Equity and redistribution in South Africa: some fiscal federalism perspectives

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Periodical article

Title:	Equity and redistribution in South Africa: some fiscal federalism perspectives
Author:	Heyns, J.v.d.S.
Year:	1995
Periodical:	South African Journal of Economics
Volume:	63
Issue:	2
Pages:	150-172
Language:	English
Geographic term:	South Africa
Subjects:	fiscal policy wealth
External link:	https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1813-6982.1995.tb00233.x
Abstract:	In South Africa increasing attention has been, and is being, given in the economics literature to the importance of the redistribution of income and wealth and its potential effect on the public budget. However, there has been little or no public discussion of issues related to the fiscal federalism milieu within which the distribution or equity function of the government will be implemented. The primary objective of this paper is twofold: first, to provide a broad overview of the economic theory relevant to the assignment of the equity function in a fiscal federalism, and second, to present some provisional reflections and perspectives on the assignment of this function in South Africa, in the light of the provisions of the interim constitution. The article first makes a distinction between redistribution among individuals and redistribution across communities before it turns to an examination of how the redistributive function of the public budget is dealt with in the interim constitution, at central, as well as at regional and provincial levels. Bibliogr., notes, ref.