Public works as a response to labour market failure in South Africa

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dc.contributor.advisorWilson, Francisen_ZA
dc.contributor.authorMcCord, Anna Gabrieleen_ZA
dc.date.accessioned2014-09-08T09:52:15Z
dc.date.available2014-09-08T09:52:15Z
dc.date.issued2002en_ZA
dc.descriptionBibliography : leaves 112-120.en_ZA
dc.description.abstractUnemployment has been rising in South Africa for the last three decades, leading to official unemployment rates of 26.4% (37% if the broad definition is used). This implies a jobless total of 7 million, with more than 40% of the rural population unemployed, and the development of a growing pool of workers who are excluded from the labour market. The South African economy is facing labour market failure, with labour supply increasingly outstripping demand. If the economy continues on its current growth path this problem of labour market failure will intensify and the employment situation will continue to deteriorate. The severe levels of unemployment resulting from this market failure are a particular problem in South Africa given the role unemployment plays in exacerbating poverty and inequality in an already highly unequal and segmented society, and the uneven incidence of unemployment among racial groups. Public works programming offers a response to both poverty and unemployment, while also addressing the linked national priority issue of asset creation. This paper discusses the option of state intervention through public works, reviewing the South African response in the context of global public works experience. The paper examines both project based public works programming, which forms the dominant policy response in South Africa, and the option of large-scale labour intensification of state expenditure, and examines the employment creation and cost implications of each, drawing on a case study from KwaZulu Natal. The paper concludes that public works interventions in South Africa to date have been relatively limited in scope and impact, and that the potential exists for far greater job creation and poverty alleviation through both the labour intensification of public spending, and the rationalization of the project based approach.en_ZA
dc.identifier.apacitationMcCord, A. G. (2002). <i>Public works as a response to labour market failure in South Africa</i>. (Thesis). University of Cape Town ,Faculty of Commerce ,School of Economics. Retrieved from http://hdl.handle.net/11427/6953en_ZA
dc.identifier.chicagocitationMcCord, Anna Gabriele. <i>"Public works as a response to labour market failure in South Africa."</i> Thesis., University of Cape Town ,Faculty of Commerce ,School of Economics, 2002. http://hdl.handle.net/11427/6953en_ZA
dc.identifier.citationMcCord, A. 2002. Public works as a response to labour market failure in South Africa. University of Cape Town.en_ZA
dc.identifier.ris TY - Thesis / Dissertation AU - McCord, Anna Gabriele AB - Unemployment has been rising in South Africa for the last three decades, leading to official unemployment rates of 26.4% (37% if the broad definition is used). This implies a jobless total of 7 million, with more than 40% of the rural population unemployed, and the development of a growing pool of workers who are excluded from the labour market. The South African economy is facing labour market failure, with labour supply increasingly outstripping demand. If the economy continues on its current growth path this problem of labour market failure will intensify and the employment situation will continue to deteriorate. The severe levels of unemployment resulting from this market failure are a particular problem in South Africa given the role unemployment plays in exacerbating poverty and inequality in an already highly unequal and segmented society, and the uneven incidence of unemployment among racial groups. Public works programming offers a response to both poverty and unemployment, while also addressing the linked national priority issue of asset creation. This paper discusses the option of state intervention through public works, reviewing the South African response in the context of global public works experience. The paper examines both project based public works programming, which forms the dominant policy response in South Africa, and the option of large-scale labour intensification of state expenditure, and examines the employment creation and cost implications of each, drawing on a case study from KwaZulu Natal. The paper concludes that public works interventions in South Africa to date have been relatively limited in scope and impact, and that the potential exists for far greater job creation and poverty alleviation through both the labour intensification of public spending, and the rationalization of the project based approach. DA - 2002 DB - OpenUCT DP - University of Cape Town LK - https://open.uct.ac.za PB - University of Cape Town PY - 2002 T1 - Public works as a response to labour market failure in South Africa TI - Public works as a response to labour market failure in South Africa UR - http://hdl.handle.net/11427/6953 ER - en_ZA
dc.identifier.urihttp://hdl.handle.net/11427/6953
dc.identifier.vancouvercitationMcCord AG. Public works as a response to labour market failure in South Africa. [Thesis]. University of Cape Town ,Faculty of Commerce ,School of Economics, 2002 [cited yyyy month dd]. Available from: http://hdl.handle.net/11427/6953en_ZA
dc.language.isoengen_ZA
dc.publisher.departmentSchool of Economicsen_ZA
dc.publisher.facultyFaculty of Commerceen_ZA
dc.publisher.institutionUniversity of Cape Town
dc.subject.otherElectrical Engineeringen_ZA
dc.titlePublic works as a response to labour market failure in South Africaen_ZA
dc.typeMaster Thesis
dc.type.qualificationlevelMasters
dc.type.qualificationnameMComen_ZA
uct.type.filetypeText
uct.type.filetypeImage
uct.type.publicationResearchen_ZA
uct.type.resourceThesisen_ZA
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