The long walk to economic freedom after apartheid, and the road ahead

Stellenbosch Working Paper Series No. WP11/2016
Publication date: 2016
Author(s):
Abstract:

As South Africa moves further away from the political transition of 1994, the economic history of the post-apartheid era is coming up for debate. The optimism generated by the ANC’s early successes must now, after more than two decades of democracy, be tempered by its conspicuous failures. Not all is lost, though. African growth, technological innovation and private-sector participation in public sector services offer credible opportunities for accelerated development, but will only be effective if policy-makers are cognizant of the political realities. The long walk to economic freedom for many will, unfortunately, continue along a rocky gravel road.

JEL Classification:

O55, N17

Keywords:

South African economy, democracy, post-apartheid, poverty, inequality, growth, development, Thabo Mbeki, Jacob Zuma, Trevor Manuel

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