The Economy-Wide Effects of Price Reducing Reforms In Infrastructure Services In South Africa
by DAVIES,R.,VAN SEVENTER,D.E.N, 2006Research Report, Employment Growth & Development Initiative, Human Sciences Research Council
Prices of infrastructure services in South Africa may be higher than in other countries because of imperfect competition, non-tariff barriers to trade, or inefficiencies in production. A static computerised general equilibrium (CGE) model is used to analyse the economy-wide effects of reducing telecommunications and transport prices by reforming each of these three factors. This modelling had the following results:· A reduction in infrastructure prices has a significant positive effect on the demand for labour.· Income distribution is changed, with the poorest and richest households benefiting more than middle-income ones.·The effect of the three reforms together is greater than the sum of their impacts taken separately. A bottleneck in the supply of highly skilled labour not only reduces the level of the impact, but also changes its sectoral and household composition.
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