Policy Change and Economic Growth : A Case Study of South Africa

South Africa's growth experience provides an example of how contrasting growth trends long-term decline followed by improved growth pivot around political change, in this case a transition to democracy. In the decade prior to 1994, South Afric...

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Main Authors: Faulkner, David, Loewald, Christopher
Format: Working Paper
Language:English
en_US
Published: World Bank, Washington, DC 2017
Subjects:
GDP
TAX
WTO
Online Access:http://documents.worldbank.org/curated/en/610501468308035441/Policy-change-and-economic-growth-a-case-study-of-South-Africa
http://hdl.handle.net/10986/28012
id okr-10986-28012
recordtype oai_dc
repository_type Digital Repository
institution_category Foreign Institution
institution Digital Repositories
building World Bank Open Knowledge Repository
collection World Bank
language English
en_US
topic ACCOUNTING
AGRICULTURE
ASSET VALUES
BALANCE SHEET
BANK LENDING
BARRIERS TO ENTRY
BINDING CONSTRAINT
BOND INDEX
BORROWING COST
BUDGET DEFICIT
BUDGET DEFICITS
BUSINESS CYCLE
CAPITAL FLOWS
CAPITAL INFLOWS
CAPITAL MARKETS
CAPITAL STOCK
COMMODITY PRICES
COMPARATIVE ADVANTAGE
COMPETITIVENESS
CONSUMER PRICE INDEX
CONSUMERS
CORPORATE SAVING
COUNTRY RISK
CREDIBILITY
CURRENCY
CURRENT ACCOUNT DEFICIT
DEBT
DEBT LEVELS
DEBT SERVICE
DEPENDENCY RATIOS
DEVELOPING COUNTRIES
DISEQUILIBRIUM
DISINFLATION
DISTRIBUTIONAL EFFECTS
DOMESTIC MARKET
DOWNWARD PRESSURE
ECONOMIC CONDITIONS
ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT
ECONOMIC EFFICIENCY
ECONOMIC GROWTH
ECONOMIC HISTORY
ECONOMIC OUTCOMES
ECONOMIC PERFORMANCE
ECONOMIC POLICIES
ECONOMIC RESEARCH
ECONOMIC SECTORS
ECONOMIC SYSTEMS
ECONOMIES OF SCALE
ELASTICITY
EMERGING MARKET
EMERGING MARKET BOND
EMERGING MARKET ECONOMIES
EMERGING MARKETS
ENABLING ENVIRONMENT
EXCESS DEMAND
EXCESS SUPPLY
EXCHANGE CONTROLS
EXCHANGE RATES
EXPECTED RETURN
EXPENDITURE
EXPORT GROWTH
EXPORT PERFORMANCE
EXPORTERS
EXPORTS
FACTOR MARKETS
FINANCIAL CRISES
FINANCIAL CRISIS
FINANCIAL LIBERALIZATION
FINANCIAL SYSTEM
FISCAL DEFICIT
FISCAL DISCIPLINE
FISCAL POLICIES
FISCAL POLICY
FIXED CAPITAL
FIXED INVESTMENT
FOREIGN CAPITAL
FOREIGN CURRENCY
FOREIGN DIRECT INVESTMENT
FOREIGN EXCHANGE
FOREIGN EXCHANGE RESERVES
GDP
GDP PER CAPITA
GLOBALIZATION
GOLD
GOVERNMENT INVESTMENT
GOVERNMENT SAVING
GOVERNMENT SPENDING
GROSS FIXED CAPITAL FORMATION
GROWTH PERFORMANCE
GROWTH POTENTIAL
GROWTH RATE
GROWTH RATES
HIGH INFLATION
