Real Wage, Labor Productivity, and Employment Trends in South Africa

Real Wage, Labor Productivity, and Employment Trends in South Africa
Author: Nir Klein
Publisher: International Monetary Fund
Total Pages: 28
Release: 2012-04-01
Genre: Business & Economics
ISBN: 1475588380

Download Real Wage, Labor Productivity, and Employment Trends in South Africa Book in PDF, Epub and Kindle

The paper looks at the dynamics of employment in South Africa and examines the factors that contributed to the job-shedding observed during the recent financial crisis. The paper finds that the rapid growth of the real wage, which outpaced the labor productivity growth in most sectors, played an important role in suppressing employment creation. The paper also finds that while there is a co-integrating link between the real wage and labor productivity, the deviations from equilibrium are persistent and thus contribute to a weak link between real wage growth and labor productivity growth in the short term. This finding is also supported by a cross-country analysis, which shows that in South Africa the link between the real wage and labor productivity is substantially weaker than in other emerging markets, even after controlling for labor market tightness indicators.

Labor Market Reform Options to Boost Employment in South Africa

Labor Market Reform Options to Boost Employment in South Africa
Author: Mr. Romain A Duval
Publisher: International Monetary Fund
Total Pages: 39
Release: 2021-06-11
Genre: Business & Economics
ISBN: 1513584472

Download Labor Market Reform Options to Boost Employment in South Africa Book in PDF, Epub and Kindle

Raising South Africa’s low employment rate to levels seen in emerging market or advanced economy peers could raise GDP per capita by 50 to 60 percent and reduce income inequality dramatically in the long term. By putting further strain on an already fragile labor market, Covid-19 has raised the urgency of action. This paper reviews labor market policy and other reform options to enhance South Africa’s job market performance, drawing from international evidence and new analysis. We find much scope for improving the design of key labor market institutions—including collective bargaining and employment protection legislation—and active labor market policies to improve job seekers’ prospects. These reforms should come hand-in-hand with others, such as in the areas of education or product market regulation, that may work pay. Labor market and other reforms would primarily benefit disadvantaged groups such as youth.

Aging in Sub-Saharan Africa

Aging in Sub-Saharan Africa
Author: National Research Council
Publisher: National Academies Press
Total Pages: 368
Release: 2006-11-10
Genre: Social Science
ISBN: 0309180090

Download Aging in Sub-Saharan Africa Book in PDF, Epub and Kindle

In sub-Saharan Africa, older people make up a relatively small fraction of the total population and are supported primarily by family and other kinship networks. They have traditionally been viewed as repositories of information and wisdom, and are critical pillars of the community but as the HIV/AIDS pandemic destroys family systems, the elderly increasingly have to deal with the loss of their own support while absorbing the additional responsibilities of caring for their orphaned grandchildren. Aging in Sub-Saharan Africa explores ways to promote U.S. research interests and to augment the sub-Saharan governments' capacity to address the many challenges posed by population aging. Five major themes are explored in the book such as the need for a basic definition of "older person," the need for national governments to invest more in basic research and the coordination of data collection across countries, and the need for improved dialogue between local researchers and policy makers. This book makes three major recommendations: 1) the development of a research agenda 2) enhancing research opportunity and implementation and 3) the translation of research findings.

Disequilibrium in the Labor Market in South Africa

Disequilibrium in the Labor Market in South Africa
Author: Mr.Bankim Chadha
Publisher: International Monetary Fund
Total Pages: 38
Release: 1994-09-01
Genre: Business & Economics
ISBN: 1451853033

Download Disequilibrium in the Labor Market in South Africa Book in PDF, Epub and Kindle

The IMF Working Papers series is designed to make IMF staff research available to a wide audience. Almost 300 Working Papers are released each year, covering a wide range of theoretical and analytical topics, including balance of payments, monetary and fiscal issues, global liquidity, and national and international economic developments.

