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Intergovernmental relations and the devolution of taxes : lessons for South Africa

- Boshoff, Vanessa

Authors: Boshoff, Vanessa
Date: 2014-06-21
Subjects: Intergovernmental relations - Taxation , Devolution of taxes , Taxation - South Africa , Tax planning - South Africa
Type: Thesis
Identifier: uj:11565 , http://hdl.handle.net/10210/11272
Description: M.Com. (Taxation) , The transition of South Africa to a democracy signifies large-scale changes in the political and economic spheres. The public sector, one of the main participants in the economy, does not escape this transformation. A more democratic structure entails, inter alia, increased empowerment of sub-national levels of government. This means that various functions must be devolved to provinces along with certain revenue sources in a bid to increase their autonomy and efficiency in service delivery. The fundamental aim of this paper is to analyze the intended future constitutional order of South Africa according to theoretical principles of decentralisation and tax devolution, and to propose a suitable tax framework for the new order. A primary prerequisite for a new tax structure is that the economic return on the revenue absorbed by government should be maximised. The problem is that some taxes are suitable for devolution and some should remain in the control of the national government. Furthermore, existing tax structures have to be considered when devising new tax frameworks.
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'n Makro-ekonomiese inligtingsraamwerk vir ontwikkelingsbeplanning met spesifieke verwysing na ontwikkelingstreek G

- Malan, Christo Daniel

Authors: Malan, Christo Daniel
Date: 2015-03-18
Subjects: Economic development , Community development - South Africa , Rural development - South Africa
Type: Thesis
Identifier: uj:13451 , http://hdl.handle.net/10210/13488
Description: M.Com. (Business Management) , Southern Africa, when viewed in the context of a developing region, is an area of extremes. Sophisticated urban development, financial markets, agricultural development and technically-advanced production processes form a direct contrast to the squatting, subsistence agriculture, malnutrition and unemployment found in a single complex Southern Africa socio-economic environment. The most important goal of economic development in Southern Africa is the raising of the standard of living of the entire population. The interests and needs of the individual play a prominent role in this pre-determined goal. The results that are obtained in this process are largely determined by the element of planning. In the planning stage, vision and insight need to be displayed to determine the anticipated end results. The availability of current information is the basis on which any real action, in the attempt to achieve the aforementioned objective, will depend. The purpose of this study was to compile a macro-economic information framework for development planning and to illustrate this framework with an example.
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'n Teoretiese beskouing van die kostedrukinvloed van vakbonde op die prysbepalingskoers in Suid-Afrika

- Willemse, Thomas Stephanus

Authors: Willemse, Thomas Stephanus
Date: 2014-06-05
Subjects: Wages and labor productivity - South Africa , Labor economics - South Africa , Labor unions - South Africa , Inflation (Finance) - South Africa
Type: Thesis
Identifier: uj:11422 , http://hdl.handle.net/10210/11060
Description: M.Com. (Economics) , Inflation is the continuous, meaningful increase in the price level of an economic system. A distinction can be drawn between demand-pull factors (where demand exceeds the supply) and cost-push factors (prices are pushed higher by an increase in wages or input prices) as causes of inflation. Cost-push inflation is the result of the exercising of bargaining power by certain groups, e.g. trade unions. Prices can escalate as a result of competition between trade unions and firms for higher wages or competition between trade unions for a bigger portion of the national income. The aim of trade unions is to maintain the standard of living of their members, whose only source of income is the sale of their labour. Trade unions have a number of mechanisms, e.g. strikes and the withdrawal of co-operation, by means of which they can force an employer to meet their demands. Trade unions usually bargain collectively with employers regarding their wage demands. There are great differences of opinion among economists whether trade unions are the cause of inflation or whether they only contribute to inflation. Trade unions grouped themselves in organisations to look after the concerns of their members while employers have also grouped themselves in organisations. The government also plays an important role in the labour market, especially because' of the payment of unemployment benefits. Trade unions can contribute to inflation because wage increases are declared nationally, trade unions refuse to· accept any cuts in wages, contracts between employers and employees make provision for increases in salaries and also include a stipulation regarding cost of living adjustments. Trade unions can increase wage demands by being more militant, the spillover effect and wage imitation. The first white trade unions were established in the second half of the previous century and black trade unions in the early 1900' s. The numbers of especially the black trade unions increased considerably during the seventies and eighties, to such a degree that black trade unions have almost 3 million members and consist of 23,9 percent of the total economically active population. As a result of their great numbers, strikes have also shown an escalating tendency (there were 908 strikes per year during the period 1987 to 1992). The annual average inflation rate in South Africa reached double figures in 1974 and has not moved back to single figures since. If wage demands since 1985 are compared to this, the wage demands from 1987 to 1991 were higher each year than the inflation rate. Trade unions definitely have an influence on wages as the increase in minimum wages of unskilled labourers were mostly higher than. that of skilled workers. The increase in productivity has however, not kept up to date with the increase in wage rates.
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Die formulering van 'n prestasiemetingstegniek vir die evaluering van streekekonomiese ontwikkeling

