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Sustainable Growth

Displaying items by tag: Trade Policy

The purpose of this paper is to investigate whether a relationship between export volumes and exchange rate volatility exists as suggested in the ASGISA document. It goes about this by first investigating the theoretical channels that predict the relationship between export volumes and exchange rate volatility. The theoretical prediction though, is ambiguous depending on the justification, model and factors taken into account in reaching the result. Furthermore, the paper provides evidence that the empirical results are ambiguous as well, as some countries tend to exhibit a negative relationship and others a positive relationship. Thus the paper goes on to estimate two measures of exchange rate volatility (a moving average standard deviation and the conditional volatility extracted from GARCH modelling) using the real effective exchange rate. These measures provide varied results in testing for stationarity. A cointegrated model for export volume using the Johansen estimation technique is then estimated with the volatility variables included in either the short or long run model, depending on the sensibility of the results produced.

NOTE: This I am currently revamping this paper, it was my mini-dissertation done toward the completion of my Masters in Economics at UCT. I am still estimating the cointegrated model, and so am not sure if any of my volatility variables will be able to enter in the long run model (in the previous paper this was not possible). I have not summarised the results yet for this reason. The model will be estimated with data ranging from the first quarter of 1961 to the first quarter of 2007 (the reason for the revamp is that this paper previously only considered data up until the first quarter of 2005). The model will also be estimated for the period starting 1972 (after the collapse of Bretton Woods) until the present, or a structural break at this period will be investigated (to see if the behaviour changed as a result of the introduction of the floating exchange rate in spite of the variability of the Real effective exchange rate before this time). The policy implication will be suggested at the end. Originally there was a negative effect of exchange rate volatility on the GROWTH of export volumes (so a significant negative short run effect), but not on the level of export volumes.

Finally, I may (time permitting) include a third estimation of a volatility variable that has been suggested in some of the international literature (a linear moment model/instrumental variable type approach) and the effects of this volatility measure on export volumes.

  • Year 2008
  • Organisation South African Reserve Bank
  • Author(s) Siobhan Redford
  • Countries and Regions South Africa

Trade-in-services is fast becoming one of the foremost areas of research and policy making in the international trade arena. Although the General Agreement on Trade-in-Services (GATS) was implemented in 1995, it is only recently, with the realisation of the close linkages between goods and service exports and the advent of better data, that researchers have begun to pay more serious attention to questions such as 'comparative advantage' and 'trade liberalisation' in the service trade. While research on the subject has lagged, negotiations and policy analysis (because of GATS) has had to make do with what little is understood about the service sector. One reason for the lack of clear stylised facts about service exports is the diverse nature of the industries that comprise it. The World Trade Organization (WTO) defines twelve service industries, each with specific characteristics, measurement issues and economic incidence. Furthermore, each service industry consists of four modes of trade. In addition, trade involves both imports and exports. South Africa has a long history of travel service exports. The first Europeans settled in the Cape to provide services to passing ships on their voyages to the East Indies and back to Europe. Cape Town, known as the 'Tavern of the Seas', offered sailors and soldiers accommodation, entertainment and health care before commencing the second leg of their journey. Today, South Africa offers the international traveller a diverse travel experience. Blessed with unique natural landscapes, fauna and flora, history and cultures, together with a built environment offering quality services, travel exports are one of the fastest growing sectors in the South African economy. Given this, South Africa seems to enjoy a comparative advantage: Travel service exports comprise more than 65% of the country's total service trade, significantly higher than the world average of 38%. This paper defines travel service exports and reflects on its development in South Africa. Using a new United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) dataset, tests the hypothesis that South Africa has a comparative advantage in exporting travel services. The relative advantage of this sector is also compared against that of other countries. The evidence supports the notion that South Africa has a revealed comparative advantage in exporting travel services.

