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Structural transformation, inequality, and inclusive growth in South Africa

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Listed:
  • Haroon Bhorat
  • Kezia Lilenstein
  • Morné Oosthuizen
  • Amy Thornton

Abstract

This paper evaluates structural change, inequality dynamics, and industrial policy in South Africa between 1960 and the present day. We find that South Africa experienced growth-enhancing structural transformation until the early 1970s, before entering a period of premature deindustrialization. Today, the services sector has become the primary driver of growth and employment in the country, while the agriculture, mining, and manufacturing sectors have declined in relative importance.

Suggested Citation

  • Haroon Bhorat & Kezia Lilenstein & Morné Oosthuizen & Amy Thornton, 2020. "Structural transformation, inequality, and inclusive growth in South Africa," WIDER Working Paper Series wp-2020-50, World Institute for Development Economic Research (UNU-WIDER).
    • Handle: RePEc:unu:wpaper:wp-2020-50
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    Cited by:

    1. Mdingi, Kholeka & Ho, Sin-Yu, 2023. "Income inequality and economic growth: An empirical investigation in South Africa," MPRA Paper 117733, University Library of Munich, Germany.
    2. Adaiah Lilenstein, 2020. "Better measures of progress: Developing reliable estimates of educational access and quality in Francophone sub-Saharan Africa," Working Papers 13/2020, Stellenbosch University, Department of Economics.
    3. Caitlin Allen Whitehead & Haroon Bhorat & Robert Hill & Tim Köhler & François Steenkamp, 2021. "The Potential Employment Implications of the Fourth Industrial Revolution Technologies: The Case of the Manufacturing, Engineering and Related Services Sector," Working Papers 202106, University of Cape Town, Development Policy Research Unit.
    4. Plantinga, Paul, 2021. "Innovation and the Public Service: Facilitating Inclusive Industrial and Social Development," SocArXiv qcdjg, Center for Open Science.
    5. Justin Visagie & Ivan Turok, 2022. "Firing on all cylinders: Decomposing regional growth dynamics in South Africa," South African Journal of Economics, Economic Society of South Africa, vol. 90(1), pages 57-74, March.
    6. Giorgio d'Agostino & Francesco Giuli & Marco Lorusso & Margherita Scarlato, 2020. "Fiscal policy, labour market, and inequality: Diagnosing South Africa's anomalies in the shadow of racial discrimination," WIDER Working Paper Series wp-2020-122, World Institute for Development Economic Research (UNU-WIDER).

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