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Assessing Fiscal Capacity at the Local Government Level in South Africa

Author

Listed:
  • Margaret Chitiga-Mabugu

    (Human Sciences Research Council, Pretoria, South Africa)

  • Nara Monkam

    (Department of Economics, University of Pretoria)

Abstract

In recent years, local governments in South Africa have faced daunting challenges, notably significant service delivery backlogs, poor financial management, corruption, and poor capacity due to lack of skills. As a result, numerous municipalities are deemed to be in financial distress, and already questions have been raised concerning their capability to efficiently deliver on expected outcomes on a sustainable basis and to cope with economic shocks. In this context, South Africa has embarked upon a comprehensive review of the local government equitable share (LES) formula which constitutes the main unconditional grant that accrues to municipalities. The objective of this paper is to assess fiscal disparities across municipalities using a comprehensive approach to measuring fiscal capacity. In assessing the overall level of fiscal capacity, the paper uses the Representative Revenue System (RRS) and the Representative Expenditure System (RES) methodologies. To the best of our knowledge, such comprehensive measures of fiscal capacity at the municipal level have yet to be applied in the South African context. Additionally, the contribution of this paper lies mainly in that it provides a more systematic measure of municipal fiscal capacity that should be taken into account in the revision and improvement of the current LES formula to ensure that the LES funds are equitably distributed. Furthermore, an appropriate measure of fiscal capacities across municipalities in South Africa will provide the Municipal Demarcation Board with a tool to re-determine municipal boundaries based on objective and empirical evidence rather than political considerations.

Suggested Citation

  • Margaret Chitiga-Mabugu & Nara Monkam, 2013. "Assessing Fiscal Capacity at the Local Government Level in South Africa," Working Papers 201376, University of Pretoria, Department of Economics.
    • Handle: RePEc:pre:wpaper:201376
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    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. M. Govinda Rao, 2003. "Intergovernmental finance in South Africa: Some observations," Working Papers 03/1, National Institute of Public Finance and Policy.
    2. M. Nagy Eltony, "undated". "The Determinants of Tax Effort in Arab Countries," API-Working Paper Series 0207, Arab Planning Institute - Kuwait, Information Center.
    3. Roy Bahl (ed.), 2003. "Restructuring Local Government Finance in Developing Countries," Books, Edward Elgar Publishing, number 2930.
    4. Robert Tannenwald & Nick Turner, 2004. "Interstate fiscal disparity in state fiscal year 1999," Public Policy Discussion Paper 04-9, Federal Reserve Bank of Boston.
    5. Sonya Hoo & Matthew Nagowski & Kim Rueben & Robert Tannenwald & Yesim Yilmaz, 2006. "Measuring fiscal disparities across the U. S. states: a representative revenue system/representative expenditure system approach, fiscal year 2002," New England Public Policy Center Working Paper 06-2, Federal Reserve Bank of Boston.
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    Cited by:

    1. Hodžić Sabina & Paleka Hana, 2020. "Fiscal Capacities of Large Cities in Croatia – Financial Support for Smart Cities," Naše gospodarstvo/Our economy, Sciendo, vol. 66(2), pages 42-49, June.

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Fiscal capacity; Revenue capacity; Expenditure need; Revenue effort; RRS; RES;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • H11 - Public Economics - - Structure and Scope of Government - - - Structure and Scope of Government
    • H20 - Public Economics - - Taxation, Subsidies, and Revenue - - - General
    • H71 - Public Economics - - State and Local Government; Intergovernmental Relations - - - State and Local Taxation, Subsidies, and Revenue
    • H72 - Public Economics - - State and Local Government; Intergovernmental Relations - - - State and Local Budget and Expenditures
    • H77 - Public Economics - - State and Local Government; Intergovernmental Relations - - - Intergovernmental Relations; Federalism

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