- Dormehl, Cornelius Marinus

Authors: Dormehl, Cornelius Marinus
Date: 2014-04-24
Subjects: Regional economics , Regional planning - South Africa
Type: Thesis
Identifier: uj:10902 , http://hdl.handle.net/10210/10409
Description: M.Com. (Business Management) , The deteriorating economic and socio-economic conditions in the RSA, in recent years, necessitated an adjustment to the approach to development. Consequently the emphasis moved away from national development planning to the current approach of regional development planning. This new approach should be of a comprehensive nature and founded on a multi-sectoral basis. Regional development is a complex and dynamic process which comprises a multitude of interactive subprocesses that function within the area concerned. In turn, each sub process comprises various dynamic variables. These variables not only stand in an interdependent relationship to each other but they may also influence or be influenced by other subsystems or variables forming part of such subsystems. The objective of the study was to: formulate a performance measuring technique that will accommodate the individual influence of certain economic variables in an integrated manner. to evaluate regional economical development with the formulated performance measuring technique.
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Die ontleding van die langtermynkonjunktuurgolf, met spesiale verwysing na Suid-Afrika

- Schüssler, H.U.

Authors: Schüssler, H.U.
Date: 2014-07-31
Subjects: Long waves (Economics) - South Africa , Long waves (Economics)
Type: Thesis
Identifier: uj:11958 , http://hdl.handle.net/10210/11685
Description: M.Com. , This is a study about the Long Wave in the South African economy in particular and the world economy in general. The study is both theoretical and empirical in its nature. In chapter two the study looks at the four main cycles starting with the phases of a cycle in general. A true cycle must show some regular pattern of fluctuation, which may be endogenous or exogenous. The Kitchin 'inventory' cycle of three to four years, peak to peak, which appears due to overshoots and undershoots of business inventories. Another cycle, the Juglar or investment cycle has a length of seven to eleven years, and appears to have been driven by investment in fixed assets rather than stocks. The next cycle to be investigated is the Kuznets or building cycle and is driven by some exogenous factor (migration) and is some fifteen to twenty five years long. The last cycle to be briefly studied in chapter two is the Kondratieff cycle or the Long Wave of some forty five to sixty years in duration. In chapter three the author gives a critical overview of some recent Long Wave theories, which, although not complete, does seek to diminish the present confusion in literature and to emphasize the complementary nature of the different approaches. A classification is made of the theories based on production factors. In this way the theories have been classified as: those which consider the role of the innovation (i.e. entrepreneurship) as crucial ( Schumpeter and Mensch); the capital theories (Mandel and Forrester); the labour theory of Freeman; and Rostow's theory of development and the importance of raw materials; finally the integrated theory of Van Duijn which does not focus on any specific production factor. In chapter four the author does an empirical study in four categories into the existence of the Long Wave in South Africa. The categories are: Prices; Growth; Unemployment and Technology. South African and international data series are used to see where on the Long Wave cycle South Africa finds it's self. Prices of commodities in the world market place are presented in both nominal and real price series. South African consumer and production prices are analysed. South African growth is studied from 1806 and categorised into Kondratieff cycles. Unemployment is emphasised and data from five sectors has been obtained from 1920 to analyse. The sectors manufacturing, mining, transport, electricity and construction. Technology is presented in a wider sense as South Africa does not have much to present in this field. The worlds technology is discussed as are its effects and then presented in graphical form for the last three Kondratieff cycles including the fifth Kondratieff. Chapter five attempts a graphical model of the South African Long Wave. It presents a short summary of the empirical evidence for South Africa. The basic conclusion is that South Africa has a Long Wave cycle.
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Die ekonomiese bestaansproblematiek in Suid-Afrika

