Agricultural Distortions, Poverty, and Inequality in South Africa

South Africa has rapidly reduced trade barriers since the end of Apartheid, yet agricultural production and exports have remained sluggish. Also, poverty and unemployment have risen and become increasingly concentrated in rural areas. This paper ex...

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Main Authors: Hérault, Nicolas, Thurlow, James
Format: Working Paper
Language:English
en_US
Published: World Bank, Washington, DC 2017
Subjects:
GDP
TAX
Online Access:http://documents.worldbank.org/curated/en/761561468101340921/Agricultural-distortions-poverty-and-inequality-in-South-Africa
http://hdl.handle.net/10986/28151
id okr-10986-28151
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 AGRICULTURAL COMMODITIES
AGRICULTURAL GROWTH
AGRICULTURAL LAND
AGRICULTURAL LIBERALIZATION
AGRICULTURAL OUTPUT
AGRICULTURAL POLICIES
AGRICULTURAL POLICY
AGRICULTURAL PRICES
AGRICULTURAL PRODUCTION
AGRICULTURAL PRODUCTS
AGRICULTURAL SECTOR
AGRICULTURAL SUPPORT
AGRICULTURAL WAGES
AGRICULTURAL WORKERS
AGRICULTURE
ANIMAL FEEDS
APARTHEID
BAKERY PRODUCTS
BEEF
BEVERAGES
CAPITAL GOODS
CAPITAL INCOME
CAPITAL RETURNS
CEREALS
COMMERCIAL AGRICULTURE
COMMERCIAL FARMS
COMMODITY
COMMODITY MARKETS
COMMODITY PRICES
COMPETITIVENESS
CONFECTIONERY
CONSTANT RETURNS TO SCALE
CONSUMER PRICE INDEX
CONSUMER SPENDING
CONSUMPTION EXPENDITURE
COST OF INVESTMENT
CURRENT ACCOUNT
CURRENT ACCOUNT BALANCE
DAIRY
DECISION MAKING
DEMOGRAPHIC
DEPRECIATION
DEVELOPING COUNTRIES
DISPOSABLE INCOME
DISPOSABLE INCOMES
DIVIDENDS
DOMESTIC DEMAND
DOMESTIC GOODS
DOMESTIC PRICE
DOMESTIC PRICES
DOWNWARD PRESSURE
DRIED FRUIT
ECONOMETRICS
ECONOMIC PERFORMANCE
ECONOMIC STRUCTURE
ELASTICITY
ELASTICITY OF SUBSTITUTION
EMPLOYMENT STATUS
EXCHANGE RATE
EXPORT COMPETITIVENESS
EXPORT EARNINGS
EXPORT GROWTH
EXPORT PERFORMANCE
EXPORT SECTOR
EXPORT SECTORS
EXPORT SUBSIDIES
EXPORTS
FACTORS OF PRODUCTION
FARM PRODUCTS
FISCAL DEFICIT
FLEXIBLE EXCHANGE RATE
FOOD ITEMS
FOOD POLICY
FOOD POLICY RESEARCH
FOOD PRICES
FOOD PROCESSING
FOOD PRODUCTS
FOREIGN CURRENCY
FOREIGN EXCHANGE
FOREIGN MARKETS
FOREIGN TRADE
FRUIT
FRUITS
FULL LIBERALIZATION
GDP
GENERAL EQUILIBRIUM
GENERAL EQUILIBRIUM MODEL
GINI COEFFICIENT
GLOBAL MARKETS
GRAINS
GROSS DOMESTIC PRODUCT
HOUSEHOLD INCOME
HOUSEHOLD WELFARE
IMPORT
IMPORT DEMAND
IMPORT PRICES
IMPORT TARIFF
IMPORT TARIFFS
IMPORTS
INCOME
INCOME DISTRIBUTION
INCOME ELASTICITIES
INCOME INEQUALITY
INCOME SHARES
INCOME TAX
INCOME TAXES
INEQUALITY
INTERNATIONAL FOOD POLICY RESEARCH INSTITUTE
INTERNATIONAL TRADE
INVESTMENT DEMAND
INVESTMENT SPENDING
IRRIGATION
JOB CREATION
LABOR FORCE
LABOR MARKET
LEGUMES
LEVEL OF INVESTMENT
LIBERALIZATIONS
LIVESTOCK PRODUCTION
MACROECONOMIC SIMULATION
MACROECONOMIC STABILITY
MAIZE
MARKET PRICES
MEAT
MEATS
NATIONAL ECONOMY
NATIONAL POVERTY
NOMINAL WAGE
NOMINAL WAGES
OILS & FATS
PER CAPITA INCOME
POLITICAL ECONOMY
POOR
POOR HOUSEHOLDS
POVERTY ALLEVIATION
POVERTY LINE
