Regional and local economic development strategies in the Eastern Cape and guidelines for future development
- Nel, E L
- Authors: Nel, E L
- Date: 1997
- Subjects: Community development -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape Case studies Community development Community development -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape Eastern Cape (South Africa) -- Economic conditions
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Doctoral , PhD
- Identifier: vital:4848 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1005524
- Description: Local Economic Development (LED) is an applied economic development strategy which seeks to address site-specific needs through locally appropriate solutions. In this thesis, the faith being accorded to the potential of LED in South Africa is critically examined. The study is based on a detailed examination of the experience of regional development and several emerging cases of LED in the Eastern Cape Province of South Africa. High levels of poverty and unemployment necessitate and justify innovative approaches to address such problems. The thesis examines the potential of LED strategies and identifies applied policy guidelines which can help address the Province's development needs. The theoretical framework of this research is based on a critical examination of international and South African literature dealing with development issues, LED and localities theory. A detailed documentary examination of early LED endeavours and the experience of regional development in the present century was undertaken. Results suggest that LED is not a new concept and that regional development, through its political bias, achieved only limited success. Contemporary examples of LED were identified and examined through detailed site-specific investigations. This was carried out through the use of semistructured interviews supplemented by participatory rural appraisal and questionnaire surveys which served as a means to triangulate the results. The research findings indicate that regional development, as applied in the study area, did not lead to the establishment of a permanent industrial base. In terms of the concept of LED, it is apparent that it has allowed for socio-political empowerment but has only improved economic conditions in the more well-endowed case-studies. In these areas, positive antecedent conditions and the key role played by community supportive nongovernmental organizations is apparent. Despite the limited degree of success which many initiatives attain, the thesis regards LED as a development alternative for areas which are unlikely to draw in external investment. Some of the key contributions of the thesis include the advancement of a refined typology of LED, the development of a research schedule to investigate and assess LED initiatives and the postulation of appropriate development guidelines and theoretical constructs.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 1997
- Authors: Nel, E L
- Date: 1997
- Subjects: Community development -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape Case studies Community development Community development -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape Eastern Cape (South Africa) -- Economic conditions
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Doctoral , PhD
- Identifier: vital:4848 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1005524
- Description: Local Economic Development (LED) is an applied economic development strategy which seeks to address site-specific needs through locally appropriate solutions. In this thesis, the faith being accorded to the potential of LED in South Africa is critically examined. The study is based on a detailed examination of the experience of regional development and several emerging cases of LED in the Eastern Cape Province of South Africa. High levels of poverty and unemployment necessitate and justify innovative approaches to address such problems. The thesis examines the potential of LED strategies and identifies applied policy guidelines which can help address the Province's development needs. The theoretical framework of this research is based on a critical examination of international and South African literature dealing with development issues, LED and localities theory. A detailed documentary examination of early LED endeavours and the experience of regional development in the present century was undertaken. Results suggest that LED is not a new concept and that regional development, through its political bias, achieved only limited success. Contemporary examples of LED were identified and examined through detailed site-specific investigations. This was carried out through the use of semistructured interviews supplemented by participatory rural appraisal and questionnaire surveys which served as a means to triangulate the results. The research findings indicate that regional development, as applied in the study area, did not lead to the establishment of a permanent industrial base. In terms of the concept of LED, it is apparent that it has allowed for socio-political empowerment but has only improved economic conditions in the more well-endowed case-studies. In these areas, positive antecedent conditions and the key role played by community supportive nongovernmental organizations is apparent. Despite the limited degree of success which many initiatives attain, the thesis regards LED as a development alternative for areas which are unlikely to draw in external investment. Some of the key contributions of the thesis include the advancement of a refined typology of LED, the development of a research schedule to investigate and assess LED initiatives and the postulation of appropriate development guidelines and theoretical constructs.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 1997
