Economic Development and South Africa: 25 Years Analysis (1994 to 2019)

• DOI: http://doi.org/10.1111/saje.12248
• Date: 01 September 2020
• Published date: 01 September 2020
• Author: Pavitra Dhamija

South African Journal of Economics Vol. 88:3 September 2020

doi: 10.1111/saje.12248

298

© 2020 Economic Society of South Africa.

ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AND SOUTH AFRICA:

25 YEARS ANALYSIS (1994 TO 2019)

PAVITRA DHAMIJA*,†

Abstract

Economic Development highlights the growth and progression of every nation towards prosperity,

and South Africa is not an exception to this phenomenon. Present article reviews economic

progression in South Africa for last 25 years of time by applying systematic literature review and

bibliometric analysis (1,241 articles) on Scopus extracted database (1994 to 2019; until 06 June).

Inferences evidence significant work contributed by top universities, authors, funding sources,

journals and citation statistics. Noticeably, implementation of a concept solely will not fetch real

situation; however, a systematic review extends good to excellent understanding of the considered

research agenda. Findings reveal the contradictory inter-connectivity of Cluster 1 Economic

Inequality and Poverty, Cluster 2 Developing Country and Corruption and Cluster 6 Economic

Development and Economic Policy. It is very important to understand that if a nation is facing

economic inequality, corruption, and poverty; how it can achieve the status of economically

developed nation. Identification of Cluster 3 Industrialization and Industry 4.0, Cluster 4

Unemployment and Entrepreneurship Education and Cluster 5 Sustainable Development and

Economic Growth signifies scope of improvement. Conclusively, the researcher has proposed a

conceptual model to address above stated concerns.

JEL Classification: A10, D80, D83, O10, O40

Keywords: South Africa, economic development, sustainable economic development, systematic review,

bibliometric mapping

1. INTRODUCTION

Economics is positioned as an indispensable field of study (Ho, 2020; Kotze et al., 2020).

Economic Development highlights the growth and progression of every nation towards

prosperity (Gunter and Massey, 2020). The exploration of economics has always been a

choice for industrial and academic research, and has undoubtedly gathered a lot of attention

(Barro, 2012; Acemoglu et al., 2019). There exists a broad range of factors (factors of pro-

duction, income, trade and political influences) that determine the parameters for nations’

economic development (Beaudry and Portier, 2006; Baker et al., 2016; Stahel, 2016; Meyer

and De Jongh, 2018; Meyer and Habanabakize, 2018; Meyer et al., 2018). Sustainable eco-

nomic growth and development in every nation is the mirror image of its existence amongst

various other nations globally (Adeyeye et al., 2017; Ho, 2020). The instability in the eco-

nomic status is not appreciable as it acts like a backbone for a nation (Uddin et al., 2013;

Kurmann and Mertens, 2014; Redl, 2018). Moreover, sustainable economic development

* Corresponding author: Post-Doctoral Research Fellow, Department of Industrial Psychology

and People Management, College of Business and Economics, University of Johannesburg,

Johannesburg, 2006, South Africa. E-mail: pavitradhamija@gmail.com

† Department of Industrial Psychology and People Management, College of Business and

Economics, University of Johannesburg

South African Journal

of Economics

299South African Journal of Economics Vol. 88:3 September 2020

© 2020 Economic Society of South Africa.

is very well connected to secure democratic development and safeguarding of human rights

(Makhura and Wasike, 2003; Finnemore et al., 2004; Chaminuka et al., 2008; Cheteni,

2013; Carmody, 2019; Kollamparambil, 2020). The research towards the economic anal-

ysis of a country or nation is gaining momentum gradually (Crowley and Hudgins, 2018;

Dunne and Kasekende, 2018; Olawumi Israel-Akinbo et al., 2018). The economic stability

has a direct impact on the growth and development of a nation, and South Africa is not an

exception in this respect (Santangelo, 2018; Carmody, 2019). South Africa, originally called

as Republic of South Africa (RSA) is a fast-evolving nation (Hassan and Ngwenya, 2006;

Abata and Migiro, 2016; Kotze et al., 2020); and it is acclaimed as one of the prominent

economies in the African continent (Poonyth et al., 2001; Adeyeye et al., 2017; Niyimbanira

et al., 2020). Its growth in terms of science, technology and innovation especially connected

to Industry 4.0 is adding feathers to its achievements with every passing year (Beaudry and

Portier, 2006; Gupta et al., 2013; Pradhan and Bagchi, 2013; Bekiros et al., 2016; Stahel,

2016; Gupta et al., 2018; Kovacs, 2018; Dhamija and Bag, 2020; Dhamija et al., 2020).

Furthermore, it is pertinent to understand that a nation can progress only if is economically

sound and has autonomous status (Abalu and Hassan, 1998; Matete and Hassan, 2006).

Contemporarily, South Africa proves to be one of the leading examples of said combination

(Adeyeye et al., 2015; Odewale et al., 2019). However, it is even more important to know

that people in South Africa took years to realise the evil influences of racial and economic

inequality; and to understand resistance posed by dominated mass (Gupta and Kabundi,

2010; Gupta et al., 2011; Tsaurai and Odhiambo, 2012; Gupta and Modise, 2012, 2013;

Gunter and Massey, 2020).

South Africa has fairly achieved in terms of socio-economic status, initiation of new

political groups, creation of associations like Public Protectors Office, the Constitutional

Court, Independent Electoral Commission, Labour Court and Equality Court (Barro,

2012; Baker et al., 2016; Manaliyo, 2016; Marais, 2016; Kollamparambil, 2020). At the

occasion of the 25th anniversary of South African democracy, it is worthwhile and inter-

esting to realise key concerns and characteristics to gauge the future scope of sustainable

growth and development.

Given the above background, the researcher initiates a novel attempt to research and

understand the predominant themes actively contributing towards economic develop-

ment in South Africa; for merely talking about economic development and growth is not

enough, until and unless it is reviewed in terms of plausible opportunities and threats

(Mmopelwa et al., 2009; Abdelfattah et al., 2014; Baten and Fourie, 2015; Burns and

Keswell, 2015; Baker et al., 2016; Kollamparambil, 2020). This work aims to compre-

hend research conducted towards the South African economy in the last 25 years of time

by the systematic literature review and bibliometric analysis. Systematic literature reviews

denote systematic gathering of secondary data, which is critically analysed through bib-

liometric technique followed by integration of findings. Bibliometric extends a significant

assessment of academic research output. Lately, it is being used for practice-based research

as well. (Manaliyo and Muzindutsi, 2013; Mago and Chitokwindo, 2014; Mukorera

and Mahadea, 2014). Simply put, bibliometric can measure textual information of huge

datasets. The upside of bibliometric is that it can assess the impact of a particular or

a set of area(s), researcher(s) and article(s) (Bashagi and Muchapondwa, 2009; Klasen

and Woolard, 2009; Brick et al., 2012). Bibliometric involves the two-way process that

comprises of performance evaluation and discipline representation. The former evaluates