economy and with the importance placed on the Reconstruction and Development Plan by the South African Government, the opportinity presented itself where the dynamic impact of regionalisation could be determined and evaluated in a meaningful and relevant manner. The major research concerning regionalisation in Southern Africa focuses on either the economic viability of integration in the Southern African region, or the form of integration which should be pursued. No single study has tried to determine the possible total impact of the process of regionalisation on a specific country. This study breaches this intellectual and academic impasse by doing a multi-leveled analysis of the impact of regionalisation on South Africa's developmental goals. The motivation for this is to lead to more specific research concerning all aspects involved for all countries concerned. The emphasis falls on the holistic nature of this topic - where spesific focus is placed on the complexity and diversity of the roleplayers involved as well as the determinants which influence them. The specific methodology used was to incorporate varied forms of data-gathering, ranging from interviews with major roleplayers to literature studies. The important fact to emphasize is that regionalisation itself must be seen as a complex structure, evolving to the needs and circumstances of the countries involved. This study shows emphatically that the orthodox theory of regionalisation can not be used in the context of developing countries. This theory is based on the experiences of the European industrialised countries. Their methods of analysis is inappropriate in developing countries. It is showed that project- and functional co-operation would suit the requirements and needs of the Southern African region far better in delivering the benefits accrued through regionalisation. Using this as premiss and focussing on the develomental goals of South Africa - the probable impact of regionalisation was determined and evaluated. The Reconstruction and Development Plan and the White Paper on the Reconstruction and Development Plan was used to identify South Africa's developmental goals. Intense research was done to estimate and determine the probable impact of regionalisation, as well as the policy issues it entails, on these goals. An effort was made to integrate each aspect and sector with other sectors and to highlight the complex nature of these interrelated issues. Only broad discussion and recommendations could be drawn. But these are sufficient to lead to futher studies on each specific aspect as well as giving a broad perspective on how South Africa's development goals will be influenced by the process of regionalisation. From this study the conclusion can be drawn that there will be costs involved for South Africa's participation in regional integration. But the benefits derived from project co-operation could make it worthwhile for South Africa to implement positive policy decisions towards further regionalisation. It is important to notice the intense complexity of each sector and the influence a change in one sector will have on all others. Careful consideration should be given before any action is taken. This serves as justification for the study on the grounds that more studies of this nature is necessary for regionalisation to expand in the region, and for Southern Africa to develop as a region. The other member-countries should conduct studies of a similar nature - and through this the most appropriate policy decisions could be taken to improve the well-being of all the people in this region.
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Economic integration in Southern Africa : challenges and prospects for South Africa
- Authors: Mafela, Malinda Collins
- Date: 2012-08-16
- Subjects: Africa, Southern - Economic integration
- Type: Mini-Dissertation
- Identifier: uj:9455 , http://hdl.handle.net/10210/5888
- Description: M.Comm. , The transition of South Africa to a democracy signifies large-scale changes in the political and economic spheres. Presently one of the dominating debates in the economic circles centres around trade integration. Academics, professional economists, Government officials and other professional experts find themselves at loggerheads in an attempt to identify the most beneficial trade arrangements/blocs for SA. The fundamental aim of the paper is to analyse the effects or possible effects which different trade blocs or arrangements might have on South Africa if is to be a member. In cases where South Africa is already a member of a particular bloc, for example SACU, the purpose will be to look briefly at the past history of the arrangement, and subsequently generate debates either justifying or not South Africa's continued participation, guided by their very past experience. And if continuation is opted for, the circumstances under which that should happen have to be entertained as well. With regard to organisations like the European Union (EU) and the Southern African Development Community (SADC) where the trade arrangements involving South Africa are still pending the aim will be to highlight the possible benefits to be accrued and losses which might be incurred by South Africa under those agreements.
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Die eksterne invloed op regionale ekonomiese integrasie in Suidelike Afrika
- Authors: Brink, Christiaan
- Date: 2012-09-04
- Subjects: Africa, Southern - Economic integration , Africa, Southern - Economic conditions
- Type: Thesis
- Identifier: uj:3471 , http://hdl.handle.net/10210/6863
- Description: M.Comm. , Since the late 1980's / early 1990's Southern Africa has undergone radical political change. Political democratisation and liberalisation impacted on the economies of individual states as well as on economic relations between states in the region. The democratisation process in South Africa in particular, changed the economic power configurations of the region. South Africa opted to become a member of the SADC in 1994 after its first "representative" elections. The country was initially confronted by unrealistic expectations among the other members in the region regarding the contribution that they expected to emanate from this move. South Africa on the other hand was confronted with the realities of its own reconstruction and development needs. The question that had to be answered however, is how economic integration could contribute to the growth and development of the Southern African region. Of particular interest is the role that external forces could/would have on the integration process. This is the central theme of this document.
