Time is not on our side
The dominant reading of the MTBPS is that it has steadied the ship, but a more demanding reading of it argues that given projections on social indicators and the political climate, a space existed for deeper reaching reforms.
Read a more in-depth article on the MTBPS at SACSIS This post brings together three key questions that arise from the 2010 Medium-Term Budget Policy Statement (MTBPS). This post is simply about putting some of the numbers together, so that I can begin to think through the options and implications.The three areas I am focussing on :
- Local government share of revenue
- Costing of services and effective spending
- Economic growth and employment creation
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Posted: October 28th, 2010 | 1 Comment »
Filed under: Budget 2010, Budget 2011, Economic Inclusion, Public Expenditure, Public Services, Unemployment in South Africa | Tags: Budget, Economic growth, Gross Domestic Product, Inflation, Medium Term Budget Policy Statement, National Treasury, New Growth Path, Small Business, Social Compact, Unemployment
How our government manages its finances is an issue that always stirs up a huge amount of emotions and public debate. Unfortunately, for South Africans, improving public finance management adheres to the adage “one step forward, two steps back.”
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Posted: July 12th, 2010 | No Comments »
Filed under: Budget 2010, Public Expenditure | Tags: Audit, public finance management
What is to be done? Minister Pravin Gordhan asked the question in his inaugural budget speech. There was a slight pause after he asked the question. He then broke from the written text to say, “Some of you will know where that comes from.” The obvious reference was to the title of a political and theoretical article written by Lenin, and in so doing suggestive of a leftist orientation to the budget.
Minister Gordhan then went on to eloquently explain the exemplary objectives that Budget 2010 would seek to achieve, which could be summarised as creating a more equal society.
However, the more important question today is, “How are we to do it?”
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Posted: February 18th, 2010 | No Comments »
Filed under: Budget 2010, Public Expenditure | Tags: Amartya Sen, Budget 2010, Business, Lenin, Pravin Gordhan, Roberto Unger, South African Labour Development Research Unit, Unemployment, Wage Subsidy
The previous Minister of Finance, Trevor Manuel, always peppered his budget speech with humorous advice received as part of his “Tips for Trevor” campaign. As Minister Pravin Gordhan unveils his inaugural budget speech what would a set of “Pointers for Pravin” be?Judging by his Medium-Term Budget Policy Statement speech in 2009, the South African public should also remember that Minister Gordhan is likely to make a point or two of his own.
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Posted: February 18th, 2010 | No Comments »
Filed under: Budget 2010, Public Expenditure | Tags: Budget 2010, Inequality, Macroeconomics, National Treasury, Neoliberalism, Poverty, Pravin Gordhan, Trevor Manuel, Unemployment
