Economics of South African Townships

Economics of South African Townships

Author: Sandeep Mahajan

Publisher: World Bank Publications

Published: 2014-08-25

Total Pages: 297

ISBN-13: 1464803021

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Countries everywhere are divided within into two distinct spatial realms: one urban, one rural. Classic models of development predict faster growth in the urban sector, causing rapid migration from rural areas to cities, lifting average incomes in both places. The situation in South Africa throws up an unconventional challenge. The country has symptoms of a spatial realm that is not not rural, not fully urban, lying somewhat in limbo. This is the realm of the country’s townships and informal settlements (T&IS). In many ways, the townships and especially the informal settlements are similar to developing world slums, although never was a slum formed with as much central planning and purpose as were some of the larger South African townships. And yet, there is something distinct about the T&IS. For one thing, unlike most urban slums, most T&IS are geographically distant from urban economic centers. Exacerbated by the near absence of an affordable public transport system, this makes job seeking and other forms of economic integration prohibitively expensive. Motivated by their uniqueness and their special place in South African economic and social life, this study seeks to develop a systematic understanding of the structure of the township economy. What emerges is a rich information base on the migration patterns to T&IS, changes in their demographic profiles, their labor market characteristics, and their access to public and financial services. The study then look closely at Diepsloot, a large township in the Johannesburg Metropolitan Area, to bring out more vividly the economic realities and choices of township residents. Given the current dichotomous urban structure, modernizing the township economy and enabling its convergence with the much richer urban centers has the potential to unleash significant productivity gains. Breaking out of the current low-level equilibrium however will require a comprehensive and holistic policy agenda, with significant complementarities among the major policy reforms. While the study tells a rich and coherent story about development patterns in South African townships and points to some broad policy directions, its research and analysis will generally need to be deepened before being translated into direct policy action.


Book Synopsis Economics of South African Townships by : Sandeep Mahajan

Download or read book Economics of South African Townships written by Sandeep Mahajan and published by World Bank Publications. This book was released on 2014-08-25 with total page 297 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Countries everywhere are divided within into two distinct spatial realms: one urban, one rural. Classic models of development predict faster growth in the urban sector, causing rapid migration from rural areas to cities, lifting average incomes in both places. The situation in South Africa throws up an unconventional challenge. The country has symptoms of a spatial realm that is not not rural, not fully urban, lying somewhat in limbo. This is the realm of the country’s townships and informal settlements (T&IS). In many ways, the townships and especially the informal settlements are similar to developing world slums, although never was a slum formed with as much central planning and purpose as were some of the larger South African townships. And yet, there is something distinct about the T&IS. For one thing, unlike most urban slums, most T&IS are geographically distant from urban economic centers. Exacerbated by the near absence of an affordable public transport system, this makes job seeking and other forms of economic integration prohibitively expensive. Motivated by their uniqueness and their special place in South African economic and social life, this study seeks to develop a systematic understanding of the structure of the township economy. What emerges is a rich information base on the migration patterns to T&IS, changes in their demographic profiles, their labor market characteristics, and their access to public and financial services. The study then look closely at Diepsloot, a large township in the Johannesburg Metropolitan Area, to bring out more vividly the economic realities and choices of township residents. Given the current dichotomous urban structure, modernizing the township economy and enabling its convergence with the much richer urban centers has the potential to unleash significant productivity gains. Breaking out of the current low-level equilibrium however will require a comprehensive and holistic policy agenda, with significant complementarities among the major policy reforms. While the study tells a rich and coherent story about development patterns in South African townships and points to some broad policy directions, its research and analysis will generally need to be deepened before being translated into direct policy action.