- Timmer, Nelisjan

Authors: Timmer, Nelisjan
Date: 2014-05-21
Subjects: International economic relations , Poverty - South Africa , Unemployment - Economic aspects - South Africa , South Africa - Economic conditions
Type: Thesis
Identifier: uj:11156 , http://hdl.handle.net/10210/10748
Description: M.Com. (Economics) , The aim of this study was to look at the economic survival problem that has been very much in appearance in South Africa, especially recently. This will translate into a study of poverty in South Africa. In the second chapter I tried to get a clearer definition of poverty by, firstly looking at some formal definitions relating to poverty and then to look more generally at other descriptions of poverty from a more economic point of view. In this chapter we also discuss the Lorenz curve and how that can be used to measure poverty using income and the consumption of the population. Following on from this, in the third chapter we look at some definitions and theories of income and consumption. The theories we look at are the following : The General Consumption theory of Keynes, the Relative Income Hypothesis, the Permanent Income Hypothesis and the Life Cycle Hypothesis. After narrowing down the main cause of poverty, in the next two chapters we look at some characteristics of the poor in the rural areas as well as in the urban and metropolitan areas. In the chapter concerning the poor in the rural areas, the characteristics we look at are among others, the income, climatic problems, educational problems and health problems of the poor communities in these areas. When we discuss the characteristics of the urban and metropolitan poor, we also discuss the occurrence of unemployment and some measures that can alleviate this problem. In the sixth chapter we look at a comparison of South Africa with other countries in the world regarding the poverty problem, mainly at where South Africa fits into the world picture. In the summary some possible solutions for the whole poverty problem is put forward.
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Assessing the determinants and effects of non-monetary household asset poverty in South Africa

- Zwane, Talent Thebe

Authors: Zwane, Talent Thebe
Date: 2018
Subjects: Poverty , Rural poor - Economic aspects , Economic development - South Africa - KwaZulu-Natal , Rural development - South Africa - KwaZulu-Natal , Agriculture - Economic aspects - South Africa - KwaZulu-Natal
Language: English
Type: Doctoral (Thesis)
Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10210/283653 , uj:30601
Description: Ph.D. (Economics) , Abstract: When measuring poverty, much of the theoretical and empirical work has focused mainly on money-metric measures of poverty. The conventional approach has been the use of a poverty line − often derived from consumption, expenditure or income levels − sufficient to meet primary human needs. However, the money-metric approach to poverty analysis in South Africa is not an appropriate measure, given that the South African environment has a very different outlook, possibly even arriving at a wrong measure of poverty with subsistence farming, where money is not a good measure of poverty. In order to measure poverty accurately in South Africa we need to consider the assets of households and compute an asset-poverty index. Assets are an important indicator of well-being and a measure that is based on assets is likely to capture an important dimension of economic well-being. While there are a few studies that have investigated asset poverty in South Africa, there are serious gaps in the literature. These should be addressed in order to improve policy designed to reduce poverty. Firstly, these studies have mainly relied on cross-sectional data rather than panel data at a national level. The reason for this is mainly the absence of national representative longitudinal data. However, this type of data has become available and is used in this thesis. Secondly, none of these studies have compared results among subsamples of urban and rural areas. This is very important as the areas are structurally very different, with different characteristics. Thus, it is likely that poverty, asset poverty and the determinants of asset poverty in these areas will differ. Thirdly, previous literature has not investigated the uniqueness of subsistence-farming communities in the measurement of poverty, in which monetary measures have limited application. In these types of economies, monetary measures of poverty are likely to overestimate poverty. Furthermore, the saving behaviour in these communities differs vastly from that of other communities. To address these gaps, the thesis uses a newly-available panel data set named the National Income Dynamics Study (NIDS) observed over the period 2008-2015 in bi-annual waves to study asset poverty in South Africa. The panel nature of the NIDS data also allows us to overcome common estimation issues of endogeneity. The NIDS contains a comprehensive set of questions relevant to the analysis of asset poverty. However, the NIDS is not without shortcomings. Although it is a national representative...
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'n Empiriese ontleding van die verband tussen die randwisselkoers en die goudprys