POVERTY LINES
POVERTY REDUCTION
PRICE DISTORTIONS
PRICE OF EXPORTS
PRIVATE CONSUMPTION
PRIVATE SAVINGS
PROCESSED FOODS
PRODUCT MARKETS
PRODUCTION FUNCTIONS
PROFIT MAXIMIZATION
REAL APPRECIATION
REAL EXCHANGE RATE
REAL EXCHANGE RATE APPRECIATION
REAL EXPORTS
REAL GDP
REAL IMPORTS
RELATIVE PRICES
REMOTE REGIONS
RESERVE BANK
RURAL
RURAL AREAS
RURAL DEVELOPMENT
RURAL HOUSEHOLDS
RURAL INCOMES
RURAL LIVELIHOODS
RURAL POVERTY
RURAL WORKERS
SAVINGS
SHEEP MEAT
SKILLED WORKERS
SLOWDOWN
SMALL COUNTRY
SMALLHOLDER FARMERS
STRUCTURAL ADJUSTMENT
SUGAR
SUGAR PRODUCTS
SUGAR REFINING
SUGARCANE
TAX
TAX RATE
TAX RATES
TAX STRUCTURE
TOTAL EXPORT
TOTAL EXPORTS
TOTAL IMPORTS
TRADABLE GOODS
TRADE AGREEMENTS
TRADE BARRIERS
TRADE DEFICIT
TRADE LIBERALIZATION
TRADE POLICIES
TRADE POLICY
TRADE REFORMS
TRADE SHOCK
UNEMPLOYMENT
UNEMPLOYMENT RATE
UTILITY FUNCTION
VEGETABLES
WAGE DIFFERENTIALS
WAGES
WHEAT
WORLD DEMAND
WORLD DEVELOPMENT INDICATORS
WORLD PRICE
WORLD PRICES
WORLD TRADE
WORLD TRADE ORGANIZATION
spellingShingle AGRICULTURAL COMMODITIES
AGRICULTURAL GROWTH
AGRICULTURAL LAND
AGRICULTURAL LIBERALIZATION
AGRICULTURAL OUTPUT
AGRICULTURAL POLICIES
AGRICULTURAL POLICY
AGRICULTURAL PRICES
AGRICULTURAL PRODUCTION
AGRICULTURAL PRODUCTS
AGRICULTURAL SECTOR
AGRICULTURAL SUPPORT
AGRICULTURAL WAGES
AGRICULTURAL WORKERS
AGRICULTURE
ANIMAL FEEDS
APARTHEID
BAKERY PRODUCTS
BEEF
BEVERAGES
CAPITAL GOODS
CAPITAL INCOME
CAPITAL RETURNS
CEREALS
COMMERCIAL AGRICULTURE
COMMERCIAL FARMS
COMMODITY
COMMODITY MARKETS
COMMODITY PRICES
COMPETITIVENESS
CONFECTIONERY
CONSTANT RETURNS TO SCALE
CONSUMER PRICE INDEX
CONSUMER SPENDING
CONSUMPTION EXPENDITURE
COST OF INVESTMENT
CURRENT ACCOUNT
CURRENT ACCOUNT BALANCE
DAIRY
DECISION MAKING
DEMOGRAPHIC
DEPRECIATION
DEVELOPING COUNTRIES
DISPOSABLE INCOME
DISPOSABLE INCOMES
DIVIDENDS
DOMESTIC DEMAND
DOMESTIC GOODS
DOMESTIC PRICE
DOMESTIC PRICES
DOWNWARD PRESSURE
DRIED FRUIT
ECONOMETRICS
ECONOMIC PERFORMANCE
ECONOMIC STRUCTURE
ELASTICITY
ELASTICITY OF SUBSTITUTION
EMPLOYMENT STATUS
EXCHANGE RATE
EXPORT COMPETITIVENESS
EXPORT EARNINGS
EXPORT GROWTH
EXPORT PERFORMANCE
EXPORT SECTOR
EXPORT SECTORS
EXPORT SUBSIDIES
EXPORTS
FACTORS OF PRODUCTION
FARM PRODUCTS
FISCAL DEFICIT
FLEXIBLE EXCHANGE RATE
FOOD ITEMS
FOOD POLICY
FOOD POLICY RESEARCH
FOOD PRICES
FOOD PROCESSING
FOOD PRODUCTS
FOREIGN CURRENCY
FOREIGN EXCHANGE
FOREIGN MARKETS
FOREIGN TRADE
FRUIT
FRUITS
FULL LIBERALIZATION
GDP
GENERAL EQUILIBRIUM
GENERAL EQUILIBRIUM MODEL
GINI COEFFICIENT
GLOBAL MARKETS
GRAINS
GROSS DOMESTIC PRODUCT
HOUSEHOLD INCOME
HOUSEHOLD WELFARE
IMPORT
IMPORT DEMAND
IMPORT PRICES
IMPORT TARIFF
IMPORT TARIFFS
IMPORTS
INCOME
INCOME DISTRIBUTION
INCOME ELASTICITIES
INCOME INEQUALITY
INCOME SHARES
INCOME TAX
INCOME TAXES
INEQUALITY
INTERNATIONAL FOOD POLICY RESEARCH INSTITUTE
INTERNATIONAL TRADE
INVESTMENT DEMAND
INVESTMENT SPENDING
IRRIGATION
JOB CREATION
LABOR FORCE
LABOR MARKET
LEGUMES
LEVEL OF INVESTMENT
LIBERALIZATIONS
LIVESTOCK PRODUCTION
MACROECONOMIC SIMULATION
