Pundits are saying that South Africa's [previous] policy of inflation targeting is stifling economic growth. It is. You're a supporter of inflation targetting if you're a wealthy corporation or businessman and you're in for yourself, to make more money. You don't care about unemployment. If you take the view that the majority of people in South Africa are unemployed, and that if unemployment rises enough, you could have a situation where the unemployed are the dominant 'party' in the South Africa. Or, put even simply, the majority. If the majority are unemployed, you can see how policy would change. Government in South Africa needs to get more people employed and that means stimulating the economy through developments in infrastructure, such as public transport, construction [New Urbanist walkable community stuff] and possible rural organic farming projects for the poor.
Joseph Stiglitz said this recently: "In some cases bringing inflation down through the raising interest rates was akin to the "cure being worse than the disease", as wage inflation was brought under control at the expense of job losses.
More: http://www.nickvanderleek.com/2009/07/nobel-memorial-prize-winning-economist.html
Commentators doubt that a policy change is imminent, given Finance Minister Pravin Gordhan’s recent statements |
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