An economic evaluation of South Africa's labour policies since 1994
- Authors: Flower, Alan
- Date: 2008-05-23T13:56:47Z
- Subjects: Labor market , Labor policy , Labor laws and legislation , Unemployment (South Africa)
- Type: Thesis
- Identifier: uj:2198 , http://hdl.handle.net/10210/458
- Description: Since its transition to a free and democratic society in 1994 South Africa has increasingly become part of the global community. South African goods and services flow freely across borders to other markets and likewise goods and services from outside South Africa flow into the country. The South African economy is judged according to how it competes in the global economy placing increasing pressure on South African businesses and the economy generally to be competitive. Government needs to create the economic environment in South Africa which allows businesses to be in a position to compete, by introducing appropriate economic and monetary policies. Recent policy decisions have tended to focus on price control and stability and stimulating economic growth. These policies, it is hoped, would lead to sustained economic growth and the creation of employment. One particular area of concern is government’s lack of adequate focus on unemployment in South Africa. The unemployment rate has increased since 1994 and specific labour market policies, aimed at stimulating employment creation, are required. The South African labour market is characterised by a high level of institutional regulation through labour legislation which, while protecting the rights of workers, tends to create barriers to employment creation. The issue is whether South African labour legislation is inflexible and whether that inflexibility is a hindrance to the creation of employment and the reduction of unemployment. This study seeks to explain and evaluate the role of South African labour legislation and the effect it has on employment creation and the high rate of unemployment in South Africa. , Prof. S. Chetty
- Full Text:
- Authors: Flower, Alan
- Date: 2008-05-23T13:56:47Z
- Subjects: Labor market , Labor policy , Labor laws and legislation , Unemployment (South Africa)
- Type: Thesis
- Identifier: uj:2198 , http://hdl.handle.net/10210/458
- Description: Since its transition to a free and democratic society in 1994 South Africa has increasingly become part of the global community. South African goods and services flow freely across borders to other markets and likewise goods and services from outside South Africa flow into the country. The South African economy is judged according to how it competes in the global economy placing increasing pressure on South African businesses and the economy generally to be competitive. Government needs to create the economic environment in South Africa which allows businesses to be in a position to compete, by introducing appropriate economic and monetary policies. Recent policy decisions have tended to focus on price control and stability and stimulating economic growth. These policies, it is hoped, would lead to sustained economic growth and the creation of employment. One particular area of concern is government’s lack of adequate focus on unemployment in South Africa. The unemployment rate has increased since 1994 and specific labour market policies, aimed at stimulating employment creation, are required. The South African labour market is characterised by a high level of institutional regulation through labour legislation which, while protecting the rights of workers, tends to create barriers to employment creation. The issue is whether South African labour legislation is inflexible and whether that inflexibility is a hindrance to the creation of employment and the reduction of unemployment. This study seeks to explain and evaluate the role of South African labour legislation and the effect it has on employment creation and the high rate of unemployment in South Africa. , Prof. S. Chetty
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Factors affecting the employment-output relationship of selected commodity exporting economies
- Authors: Smith, Alexander Francis
- Date: 2017
- Subjects: Job creation , Development economics , Labor market
- Language: English
- Type: Masters (Thesis)
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10210/261897 , uj:27626
- Description: M.Com. (Development Economics) , Abstract: This mini-dissertation aims to analyse the key factors driving the employment-output relationship in a subset of commodity exporting emerging market economies. Its contribution is to provide information about the ways in which an economy can create more employment growth for a given level of GDP, which is significant because GDP growth constraints are emerging in many parts of the world – particularly for commodity exporters. The results show that movements in the terms of trade, exchange rate volatility, the share of investment in GDP and the share of general government spending in GDP are negatively correlated with a country’s employment-output elasticity. Meanwhile, better labour market policies and a higher share of services in GDP are positively correlated with the employment-output elasticity. There are two core policy proposals emanating from this study. Firstly, governments in commodity exporting emerging market economies should exercise fiscal restraint (particularly in times of high commodity prices). Secondly, as the economy moves up the value chain and accumulates larger quantities of capital, actions must be taken to shield citizens from the adverse effects of labour saving technological change and the incentives for some firms to substitute capital for labour in the production process. This requires a flexible labour market and an education system that provides an appropriate level of training to the workforce.
- Full Text:
- Authors: Smith, Alexander Francis
- Date: 2017
- Subjects: Job creation , Development economics , Labor market
- Language: English
- Type: Masters (Thesis)
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10210/261897 , uj:27626
- Description: M.Com. (Development Economics) , Abstract: This mini-dissertation aims to analyse the key factors driving the employment-output relationship in a subset of commodity exporting emerging market economies. Its contribution is to provide information about the ways in which an economy can create more employment growth for a given level of GDP, which is significant because GDP growth constraints are emerging in many parts of the world – particularly for commodity exporters. The results show that movements in the terms of trade, exchange rate volatility, the share of investment in GDP and the share of general government spending in GDP are negatively correlated with a country’s employment-output elasticity. Meanwhile, better labour market policies and a higher share of services in GDP are positively correlated with the employment-output elasticity. There are two core policy proposals emanating from this study. Firstly, governments in commodity exporting emerging market economies should exercise fiscal restraint (particularly in times of high commodity prices). Secondly, as the economy moves up the value chain and accumulates larger quantities of capital, actions must be taken to shield citizens from the adverse effects of labour saving technological change and the incentives for some firms to substitute capital for labour in the production process. This requires a flexible labour market and an education system that provides an appropriate level of training to the workforce.
- Full Text:
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