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Economic Complexity and the Potential for Green Growth in South Africa
South Africa's reintegration into the global economy post-1994 has not produced the expected levels of industrialisation and growth-enhancing structural transformation that has traditionally been achieved by developed countries in the past. South Africa faces the triple challenge of poverty, inequal...
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| Format: | Thesis |
| Language: | English |
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School of Economics
2021
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| _version_ | 1867613317107810304 |
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| access_status_str | Open Access |
| author | Wewege, Sarah Joy |
| author2 | Bhorat, Haroon |
| author_browse | Bhorat, Haroon Wewege, Sarah Joy |
| author_facet | Bhorat, Haroon Wewege, Sarah Joy |
| author_sort | Wewege, Sarah Joy |
| collection | Thesis |
| description | South Africa's reintegration into the global economy post-1994 has not produced the expected levels of industrialisation and growth-enhancing structural transformation that has traditionally been achieved by developed countries in the past. South Africa faces the triple challenge of poverty, inequality and unemployment and needs structural growth that is inclusive and sustainable. However, trying to emulate the traditional structural transformative growth paths that developed countries have followed previously, will prove unsuccessful due to changes in the global economy. This paper, therefore, argues that an alternate growth path is needed, especially given that global warming and the effects of climate change act as a threat multiplier to economic growth and development. Furthermore, the world economy is shifting away from fossil fuels and resource depletion towards greener technologies and products. South Africa needs to adopt a growth path that accounts for the current climate and global context to ensure sustainable and inclusive growth for future competitiveness. This paper, using the Economic Complexity Methodology, identifies green industries that South Africa is best positioned to develop and grow given the existing knowledge and capabilities within the economy. A case study is conducted on the wind-power industry which proves to be a promising option given South Africa's current economic climate and the potential for employment creation. This paper aims to highlight the opportunities for the development of green industries in South Africa and the limitations that hinder this potential. |
| format | Thesis |
| id | oai:open.uct.ac.za:11427/33084 |
| institution | University of Cape Town (South Africa) |
| language | eng |
| last_indexed | 2026-06-10T12:34:10.861Z |
| license_str | Not specified — see source repository |
| provenance_str_mv | Harvested via OAI-PMH from UCTD — University of Cape Town Open Access Repository |
| publishDate | 2021 |
| publishDateRange | 2021 |
| publishDateSort | 2021 |
| publisher | School of Economics |
| publisherStr | School of Economics |
| record_format | dspace |
| source_str | UCTD — University of Cape Town Open Access Repository |
| spelling | oai:open.uct.ac.za:11427/33084 Economic Complexity and the Potential for Green Growth in South Africa Wewege, Sarah Joy Bhorat, Haroon Economic Development South Africa's reintegration into the global economy post-1994 has not produced the expected levels of industrialisation and growth-enhancing structural transformation that has traditionally been achieved by developed countries in the past. South Africa faces the triple challenge of poverty, inequality and unemployment and needs structural growth that is inclusive and sustainable. However, trying to emulate the traditional structural transformative growth paths that developed countries have followed previously, will prove unsuccessful due to changes in the global economy. This paper, therefore, argues that an alternate growth path is needed, especially given that global warming and the effects of climate change act as a threat multiplier to economic growth and development. Furthermore, the world economy is shifting away from fossil fuels and resource depletion towards greener technologies and products. South Africa needs to adopt a growth path that accounts for the current climate and global context to ensure sustainable and inclusive growth for future competitiveness. This paper, using the Economic Complexity Methodology, identifies green industries that South Africa is best positioned to develop and grow given the existing knowledge and capabilities within the economy. A case study is conducted on the wind-power industry which proves to be a promising option given South Africa's current economic climate and the potential for employment creation. This paper aims to highlight the opportunities for the development of green industries in South Africa and the limitations that hinder this potential. 2021-03-03T01:44:40Z 2021-03-03T01:44:40Z 2020 2021-03-02T19:26:02Z Master Thesis Masters MCom http://hdl.handle.net/11427/33084 eng application/pdf School of Economics Faculty of Commerce |
| spellingShingle | Economic Development Wewege, Sarah Joy Economic Complexity and the Potential for Green Growth in South Africa |
| thesis_degree_str | Master's |
| title | Economic Complexity and the Potential for Green Growth in South Africa |
| title_full | Economic Complexity and the Potential for Green Growth in South Africa |
| title_fullStr | Economic Complexity and the Potential for Green Growth in South Africa |
| title_full_unstemmed | Economic Complexity and the Potential for Green Growth in South Africa |
| title_short | Economic Complexity and the Potential for Green Growth in South Africa |
| title_sort | economic complexity and the potential for green growth in south africa |
| topic | Economic Development |
| url | http://hdl.handle.net/11427/33084 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT wewegesarahjoy economiccomplexityandthepotentialforgreengrowthinsouthafrica |