HOUSEHOLD INCOME
HOUSEHOLD SAVING
HOUSEHOLD WEALTH
HUMAN RESOURCES
IMPORT
IMPORTS
INCOME
INCOME GROWTH
INCOME LEVELS
INEFFICIENCY
INFLATION
INFLATION TARGETING
INFORMATION ASYMMETRIES
INFRASTRUCTURE INVESTMENT
INFRASTRUCTURE INVESTMENTS
INSTITUTIONAL DEVELOPMENT
INTEREST RATE
INTEREST RATES
INTERNATIONAL BANK
INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT
INTERNATIONAL FINANCE
INTERNATIONAL FINANCIAL CRISES
INTERNATIONAL FINANCIAL MARKETS
INTERNATIONAL FINANCIAL STATISTICS
INVESTMENT DECISIONS
INVESTMENT LEVELS
INVESTMENT PROJECTS
INVESTMENT RATES
INVESTMENT SPENDING
LABOR MARKET
LABOR MARKETS
LAND REFORM
LEVEL OF INFLATION
LEVEL OF INTEREST RATES
LOW INTEREST RATES
LOW TARIFFS
MACROECONOMIC MANAGEMENT
MACROECONOMIC POLICY
MACROECONOMIC STABILITY
MACROECONOMIC VARIABLES
MARGINAL PRODUCT
MARKET CAPITALIZATION
MARKET CONCENTRATION
MARKET DEVELOPMENT
MARKET ECONOMY
MARKET STRUCTURE
MARKET STRUCTURES
MONETARY POLICY
MONETARY POLICY FRAMEWORK
MONOPOLIES
MORTGAGE
MORTGAGE INTEREST
NATIONAL TREASURY
NATURAL RESOURCES
NOMINAL EXCHANGE RATE
NOMINAL WAGE
POLICY RESPONSE
POLITICAL ECONOMY
POLITICAL INSTABILITY
POLITICAL STABILITY
POLITICAL UNCERTAINTY
POTENTIAL OUTPUT
POVERTY REDUCTION
PRICE INCREASES
PRIVATE INVESTMENT
PRODUCT MARKETS
PRODUCTION INCREASES
PRODUCTIVITY
PRODUCTIVITY GROWTH
PROPERTY RIGHTS
PUBLIC FINANCES
PUBLIC INVESTMENT
PUBLIC SPENDING
PURCHASING POWER
RAPID GROWTH
RATE OF RETURN
RATES OF INFLATION
RATES OF INTEREST
REAL CONSUMPTION
REAL COST
REAL EXCHANGE RATE
REAL EXCHANGE RATE APPRECIATION
REAL EXCHANGE RATES
REAL GDP
REAL GROSS DOMESTIC PRODUCT
REAL INCOME
REAL INTEREST
REAL INTEREST RATES
REPAYMENTS
RESERVE
RESERVE BANK
RESERVES
SAVINGS
SHARE OF INVESTMENT
STOCK EXCHANGE
STRUCTURAL CHANGE
STRUCTURAL PROBLEMS
SURPLUS
TARIFF BARRIERS
TAX
TAX COLLECTION
TAX INCENTIVES
TAX RATES
TELECOMMUNICATIONS
TIME HORIZON
TOTAL FACTOR PRODUCTIVITY
TRADE BARRIERS
TRADE LIBERALIZATION
TRADE POLICY
TRADE SECTOR
TRADE UNIONS
TRADING
TRADING PARTNERS
UNEMPLOYMENT
URUGUAY ROUND
VALUE ADDED
WAGES
WEALTH
WORLD ECONOMY
WORLD TRADE ORGANIZATION
WTO
spellingShingle ACCOUNTING
AGRICULTURE
ASSET VALUES
BALANCE SHEET
BANK LENDING
BARRIERS TO ENTRY
BINDING CONSTRAINT
BOND INDEX
BORROWING COST
BUDGET DEFICIT
BUDGET DEFICITS
BUSINESS CYCLE
CAPITAL FLOWS
CAPITAL INFLOWS
CAPITAL MARKETS
CAPITAL STOCK
COMMODITY PRICES
COMPARATIVE ADVANTAGE
COMPETITIVENESS
CONSUMER PRICE INDEX
CONSUMERS
CORPORATE SAVING
COUNTRY RISK
CREDIBILITY
CURRENCY
