The primary objectives of the Centre for Real Economy Study (Crest) are to catalyse economic research with a sectoral focus, especially relatively under-researched service sectors, and to improve the flow of information on relevant research between the policy and academic communities. The Provincial Economic Intelligence Unit’s (PEIU’s) objectives are to develop sub-national economic analysis capacity so as to inform Provincial Growth and Development Strategy processes. The SADC Trade Development Project is a three-year partnership between AusAID and TIPS created to conduct a number of research projects on trade reform in Southern Africa. The project aims to develop research infrastructure in the region by creating new databases, formulate policy- and private sector-relevant information tools and publications to inform policy, and build capacity in the region. The Trade & Industry Monitor’s main objective is to disseminate policy-relevant economic research, from macroeconomic policy to competition and regulation policy, ‘development’ issues in general, as well as sub-national economic policy issues, in an accessible format to policy-makers and analysts. The Academic Data Access and Training facility (ADAT) seeks to reinvigorate the relationship between TIPS and the economics departments of tertiary institutions. The ADAT facility will provide post-graduate students with access to new economic data not readily available to Universities as well as provide Small Research Grants to researchers undertaking policy-oriented studies in TIPS’ programme areas. The Southern African Development Research Network is a broad-based policy and research network which aims to increase the supply of policy-relevant research in the region and strengthen evidence-based policy-making. SADRN will initially focus on industrial policy and sector development at the regional level, service sector development and the impact on poverty, and trade policy and its linkages to pro-poor growth. Under the Small Enterprise Development (SED) programme, TIPS as an independent, credible institution not directly involved in the delivery of SMME services has since 2004 undertaken a number of broad-ranging, qualitative assessments of the outcomes of government's policy, strategy and initiatives in small enterprise development. The purpose of this project is to contribute to reducing poverty and inequality in South Africa by supporting the government to develop a Strategy for the Second Economy, as part of its Accelerated Shared Growth Initiative of South Africa (Asgi-SA), located in the Presidency. Economic Regulation
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TIPS/DPRU Forum 2003: The Challenge of Growth and Poverty: The South African Economy Since Democracy

Date(s): 2003-09-08 to 2003-09-10
Venue: Indaba Hotel, Johanesburg

The annual forum serves as a platform for researchers, policy-makers and other stakeholders to discuss ongoing research and to enter into dialogue on policy-relevant issues resulting from research.

TIPS hosted its seventh annual forum in September 2003 together with the Development Policy Research Unit (DPRU).
This year's forum focussed on South Africa's progress in addressing growth and poverty since democracy and the challenges it still faces in these areas. Key themes included:

  • Explaining low economic growth in South Africa in the last decade.
  • The changing structure of the South African economy and microeconomic reform.
  • Sectors as engines of growth and employment in the last decade.
  • Poverty, labour markets and income inequality in the post-aparthed period.
  • Privatisation, regulation and competition.

Various prominent South African government figures and academics, as well as international speakers, participated in the Forum, including South African Finance Minister Trevor Manuel, David Kaplan of UCT, Erik Thorbecke of Cornell University, the University of Toronto's Albert Berry and Rohinton Medhora of the IDRC.

Conference Programmes / Papers

Event Publications

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