Showing papers by "Christian M. Rogerson published in 1996"

Urban poverty and the informal economy in South Africa's economic heartland

Abstract: SUMMARY: The paper describes urban poverty and the informal economy in the economic hub of South Africa, the Pretoria-Witwatersrand-Vereeniging region (which includes Johannesburg). Its findings show the limited possibilities for using the informal economy as a means of resolving pressing issues of poverty in South Africa’s cities. After an introduction about the post-apartheid government’s Reconstruction and Development Programme, the paper describes the scale and nature of urban poverty and the causes of its growth and the growth and changing complexion of the informal economy, including the rapid growth of “survivalist” enterprises and the links between the formal and informal economy. This includes a consideration of what constrains the informal economy and the links between supporting the informal economy and addressing poverty.

Image enhancement and local economic development in Johannesburg

Abstract: This paper has tracked the birth of local economic initiatives in South Africa's most important city It was argued that Johannesburg's fledgeling LED programmes must be interpreted in large measure as a defensive response to the city's weak economic performance during the late apartheid years The range of LED initiatives that are currently being introduced in the city have distinct parallels in the policy experiences of many North American and Western European urban areas affected by global economic restructuring Of particular significance is Johannesburg's programmes to reconstruct the city's tarnished image and escape its status as one of the world's pariah cities (cf Fitzsimons 1995)

The metropolis as incubator: small-scale enterprise development in Johannesburg

Abstract: The upgrading and development of the small business economy, and more especially of black-owned enterprises, is a high priority area for post-apartheid reconstruction. The aim in this paper is to examine the urban formal small enterprise economy, presenting new research findings which point to the important and changing role of the metropolis as incubator for developing small enterprise. Historically, apartheid legislation determined that the only beneficiaries of the incubator role assumed by the central areas in South African cities would be white small-scale enterprise. One aspect of the deracialization of space is the recent growth of a wave of incipient black-owned small enterprises functioning in rented premises in the zone of the inner city. A key policy and planning issue is to develop support mechanisms to incubate and assist this new group of black enterprises.

Dispersion within concentration: The changing location of corporate headquarter offices in South Africa

Abstract: The aim is to examine the geographical location and changing patterns of headquarter offices of South Africa's leading business enterprises between 1982 and 1994. At the intermetropolitan scale of analysis Johannesburg emerges as the country's premier management centre and, over the study period, the city has greatly strengthened its function as the centre for office headquarters as compared to other South African cities. At the intrametropolitan scale of analysis the trend is towards the dispersion of head offices within metropolitan Johannesburg, with a notable weakening of the inner city as a head office location. Further research questions are posed concerning the changing picture of headquarter offices.

Defense economic restructuring and conversion in South Africa

Abstract: The aim is to examine issues of defence economic restructuring and conversion in South Africa. Under the new government, overall restructuring of the South African defence sector is occuring. With diminished defence expenditure, the military industry is encouraged to convert production capability to non-military products. The geographical implications of defence economic restructuring and conversion in South Africa are analysed in the context of international experience and debates. The Gauteng region emerges as the national ‘gunbelt’ of South Africa and contains an incipient military ‘industrial district’. In this particular region, the question of defence conversion is critically important for local policy makers and should be linked to new local economic development initiatives.

The private sector and local economic development in South Africa

Abstract: The objective in this paper is to analyse private sector involvement in LED in South Africa. Four key spheres of private sector involvement in LED are identified and discussed: (1) as participator and occasional initiator of local development processes, (2) as major partner in the development activities of public-private sector partnerships, (3) as lead role player in certain direct initiatives for reviving South Africa's inner cities, and (4) as promoter and facilitator of local small business development. It is argued that the concept of local dependence could be usefully applied to interpret private sector involvement in LED in South Africa.