  • Year 2008
  • Organisation Department of Economics, Stellenbosch University
  • Author(s) Johan Fourie
  • Countries and Regions South Africa

The Southern African Development Community (SADC) has been implementing the trade protocol for more than seven years. The aim is to liberalise trade flows between members and eventually lead to deeper integration in the region. As member states are preparing to enter another layer of integration in the form of a free trade area, it is also an appropriate moment to evaluate the performance of the implementation of the trade protocol. In this paper, an assessment of intra-SADC trade performance is done by focusing on intra-SADC export share, comparing intra-SADC share with other regional blocs and intra-country trade share. The results show that despite impressive growth in total exports between 2000 and 2006, intra-SADC trade remains weaker. A comparison of SADC with other regional blocs shows that intra-regional trade provides the necessary impetus for deeper integration and regional progress. However, SADC is lagging behind most regions. SADC's growth of extra-regional trade was more than with fellow members. Trade between countries also reveals that more than two thirds of total trade is with South Africa. Potential causes for this outcome include exports of raw materials and intermediate goods, failure to meet tariff reduction requirements, increasing commodity prices, existence of other forms of barriers as well as the challenges relating to weak manufacturing capacity, poor physical infrastructure and unresponsive supply side bottlenecks. As SADC enters another level of integration, it should make sure that the necessary mechanisms to address these challenges are in place so that the region can realise the associated benefits.

  • Year 2008
  • Organisation TIPS
  • Author(s) Mmatlou Kalaba;Mbofholowo Tsedu
Published in Trade and Industry
Topic:

The Motor Industry Development Program (MIDP) is widely regarded as a major success of South Africa's post-apartheid trade and industrial policies. The program was introduced in 1995, has been modified and/or extended several times, and is currently scheduled to continue until 2012. A DTI-funded review, the third since the programs inception, is now under way and is considering further adjustments to and possible extensions of the program after 2012. At the same time high-level discussions are under way in several ministries and agencies about future industrial policy strategies for South Africa. The MIDP's success makes it an obvious model for new approaches to industrial policy, and in particular for increased emphasis on sectoral strategies and interventions.

  • Year 2005
  • Author(s) Frank Flatters
  • Countries and Regions South Africa
Published in Trade and Industry
Friday, 13 April 2007

Trade Information Service 2005

One of the objectives of the Department of Trade and Industry (the dti) is to develop capacitiesfor improving the export performance of businesses. To do so, the dti/TISA require easily accessible practical strategic and analytical tools for identifying growing markets to which South African firms could export. This report will help the dti/TISA and its target group of South African exporters to analyse aspects of the global market in its various facets. In doing so, thedti/TISA will strengthen its role as a provider of strategic tools to be used as a basis for analysinggrowing global markets for South African exports. A key objective of the report is to assist TISA to become an important source of strategic market information identifying the most lucrative markets and value chains for South African exports.

  • Year 2005
  • Organisation TIPS
  • Author(s) Owen Willcox
  • Countries and Regions South Africa
Published in Trade and Industry

As international tariffs are being reduced increased attention is being given to the role of non-tariff measures in impeding trade flows. The working definition of NTMs used in this report is “government measures other than tariffs that restrict trade flows”. This covers a range of measures from health and safety measures through to the suite of regulations associated with trade and general matters such as transport costs and customs and administration procedures that may not be not directly under the control of governments but certainly under its influence.

The objective of this study is to examine NTMs facing exporters from the South and Southern African region in their major markets. The study does not examine NTMs within the region itself. Data is from a wide range of secondary sources, and while ideally primary data is better, the study provides a valuable information base.

  • Year 2003
  • Organisation TIPS
  • Author(s) Ron Sandrey
  • Countries and Regions South Africa
Published in Trade and Industry
Topic:

Regional integration can be a key force for sustainable development. It can promote economic growth, reduce poverty, foster social development or protect the environment. But it can also have negative economic and social impacts, especially when the domestic regulatory framework is inadequate or not implemented effectively.

  • Year 2006
  • Organisation TIPS ; SAIIA
  • Author(s) Mmatlou Kalaba; Peter Draper; Philip Alves
  • Countries and Regions Southern Africa Customs Union (SACU), Southern African Development Community (SADC)
Published in Trade and Industry
Friday, 02 February 2007

Trade at a glance

Description

TIPS economist Mmatlou Kalaba prepares a quarterly snapshot of South Africa's trade with particular trade blocs around the world.

