Why is South African productivity so low?
Productivity is essential to sustainable economic growth; indeed, it is the key determinant thereof. South Africa’s productivity has, by any metric, declined over the past 20 years.
This workshop on productivity is designed to inform policymakers and to encourage policy-relevant discussion using recent research, presented by experts in the field. Paul Schreyer, Deputy Chief Statistician of the OECD, will give the keynote address. The final session will focus on discussing potential solutions to the policy issues of low South African productivity.
The event is part of UNU-WIDER's Regional growth and development in Southern Africa project which aims to develop, in conjunction with important research/policy institutions in the region, regional growth and development initiatives that generate economic transformation and widely shared development benefits.
See the Invitation
Programme
Welcome and introduction | Rashad Cassim, South African Reserve Bank |
Productivity growth in SA and other EMs |
Channing Arndt, UNU-WIDER |
Trade and productivity |
Marianne Matthee, North-West University |
Competition and productivity |
Nicola Viegi, Economic Research Southern Africa ERSA, and Nonso Obikili, Economic Research Southern Africa ERSA |
Firm-level/aggregate productivity trends |
Lawrence Edwards, University of Cape Town |
Productivity developments in the OECD area | Paul Schreyer, OECD |
Proposed policy solutions to boost SA productivity | TBC |