Economic Commentary

08 May 2012


Is a fiscal policy council the answer?

There is no denying that, rightly or wrongly, in the opinion of some people the credibility of South Africa's fiscal policy has been impaired. The implementation of a set of fiscal rules with which the state budget must comply is one way of promoting credibility, as is the creation of a statutory fiscal institution that plays an independent evaluative and directional role in fiscal policy.

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08 May 2012


Is fiskale beleidsraad die antwoord?

Dit kan nie ontken word dat die geloofwaardigheid van Suid-Afrika se fiskale beleid, reg of verkeerd, in die oë van sommige mense aangetas is nie. Die instelling van 'n stel fiskale reëls waaraan die staat se begroting moet voldoen is een manier om geloofwaardigheid te bevorder, en so ook die daarstelling van 'n statutêre fiskale instelling wat 'n onafhanklike evaluerende en rigtinggewende rol in fiskale beleid speel.

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03 April 2012


The changing role of the Reserve Bank

The global financial crisis has had far reaching consequences for central banks and monetary policy. The South African Reserve Bank also has to reconsider its role in the economy.

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03 April 2012


Die veranderde rol van die Reserwebank

Met dié dat die Monetêre Beleidskomitee die repokoers reeds 16 maande lank onveranderd op 5,5% gelaat het, het belangstelling in die doen en late van die Reserwebank ietwat getaan.

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05 March 2012


Van herverdeling na welvaartskepping

Daar word algemeen aanvaar dat die staat „n rol te speel het in die verdeling van inkomste om maatskaplike stabiliteit te bevorder, of om „n meer regverdige samelewing te verseker. Wat as regverdig of onregverdig beskou word, sal noodwendig „n geskilpunt wees en nie almal sal met die staat se begrip van regverdigheid saamstem nie..

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05 March 2012


From redistribution to wealth creation

It is generally accepted that the state has a role to play in the distribution of income in order to promote social stability, or to ensure a more equitable society. What is regarded as equitable or inequitable will inevitably be a moot point and not everyone will agree with the state's idea of equity.

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22 February 2012


Eerste indrukke van die Staatsbegroting

Die fokus van die begroting val op die regte plek en beklemtoon dat hoër inklusiewe groei by uitstek die belangrikste en enigste volhoubare manier is om werkloosheid, armoede en ongelykheid te verminder.

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22 February 2012


First thoughts on the National Budget by Sanlams Group Economist

The focus of the budget is in the right place, emphasising the pre-eminence of higher inclusive economic growth as the primary and only sustainable way of reducing unemployment, poverty and inequality.

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15 February 2012


Alles kom in die Begroting bymekaar

Alhoewel geen bepaalde verklarings oor nuwe beleidsinisiatiewe in die 2011-MTBR gedoen is nie, meld die dokument wel dat die 2012-begroting ‘n ekonomiese ondersteuningspakket sal insluit wat daarop gemik is om die herstel op medium termyn aan te help en stukrag te verleen aan die langertermyn strukturele veranderings wat nodig is vir vinniger groei en ontwikkeling. Volgens die MTBR sluit hierdie inisiatiewe onder meer belegging in infrastruktuur en nywerheidsontwikkelingsones in.

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15 February 2012


It all comes together in the Budget

Although no explicit announcements regarding new policy initiatives were made in the 2011 MTBPS, the document does state that “the 2012 Budget will include an economic support package aimed at strengthening the medium-term recovery and giving impetus to the longer-term structural shifts required for faster growth and development”. According to the MTBPS, these initiatives will inter alia include investment in infrastructure and industrial development zones.

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