Economics of South African Townships

Economics of South African Townships

Author: Sandeep Mahajan

Publisher:

Published: 2014-08-25

Total Pages: 270

ISBN-13: 9781322076171

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Countries everywhere are divided within into two distinct spatial realms: one urban, one rural. Classic models of development predict faster growth in the urban sector, causing rapid migration from rural areas to cities, lifting average incomes in both places. The situation in South Africa throws up an unconventional challenge. The country has symptoms of a spatial realm that is not not rural, not fully urban, lying somewhat in limbo. This is the realm of the countrys townships and informal settlements (T&IS). In many ways, the townships and especially the informal settlements are similar to developing world slums, although never was a slum formed with as much central planning and purpose as were some of the larger South African townships. And yet, there is something distinct about the T&IS. For one thing, unlike most urban slums, most T&IS are geographically distant from urban economic centers. Exacerbated by the near absence of an affordable public transport system, this makes job seeking and other forms of economic integration prohibitively expensive. Motivated by their uniqueness and their special place in South African economic and social life, this study seeks to develop a systematic understanding of the structure of the township economy. What emerges is a rich information base on the migration patterns to T&IS, changes in their demographic profiles, their labor market characteristics, and their access to public and financial services. The study then look closely at Diepsloot, a large township in the Johannesburg Metropolitan Area, to bring out more vividly the economic realities and choices of township residents. Given the current dichotomous urban structure, modernizing the township economy and enabling its convergence with the much richer urban centers has the potential to unleash significant productivity gains. Breaking out of the current low-level equilibrium however will require a comprehensive and holistic policy agenda, with significant complementarities among the major policy reforms. While the study tells a rich and coherent story about development patterns in South African townships and points to some broad policy directions, its research and analysis will generally need to be deepened before being translated into direct policy action.


Book Synopsis Economics of South African Townships by : Sandeep Mahajan

Download or read book Economics of South African Townships written by Sandeep Mahajan and published by . This book was released on 2014-08-25 with total page 270 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Countries everywhere are divided within into two distinct spatial realms: one urban, one rural. Classic models of development predict faster growth in the urban sector, causing rapid migration from rural areas to cities, lifting average incomes in both places. The situation in South Africa throws up an unconventional challenge. The country has symptoms of a spatial realm that is not not rural, not fully urban, lying somewhat in limbo. This is the realm of the countrys townships and informal settlements (T&IS). In many ways, the townships and especially the informal settlements are similar to developing world slums, although never was a slum formed with as much central planning and purpose as were some of the larger South African townships. And yet, there is something distinct about the T&IS. For one thing, unlike most urban slums, most T&IS are geographically distant from urban economic centers. Exacerbated by the near absence of an affordable public transport system, this makes job seeking and other forms of economic integration prohibitively expensive. Motivated by their uniqueness and their special place in South African economic and social life, this study seeks to develop a systematic understanding of the structure of the township economy. What emerges is a rich information base on the migration patterns to T&IS, changes in their demographic profiles, their labor market characteristics, and their access to public and financial services. The study then look closely at Diepsloot, a large township in the Johannesburg Metropolitan Area, to bring out more vividly the economic realities and choices of township residents. Given the current dichotomous urban structure, modernizing the township economy and enabling its convergence with the much richer urban centers has the potential to unleash significant productivity gains. Breaking out of the current low-level equilibrium however will require a comprehensive and holistic policy agenda, with significant complementarities among the major policy reforms. While the study tells a rich and coherent story about development patterns in South African townships and points to some broad policy directions, its research and analysis will generally need to be deepened before being translated into direct policy action.

Economics of South African Townships, with a Special Focus on Diepsloot

Economics of South African Townships, with a Special Focus on Diepsloot

Author: Sandeep Mahajan

Publisher:

Published: 2014

Total Pages:

ISBN-13:

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Book Synopsis Economics of South African Townships, with a Special Focus on Diepsloot by : Sandeep Mahajan

Download or read book Economics of South African Townships, with a Special Focus on Diepsloot written by Sandeep Mahajan and published by . This book was released on 2014 with total page pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt:

Township Economy

Township Economy

Author: Andrew Charman

Publisher:

Published: 2020

Total Pages: 0

ISBN-13: 9780796925770

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"Township Economy provides a unique insight into township informal business and entrepreneurship. It is set in the post-apartheid period, in the third decade of Africa's democracy and draws on evidence collected from 2010-2018 in 10 township sites, nine in South Africa and one in Namibia. The book focuses on micro-enterprises, the business strategies of township entrepreneurs and the impact of autonomous informal economic activities on urban life. The book is unique in approach and content. It looks at spatial influences at various gradients, from the city-wide level, to objects, to invisible infrastructure. The analysis examines the influence of power as a tool to dominate and control and thus constraint inclusive opportunities. This captivating book will be of interest academic researchers, university students and specialists in business studies, urbanism, politics and socio-economic development."--Back cover


