Please use this identifier to cite or link to this item: https://hdl.handle.net/10419/229400 
Year of Publication: 
2020
Series/Report no.: 
WIDER Working Paper No. 2020/176
Publisher: 
The United Nations University World Institute for Development Economics Research (UNU-WIDER), Helsinki
Abstract: 
We investigate the relevance of beta (Ø, absolute and conditional) and sigma (σ) convergence in the economies of the Common Monetary Area of Southern Africa and in the provinces of the Republic of South Africa using panel data, allowing an understanding of growth and inequality in the region. The region has experienced Ø- and σ-convergence; however, growth rates of per capita gross domestic product are low at aggregate and sectoral levels. At sectoral level, the performance of the tertiary sector is better than that of the primary and secondary sectors. The relatively poor performance of the primary and secondary sectors needs policy attention. For the provinces of South Africa, capital expenditure on key sectors such as education and health can enhance growth rate, whereas the overall revenue expenditure retards growth. Therefore, provinces' capital budgets need to be managed well within the limitation of revenue expenditure to avoid fiscal imbalances.
Subjects: 
convergence
growth
inequality
panel data
Southern African region
JEL: 
C23
D63
E13
O47
R11
Persistent Identifier of the first edition: 
ISBN: 
978-92-9256-933-4
Document Type: 
Working Paper

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