- Swanepoel, Sidney

Authors: Swanepoel, Sidney
Date: 2014-04-16
Subjects: Foreign exchange , Gold prices
Type: Thesis
Identifier: uj:10781 , http://hdl.handle.net/10210/10289
Description: M.Com. (Economics) , The gold sector has historically made an extremely important contribution to the total external revenue earnings of South Africa. Gold is traded on the international markets at a price which is determined daily through supply and demand and quoted in American dollar terms. South Africa is one of the largest producers of gold in the world and despite this it has no control over the international gold price. Local producers get paid in rands for their production. Because the international gold price is determined in American dollar terms and local producers get paid in rands the exchange rate is extremely important to local gold producers. If the dollar/gold price is compared to rand/dollar gold price in the long term there is a definite pattern. From 1980 to 1990 it can clearly be seen that if the gold price rises or declines the exchange rate has depreciated or appreciated. Since 1990 the dollar/gold price declined steadily until 1993 when it recovered somewhat. The rand exchange rate has not in the past depreciated in relation to the decline in the gold price. A sharp depreciation of the rand since 1990 has been experienced. The question that arises is that has the deviation in the long term relation between the rand/dollar exchange rate and the gold price since 1990 just been temporary in nature or was there a fundamental change? Since 1990 the dollar/gold price has declined from American $383.55 to $324.86 in October 1997. Over the same period the rand has depreciated from 258.17 cent to 470.90 cents for a dollar. Over the whole period the rand has hardly shown signs of appreciation whilst there were sporadic increases in the gold price. Government policy changed in 1990 and the focus moved to inflation control. A sharp increase of nett capital from South Africa was noted since 1990.
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The socio-economic impact of the Kwamnyandu Shopping Centre in Umlazi

- Ndaba, Sinothile

Authors: Ndaba, Sinothile
Date: 2018
Subjects: Economic development - South Africa - Durban , Small business - South Africa - Durban , Community development - Case studies
Language: English
Type: Masters (Thesis)
Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10210/296026 , uj:32246
Description: Abstract: Shopping centre development in the township environment is regarded as a local economic development (LED) tool to restructure the local economy. This approach has been embarked upon in South Africa as a post-apartheid transformation strategy aimed at improving access to economic activities. During the process of shopping centre development in townships, local consumers and businesses are impacted. The general perception in the literature is that centre development in townships hinders the achievement of economic empowerment of the local people, especially informal businesses. This study aimed to explore the post-development socioeconomic perception of Kwamnyandu Shopping Centre on local consumers and local informal businesses. Interviews were conducted with 30 local consumers and 30 informal business owners who had their businesses within a one-kilometre radius of the shopping centre. The research instrument used to collect primary data was a semi-structured questionnaire which was used to conduct face-to-face interviews. These interviews sought to identify the perception of development of the centre on shopping patterns, travel costs, and the percentage of shopping done at shopping centres and local informal business. The results showed that the socio-economic landscape of the area changed in a positive manner for consumers and local informal businesses. Consumer participants reported that they appreciated the improved convenience of access to goods and services (such as banking) and saved on transport costs. Local informal business participants perceived the Kwamnyandu Shopping Centre to be a positive contributor to their businesses due to the increased foot traffic in the area. Consumer participants’ shopping patterns were altered by the development of the Kwamnyandu Shopping Centre. Outshopping decreased and in-shopping increased. Consumers still shopped at local informal businesses. The number of local informal business around the area was perceived to have increased. , M.Com. (Local Economic Development)
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Prevalence of a mineral resource curse in South Africa : a critical analysis of the gold and diamond sectors

- Blight, E.

Authors: Blight, E.
Date: 2017
Subjects: Resource curse - South Africa , Mineral industries - South Africa , Energy industries - South Africa , Natural resources - South Africa
Language: English
Type: Masters (Thesis)
Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10210/273495 , uj:29137
Description: M.Com. (Local Economic Development) , Abstract: Throughout history, resources have always played a significant role in the development of economies. However, with the introduction of the term “resource curse” this notion has changed and many economists now believe that too much resources can be detrimental to an economy. An ever-growing body of literature has sought to identify countries which have been resource cursed, South Africa being one of them. Research on South Africa has thus far generated mixed results. One of the possible reasons for this is that macroeconomic data for the country only goes back to the 1940s, and therefore a longer perspective cannot be attained. This research completed a missing time period in a database which allowed analysis into the resource curse from 1850 onwards. The analysis tools used were descriptive statistics, as well as a graphical analysis. It is demonstrated that resource abundance and dependence is evident in South Africa, but the notion that the country has a resource curse could not be determined outright.
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'n Ekonomiese perspektief op kapitaalbelasting as komponent van die belastingstruktuur in Suid-Afrika