Book Synopsis Township Economy by : Andrew Charman

Download or read book Township Economy written by Andrew Charman and published by . This book was released on 2020 with total page 0 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: "Township Economy provides a unique insight into township informal business and entrepreneurship. It is set in the post-apartheid period, in the third decade of Africa's democracy and draws on evidence collected from 2010-2018 in 10 township sites, nine in South Africa and one in Namibia. The book focuses on micro-enterprises, the business strategies of township entrepreneurs and the impact of autonomous informal economic activities on urban life. The book is unique in approach and content. It looks at spatial influences at various gradients, from the city-wide level, to objects, to invisible infrastructure. The analysis examines the influence of power as a tool to dominate and control and thus constraint inclusive opportunities. This captivating book will be of interest academic researchers, university students and specialists in business studies, urbanism, politics and socio-economic development."--Back cover

From Shantytown to Township

From Shantytown to Township

Author: Gavin Grant Maasdorp

Publisher:

Published: 1975

Total Pages: 224

ISBN-13:

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Monograph on the resettlement of African slumdwellers in South Africa R in new housing outside the durban urban area - describes the conception and implementation of the rehousing programme over a fifteen-year period, considers the programme in the context of broader issues of rural migration, the informal sector and poverty, etc., and includes proposals for site-and-service (self help) housing. Illustrations, references and statistical tables.


Book Synopsis From Shantytown to Township by : Gavin Grant Maasdorp

Download or read book From Shantytown to Township written by Gavin Grant Maasdorp and published by . This book was released on 1975 with total page 224 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Monograph on the resettlement of African slumdwellers in South Africa R in new housing outside the durban urban area - describes the conception and implementation of the rehousing programme over a fifteen-year period, considers the programme in the context of broader issues of rural migration, the informal sector and poverty, etc., and includes proposals for site-and-service (self help) housing. Illustrations, references and statistical tables.

The South African Townships

The South African Townships

Author: Kirk David Helliker

Publisher:

Published: 1984*

Total Pages: 508

ISBN-13:

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Book Synopsis The South African Townships by : Kirk David Helliker

Download or read book The South African Townships written by Kirk David Helliker and published by . This book was released on 1984* with total page 508 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt:

Making a difference digitally. E-Commerce in South Africa

Making a difference digitally. E-Commerce in South Africa

Author: Felix Deubert

Publisher: GRIN Verlag

Published: 2014-11-24

Total Pages: 120

ISBN-13: 3656844232

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Master's Thesis from the year 2014 in the subject Business economics - Trade and Distribution, grade: 1,3, University Witten/Herdecke, language: English, abstract: According to the "South African B2C E-Commerce Report 2012", South Africa was already in 2011 the fifth largest country in Africa in terms of the number of Internet users. Today in 2014, there are approximately 12,5 million South African Internet users . Since several years, the E-Commerce sector is facing a boom in South Africa. However, not everybody seems to profit from or participate in this boom. Economically and socially, South Africa is still deeply divided. The inequality within the population, the distance between rich and poor is extreme: The richest 20 percent of the population account for almost 70 percent of total income, the share of the poorest 20 percent is just under three percent. Almost a third (31.9%) of the population lives on the equivalent of less than 2 Dollars a day . Around seven million people are considered long-term unemployed with no job prospects, especially those living in informal settlements, the so-called „townships“. The social and economic inequality is a big problem for the country of South Africa. E-Commerce has the potential to resolve this problem, as it is booming and companies plan to extend their businesses as well as their employee numbers. The idea is to train people from the townships in order to get them to work in the E-Commerce business. Interesting for this thesis are those E-Commerce companies with big storage halls, as they are the ones who might be in need of untrained employees of the townships. Jobs could be needed in basic positions such as picking and packing, quality control and customer services in big warehouses. Supposed it would be actually possible to use training initiatives and programs in the form of cooperations of E-Commerce companies and township NGO ́s, resulting in dimishing unemployment and leading to permitting more people participate in the boom of E-Commerce, the South African economy and its society as a whole would gain a tremendous benefit. The research question in this master thesis is interlinking the existing economic boom of E-Commerce with the high unemployment rate in the townships: Does the fast-growing E-Commerce in South Africa have an effect on the high unemployment rate in the townships? In the quest for an answer to this question, attention is paid to two related questions as well: Do the lowest social classes feel an improvement in their living standards after being hired by an E-Commerce business?