MACROECONOMIC STABILITY
MAIZE
MARKET PRICES
MEAT
MEATS
NATIONAL ECONOMY
NATIONAL POVERTY
NOMINAL WAGE
NOMINAL WAGES
OILS & FATS
PER CAPITA INCOME
POLITICAL ECONOMY
POOR
POOR HOUSEHOLDS
POVERTY ALLEVIATION
POVERTY LINE
POVERTY LINES
POVERTY REDUCTION
PRICE DISTORTIONS
PRICE OF EXPORTS
PRIVATE CONSUMPTION
PRIVATE SAVINGS
PROCESSED FOODS
PRODUCT MARKETS
PRODUCTION FUNCTIONS
PROFIT MAXIMIZATION
REAL APPRECIATION
REAL EXCHANGE RATE
REAL EXCHANGE RATE APPRECIATION
REAL EXPORTS
REAL GDP
REAL IMPORTS
RELATIVE PRICES
REMOTE REGIONS
RESERVE BANK
RURAL
RURAL AREAS
RURAL DEVELOPMENT
RURAL HOUSEHOLDS
RURAL INCOMES
RURAL LIVELIHOODS
RURAL POVERTY
RURAL WORKERS
SAVINGS
SHEEP MEAT
SKILLED WORKERS
SLOWDOWN
SMALL COUNTRY
SMALLHOLDER FARMERS
STRUCTURAL ADJUSTMENT
SUGAR
SUGAR PRODUCTS
SUGAR REFINING
SUGARCANE
TAX
TAX RATE
TAX RATES
TAX STRUCTURE
TOTAL EXPORT
TOTAL EXPORTS
TOTAL IMPORTS
TRADABLE GOODS
TRADE AGREEMENTS
TRADE BARRIERS
TRADE DEFICIT
TRADE LIBERALIZATION
TRADE POLICIES
TRADE POLICY
TRADE REFORMS
TRADE SHOCK
UNEMPLOYMENT
UNEMPLOYMENT RATE
UTILITY FUNCTION
VEGETABLES
WAGE DIFFERENTIALS
WAGES
WHEAT
WORLD DEMAND
WORLD DEVELOPMENT INDICATORS
WORLD PRICE
WORLD PRICES
WORLD TRADE
WORLD TRADE ORGANIZATION
Hérault, Nicolas
Thurlow, James
Agricultural Distortions, Poverty, and Inequality in South Africa
geographic_facet Africa
South Africa
relation Agricultural Distortions Working Paper;104
description South Africa has rapidly reduced trade barriers since the end of Apartheid, yet agricultural production and exports have remained sluggish. Also, poverty and unemployment have risen and become increasingly concentrated in rural areas. This paper examines the extent to which remaining price distortions, both domestic and foreign, are contributing to the underperformance of the agricultural sector vis-a-vis the rest of the economy. The author draws on a computable general equilibrium (CGE) and micro-simulation model of South Africa that is linked to the results of a global trade model. This framework is used to examine the effects of eliminating global and domestic price distortions. Model results indicate that South Africa's agricultural sector currently benefits from global price distortions, and that removing these will create more jobs for lower-skilled workers, thereby reducing income inequality and poverty. The author also fined that South Africa's own policies are biased against agriculture and that removing domestic distortions will raise agricultural production. Job losses in nonagricultural sectors will be outweighed by job creation in agriculture, such that overall employment rises and poverty falls. Overall, the findings suggest that South Africa's own policies are more damaging to its welfare, poverty and inequality than distortionary policies in the rest of the world. Existing national price distortions may thus explain some of the poor performance of South Africa's agricultural sector and rural development.
