Trade And Industrial Policy Analysis With Specific Reference To Automotive Industry Programmes: Lessons For Developing Countries

Over the last two decades the global auto industry has undergone important structural transformations and policy reforms posing complex challenges for low-volume automobile producing countries. More specifically, during the 1990s, rapid growth in sales and production were experienced in the global auto market, which has interestingly, been largely attributable to strong growth registered in emerging markets instead of the Triad regions. This paper provides a sectoral perspective analysing trade and industrial policies of selected emerging auto countries and concludes with recommendations for future automotive policy particularly for South Africa and other developing countries that are important to developing internationally competitive and sustainable automotive sectors

An empirical examination of import demand for pulses in India

India is the largest producer and importer of pulses in the world. Since 1970, the Indian food economy has undergone major policy reforms, including trade liberalisation, that had the effect of opening up its domestic pulse market to international trade. This market is very lucrative and of major significance to the world pulse economy. Therefore, given the increasing evidence linking import demand and economic variables, an understanding of the impact of these variables on import demand for pulses in India is warranted. The import demand functions for total pulses, chickpea and lentils were estimated by autocorrelation regression procedure using time-series data for the period 1970 through to 2000. Empirical results indicate that real GDP, population, urbanisation, exchange rate and relative price are key determinants of import demand for pulses in India

Economic analysis of the impact of policy reforms on the South African automobile industry

After years of intense protection, the South African automobile industry has undergone major policy reforms. This paper investigates the impact of policy reforms on the welfare of consumers, producers and society as a whole. The results of the simulation analysis indicate that, following the removal of domestic content requirements and reduction in tariffs, there has been significant reduction in consumer welfare loss and societal deadweight loss in the automobile industry, while tariff revenue to the South African government has significantly decreased. The results demonstrate that further reduction in tariffs on completely built-up units and completely knocked-down units is likely to result in further reduction in efficiency loss, thus leading to an improvement in the performance of South Africa’s automobile industry

Intra-industry trade : a methodology to test the automobile industry in South Africa

This paper provides a study of the theory and empirical evidence of intra-industry trade (IIT) and relates it specifically to South Africa's automobile industry. The automobile industry in South Africa is a key sector within the national economy and has experienced increased trade and foreign investment in recent years, and thus represents an important case study of IIT. In view of this, the paper proposes a methodology that may be used in future to assess the pattern and determinants of IIT between South Africa and its main trading partners in the automobile industry

An empirical examination of import demand for pulses in India

India is the largest producer and importer of pulses in the world. Since 1970, the Indian food economy has undergone major policy reforms, including trade liberalisation, that had the effect of opening up its domestic pulse market to international trade. This market is very lucrative and of major significance to the world pulse economy. Therefore, given the increasing evidence linking import demand and economic variables, an understanding of the impact of these variables on import demand for pulses in India is warranted. The import demand functions for total pulses, chickpea and lentils were estimated by autocorrelation regression procedure using time-series data for the period 1970 through to 2000. Empirical results indicate that real GDP, population, urbanisation, exchange rate and relative price are key determinants of import demand for pulses in India.India, pulses, import demand, unit root., Agricultural and Food Policy, Crop Production/Industries,

South Africa: Impact of HIV/AIDS on food demand

A growing number of studies have concluded that South Africa has one of the highest cases of HIV infections in the world. With the epidemic continuing to evolve at an alarming rate, the government of South Africa has regarded the HIV/AIDS epidemic as a developmental and socio-economic policy issue. This study explores the impact of HIV/AIDS on food demand in South Africa. Food demand functions were estimated using time-series data for the period 1970 to 2000.Simulation analyses were undertaken to examine “with AIDS” and “without AIDS” scenarios. Unlike previous empirical findings, which dwell on the major negative impact of HIV/AIDS on food demand patterns in South Africa, this study foreshadows a more mixed outcome of both negative and positive impacts on the demand patterns for specific food types in South Africa as consequences of the HIV/AIDS epidemic and recommends policy changes.Acquired immune deficiency syndrome, Economic policy, Food products, HIV, Social groups, South Africa

HIV/AIDS and South Africa’s Agricultural Sector: Impact on Food Demand

South Africa has one of the highest cases of HIV infections in the world. With the epidemic continuing at an alarming rate, the government of South Africa has regarded the HIV/AIDS epidemic a developmental and socio-economic policy issue. The study explores the impact of HIV/AIDS on food demand in South Africa. The food demand function is specified and estimated using time-series data for the period 1970 to 2000. Simulation analysis is performed to examine the impact of ‘with AIDS’ and ‘without AIDS’ scenarios. The empirical results indicate that the HIV/AIDS epidemic could have a major impact on food demand patterns for selected food items in South Africa