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Asset Research Collaboration
Asset Research (www.assetresearch.org.za) is an economy/ecology think-tank that seeks to internalise the importance of natural assets – such as water, energy, biodiversity and fertile land – in the search for alternative development paths. It is a non-governmental organisation and public benefit organisation based at the University of Pretoria. The South African Water Research Commission (www.wrc.org.za) provided financial support for a research project on the impact of re-establishing indigenous plants and restoring the natural landscape on sustainable rural employment and land productivity through payment for environmental services. TIPS provided additional support in 2012 for the development of five policy briefs based on the findings of the research on the following topics:in 2012
Authors: Helanya Fourie, Western Cape Department of Agriculture and ASSET Research, and David le Maitre, CSIR.
An increase in tree density, or bush thickening, beyond a certain threshold may be detrimental for the ecosystem and reduce the productivity of such rangeland for agriculture and conservation. However, the woody plants in areas where there is bush thickening present at opportunity to harvest the wood as bio-fuel.
Authors: Jacques Cloete, University of the Free State and Asset Research, and Nico Smit, University of the Free State.
Market challenges for the restoration of the natural environment
ecosystems and the extent of the damage. This brief adopts an economic approach to explore some of the key market challenges.
Authors: Douglas J Crookes, University of Stellenbosch and ASSET Research, and James N Blignaut, University of Pretoria, Beatus and ASSET Research.
Urban water use
There has been a global shift in the way that water provision for urban water use is viewed. Governments are increasingly choosing to invest in environmental health. By protecting river systems, governments can reduce management costs. In this brief, examples of international case studies related to such government interventions are presented, followed by a South African case study of the Kromme River.
Authors: Alanna Rebelo, University of Stellenbosch and ASSET Research, and Katie Gull, University of Cape Town and ASSET Research.
The principle that the person or the organisation responsible for pollution or environmental degradation should be responsible for the restoration of the affected ecosystem has been established in South African law. However, what constitute successful restoration remains a contentious issue. This policy brief considers two examples and make recommendations for improving the regulatory environment.
Author: Marco Pauw, Stellenbosch University and ASSET Research.
Sadc Trade Development (Database)
The SADC Trade Development Project was a partnership between the Australian Agency for International Development (AusAID) and Trade & Industrial Policy Strategies (TIPS), aimed at supporting trade reform in the region.
The project centered on trade liberalisation research projects, including developing research infrastructure by creating a SADC trade database, templates to assist trade analysis and a list of trade data sources and links; commissioning research publications on regional trade to inform policy; performance reviews of regional trade, an impact analysis of service sector liberalisation in the SADC, and trade information briefs to help SADC producers.
See all research
Employment Guarantees
TIPS submitted several inputs to the South African National Planning Commission’s National Development Plan, specifically in the role of employment guarantees and small business development, inequality and economic marginalisation. (2011-2012)
Public Employment Programming
TIPS designed course materials and taught courses for the International Labour Organization on the design and implementation of public employment programming. Delegates from all over the world attended. (2012)
DPME – Migrancy and Mining in the Planinum Belt
TIPS was commissioned by the Presidency (Department of Performance, Monitoring and Evaluation) to better understand migrant labour on the platinum belt and why the community factors and living conditions were a factor that contributed to the major strikes in the platinum sector in 2010 and 2014. The study findings were workshoped with industry and government stakeholders. (2014-2015)
UN Development Project – Impact of Inequality Report
TIPS was commissioned by the United Nations Development Programme to undertake a study on the impact of social and economic inequality development in South Africa. (2014). See research report
African Competition Forum
TIPS partnered with the South African Competition Commission to initially establish the African Competition Forum capacity building programme in which 41 countries participate. (2012-2014).
Trade Mispricing
Tax revenue that governments generate from foreign investors is a crucial component of the income streams required to promote socio-economic growth and development. However because of Trade Mispricing there is no guarantee that foreign direct investment (FDI) and international trade will translate into tax revenues for the countries attracting them. In partnership with the Financial Intelligence Centre, TIPS has been involved in a research project that seeks to determine the extent of Trade Mispricing in South Africa.
Sadc Secretariat – Regional Integration
TIPS was commissioned to provide research on South Africa’s industrial policy and industrialisation as part of a SADC strategy on regional economic growth and regional integration (2015)
Department of Science and Technology CoC framework
TIPS undertook an evaluation of the DST’s Framework for Centres of Competence (CoC) in South Africa. The research looked at the importance of collaboration between the public sector, science council/universities and the private sector to encourage innovations and new technology. The research explored international experiences in the implementation of CoCs and undertook interviews to determine how it has been working in South Africa. (2015)