When the National Treasury first published its Economic Policy Paper, there was widespread puzzlement as to why yet another such report was needed. It repeated much of what was already contained in former plans. It has now become apparent that its purpose was to set the agenda for discussions on economic policy within the ANC and to serve as a framework for the economic policy of President Cyril Ramaphosa’s government. While not fully accepted, it seems to have successfully served this purpose. Sandy McGregor offers some perspective.
Over the past year, there has been growing concern that the country has become trapped in economic stagnation because the Ramaphosa administration has failed to act decisively to address the many problems which we face. Hopefully the new plan will stimulate the action required to set us back on a growth path.
The paper rightly emphasises that policy should be focused. Successful economic policy requires that priority be given to interventions which offer the greatest impact at the least cost. The current situation is dire. However, there are simple things that can be done that can have a meaningful impact in a relatively short period of time. Rapid action to promote these opportunities is the best way to get the economy going again. Among these are the following:
1. Export earnings and foreign investment
Economic growth in South Africa is leveraged off its export earnings. Accordingly, priority must be given to supporting initiatives which boost exports or generate service receipts. However, this alone will not be enough. Given South Africa’s shortage of domestic savings, stimulating economic growth requires foreign investment. The president’s programme to attract foreign investment recognises this reality. This will succeed only if policy is rationally formulated so that investors have confidence in the long-term sustainability of South Africa as an investment destination.
Hopefully the new plan will stimulate the action required to set us back on a growth path
2. The shortage of skills
The most important cause of South Africa’s present economic woes is a shortage of technical and managerial skills. This is most clearly seen in government, but is a problem throughout the economy. The increasing income disparity between the skilled and unskilled referred to in the paper is a direct consequence of this shortage. Notable business failures in the public sector, such as Eskom, and the scandalous state of public hospitals, can be directly attributed to appalling mismanagement. The failures of the state educational system are well known and understood.
It will take a long time to fix this and to build up the required skills base. In the interim, if South Africa is to get its economy going again, it must be open to importing skills where required.
3. Decisive changes at Home Affairs
In the modern global economy, skills are mobile. Multinational companies require the freedom to transfer key personnel from country to country. They will not willingly locate their operations in countries which deny them this right. South African business also needs to tap into such skills.
It must be understood that in a society with a skills shortage, inward migration of persons who can fill this gap does not create unemployment. On the contrary, as a rule, every skilled person entering the country contributes to economic growth, which creates work opportunities in the domestic economy. This is cautiously admitted in the Treasury paper, which argues for the admission of persons with acceptable tertiary degrees. Policy changes need to be much bolder. At the very least they should be expanded to include persons who are willing to establish a business and those whom existing businesses are willing to sponsor.
Retired persons from other countries who have an acceptable pension income should also be made welcome. It is better that they spend their pensions here rather than elsewhere. Unless the byzantine complexities of the present system for gaining permission for permanent residence are radically simplified, we shall be unable to attract the skills we so desperately need.
4. The tourism opportunity
It is encouraging that President Ramaphosa has publicly stated that in recent years, visa regulations have damaged our tourism industry and that steps are being taken to remedy this. Tourism probably represents South Africa’s greatest short-term economic opportunity. When one compares the contribution of tourism to the South African economy with that of countries such as Spain or Italy, we are clearly attracting far fewer visitors than we should. An important reason for this is unnecessary impediments to entry imposed by Home Affairs. If these are removed, tourism could boom.
Apart from instituting a welcoming visa regime, little else is required of government. Some international promotion is desirable, and the proposal that there be some mechanism to reduce red tape has merit. The rest can be left to the private sector. Tourism is the simplest way to create jobs for relatively unskilled persons. It can have a big impact on the economy, especially as it generates foreign exchange earnings. The economy is leveraged to export and service receipts. Growth in tourism will have a strong multiplier effect on the economy.
5. Documentation of property ownership
There is widespread occupation of land and houses by persons who are legally entitled to a property but do not have title deeds to confirm their ownership. A serious effort by the state to remedy this is required not merely on grounds of simple justice, but also because registered ownership would provide collateral which entrepreneurs could use to raise capital, thereby boosting the small business sector.