format Working Paper
author Hérault, Nicolas
Thurlow, James
author_facet Hérault, Nicolas
Thurlow, James
author_sort Hérault, Nicolas
title Agricultural Distortions, Poverty, and Inequality in South Africa
title_short Agricultural Distortions, Poverty, and Inequality in South Africa
title_full Agricultural Distortions, Poverty, and Inequality in South Africa
title_fullStr Agricultural Distortions, Poverty, and Inequality in South Africa
title_full_unstemmed Agricultural Distortions, Poverty, and Inequality in South Africa
title_sort agricultural distortions, poverty, and inequality in south africa
publisher World Bank, Washington, DC
publishDate 2017
url http://documents.worldbank.org/curated/en/761561468101340921/Agricultural-distortions-poverty-and-inequality-in-South-Africa
http://hdl.handle.net/10986/28151
_version_ 1764465393991155712
spelling okr-10986-281512021-04-23T14:04:45Z Agricultural Distortions, Poverty, and Inequality in South Africa Hérault, Nicolas Thurlow, James AGRICULTURAL COMMODITIES AGRICULTURAL GROWTH AGRICULTURAL LAND AGRICULTURAL LIBERALIZATION AGRICULTURAL OUTPUT AGRICULTURAL POLICIES AGRICULTURAL POLICY AGRICULTURAL PRICES AGRICULTURAL PRODUCTION AGRICULTURAL PRODUCTS AGRICULTURAL SECTOR AGRICULTURAL SUPPORT AGRICULTURAL WAGES AGRICULTURAL WORKERS AGRICULTURE ANIMAL FEEDS APARTHEID BAKERY PRODUCTS BEEF BEVERAGES CAPITAL GOODS CAPITAL INCOME CAPITAL RETURNS CEREALS COMMERCIAL AGRICULTURE COMMERCIAL FARMS COMMODITY COMMODITY MARKETS COMMODITY PRICES COMPETITIVENESS CONFECTIONERY CONSTANT RETURNS TO SCALE CONSUMER PRICE INDEX CONSUMER SPENDING CONSUMPTION EXPENDITURE COST OF INVESTMENT CURRENT ACCOUNT CURRENT ACCOUNT BALANCE DAIRY DECISION MAKING DEMOGRAPHIC DEPRECIATION DEVELOPING COUNTRIES DISPOSABLE INCOME DISPOSABLE INCOMES DIVIDENDS DOMESTIC DEMAND DOMESTIC GOODS DOMESTIC PRICE DOMESTIC PRICES DOWNWARD PRESSURE DRIED FRUIT ECONOMETRICS ECONOMIC PERFORMANCE ECONOMIC STRUCTURE ELASTICITY ELASTICITY OF SUBSTITUTION EMPLOYMENT STATUS EXCHANGE RATE EXPORT COMPETITIVENESS EXPORT EARNINGS EXPORT GROWTH EXPORT PERFORMANCE EXPORT SECTOR EXPORT SECTORS EXPORT SUBSIDIES EXPORTS FACTORS OF PRODUCTION FARM PRODUCTS FISCAL DEFICIT FLEXIBLE EXCHANGE RATE FOOD ITEMS FOOD POLICY FOOD POLICY RESEARCH FOOD PRICES FOOD PROCESSING FOOD PRODUCTS FOREIGN CURRENCY FOREIGN EXCHANGE FOREIGN MARKETS FOREIGN TRADE FRUIT FRUITS FULL LIBERALIZATION GDP GENERAL EQUILIBRIUM GENERAL EQUILIBRIUM MODEL GINI COEFFICIENT GLOBAL MARKETS GRAINS GROSS DOMESTIC PRODUCT HOUSEHOLD INCOME HOUSEHOLD WELFARE IMPORT IMPORT DEMAND IMPORT PRICES IMPORT TARIFF IMPORT TARIFFS IMPORTS INCOME INCOME DISTRIBUTION INCOME ELASTICITIES INCOME INEQUALITY INCOME SHARES INCOME TAX INCOME TAXES INEQUALITY INTERNATIONAL FOOD POLICY RESEARCH INSTITUTE INTERNATIONAL TRADE INVESTMENT DEMAND INVESTMENT SPENDING IRRIGATION JOB CREATION LABOR FORCE LABOR MARKET LEGUMES LEVEL OF INVESTMENT LIBERALIZATIONS LIVESTOCK PRODUCTION MACROECONOMIC SIMULATION MACROECONOMIC STABILITY MAIZE MARKET PRICES MEAT MEATS NATIONAL