- Roodt, Dawid Daniel

Authors: Roodt, Dawid Daniel
Date: 2015-02-09
Subjects: Capital levy , Taxation - South Africa
Type: Thesis
Identifier: uj:13191 , http://hdl.handle.net/10210/13219
Description: M.Com. (Economics) , The purpose of this study was to analyze the nature and extent of capital taxes as a component of the total tax structure and to investigate the applicability and effectiveness of this kind of tax in South Africa. The different capital taxes were discussed individually. Standard norms and criteria used to evaluate taxes have been identified. These criteria were applied in an analysis of the different capital taxes. Tables, figures and international comparisons were also employed. The definition of capital is problematic. Historically capital has been compared with a tree while income has been likened with the fruit of the tree. For purposes of this study capital is defined, for an individual, as the current value of the individual's expected future income. Capital as an asset is defined as all assets that are not intended for immediate use. Arguments in favour of capital tax centre around moral issues like equality. It may be argued in favour of capital tax that the implicit income of capital should be taxed in order to maintain economic neutrality of the tax system. Arguments against capital tax concentrate on the negative implications thereof on certain economic entities. Certain practical considerations are highlighted. It may be argued that capital tax is immoral since the abstention of consumption (saving) is taxed...
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'n Evaluering van ekonomiese beleidsvoorstelle vir die herstrukturering van die Suid-Afrikaanse ekonomie vir groei en ontwikkeling

- Kotze, Johannes C.

Authors: Kotze, Johannes C.
Date: 2014-02-18
Subjects: Reconstruction and Development Programme (South Africa) , South Africa - Economic policy
Type: Thesis
Identifier: uj:4122 , http://hdl.handle.net/10210/9469
Description: M.Com. (Economics) , This study attempts to critically evaluate some of the aspects of policy recommendations presently being made for economic development as a contribution to the debate on an optimal approach for the reconstruction and development of the South African economy. The new and, for South Africa, unknown democratic era, in which widely differing ideological approaches towards economic development converge, offers an unique opportunity for reconciliation within the democratic structures. With this in mind, the ideological framework in terms of economic theory provides an explanation as to the divergent views on economic development and the relief of poverty. The White Paper, on Reconstruction and Development, to some extent seem to reconcile the ideological differences found within the Government of National Unity. There do, nevertheless, remain differences that need to be highlighted, especially when considering the evolution of the ideological base of the African National Congress Alliance as the main partner in the Government of National Unity. The impact of changing circumstances since the Freedom Charter, the ANC's first major economic policy statement, seem to explain the shift in the Alliance's socialistic and labour related affinity in subsequent publications as well as the White Paper on Reconstruction and Development. With the ANC evolving into a government in waiting and with external V11l influences, especially the lessons from the international development experience and the policy fundamentals inherent to the Normative Economic Model, becoming stark realities, the shift towards a more pragmatic and market acknowledging approach, as expressed in the White Paper on Reconstruction and development, became more pronounced. When considering the White Paper as a management program for the development of the South African economy, a wide array of sometimes contradictory goals are found which further highlights the ideological base in favour of labour. This may be the result of a program that tends to be populist and attempting to satisfy needs over the full spectrum of society. However, the lessons from the international development experience were fully taken into account and the White Paper on Reconstruction and Development cannot be faulted for not incorporating all the ingredients of present day state-of-the-art development policy. Resources for, and management ofthe program poses the more serious problems. According to the Reconstruction and Development Program ofthe African National Congress, the government submits to a people driven development approach. Following the evaluation of the goals set to meet basic needs, two major problems arise, namely that the stated goals will probably be insufficient to satisfy the social backlog and will probably be unrealistic to achieve over as short a period as five years. The populist democracy that flows from the people driven process propagated by the Reconstruction and Development Program places certain constraints on the effective management of the reform process and as such may result in South Africa not achieving its potential rate of development. The inclusion of local an provincial government structures, civic organisations and others in the decision making process will enhance the credibility of policies but is slow in the development of policies and their implementation. The uncertainty surrounding the jurisdiction and competency of these new and democratised structures leads to the questioning of this process as far as the effective management of the development program is concerned. International experience has shown that a decisive and coherent economic team, visionary economic leadership and a strong political and judicial base to drive policy implementation are necessary ingredients for a development and reform program to succeed.
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