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Monetary integration in Southern Africa
- Authors: Le Roux, Anilia
- Date: 2012-09-04
- Subjects: International economic integration , Africa, Southern - Economic integration , Africa, Southern - Economic conditions , Monetary policy - Africa, Southern , Trade blocs
- Type: Mini-Dissertation
- Identifier: uj:3491 , http://hdl.handle.net/10210/6881
- Description: M.Comm. , Die skripsie handel oor die beginsel van monetere en ekonomiese integrasie en die toepassing daarvan op Suidelike Afrika as 'n ontwikkelende handelsblok. Die Europese Unie se integrerende kriteria word hoofsaaklik gebruik as 'n raamwerk om die ekonomiese doeltreffendheid van Suidelike Afrika te ondersoek. Die doel van die ondersoek is om vas te stel of suksesvolle ekonomiese integrasie moontlik is vir die streek. Eerstens is daar gekyk na die verkillende definisies, vorms, voor- en nadele van monetere integrasie. Dit is in 'n meer algemene lig bespreek. Daarna is die makro-ekonomiese omgewing van Afrika en spesifiek Suidelike Afrika ondersoek. Die laaste gedeelte van die skripsie handel oor ander handelsblokke en die effek op ontwikkelende lande en streke.
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South Africa's economic integration with BRIC countries
- Authors: Çakir, Mustafa
- Date: 2013-12-09
- Subjects: International economic integration , International cooperation , BRIC countries , Africa, Southern - Economic integration
- Type: Thesis
- Identifier: uj:7820 , http://hdl.handle.net/10210/8714
- Description: D.Phil. (Economics) , This thesis presents a discussion of the economic integration between South Africa and the economies of Brazil, Russia, India and China, the so called BRICs. The thesis analyses four channels of interdependence: trade, investment, business cycle and the increasing importance of shocks originating from China. It makes significant and original contributions to the empirical literature by employing several econometric techniques. In the first two cases, a global vector autoregressive (global VAR) model is used to analyse the trade and foreign direct investment (FDI) linkages between South Africa and the BRIC countries over the period 1995-2009. The results show trade linkages between these economies whose magnitude differs between countries. Shocks from each BRIC country are shown to have considerable impact on South African real imports and output. However, there is no evidence of FDI linkages between these economies. This shows that the notable performance of the BRIC economies are not transmitted to the South African economy by FDI flows, but rather through the exchange rates for some countries and trade for the others. In the third application, the nature of co-movement between South Africa and the BRIC countries is examined by applying the dynamic factor model to a set of 307 macroeconomic series over the 1995-2009 period. Particularly, the extent of co-movement between the cyclical component of real output across South Africa and the BRICs is assessed. The results show significant degree of co-movement between South Africa and the BRICs over the business cycle and the long-run, although the magnitude of the co-movement differs with each country. In terms of the lead and lag relationships across South Africa and the BRIC countries, the study ends that only India leads South Africa over the cyclical period. The findings suggest that the first two factors are BRICS (Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa) factorswhile the third factor can be considered a United States factor. The last application investigates, using a factor model estimated with quarterly data from 1995 to 2009, how China’s shocks are transmitted to BRIS (Brazil, Russia, India and South Africa). The results show that China’s supply shocks are more important than its demand shocks. Supply shocks produce positive and significant output responses in all BRIS countries. However, their extent is significant only for short horizon in India. Positive demand shocks from China have positive and significant extent on Brazil’s and South Africa’s output only. The intensity of economic relationship and channels of transmission of shocks are different between China and BRIS. The results based on the variance share of the common component suggest that South Africa and Russia are linked intensively to China, while Brazil and India have only moderate linkages with China. International trade is an important channel for the transmission of shocks across China and BRIS countries indicating that supply and demand shocks in China do not have similar extent on the BRIS countries and therefore they require different policy responses.
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Die rol van ekonomiese integrasie in die ekonomiese ontwikkeling van Suider-Afrika met spesifiek verwysing na Suid-Afrika, Zambië, Zimbabwe en Malawi
- Authors: Wentzel, Arnold
- Date: 2014-08-05
- Subjects: Africa, Southern - Economic integration
- Type: Thesis
- Identifier: uj:11976 , http://hdl.handle.net/10210/11703
- Description: M.Com. (Economics) , The main purpose of the study was to investigate the role of economic integration in the economic development of the member states of an envisaged economically integrated Southern African bloc, that would include South Africa. The study contends that economic development will be aided, if economic integration were implemented correctly. Economic integration will influence both the allocation and distribution elements of the involved countries' wealth. Since economic development is inextricably entwined with the distribution of wealth, economic integration would have to give special attention to its effect on the distribution of wealth between countries. The mainstream theory of economic integration, however, places much more emphasis on the allocation aspect of integration than the distribution aspect. This imbalance means that economic integration, implemented according to the guidelines of the mainstream theory, will be detrimental to the economic development of especially the less developed countries. The orthodox approach to economic integration should therefore be adapted to the circumstances of developing countries. A suitable economic integration approach should comprise two steps. The first step involves the identification of areas for profitable specialisation, and the second the formulation of an economic integration strategy within the framework of a dirigiste approach to economic development. Porter's theory of the competitive advantage of nations served as the foundation for the formulation of the approaches to both economic development and economic integration in Southern Africa. Industry segments in which profitable specialisation could take place, were identified for South Africa, Malawi, Zambia and Zimbabwe by means of Porter's statistical method, and afterwards classified in clusters. The development and integration approaches will be centred around the various identified clusters with competitive advantage.
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