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Periodical article Periodical article Leiden University catalogue Leiden University catalogue WorldCat catalogue WorldCat
Title:Macroeconomic Strategies, Agriculture and Rural Poverty in Post-Apartheid South Africa
Authors:Mather, CharlesISNI
Adelzadeh, AsgharISNI
Year:1998
Periodical:Africa Insight
Volume:28
Issue:1-2
Pages:25-35
Language:English
Geographic term:South Africa
Subjects:economic policy
agriculture
Agriculture, Natural Resources and the Environment
Development and Technology
Economics and Trade
Abstract:In June 1996 South Africa's Minister of Finance released the government's postapartheid macroeconomic blueprint: the Growth, Employment and Redistribution (GEAR) plan. With a restrictive fiscal policy and a commitment to free market principles, GEAR is a considerable deviation from earlier ANC economic thinking. The present authors argue that the macroeconomic strategy, as laid down in GEAR, must be judged on its ability to redistribute wealth more equally and, in the South African context, improve the livelihoods of the rural poor. They explore the possible impact of GEAR on agriculture and rural livelihoods. The paper begins by examining the position of agriculture within the South African economy. It examines why agriculture was singled out for its potential contribution to growth and job creation by policy analysts from very different ideological positions. The paper then examines GEAR's strategy for the economy and contrasts its approach to agriculture with previous policy positions. The last two parts of the paper explore the probable impact of an open export-oriented economy on commercial agriculture, rural livelihoods, and on small-scale farmers. Bibliogr., notes, ref.
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