ECONOMY NATIONAL POVERTY NOMINAL WAGE NOMINAL WAGES OILS & FATS PER CAPITA INCOME POLITICAL ECONOMY POOR POOR HOUSEHOLDS POVERTY ALLEVIATION POVERTY LINE POVERTY LINES POVERTY REDUCTION PRICE DISTORTIONS PRICE OF EXPORTS PRIVATE CONSUMPTION PRIVATE SAVINGS PROCESSED FOODS PRODUCT MARKETS PRODUCTION FUNCTIONS PROFIT MAXIMIZATION REAL APPRECIATION REAL EXCHANGE RATE REAL EXCHANGE RATE APPRECIATION REAL EXPORTS REAL GDP REAL IMPORTS RELATIVE PRICES REMOTE REGIONS RESERVE BANK RURAL RURAL AREAS RURAL DEVELOPMENT RURAL HOUSEHOLDS RURAL INCOMES RURAL LIVELIHOODS RURAL POVERTY RURAL WORKERS SAVINGS SHEEP MEAT SKILLED WORKERS SLOWDOWN SMALL COUNTRY SMALLHOLDER FARMERS STRUCTURAL ADJUSTMENT SUGAR SUGAR PRODUCTS SUGAR REFINING SUGARCANE TAX TAX RATE TAX RATES TAX STRUCTURE TOTAL EXPORT TOTAL EXPORTS TOTAL IMPORTS TRADABLE GOODS TRADE AGREEMENTS TRADE BARRIERS TRADE DEFICIT TRADE LIBERALIZATION TRADE POLICIES TRADE POLICY TRADE REFORMS TRADE SHOCK UNEMPLOYMENT UNEMPLOYMENT RATE UTILITY FUNCTION VEGETABLES WAGE DIFFERENTIALS WAGES WHEAT WORLD DEMAND WORLD DEVELOPMENT INDICATORS WORLD PRICE WORLD PRICES WORLD TRADE WORLD TRADE ORGANIZATION South Africa has rapidly reduced trade barriers since the end of Apartheid, yet agricultural production and exports have remained sluggish. Also, poverty and unemployment have risen and become increasingly concentrated in rural areas. This paper examines the extent to which remaining price distortions, both domestic and foreign, are contributing to the underperformance of the agricultural sector vis-a-vis the rest of the economy. The author draws on a computable general equilibrium (CGE) and micro-simulation model of South Africa that is linked to the results of a global trade model. This framework is used to examine the effects of eliminating global and domestic price distortions. Model results indicate that South Africa's agricultural sector currently benefits from global price distortions, and that removing these will create more jobs for lower-skilled workers, thereby reducing income inequality and poverty. The author also fined that South Africa's own policies are biased against agriculture and that removing domestic distortions will raise agricultural production. Job losses in nonagricultural sectors will be outweighed by job creation in agriculture, such that overall employment rises and poverty falls. Overall, the findings suggest that South Africa's own policies are more damaging to its welfare, poverty and inequality than distortionary policies in the rest of the world. Existing national price distortions may thus explain some of the poor performance of South Africa's agricultural sector and rural development. 2017-09-07T16:11:37Z 2017-09-07T16:11:37Z 2009-06 Working Paper http://documents.worldbank.org/curated/en/761561468101340921/Agricultural-distortions-poverty-and-inequality-in-South-Africa http://hdl.handle.net/10986/28151 English en_US Agricultural Distortions Working Paper;104 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