The South African Informal Sector

The South African Informal Sector
Author: Frederick C. v. N. Fourie
Publisher:
Total Pages: 490
Release: 2018
Genre: Economic development
ISBN: 9780796925343

Download The South African Informal Sector Book in PDF, Epub and Kindle

"Although South Africa's informal sector is small compared to other developing countries, it nevertheless provides livelihoods, employment and income for millions of workers and business owners. Almost half of informal-sector workers work in firms with employees. The annual entry of new enterprises is quite high, as is the number of informal enterprises that grow their employment. There is no shortage of entrepreneurship and desire to grow. However, obstacles and constraints cause hardship and failure, pointing to the need for well-designed policies to enable and support the sector, rather than suppress it. The same goes for formalisation. Recognising the informal sector as an integral part of the economy, rather than ignoring it, is a crucial first step towards instituting a 'smart' policy approach. The South African Informal Sector is strongly evidence- and data-driven, with substantial quantitative contributions combined with qualitative findings--suitable for an era of increased pressure for evidence-based policy-making--and utilises several disciplinary perspectives."--

Apartheid, Growth and Income Distribution in South Africa

Apartheid, Growth and Income Distribution in South Africa
Author: Mr.Tamim Bayoumi
Publisher: International Monetary Fund
Total Pages: 29
Release: 1991-12-01
Genre: Business & Economics
ISBN: 1451853904

Download Apartheid, Growth and Income Distribution in South Africa Book in PDF, Epub and Kindle

Estimates of a supply-side model of the nonprimary sectors, in which particular attention has been paid to modeling key characteristics of the evolution of the apartheid system, are presented. These imply that the wage differential between white and nonwhite workers doing similar jobs fell significantly over the last two decades to around 14 percent in 1990. This relatively small gap implies that medium-term prospects for the advancement of the disadvantaged groups in South Africa depend heavily on their ability to take up skilled employment, with the direct gains from the elimination of apartheid being relatively small.

Towards Employment-Intensive Growth in South Africa

Towards Employment-Intensive Growth in South Africa
Author: Anthony Black
Publisher: Juta and Company (Pty) Ltd
Total Pages: 397
Release: 2016-07-01
Genre: Business & Economics
ISBN: 1775820076

Download Towards Employment-Intensive Growth in South Africa Book in PDF, Epub and Kindle

South Africa’s high rate of unemployment (26.4%) makes it a complete outlier compared with other middle-income countries. Indeed, the unemployment rate rises to 36% if discouraged workers are taken into account. It underpins extreme poverty and inequality and is a major contributor to social dislocation. If it were not for increased social payments, poverty would have continued to increase since the advent of democracy in 1994. Unemployment also represents a huge cost to growth. This book focuses on the growth path of the economy. The starting point is that while more rapid economic expansion is an important objective, at any given level of growth, the economy as a whole needs to become more labour-absorbing. The central question posed is how to bring about changes in the economic structure and pattern of development, which would lead to the attainment of this objective. The authors argue that employment needs to be much more centrally positioned within the economic and social policy arena. They emphasise innovative approaches within a broader focus on the growth path, and employment-intensive growth. And they posit that the negative impact of previous ‘distortions’ requires much more than a levelling of the playing field via market-based reforms. Apart from presenting an alternative growth path which could start to shift the economy in new directions, the book tackles themes which have received only limited attention, such as wage subsidies, youth unemployment and employment growth in rural areas.

Africa's Lions

Africa's Lions
Author: Haroon Bhorat
Publisher: Brookings Institution Press
Total Pages: 133
Release: 2016-11-08
Genre: Business & Economics
ISBN: 0815729502

Download Africa's Lions Book in PDF, Epub and Kindle

Examining the economic forces that will shape Africa's future. Africa’s Lions examines the economic growth experiences of six fast growing and/or economically dominant African countries. Expert African researchers offer unique perspectives into the challenges and issues in Ethiopia, Ghana, Kenya, Mozambique, Nigeria, and South Africa. Despite a growing body of research on African economies, very little has focused on the relationship between economic growth and employment outcomes at the detailed country level. A lack of empirical data has deprived policymakers of a robust evidence base on which to make informed decisions. By harnessing country-level household, firm, and national accounts data together with existing analytical country research—the authors have attempted to bridge this gap. The growth of the global working-age population to 2030 will be driven primarily by Africa, which means that the relationship between growth and employment should be understood within the context of each country’s projected demographic challenge and the associated implications for employment growth. A better understanding of the structure of each country’s workforce and the resulting implications for human capital development, the vulnerably employed, and the working poor, will be critical to informing the development policy agenda. As a group, the six countries profiled in Africa’s Lions will largely shape the continent's future. Each country chapter focuses on the complex interactions between economic growth and employment outcomes, within the individual Africa’s Lions context.