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Post-Apartheid South Africa: An Economic Success Story?

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  • Mats Lundahl
  • Lennart Petersson

Abstract

The paper provides an evaluation of the development of the South African economy since the end of apartheid in 1994. Taking the 1993 situation as the point of departure, it gives an account of the path leading to the formulation of the major policy documents, and examines to what extent their objectives have been met. It highlights poverty reduction and redistribution, stabilization (fiscal and monetary policy, liberalization of the capital account of the balance of payments, exchange rate policy), trade and competition policy, investment strategies and labor market policy.

Suggested Citation

  • Mats Lundahl & Lennart Petersson, 2009. "Post-Apartheid South Africa: An Economic Success Story?," WIDER Working Paper Series RP2009-56, World Institute for Development Economic Research (UNU-WIDER).
  • Handle: RePEc:unu:wpaper:rp2009-56
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    File URL: https://www.wider.unu.edu/sites/default/files/RP2009-56.pdf
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    Cited by:

    1. Naudé, Wim, 2010. "Development Progress in sub-Saharan Africa: Lessons from Botswana, Ghana, Mauritius and South Africa," WIDER Working Paper Series 007, World Institute for Development Economic Research (UNU-WIDER).
    2. Wim Naudé, 2010. "Development Progress in sub-Saharan Africa: Lessons from Botswana, Ghana, Mauritius and South Africa," WIDER Working Paper Series wp-2010-007, World Institute for Development Economic Research (UNU-WIDER).

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    Keywords

    Economic development; Economic policy;

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