Are South Africa's National Development Plan's economic growth and employment initiatives sufficiently robust to realise vision 2030? A cross-country analysis.

Abstract

This paper investigates whether South AfricaÕs National Development PlanÕs (NDP) nine economic growth and employment initiatives are sufficiently robust to result in increased economic growth, reduced inequality and eradicated poverty by 2030. An analysis of secondary economic data of 79 countries for the period 1991 to 2016 determined which economies achieved employment-intensive, inclusive growth. Thereafter, the prevalence of the NDPÕs economic growth and employment initiatives was compared in the employment-intensive, inclusive growth countries and the Ôrest of the worldÕsÕ countries. The results suggest that seven countries exhibited employment-intensive, inclusive growth and, six of the nine NDP initiatives were more prevalent in the employment-intensive, inclusive growth countries and thus, are sufficiently robust to achieve the NDPÕs goals.