CURRENT ACCOUNT DEFICIT
DEBT
DEBT LEVELS
DEBT SERVICE
DEPENDENCY RATIOS
DEVELOPING COUNTRIES
DISEQUILIBRIUM
DISINFLATION
DISTRIBUTIONAL EFFECTS
DOMESTIC MARKET
DOWNWARD PRESSURE
ECONOMIC CONDITIONS
ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT
ECONOMIC EFFICIENCY
ECONOMIC GROWTH
ECONOMIC HISTORY
ECONOMIC OUTCOMES
ECONOMIC PERFORMANCE
ECONOMIC POLICIES
ECONOMIC RESEARCH
ECONOMIC SECTORS
ECONOMIC SYSTEMS
ECONOMIES OF SCALE
ELASTICITY
EMERGING MARKET
EMERGING MARKET BOND
EMERGING MARKET ECONOMIES
EMERGING MARKETS
ENABLING ENVIRONMENT
EXCESS DEMAND
EXCESS SUPPLY
EXCHANGE CONTROLS
EXCHANGE RATES
EXPECTED RETURN
EXPENDITURE
EXPORT GROWTH
EXPORT PERFORMANCE
EXPORTERS
EXPORTS
FACTOR MARKETS
FINANCIAL CRISES
FINANCIAL CRISIS
FINANCIAL LIBERALIZATION
FINANCIAL SYSTEM
FISCAL DEFICIT
FISCAL DISCIPLINE
FISCAL POLICIES
FISCAL POLICY
FIXED CAPITAL
FIXED INVESTMENT
FOREIGN CAPITAL
FOREIGN CURRENCY
FOREIGN DIRECT INVESTMENT
FOREIGN EXCHANGE
FOREIGN EXCHANGE RESERVES
GDP
GDP PER CAPITA
GLOBALIZATION
GOLD
GOVERNMENT INVESTMENT
GOVERNMENT SAVING
GOVERNMENT SPENDING
GROSS FIXED CAPITAL FORMATION
GROWTH PERFORMANCE
GROWTH POTENTIAL
GROWTH RATE
GROWTH RATES
HIGH INFLATION
HOUSEHOLD INCOME
HOUSEHOLD SAVING
HOUSEHOLD WEALTH
HUMAN RESOURCES
IMPORT
IMPORTS
INCOME
INCOME GROWTH
INCOME LEVELS
INEFFICIENCY
INFLATION
INFLATION TARGETING
INFORMATION ASYMMETRIES
INFRASTRUCTURE INVESTMENT
INFRASTRUCTURE INVESTMENTS
INSTITUTIONAL DEVELOPMENT
INTEREST RATE
INTEREST RATES
INTERNATIONAL BANK
INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT
INTERNATIONAL FINANCE
INTERNATIONAL FINANCIAL CRISES
INTERNATIONAL FINANCIAL MARKETS
INTERNATIONAL FINANCIAL STATISTICS
INVESTMENT DECISIONS
INVESTMENT LEVELS
INVESTMENT PROJECTS
INVESTMENT RATES
INVESTMENT SPENDING
LABOR MARKET
LABOR MARKETS
LAND REFORM
LEVEL OF INFLATION
LEVEL OF INTEREST RATES
LOW INTEREST RATES
LOW TARIFFS
MACROECONOMIC MANAGEMENT
MACROECONOMIC POLICY
MACROECONOMIC STABILITY
MACROECONOMIC VARIABLES
MARGINAL PRODUCT
MARKET CAPITALIZATION
MARKET CONCENTRATION
MARKET DEVELOPMENT
MARKET ECONOMY
MARKET STRUCTURE
MARKET STRUCTURES
MONETARY POLICY
MONETARY POLICY FRAMEWORK
MONOPOLIES
MORTGAGE
MORTGAGE INTEREST
NATIONAL TREASURY
NATURAL RESOURCES
NOMINAL EXCHANGE RATE
NOMINAL WAGE
POLICY RESPONSE
POLITICAL ECONOMY
POLITICAL INSTABILITY
POLITICAL STABILITY
POLITICAL UNCERTAINTY
POTENTIAL OUTPUT
POVERTY REDUCTION
PRICE INCREASES
PRIVATE INVESTMENT
PRODUCT MARKETS
PRODUCTION INCREASES
PRODUCTIVITY
PRODUCTIVITY GROWTH
PROPERTY RIGHTS
