Trajectories for South African employment after COVID-19
by Miriam Altman, 2022SAJS
The COVID-19 health response shut down the South African economy for a period, and then continued to constrain face-to-face services such as tourism, hospitality and personal services. These industries create the majority of jobs in all middle- and high-income economies.
read more >>Employment and Income Distribution Experiences of Minerals Exporters and of Countries Achieving Growth Acceleration: Executive Summary
by BERRY, A. , 2006Research Report, Employment Growth & Development Initiative, Human Sciences Research Council
Many but not all minerals-dependent countries have performed badly in spite of the apparent advantage such an endowment gives them. Various institutional weaknesses have been identified in cross-country analyses as contributors to this outcome. Indonesia and Chile have been able to avoid such negative impacts on growth. Indonesia, which invested much oil revenue in smallholder…
read more >>The challenge of employment creation in South Africa
by Altman,M., 2013"State of the Nation: South Africa 2012–2013: Addressing Inequality and Poverty. Edited by Udesh Pillay, Gerard Hagg, Francis Nyamnjoh, Jonathan D Jansen. Chapter 6 pp.185- 221."
Altman reviews trends in employment, unemployment and working poverty, as well as the employment scenarios developed by the Human Sciences Research Council. Central questions relate to which sectors might create jobs, the role of government in direct job creation, the connection between employment and poverty reduction, and the need for social protection. Many of South…
read more >>Development Paths and Employment
by DAVIES, R. and VAN SEVENTER, D., 2009Research Report. Centre for Poverty Employment and Growth, Human Sciences Research Council
Intensive growth is defined as growth driven by productivity improvements. Productivity improvements are essential for rising incomes and poverty reduction, but can also have the effect of reducing employment ratios. Greater understanding of the role of productivity in development and growth is needed.Davies and van Seventer explore the meaning of intensive and extensive growth paths…
read more >>The Impact of Electricity Price Increases and Rationing on the South African Economy,
by ALTMAN,M., DAVIES, R. and WSP CONSULTING ENGINEERS, 2008Research Report. Centre for Poverty Employment and Growth, Human Sciences Research Council
Davies assesses the economic impact of electricity cuts on the South African economy. The paper investigates the potential economic impact of differently distributed pricing or rationing options to reduce peak electricity usage and electricity consumption. More specifically, it assesses the economy-wide impact of a reduction in electricity use of up to 10%, differently distributed across…
read more >>Exchange Rate and Employment: The Experience of Fast-Growing Economies
by NGANDU, S., 2005Research Report, Employment Growth & Development Initiative, Human Sciences Research Council
This paper forms part of an Human Sciences Research Council project on exchange rates and employment, which seeks to understand the impact of exchange rate fluctuations on employment in South Africa. Ngandu examines the exchange rate policies of countries that achieved rapid, labour-absorbing growth. While exchange rates are only one instrument in an employment and…
read more >>The Impact of Exchange Rate Movements on Employment: The Economy-Wide Effect of a Rand Appreciation
by NGANDU, S., 2006Research Report, Employment Growth & Development Initiative, Human Sciences Research Council
The volatility of the exchange rate is a particular concern for South Africa, since the country must dramatically expand sustainable employment while also raising value added in production. These objectives are not necessarily complementary in a minerals-exporting economy. This paper, part of an Human Sciences Research Council project on the relationship between exchange rates and…
read more >>Wage Determination in South Africa: What Do We Know?
by ALTMAN, M., 2006Transformation: Critical Perspectives on Southern Africa , 60 , 2006, pp. 58-89
Wages play an important role in the broader economy from both efficiency and equity perspectives. This article considers the state of knowledge on wage determination in South Africa. It asks the following questions: Is wage setting appropriate for South Africa’s development needs? Are wages determined in alignment with employment and growth needs to achieve full…
read more >>A Review of Labour Markets in South Africa: how Different is the South African Labour Market? International Perspectives and Parallels
by EDGREN, G., 2005Research Report, Employment Growth & Development Initiative, Human Sciences Research Council
Half a century of apartheid left a deep imprint on all aspects of the South African labour market. In many ways, this leaves the country as a ‘special case’ in the field of labour market analysis, with large gaps in human development, significant underutilisation of the labour force, and difficult tensions in industrial relations. But…
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