Book Synopsis Making a difference digitally. E-Commerce in South Africa by : Felix Deubert

Download or read book Making a difference digitally. E-Commerce in South Africa written by Felix Deubert and published by GRIN Verlag. This book was released on 2014-11-24 with total page 120 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Master's Thesis from the year 2014 in the subject Business economics - Trade and Distribution, grade: 1,3, University Witten/Herdecke, language: English, abstract: According to the "South African B2C E-Commerce Report 2012", South Africa was already in 2011 the fifth largest country in Africa in terms of the number of Internet users. Today in 2014, there are approximately 12,5 million South African Internet users . Since several years, the E-Commerce sector is facing a boom in South Africa. However, not everybody seems to profit from or participate in this boom. Economically and socially, South Africa is still deeply divided. The inequality within the population, the distance between rich and poor is extreme: The richest 20 percent of the population account for almost 70 percent of total income, the share of the poorest 20 percent is just under three percent. Almost a third (31.9%) of the population lives on the equivalent of less than 2 Dollars a day . Around seven million people are considered long-term unemployed with no job prospects, especially those living in informal settlements, the so-called „townships“. The social and economic inequality is a big problem for the country of South Africa. E-Commerce has the potential to resolve this problem, as it is booming and companies plan to extend their businesses as well as their employee numbers. The idea is to train people from the townships in order to get them to work in the E-Commerce business. Interesting for this thesis are those E-Commerce companies with big storage halls, as they are the ones who might be in need of untrained employees of the townships. Jobs could be needed in basic positions such as picking and packing, quality control and customer services in big warehouses. Supposed it would be actually possible to use training initiatives and programs in the form of cooperations of E-Commerce companies and township NGO ́s, resulting in dimishing unemployment and leading to permitting more people participate in the boom of E-Commerce, the South African economy and its society as a whole would gain a tremendous benefit. The research question in this master thesis is interlinking the existing economic boom of E-Commerce with the high unemployment rate in the townships: Does the fast-growing E-Commerce in South Africa have an effect on the high unemployment rate in the townships? In the quest for an answer to this question, attention is paid to two related questions as well: Do the lowest social classes feel an improvement in their living standards after being hired by an E-Commerce business?

The Oxford Companion to the Economics of South Africa

The Oxford Companion to the Economics of South Africa

Author: Haroon Bhorat

Publisher: OUP Oxford

Published: 2014-11-27

Total Pages: 457

ISBN-13: 0191003417

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In 1994 South Africa saw the end of apartheid. The new era of political freedom was seen as the foundation for economic prosperity and inclusion. The last two decades have seen mixed results. Economic growth has been volatile. While inequalities in public services have been reduced, income inequality has increased, and poverty has remained stagnant. As the twentieth anniversary of the transition to democracy approaches in 2014, the economic policy debates in South Africa are in full flow. They combine a stocktake of the various programs of the last two decades with a forward looking discussion of strategy in the face of an ever open but volatile global economy. Underlying the discourse are basic and often unresolved differences on an appropriate strategy for an economy like South Africa, with a strong natural resource base but with deeply entrenched inherited inequalities, especially across race. This volume contributes to the policy and analytical debate by pulling together perspectives on a range of issues: micro, macro, sectoral, country wide and global, from leading economists working on South Africa. Other than the requirement that it be analytical and not polemical, the contributors were given freedom to put forward their particular perspective on their topic. The economists invited are from within South Africa and from outside; from academia and the policy world; from international and national level economic policy agencies. The contributors include recognized world leaders in South African economic analysis, as well as the very best of the younger crop of economists who are working on the study of South Africa, the next generation of leaders in thought and policy.


