OECD Economic Surveys: South Africa 2017
Over the last two decades, South Africa has accomplished enormous social progress by bringing to millions of citizens access to key public services. Nevertheless, growth has trended down markedly recently due to constraints on the supply side. Low growth has led to the stagnation of GDP per capita, and persistent high unemployment and inequalities.
The economy faces many structural challenges while high inflation limits room for monetary policy support and high public debt constrains public spending. South Africa needs structural reforms that would boost the potential of the economy, in particular, broadening competition, limiting the size and grip of state-owned enterprises on the economy, and improving the quality of the education system.
Greater regional integration could provide new opportunities for growth by expanding market size. South African firms are well placed to benefit from deeper integration. However, lowering tariffs and non-tariffs barriers on trade, developing regional infrastructure and harmonising regulations are needed to foster regional integration.
More entrepreneurs and thriving small businesses would contribute to inclusive growth and job creation. Barriers to entrepreneurship include bureaucratic procedures and licensing, which are also an ongoing burden on small firms. An education system that better equippes students with basic and entrepreneurial skills would grow the pipeline of entrepreneurs. A better evidence base is crucial for more effective financial and non-financial support programmes to boost start-up rates and small firms’ growth.
SPECIAL FEATURES: DEEPENING REGIONAL INTEGRATION; BOOSTING ENTREPRENEURSHIP
Determinants of entrepreneurial activity
Estimates of the determinants of early-stage entrepreneurial activity follow Ardagna and Lusardi (2010). The data source is the 2012 Global Entrepreneurship Monitor, and the results are based on the data from 43 countries. Variable definitions for the individual characteristics generally follow Ardagna and Lusardi except that work status has been aggregated due to the smaller sample here. The logarithm of GDP per capita (PPP-adjusted) is used to control for country fixed-effects but allow for exploration of South Africa-specific fixed effects by interacting a dummy variable for South Africa with key variables of interest.