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Impact of Trade Liberalisation on Economic Growth: South Africa's automotive perspective

This study examines the impact of trade liberalisation policies on the economic growth of South Africa's automotive industry within the context of international trade. The study aims to investigate the effects of trade openness policy on the automotive industry's development and economic growth. The...

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Main Author: Libazi, Nomfundo
Other Authors: Kabinga, Mundia
Format: Thesis
Language:Eng
Published: Graduate School of Business (GSB) 2025
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access_status_str Open Access
author Libazi, Nomfundo
author2 Kabinga, Mundia
author_browse Kabinga, Mundia
Libazi, Nomfundo
author_facet Kabinga, Mundia
Libazi, Nomfundo
author_sort Libazi, Nomfundo
collection Thesis
description This study examines the impact of trade liberalisation policies on the economic growth of South Africa's automotive industry within the context of international trade. The study aims to investigate the effects of trade openness policy on the automotive industry's development and economic growth. The study uses the Vector Error Correction Model (VECM) to examine the relationship between trade liberalisation and economic growth. Time series data from Q1 1992 to Q4 2021 is used for the study to reshape conventional theories and inspire further research. The findings reveal a negative correlation between trade openness and economic growth in the long-run despite increased exports due to liberalisation policies. Even when the study adjusts the lagged results from 6 to 2, the impact is the same. This correlation is attributed to workforce limitations and an underdeveloped local supplier base. Results are validated through diagnostic tests, displaying significant and robust evidence. Given the divergence in the findings, further research is needed to better understand the results. Policymakers should concentrate on skills and human capital development to improve the technical and absorption capability of the local market. Skills and human capital development ensure that industry benefits from technological diffusions flowing from international trade. Supportive industrial policies aligned with long-term liberalisation strategies can upgrade and capture a greater value-added share within value chains.
format Thesis
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institution University of Cape Town (South Africa)
language Eng
last_indexed 2026-06-10T12:50:26.334Z
license_str Not specified — see source repository
provenance_str_mv Harvested via OAI-PMH from UCTD — University of Cape Town Open Access Repository
publishDate 2025
publishDateRange 2025
publishDateSort 2025
publisher Graduate School of Business (GSB)
publisherStr Graduate School of Business (GSB)
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source_str UCTD — University of Cape Town Open Access Repository
spelling oai:open.uct.ac.za:11427/41079 Impact of Trade Liberalisation on Economic Growth: South Africa's automotive perspective Libazi, Nomfundo Kabinga, Mundia Business This study examines the impact of trade liberalisation policies on the economic growth of South Africa's automotive industry within the context of international trade. The study aims to investigate the effects of trade openness policy on the automotive industry's development and economic growth. The study uses the Vector Error Correction Model (VECM) to examine the relationship between trade liberalisation and economic growth. Time series data from Q1 1992 to Q4 2021 is used for the study to reshape conventional theories and inspire further research. The findings reveal a negative correlation between trade openness and economic growth in the long-run despite increased exports due to liberalisation policies. Even when the study adjusts the lagged results from 6 to 2, the impact is the same. This correlation is attributed to workforce limitations and an underdeveloped local supplier base. Results are validated through diagnostic tests, displaying significant and robust evidence. Given the divergence in the findings, further research is needed to better understand the results. Policymakers should concentrate on skills and human capital development to improve the technical and absorption capability of the local market. Skills and human capital development ensure that industry benefits from technological diffusions flowing from international trade. Supportive industrial policies aligned with long-term liberalisation strategies can upgrade and capture a greater value-added share within value chains. 2025-03-03T13:22:13Z 2025-03-03T13:22:13Z 2024 2025-03-03T13:12:31Z Thesis / Dissertation Masters MBA http://hdl.handle.net/11427/41079 Eng application/pdf Graduate School of Business (GSB) Faculty of Commerce University of Cape Town
spellingShingle Business
Libazi, Nomfundo
Impact of Trade Liberalisation on Economic Growth: South Africa's automotive perspective
thesis_degree_str Master's
title Impact of Trade Liberalisation on Economic Growth: South Africa's automotive perspective
title_full Impact of Trade Liberalisation on Economic Growth: South Africa's automotive perspective
title_fullStr Impact of Trade Liberalisation on Economic Growth: South Africa's automotive perspective
title_full_unstemmed Impact of Trade Liberalisation on Economic Growth: South Africa's automotive perspective
title_short Impact of Trade Liberalisation on Economic Growth: South Africa's automotive perspective
title_sort impact of trade liberalisation on economic growth south africa s automotive perspective
topic Business
url http://hdl.handle.net/11427/41079
work_keys_str_mv AT libazinomfundo impactoftradeliberalisationoneconomicgrowthsouthafricasautomotiveperspective