South African Economy: Trails and Possibilities

The South African economy has largely performed below its potential. Although the size of the South African economy has significantly increased since 1994, its performance has lagged behind other comparable economies, and has even been overtaken by Nigeria as the largest economy in Africa. Unemployment, income inequality, and poverty have remained high since 1994. In the past decade, South African economic performance has been so poor that is has resulted in declining per capita incomes.

In this study, Vusi Gumede and his co-authors offer a comprehensive analysis of the South African economy since 1994, dealing with many important issues, ranging from its history to its political travails in an effort to provide better understanding and find possible solutions to ensuring inclusive growth.

Vusi Gumede is the Dean for the Faculty of Economics, Development & Business Sciences at the University of Mpumalanga.

Santos Bila is with DST/NRF South African Research Chair in Industrial Development in the School of Economics at the University of Johannesburg.

Mduduzi Biyase is an associate professor of Economics in the School of Economics at the University of Johannesburg.

Shonisani Chauke is a lecturer in Economics in the School of Development Studies at the University of Mpumalanga.

Sodiq Arogundade is a research fellow and a part-time assistant lecturer in the School of Economics at the University of Johannesburg.