Development Economics I

Economic development is a process of structural change that facilitates a sustained rise in the living standards of the population as a whole. From this follows that structural change (and thus discontinuities) rather than economic growth alone are emphasised, and that the distribution of the gains from economic growth is a central issue.

This course provides an introductory overview of current economic development issues (i.e. structural economic issues) as they are encountered particularly in South Africa or in other African countries The debate about the nature of apartheid and its legacy and about the post-apartheid economy is naturally central to any course on economic development in South Africa.

Module presenter: Servaas van der Berg

Course outline

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BER Weekly

6 Jun 2025 SA GDP barely expands in Q1, while BCI and PMI suggest that Q2 remained weak
It was a busy week for local data releases, much of which painted a bleak picture of SA’s economy. Not only was first-quarter GDP growth dismal, but 2024 growth was also revised lower to just 0.5%. , The RMB/BER Business Confidence Index (BCI) showed sentiment remained shaky in the second quarter...

Read the full issue
 

BER Weekly

6 Jun 2025 SA GDP barely expands in Q1, while BCI and PMI suggest that Q2 remained weak
It was a busy week for local data releases, much of which painted a bleak picture of SA’s economy. Not only was first-quarter GDP growth dismal, but 2024 growth was also revised lower to just 0.5%. , The RMB/BER Business Confidence Index (BCI) showed sentiment remained shaky in the second quarter...

Read the full issue