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Can Macroeconomic Policy Stimulate Private Investment in South Africa? New Insights from Aggregate and Manufacturing Sector-Level Evidence

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  • Léonce Ndikumana

Abstract

This study explores the determinants of investment using both aggregated industry-level data and disaggretated data on 27 sub-sectors of the manufacturing sector for the period 1970-2001. According to the results in this study, the government has potentially powerful means at its disposal to stimulate private investment. In particular, a domestic demand stimulus and public investment expansion will produce large gains in private investment. While the direct effects of lowering the interest rate appear to be quantitatively small, indirect effects operating notably through domestic demand and cheaper credit are likely to be large. The evidence in this study also indicates that it is important to minimize exchange rate instability to encourage investment.

Suggested Citation

  • Léonce Ndikumana, 2005. "Can Macroeconomic Policy Stimulate Private Investment in South Africa? New Insights from Aggregate and Manufacturing Sector-Level Evidence," Working Papers wp106, Political Economy Research Institute, University of Massachusetts at Amherst.
    • Handle: RePEc:uma:periwp:wp106
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    Cited by:

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    2. Akçay Selçuk & Karasoy Alper, 2020. "Determinants of private investments in Turkey: Examining the role of democracy," Review of Economic Perspectives, Sciendo, vol. 20(1), pages 23-49, March.
    3. Chiwei Su & Yiru Liu & Chang Liu & Ran Tao, 2022. "The Impact of Medical and Health Fiscal Expenditures on Pharmaceutical Industry Stock Index in China," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(18), pages 1-14, September.
    4. Thuy T. Dang & Anh D. Pham & Diem N. Tran, 2020. "Impact of Monetary Policy on Private Investment: Evidence from Vietnam’s Provincial Data," Economies, MDPI, vol. 8(3), pages 1-15, September.
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    6. Olanrewaju Makinde Hassan, 2015. "The Impact of Monetary Policy on Private Capital Formation in Nigeria," Journal of Empirical Economics, Research Academy of Social Sciences, vol. 4(3), pages 138-153.
    7. Jiangyi Qi, 2016. "Fiscal Expenditure Incentives, Spatial Correlation and Quality of Economic Growth: Evidence from a Chinese Province," International Journal of Business and Management, Canadian Center of Science and Education, vol. 11(7), pages 191-191, June.

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    South Africa; private investment; public investment; monetary policy; fiscal policy;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • E22 - Macroeconomics and Monetary Economics - - Consumption, Saving, Production, Employment, and Investment - - - Investment; Capital; Intangible Capital; Capacity
    • E52 - Macroeconomics and Monetary Economics - - Monetary Policy, Central Banking, and the Supply of Money and Credit - - - Monetary Policy
    • E62 - Macroeconomics and Monetary Economics - - Macroeconomic Policy, Macroeconomic Aspects of Public Finance, and General Outlook - - - Fiscal Policy; Modern Monetary Theory

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