PUBLIC FINANCES
PUBLIC INVESTMENT
PUBLIC SPENDING
PURCHASING POWER
RAPID GROWTH
RATE OF RETURN
RATES OF INFLATION
RATES OF INTEREST
REAL CONSUMPTION
REAL COST
REAL EXCHANGE RATE
REAL EXCHANGE RATE APPRECIATION
REAL EXCHANGE RATES
REAL GDP
REAL GROSS DOMESTIC PRODUCT
REAL INCOME
REAL INTEREST
REAL INTEREST RATES
REPAYMENTS
RESERVE
RESERVE BANK
RESERVES
SAVINGS
SHARE OF INVESTMENT
STOCK EXCHANGE
STRUCTURAL CHANGE
STRUCTURAL PROBLEMS
SURPLUS
TARIFF BARRIERS
TAX
TAX COLLECTION
TAX INCENTIVES
TAX RATES
TELECOMMUNICATIONS
TIME HORIZON
TOTAL FACTOR PRODUCTIVITY
TRADE BARRIERS
TRADE LIBERALIZATION
TRADE POLICY
TRADE SECTOR
TRADE UNIONS
TRADING
TRADING PARTNERS
UNEMPLOYMENT
URUGUAY ROUND
VALUE ADDED
WAGES
WEALTH
WORLD ECONOMY
WORLD TRADE ORGANIZATION
WTO
Faulkner, David
Loewald, Christopher
Policy Change and Economic Growth : A Case Study of South Africa
geographic_facet Africa
South Africa
relation Commission on Growth and Development Working Paper;No. 41
description South Africa's growth experience provides an example of how contrasting growth trends long-term decline followed by improved growth pivot around political change, in this case a transition to democracy. In the decade prior to 1994, South Africa experienced the worst period of economic growth since the end of the Second World War, with growth variable and declining. The proximate causes of slowing growth were trade and financial sanctions in opposition to the Apartheid government, political instability and macroeconomic policy decisions that resulted in higher inflation, increased uncertainty, and declining investment. Democracy has proved critical for, among other factors, creating the possibility of a peaceful and more stable future and reversing investor sentiment at a basic level. Political and economic leadership have been essential for improving the country's growth performance because of the effect on policy formulation, institutional development, regulatory design, and economic vision. Prudent fiscal policy and sound macroeconomic management have been critical factors in creating an environment conducive to growth by stabilizing economic conditions, lowering the user cost of capital, and putting downward pressure on the real exchange rate. This case study provides some insight into a more general perspective on political and economic transition and some of the key macro- and microeconomic policy shifts that need to occur to realize a more rapid and sustained growth path.