Abstract

Graphical representation of World trade and South African Trade, at a glance

  • Year 2006
  • Organisation TIPS
  • Author(s) Mmatlou Kalaba
  • Countries and Regions South Africa
Published in Trade and Industry

The South African government and the Department of Trade and Industry (the dti) in particular have embarked on a policy framework to ensure that the SA economy becomes competitive. In an increasingly traded global economy, it is recognised that national economic welfare will be enhanced by both greater efficiency, brought about by liberalisation, and SA's exports in the world economy. The State of Trade Policy in South Africa 2003 aims to develop a rigorous approach to the analysis of trade reform and the impact it has had on aspects of SA's economy - the overall macro-economy, export behaviour, labour markets, resource allocation and growth. The report consists of a synthesis of existing research in SA, as well as specifically commissioned research, and is intended to be a reference point for government, academia, the private sector and others. Building on the 2003 report, which contained much relevant qualitative and quantitative material on the evolution of South Africa's trade policy, TIPS has appointed an external Reference Group and has compiled an updated and more comprehensive State of Trade Policy, to be published in 2007.

  • Year 2002
  • Author(s) Rashad Cassim; Donald Onyango
Published in Trade and Industry
Topic:

The past two decades have witnessed an unprecedented globalisation of trade in goods and services. This process has been driven, inter alia, by technology, ideology and the availability of relatively cheap energy. By extrapolating this trend, one may expect further integration of world markets and increasingly unhindered international trade. However, there is mounting evidence of significant risks to the globalisation of free trade, at least in goods and possibly in certain services as well. Three main risk areas are identified: (1) fossil fuel depletion, in particular a possible peak in world oil production within the next five to ten years; (2) climate change, and especially its effect on agricultural production; (3) and instability in the world financial system caused primarily by the US's unsustainable twin deficits. The paper explores some possible implications of these risks for the South African economy and its foreign trade in particular. It argues that South Africa's trade policy should take due cognizance of these threats to global trade, and advocates adaptation and mitigation strategies designed to improve self-sufficiency and to protect the poor in sensitive areas, especially food and energy security.

  • Year 2005
  • Author(s) Jeremy Wakeford
  • Countries and Regions South Africa
Topic:

The study applies an augmented gravity equation to South Africa's exports of motor vehicles, parts & accessories (SIC 381-383) to 76 countries over the period 1994 to 2003. The study employs a dynamic panel data model to estimate long-run and short-run coefficients. First, it is shown that it takes about 16 months for exports to adjust. Second, a number of variables, namely, importer income, population, exchange rate, distance, free trade agreements are important determinants of bilateral trade flows for motor vehicles, parts & accessories. Third, the gravity model is solved stochastically to determine South Africa's optimistic, pessimistic and average potential exports to the 76 countries. Finally, estimates of the degree of variability of average potential exports are provided, which show that South Africa's trade with Germany, the United Kingdom and the United States have low variability.

  • Year 2005
  • Author(s) Moses Sichei, Jean Luc Erero and Tewodros Gebreselassie
  • Countries and Regions South Africa

This paper investigates whether African manufacturing exporters are more productive than non-exporters and whether these productivity differences precede entry into the export market. We find at expoters are more productive but that productivity does not matter for entry into t export market - suggesting that learning by exporting is important. We investigate the nature this relationship and find that exporters donot have higher rates of productiity growth than non-exporters.

  • Year 2005
  • Author(s) Neil Rankin, Mans Soderbom and Francis Teal
  • Countries and Regions South Africa

This paper examines the characteristics of short-term fluctuations/volatility of the South African exchange rate and investigates whether this volatility has affected the South Africa's exports flows. In particular the paper investigates the impact of exchange rate volatility on aggregate South African exports flows to the rest of the world, as well as on South African goods, services and gold exports. The ARDL bounds testing procedures developed by Pesaran et al. (2001) were employed on quarterly data for the period 1984 to 2004. The results suggest that, depending on the measure of volatility used, either there exist no statistically significant relationship between South African exports flows and exchange rate volatility or when a significant relationship exists, it is positive. No evidence of a long run gold and services exports demand relations were found. These results are however not robust as they show great amount of sensitivity to different definitions of variables used.

