Changes and limits of a siege economy

bibliographic database
Line

Periodical article

Title:	Changes and limits of a siege economy
Author:	Coker, C.
Year:	1989
Periodical:	RSA 2000: gesprek met die toekoms
Volume:	11
Issue:	1
Pages:	50-57
Language:	English
Geographic term:	South Africa
Subjects:	economic conditions sanctions
Abstract:	Point of departure of this article is the 'siege psychosis' of South Africa of the past ten years, which was a consequence of the government's own actions. Against this background the author examines the country's present drift towards a siege economy (an economy starved of foreign capital and interbank loans). He shows that structural disinvestment was in some respect even salutory to the already weak South African economic performance. However, its social and political consequences were less encouraging: more unemployment, notably among the most skilled section of the black population, and a substantial reduction in housing programmes. Moreover, sanctions or disinvestment by oil companies could have a highly deleterious effect on the economy. The last section deals with the question of whether South Africa can fund itself in the next five years of siege economy.