format Working Paper
author Faulkner, David
Loewald, Christopher
author_facet Faulkner, David
Loewald, Christopher
author_sort Faulkner, David
title Policy Change and Economic Growth : A Case Study of South Africa
title_short Policy Change and Economic Growth : A Case Study of South Africa
title_full Policy Change and Economic Growth : A Case Study of South Africa
title_fullStr Policy Change and Economic Growth : A Case Study of South Africa
title_full_unstemmed Policy Change and Economic Growth : A Case Study of South Africa
title_sort policy change and economic growth : a case study of south africa
publisher World Bank, Washington, DC
publishDate 2017
url http://documents.worldbank.org/curated/en/610501468308035441/Policy-change-and-economic-growth-a-case-study-of-South-Africa
http://hdl.handle.net/10986/28012
_version_ 1764465962804838400
spelling okr-10986-280122021-04-23T14:04:46Z Policy Change and Economic Growth : A Case Study of South Africa Faulkner, David Loewald, Christopher ACCOUNTING AGRICULTURE ASSET VALUES BALANCE SHEET BANK LENDING BARRIERS TO ENTRY BINDING CONSTRAINT BOND INDEX BORROWING COST BUDGET DEFICIT BUDGET DEFICITS BUSINESS CYCLE CAPITAL FLOWS CAPITAL INFLOWS CAPITAL MARKETS CAPITAL STOCK COMMODITY PRICES COMPARATIVE ADVANTAGE COMPETITIVENESS CONSUMER PRICE INDEX CONSUMERS CORPORATE SAVING COUNTRY RISK CREDIBILITY CURRENCY CURRENT ACCOUNT DEFICIT DEBT DEBT LEVELS DEBT SERVICE DEPENDENCY RATIOS DEVELOPING COUNTRIES DISEQUILIBRIUM DISINFLATION DISTRIBUTIONAL EFFECTS DOMESTIC MARKET DOWNWARD PRESSURE ECONOMIC CONDITIONS ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT ECONOMIC EFFICIENCY ECONOMIC GROWTH ECONOMIC HISTORY ECONOMIC OUTCOMES ECONOMIC PERFORMANCE ECONOMIC POLICIES ECONOMIC RESEARCH ECONOMIC SECTORS ECONOMIC SYSTEMS ECONOMIES OF SCALE ELASTICITY EMERGING MARKET EMERGING MARKET BOND EMERGING MARKET ECONOMIES EMERGING MARKETS ENABLING ENVIRONMENT EXCESS DEMAND EXCESS SUPPLY EXCHANGE CONTROLS EXCHANGE RATES EXPECTED RETURN EXPENDITURE EXPORT GROWTH EXPORT PERFORMANCE EXPORTERS EXPORTS FACTOR MARKETS FINANCIAL CRISES FINANCIAL CRISIS FINANCIAL LIBERALIZATION FINANCIAL SYSTEM FISCAL DEFICIT FISCAL DISCIPLINE FISCAL POLICIES FISCAL POLICY FIXED CAPITAL FIXED INVESTMENT FOREIGN CAPITAL FOREIGN CURRENCY FOREIGN DIRECT INVESTMENT FOREIGN EXCHANGE FOREIGN EXCHANGE RESERVES GDP GDP PER CAPITA GLOBALIZATION GOLD GOVERNMENT INVESTMENT GOVERNMENT SAVING GOVERNMENT SPENDING GROSS FIXED CAPITAL FORMATION GROWTH PERFORMANCE GROWTH POTENTIAL GROWTH RATE GROWTH RATES HIGH INFLATION HOUSEHOLD INCOME HOUSEHOLD SAVING HOUSEHOLD WEALTH HUMAN RESOURCES IMPORT IMPORTS INCOME INCOME GROWTH INCOME LEVELS INEFFICIENCY INFLATION INFLATION TARGETING INFORMATION ASYMMETRIES INFRASTRUCTURE INVESTMENT INFRASTRUCTURE INVESTMENTS INSTITUTIONAL DEVELOPMENT INTEREST RATE INTEREST RATES INTERNATIONAL BANK INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT INTERNATIONAL FINANCE INTERNATIONAL FINANCIAL CRISES INTERNATIONAL FINANCIAL MARKETS INTERNATIONAL FINANCIAL STATISTICS INVESTMENT DECISIONS INVESTMENT LEVELS INVESTMENT PROJECTS INVESTMENT RATES INVESTMENT SPENDING LABOR MARKET LABOR MARKETS LAND REFORM LEVEL OF INFLATION LEVEL OF INTEREST RATES LOW INTEREST RATES LOW TARIFFS MACROECONOMIC MANAGEMENT MACROECONOMIC POLICY MACROECONOMIC STABILITY