  • Year 2005
  • Author(s) K.R. Todani and T.V. Munyama
  • Countries and Regions South Africa
Topic:

Pricing tradable goods in the domestic market at import parity is evaluated to determine whether it can be characterized as a competitive constraint on pricing, or as a source of market power. The policy of import parity pricing (IPP) is also assessed in terms of the South African Competition Act. Because IPP depends on so many variables, its effects are uneven across sectors and it so is difficult to condemn outright or to address via a policy measure.

  • Year 2005
  • Author(s) Geoff Parr
  • Countries and Regions South Africa

Trade and industrial policies are generally viewed from the vantage point of national government. Hence the emphasis on the type of trade regime that should be pursued (tariffs, subsidies, etc), the state of the current account, the exchange rate and geo-political factors (globalisation, power blocs and regional associations). While the overwhelming importance of these factors should not be underestimated there is some questioning about shifting the emphasis slightly to include the role that local governments can (and do) play in promoting trade.

This paper will look at how local governments either promote or retard trade through the policies they adopt, especially with regard to tariffs for water and electricity consumption but also the provision of infrastructure such as roads and serviced sites. Using the case study of Drakenstein Municipality in the Western Cape and a large textile company, the paper will examine the possible factors that have contributed to the decline of an industry and resulting job losses. While acknowledging the devastating impact that imports from China has had on textiles in general, the paper will probe the policy options that were available to the municipality to counteract the fierce competition from the Far East. Was the appreciation of the Rand the only possible explanation for the drop in demand for locally manufactured garments or were their other contributing factors?

  • Year 2005
  • Author(s) Amiena Bayat and Zunaid Moolla
  • Countries and Regions South Africa

This paper advances on previous work on the effects of trade and technical change on labour markets within the framework of Heckscher-Ohlin trade theory. First, we employ dynamic heterogeneous panel estimation techniques not previously used in this
context, which separate Heckscher-Ohlin-based long run relationships from short run dynamics that are heterogeneous across sectors. Second, we provide evidence for an unskilled labor abundant developing country that allows comparison of the results
against developed country evidence. Third, we consider the appropriateness of alternative approaches and examine endogeneity issues in the impact of technology and price changes on factor returns. For South African manufacturing we find that output prices
increase most strongly in sectors that are labor intensive. Our results further suggest that trade-mandated earnings increases are positive for labor, and negative for capital.

By contrast technology has mandated negative earnings increases for both factors. We also find that separation of different demand side factors collectively constituting globalization is useful in understanding the impact of trade, and taking account of
endogeneity is important in isolating factor and sector bias of technological change.

  • Year 2005
  • Author(s) Johannes Fedderke;Yongcheol Shin
  • Countries and Regions South Africa
Wednesday, 01 December 2004

Productivity in SA: Friend or Fiend?

Today in South Africa we are witnessing changes that are remaking the country. These changes are in the social, economic and political spheres. Under its democratic government, South Africa committed itself to the principles of free-market economy nearly a decade ago. Yet, these commitments have not borne their expected fruits. This paper analyses one aspect of this experience, the link (or lack there of) between productivity, economic growth, and employment in South Africa. It begins with a review of the expected theoretical relationship between these variables. Evidence of South Africa's productivity, economic growth, and employment experience since 1994 then follows. In evaluating these areas, nuances that emerge because of alternative definitions are sought and placed within a comparative context. The final section focuses on South Africa's jobless growth experience and formulates policy recommendations to make this relationship more favourable. First, some parallel international experiences and theoretical insights are reviewed for policy guidance. Policy recommendations to alleviate potentially problematic areas in the relationship between productivity and employment in South Africa then follow. Finally, policy recommendations are made over action that can be undertaken to enhance positive aspects of the relationship between productivity and employment in South Africa.