Tourism probably represents South Africa’s greatest short-term economic opportunity
6. The opportunity in agriculture
In the past decade, agriculture has been one of South Africa’s success stories. Its farmers have taken advantage of growing demand in Africa, and China becoming a major food importer. This has been achieved despite serious climatic challenges.
This success is the outcome of the consolidation of the industry into a small number of well-managed operations, which are large enough to take advantage of the economies of scale required for profitable farming. It is often said that 800 farmers produce 80% of South Africa’s food production. While this is a soft statistic, it provides an accurate representation of reality. Only well-managed, efficient farming businesses can meet the demand of domestic retailers and the international food trade for low prices. These farmers provide large numbers of sustainable jobs for unskilled workers.
Agricultural policy should be focused on taking advantage of this success. Policies aimed at promoting subsistence farming may have considerable social value, but are unlikely to be sustainable without continuing financial support from the state.
7. Eskom
Everyone now recognises that fixing Eskom is an urgent priority. Underlying its financial collapse has been a flawed business model. It ignored the simple law of economics that increasing prices reduces demand. Massive price increases have decimated demand as consumers have reorganised their affairs to reduce consumption. Certain energy-intensive industries have been driven into closure.
The electricity price shock has been a significant contributor to South Africa’s current economic malaise. Tariff increases have wiped out a significant proportion of Eskom’s potential sales, leaving them 10% lower than they were eight years ago. This, in turn, has diminished the cash flow available to service Eskom’s financial obligations. Further tariff hikes will exacerbate matters. The debate on tariffs should not be about how much they should be increased to make Eskom financially viable; rather, it should be about how Eskom should be structured to keep prices low enough to promote growth.
The most important task in fixing Eskom is to install an efficient and credible management team
The paper correctly sees the opportunity presented by renewables. However, a baseload of coal will be required for many years. The economically best outcome requires optimal use of existing capital stock. The idea of selling existing coal-fired stations looks good in theory, but it may prove difficult in practice. Coal is increasingly being demonised. Large pension funds in developed economies are unwilling to invest in coal. Banks are being pressured by lobby groups to cease lending to the carbon economy. Funding of any purchase of coal stations is likely to be very expensive.
The most important task in fixing Eskom is to install an efficient and credible management team. While a lot of attention has been given to how Eskom is to be funded, nothing can be done until the management issues are resolved. A sustainable funding package requires a management team in which credit providers have confidence.
More resources need to be allocated to maintaining law and order and to training the police on how to maintain civic peace
8. The urban rail system
The commuter rail system in South Africa’s major cities is in a state of serious decay due to a combination of mismanagement and neglect. This diverts traffic onto the roads, aggravating an already serious congestion problem. High priority should be given to fixing the management of the urban rail system as this can deliver at relatively low cost a significant improvement in the quality of life of commuters and will have a positive economic impact on major cities.
9. Labour laws
While the political impediments to creating a more business-friendly labour dispensation are well known, it needs to be clearly recognised that the present dispensation is a principal cause of the high level of unemployment. It constitutes a formidable obstacle to starting a new business and has the unintended consequence that investment is biased towards technologies that require a minimal workforce. Curtailing the activities of labour brokers has eliminated what was one of the easiest ways for a new entrant to the labour market to find a job.
Promoting apprenticeships is probably the most effective intervention which can ameliorate the adverse consequences of labour legislation. A combination of further subsidies and incentives to promote apprenticeship schemes is required.
10. Law and order
Perhaps the most serious immediate threat to the South African economy is increasing lawlessness. The operation of many businesses is being disrupted by extortionate demands from communities and opportunists who are conducting what can be described as protection rackets. Given increasing poverty and the lack of legitimate work opportunities, these developments are understandable. However, social disorder is imposing a serious additional burden on business, which will have a cost in the form of reduced economic growth, which, in turn, will further exacerbate poverty.
If the police are unable to protect those conducting legitimate businesses, many of these businesses will close. The president’s ambitious programme to attract foreign investment is being put at risk. More resources need to be allocated to maintaining law and order and to training the police on how to maintain civic peace.