Book Synopsis The Oxford Companion to the Economics of South Africa by : Haroon Bhorat

Download or read book The Oxford Companion to the Economics of South Africa written by Haroon Bhorat and published by OUP Oxford. This book was released on 2014-11-27 with total page 457 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: In 1994 South Africa saw the end of apartheid. The new era of political freedom was seen as the foundation for economic prosperity and inclusion. The last two decades have seen mixed results. Economic growth has been volatile. While inequalities in public services have been reduced, income inequality has increased, and poverty has remained stagnant. As the twentieth anniversary of the transition to democracy approaches in 2014, the economic policy debates in South Africa are in full flow. They combine a stocktake of the various programs of the last two decades with a forward looking discussion of strategy in the face of an ever open but volatile global economy. Underlying the discourse are basic and often unresolved differences on an appropriate strategy for an economy like South Africa, with a strong natural resource base but with deeply entrenched inherited inequalities, especially across race. This volume contributes to the policy and analytical debate by pulling together perspectives on a range of issues: micro, macro, sectoral, country wide and global, from leading economists working on South Africa. Other than the requirement that it be analytical and not polemical, the contributors were given freedom to put forward their particular perspective on their topic. The economists invited are from within South Africa and from outside; from academia and the policy world; from international and national level economic policy agencies. The contributors include recognized world leaders in South African economic analysis, as well as the very best of the younger crop of economists who are working on the study of South Africa, the next generation of leaders in thought and policy.

The Financial Feasibility of a Township Development

The Financial Feasibility of a Township Development

Author: Michael Bauer

Publisher: GRIN Verlag

Published: 2006-06-02

Total Pages: 170

ISBN-13: 3638507254

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Diploma Thesis from the year 2005 in the subject Business economics - Investment and Finance, grade: 1,0, Nürtingen University, language: English, abstract: The aim of this study is to investigate and evaluate the financial feasibility for providing a compact urban housing development in the South African affordable housing market. The research method involves a literature study and an empirical research undertaken by the researcher to collect accurate market information and investigate the financial feasibility of a proposed township development in the South African affordable housing market. The argumentation will consider economic, building and financial aspects arising through a development of that nature


Book Synopsis The Financial Feasibility of a Township Development by : Michael Bauer

Download or read book The Financial Feasibility of a Township Development written by Michael Bauer and published by GRIN Verlag. This book was released on 2006-06-02 with total page 170 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Diploma Thesis from the year 2005 in the subject Business economics - Investment and Finance, grade: 1,0, Nürtingen University, language: English, abstract: The aim of this study is to investigate and evaluate the financial feasibility for providing a compact urban housing development in the South African affordable housing market. The research method involves a literature study and an empirical research undertaken by the researcher to collect accurate market information and investigate the financial feasibility of a proposed township development in the South African affordable housing market. The argumentation will consider economic, building and financial aspects arising through a development of that nature

The Geography of South Africa

The Geography of South Africa

Author: Jasper Knight

Publisher: Springer

Published: 2018-10-03

Total Pages: 326

ISBN-13: 3319949748

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This edited collection examines contemporary directions in geographical research on South Africa. It encompasses a cross section of selected themes of critical importance not only to the discipline of Geography in South Africa, but also of relevance to other areas of the Global South. All chapters are original contributions, providing a state of the art research baseline on key themes in physical, human and environmental geography, and in understanding the changing geographical landscapes of modern South Africa. These contributions set the scene for an understanding of the relationships between modern South Africa and the wider contemporary world, including issues of sustainable development and growth in the Global South.


Book Synopsis The Geography of South Africa by : Jasper Knight

Download or read book The Geography of South Africa written by Jasper Knight and published by Springer. This book was released on 2018-10-03 with total page 326 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: This edited collection examines contemporary directions in geographical research on South Africa. It encompasses a cross section of selected themes of critical importance not only to the discipline of Geography in South Africa, but also of relevance to other areas of the Global South. All chapters are original contributions, providing a state of the art research baseline on key themes in physical, human and environmental geography, and in understanding the changing geographical landscapes of modern South Africa. These contributions set the scene for an understanding of the relationships between modern South Africa and the wider contemporary world, including issues of sustainable development and growth in the Global South.