| Summary: | Thesis (MBA)--Stellenbosch University, 2008. === ENGLISH ABSTRACT: The improvement of economic growth and development is a strategic priority
for the South African government. It is important in all developing economies,
but more so in South Africa due to the abnormally high levels of poverty,
unemployment and income inequality. Substantive failure in addressing these
circumstances may lead to social unrest in a democracy that is still in many
respects in its infancy. AsgiSA is an initiative that was launched in 2006 as a
further development on the first two developmental strategies followed post
1994, namely the Reconstruction and Development Programme and the
Growth, Employment and Redistribution strategy.
This research study sets out to examine the background to AsgiSA, its binding
constraints and challenges facing the initiative. In doing so, the report draws
comparisons with two other successful developing economies, namely Chile
and Malaysia. These countries were chosen because of the social, economic
and political similarities they share with South Africa.
The report examines the concept of binding constraints as espoused by
AsgiSA and focuses specifically on the volatility and level of the rand, the
skills constraint and the regulatory environment. The research shows that
there is no compelling evidence that a particular level of the rand should be
targeted. The volatility of the rand is however a constraint to economic growth
as represented by export growth.
The shortage of suitable skills in the labour force is found to be a significant
constraint to economic growth and development. The origin of this skills
constraint is found in a combination of the economic and political history.
South Africa's economic and political development path did not promote a
diversified and skilled labour force which is well placed to capitalise on the
opportunities of global trade. The lack of educational advances after 1994 has
not improved this dilemma, and in recent years immigration has exacerbated
the problem.
Together with the skills constraint, the current regulatory environment acts as
a significant constraint to economic growth. The regulatory burden is
increasing and it was found that the burden is disproportionately carried by
medium and small enterprises.
A comparison with the successes of Chile and Malaysia shows that
government has a very important role in facilitating economic growth in
developing countries. Market oriented policies aimed at regulatory reforn,
liberalisation and integration with the world economy lead to superior
economic growth and development. The ability to change and even abandon
strategies which prove to be unsuccessful and laden with ideology is required.
AsgiSA is found to be a sound approach to economic growth and
development in South Africa. With the exception of the level of the rand, the
constraints identified all have significant negative influences on the economy.
The document has however not been followed up with enough concrete and
practical plans to give effect to its objectives. To ensure AsgiSA reaches its
objectives it will be necessary for the government to act with political will and
administrative competence in implementing the reforms that address the
binding constraints. It is doubtful if the current government possesses the will
and competence to give effect to the measures that will make a success of
Asgisa. === AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Die bevordering van ekonomiese groei en ontwikkeling is 'n strategiese
prioriteit van die Suid-Afrikaanse regering. Belangrik vir alle ontwikkelende
ekonomiee, is dit veral die geval in Suid-Afrika weens die hoe vlakke van
werkloosheid, amnoede en inkomste ongelykhede. Wesenlike mislukking om
hierdie probleme aan te spreek kan lei tot sosiale onrus in 'n demokrasie wat
in vele opsigte in sy kinderskoene staan. AsgiSA is geloods in 2006 en is 'n
uitbreiding van die eerste twee ekonomiese strategiee wat gevolg is na 1994,
naamlik die Heropbou-en Ontwikkelingsprogram en die Groei-,
Indiensneming- en Herverdelingstrategie.
Hierdie studie het ten doel 'n ondersoek na die agtergrond van AsgiSA, die
geidentifiseerde beperkings en die uitdagings van die inisiatief. Die studie tref
vergelykings met twee suksesvolle ontwikkelende ekonomiee, naamlik Chile en
Maleisie. Hierdie lande is gekies weens sosiale, ekonomiese en politieke
ooreenkomste met Suid-Afrika.
Die studie ondersoek die beginsel van bindende beperkings soos verval in
AsgiSA en fokus op die vlak en wisselvalligheid van die rand, die gebrek aan
vaardighede en die regulatoriese omgewing. Daar word bevind dat daar geen
sterk bewyse is dat die vlak van die rand 'n langtermyn beperking op
ekonomiese groei het nie. Die wisselvalligheid van die rand dien egter as 'n beperking op ekonorniese groei soos veral verteenwoordig deur groei in
uitvoere.
Die tekort aan geskikte vaardighede in die arbeidsmark is 'n wesenlike
beperking tot ekonomiese groei en ontwikkeling. Die ontstaan van hierdie
beperking is te wyte aan die ekonomiese en politieke
ontwikkelingsgeskiedenis van Suid-Afrika. Hierdie ontwikkelingsgeskiedenis
het nie gelei tot 'n gediversifiseerde en vaardige arbeidsmark wat die
geleenthede van internasionale handel kan benut nie. Die gebrek aan
vordering in die kwaliteit van opvoedkunde na 1994 en die huidige tendens
van geskoolde immigrasie vererger die probleem.
Tesame met die vaardigheidstekort dien die huidige regulatoriese raamwerk
as 'n wesenlike beperking op ekonomiese groei. Die regulatoriese raamwerk
dien as 'n las wat veral op klein en medium besighede ernstige beperkings
plaas.
'n Vergelyking met die sukses van Chile en Maleisie toon dat regerings in
ontwikkelende ekonomiee 'n belangrike rol speel in ekonomiese ontwikkeling.
Markgerigte beleid gemik op regulatoriese hervorming, liberalisering en
integrasie met die wereldekonomie lei tot hoer ekonomiese groei en
ontwikkeling. Daar is ook getoon dat die vermoe om ideologiese beleid wat
nie suksesvol is nie aan te pas of te laat vaar noodsaaklik vir sukses is.
Die gevolgtrekking word gemaak dat AsgiSA 'n goeie vertrekpunt tot
ekonomiese groei en ontwikkeling is. Met die uitsondering van die vlak van die
rand het die geidentifiseerde beperkings 'n wesenlike negatiewe invloed op
die ekonomie. AsgiSA word egter nie opgevolg met voldoende praktiese en
konkrete planne om die doelwitte te behaal nie. Om te verseker dat die
AsgiSA doelwitte behaal word is dit nodig dat die regering met politieke en
administratiewe bedrewenheid hervormings deurvoer wat die beperkings
aanspreek. Dit is te betwyfel of die huidige regering oor die politieke wil en
bevoegdheid beskik om die nodige maatreels aan te gaan wat AsgiSA se
sukses sal verseker.
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