Regional development planning in the Border-Ciskei-Transkei region: an examination of its implementation, effects and implications
- Nel, E L
- Authors: Nel, E L
- Date: 1996
- Subjects: Regional planning -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape Regional planning -- South Africa -- Transkei Regional planning -- South Africa -- Ciskei Rural development -- South Africa
- Language: English
- Type: Book , Text
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/1899 , vital:20237 , ISBN 0868103098
- Description: This paper examines the implementation and effects of regional development planning in the former Border-Ciskei-Transkei region of South Africa. State planning strategies were utilized for more than 30 years to further the ends of apartheid by trying to turn the black 'Homelands', into independent economic entities. In addition, the results of the dubious strategies applied and their implications receive particular attention. This is particularly significant in terms of the recent closure of numerous firms in the region as a result of exposure to market forces. The study aims to document and analyse what happened in the area, to detail the conclusions that can be derived from the experience and, by implication, to raise issues which future planners need to take into consideration. The experience of decades of politically-based planning of the economy led to a situation which subsidised inefficiency, encouraged exploitation and failed to leave a sustainable industrial base. Firms were drawn in by the incentives offered and not by inherent locational advantages. The weak economic linkages which resulted and the current disinvestment in the wake of the termination of incentives are an indictment against the policy. The saga of regional development in the Border-Ciskei- Transkei region vividly illustrates the need for future planners to take cognizance of key economic realities when contemplating such strategies. The new government should not repeat the mistake of attracting and subsidising industrial firms which have only tenuous links with the host economy and which require state support to operate profitably. Appropriate policies to assist the most needy remain an urgent necessity which the new government has yet to address properly. This study is based on surveys of manufacturing firms in the region which received state support, interviews with government and development agents, chambers of commerce and municipalities as well as a detailed review of published reports, academic articles and research projects. The time frame of the study extends from the early 1940s when the first attempts at regional development planning were made, through to 1993, the latest year for which data is available. This permits a broad sweep to be made of policies from the apartheid to the post-apartheid period. , Digitised by Rhodes University Library on behalf of the Institute of Social and Economic Research (ISER)
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 1996
- Authors: Nel, E L
- Date: 1996
- Subjects: Regional planning -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape Regional planning -- South Africa -- Transkei Regional planning -- South Africa -- Ciskei Rural development -- South Africa
- Language: English
- Type: Book , Text
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/1899 , vital:20237 , ISBN 0868103098
- Description: This paper examines the implementation and effects of regional development planning in the former Border-Ciskei-Transkei region of South Africa. State planning strategies were utilized for more than 30 years to further the ends of apartheid by trying to turn the black 'Homelands', into independent economic entities. In addition, the results of the dubious strategies applied and their implications receive particular attention. This is particularly significant in terms of the recent closure of numerous firms in the region as a result of exposure to market forces. The study aims to document and analyse what happened in the area, to detail the conclusions that can be derived from the experience and, by implication, to raise issues which future planners need to take into consideration. The experience of decades of politically-based planning of the economy led to a situation which subsidised inefficiency, encouraged exploitation and failed to leave a sustainable industrial base. Firms were drawn in by the incentives offered and not by inherent locational advantages. The weak economic linkages which resulted and the current disinvestment in the wake of the termination of incentives are an indictment against the policy. The saga of regional development in the Border-Ciskei- Transkei region vividly illustrates the need for future planners to take cognizance of key economic realities when contemplating such strategies. The new government should not repeat the mistake of attracting and subsidising industrial firms which have only tenuous links with the host economy and which require state support to operate profitably. Appropriate policies to assist the most needy remain an urgent necessity which the new government has yet to address properly. This study is based on surveys of manufacturing firms in the region which received state support, interviews with government and development agents, chambers of commerce and municipalities as well as a detailed review of published reports, academic articles and research projects. The time frame of the study extends from the early 1940s when the first attempts at regional development planning were made, through to 1993, the latest year for which data is available. This permits a broad sweep to be made of policies from the apartheid to the post-apartheid period. , Digitised by Rhodes University Library on behalf of the Institute of Social and Economic Research (ISER)
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 1996
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