MACROECONOMIC VARIABLES MARGINAL PRODUCT MARKET CAPITALIZATION MARKET CONCENTRATION MARKET DEVELOPMENT MARKET ECONOMY MARKET STRUCTURE MARKET STRUCTURES MONETARY POLICY MONETARY POLICY FRAMEWORK MONOPOLIES MORTGAGE MORTGAGE INTEREST NATIONAL TREASURY NATURAL RESOURCES NOMINAL EXCHANGE RATE NOMINAL WAGE POLICY RESPONSE POLITICAL ECONOMY POLITICAL INSTABILITY POLITICAL STABILITY POLITICAL UNCERTAINTY POTENTIAL OUTPUT POVERTY REDUCTION PRICE INCREASES PRIVATE INVESTMENT PRODUCT MARKETS PRODUCTION INCREASES PRODUCTIVITY PRODUCTIVITY GROWTH PROPERTY RIGHTS PUBLIC FINANCES PUBLIC INVESTMENT PUBLIC SPENDING PURCHASING POWER RAPID GROWTH RATE OF RETURN RATES OF INFLATION RATES OF INTEREST REAL CONSUMPTION REAL COST REAL EXCHANGE RATE REAL EXCHANGE RATE APPRECIATION REAL EXCHANGE RATES REAL GDP REAL GROSS DOMESTIC PRODUCT REAL INCOME REAL INTEREST REAL INTEREST RATES REPAYMENTS RESERVE RESERVE BANK RESERVES SAVINGS SHARE OF INVESTMENT STOCK EXCHANGE STRUCTURAL CHANGE STRUCTURAL PROBLEMS SURPLUS TARIFF BARRIERS TAX TAX COLLECTION TAX INCENTIVES TAX RATES TELECOMMUNICATIONS TIME HORIZON TOTAL FACTOR PRODUCTIVITY TRADE BARRIERS TRADE LIBERALIZATION TRADE POLICY TRADE SECTOR TRADE UNIONS TRADING TRADING PARTNERS UNEMPLOYMENT URUGUAY ROUND VALUE ADDED WAGES WEALTH WORLD ECONOMY WORLD TRADE ORGANIZATION WTO South Africa's growth experience provides an example of how contrasting growth trends long-term decline followed by improved growth pivot around political change, in this case a transition to democracy. In the decade prior to 1994, South Africa experienced the worst period of economic growth since the end of the Second World War, with growth variable and declining. The proximate causes of slowing growth were trade and financial sanctions in opposition to the Apartheid government, political instability and macroeconomic policy decisions that resulted in higher inflation, increased uncertainty, and declining investment. Democracy has proved critical for, among other factors, creating the possibility of a peaceful and more stable future and reversing investor sentiment at a basic level. Political and economic leadership have been essential for improving the country's growth performance because of the effect on policy formulation, institutional development, regulatory design, and economic vision. Prudent fiscal policy and sound macroeconomic management have been critical factors in creating an environment conducive to growth by stabilizing economic conditions, lowering the user cost of capital, and putting downward pressure on the real exchange rate. This case study provides some insight into a more general perspective on political and economic transition and some of the key macro- and microeconomic policy shifts that need to occur to realize a more rapid and sustained growth path. 2017-08-28T17:13:38Z 2017-08-28T17:13:38Z 2008 Working Paper http://documents.worldbank.org/curated/en/610501468308035441/Policy-change-and-economic-growth-a-case-study-of-South-Africa http://hdl.handle.net/10986/28012 English en_US Commission on Growth and Development Working Paper;No. 41 CC BY 3.0 IGO http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/igo World Bank World Bank, Washington, DC Publications & Research :: Working Paper Publications & Research Africa South Africa