  • Year 2004
  • Author(s) Christopher D. Mlosy; Thomas E. Pogue
  • Countries and Regions South Africa

Computable general equilibrium (CGE) models are widely used for policy-analysis in many countries. In the past a number of CGE models have been developed for South Africa, and used to assess a broad range of policy issues. However, the perceived complexity of this analytical approach, and the concentration of capacity within a small number of academic or related institutions, have generally led policy-makers, analysts and other researchers to avoid directly using CGE models in their analysis or decision-making. Since CGE modelling provides both an economy-wide assessment of policies and a framework in which the workings of policies can be more easily understood, it is the objective of this paper to present a core South African model that reduces the initial cost of undertaking CGE analysis. The core model can then be adapted according to the interests of individual researchers or policy-makers. Furthermore, since the strength of the model is dependent on its ability to reflect the specific structure and workings of the South African economy, it is hoped that the core model will be developed further as more supporting evidence and research becomes available.

The model presented in this paper has at its core the static model used by the International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI) as described in Lofgren et al. (2002). The model is recursive dynamic and is therefore an extension of the IFPRI model and the earlier static South African model presented in Thurlow and van Seventer (2002).

The construction of the South African model takes place in two stages. At the first stage the structure and interactions of the economy within and across time periods is specified in a set of mathematical equations. Section 2 describes the specification and limitations of the South African model without the aid of mathematics. Since the underlying static South African model is essentially that of the IFPRI standard model, Appendix A first presents the differences in the mathematical equations between these two models, before describing the mathematics of the model's dynamic specification.

The second stage of constructing the model involves the compilation of a database that describes the South African economy and is used to assign values to the parameters of the mathematical equations. This process is called the 'calibration' of the model. The most important database for CGE model calibration is a social accounting matrix (SAM). Two SAMs are compiled for South Africa for the years 1993 and 2000, thus allowing the model to assess the impact of both past and future policies. Section 3 describes the South African economy as it is represented in the SAMs and other relevant data sources. Appendix B describes the SAM construction process, and Appendix C presents a series of disaggregated SAM tables that inform the discussion in Section 3.

Finally, Section 4 concludes the paper by describing existing applications of the models and identifying areas where further research is needed to address the limitations of the model.

  • Year 2004
  • Organisation TIPS
  • Author(s) James Thurlow
  • Countries and Regions South Africa
Published in SADC Trade Development
Topic:

Trade liberalisation has a significant impact on firm-market dynamics in a regional context. The purpose of this paper is to use an industrial organisation framework, focusing on the analytical units, the firm and the market, to assess the impact of trade liberalisation within the Southern African region, SADC. It is specifically the firm-level responses to various policies that will provide insight into changes in national industrial configurations, regional patterns of industrialisation and the potential for sustainable supply chain development in Southern Africa.

The purpose of intra-regional trade liberalisation is to facilitate trade within a regional economic space, and through enhanced trade opportunities to elicit firm-level decisions to expand productive capacity. Such expansion of productive capacity, through various modalities of investment, can have important implications for the development of markets and market processes, resulting in robust, sustainable regional development.

  • Year 2004
  • Author(s) Martine Visser; Trudi Hartzenberg
  • Countries and Regions South Africa

The poor performance of many African economies has been associated with low growth of exports in general and of manufacturing exports in particular. In this paper we draw on micro evidence of manufacturing firms in five African countries - Kenya, Ghana, Tanzania, South Africa and Nigeria - to investigate the causes of poor exporting performance.Micro empirical work on manufacturing firms has focused on the relationship between export participation and efficiency. The evidence for SSA shows that exporters tend to be larger, more capital intensive and produce more output per unit of labour than non exporters. Weshow that firm size is a robust determinant of the decision to export. It is not a proxy for efficiency, for capital intensity, for sector, for time-invariant unobservables or for the fixed cost of entry into exporting. The implication of these findings is that large firms are necessary for exporting. However larger firms are more capital intensive. Small firms may create jobs, they will not be able to export. We also find that efficiency only impacts on the decision to export regionally, defined as within Africa, not internationally. The implications of these findings are discussed.

  • Year 2004
  • Organisation Centre for the Study of African EconomiesDepartment of EconomicsUniversity of Oxford
  • Author(s) Neil Rankin, Mans Soderbom and Francis Teal
  • Countries and Regions Southern African Development Community (SADC)
Topic:
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