Reframing place-based economic development in South Africa: the example of local economic development

• Authors: Christian M. Rogerson
• Languages of publication: EN

Abstracts

EN

Local Economic Development (LED) planning is a place-based approach to development planning and increasingly significant across much of the global South. One of the key challenges facing LED planning is the necessity to adjust planning in relation to the dynamic nature of both international and national framework conditions. The purpose of this article is to show this challenge by examining the dynamic nature of the national policy environment impacting upon LED planning in South Africa, a country which has a relatively long history of LED planning. Five dimensions of the changing landscape of national economic development planning in South Africa are identified. These relate to (a) LED within the context of new national economic and development plans; (b) initiatives for reindustrialising the South African economy, the associated importance of localisation and promotion of the green economy; (c) changing programmes around small business development; (d) shifts in rural development interventions; and (e) the fluid spatial context within which LED planning as a form of placebased economic development is embedded.

Keywords

EN

place-based development strategy; local economic development; South Africa; policy environment

• Publisher: Sciendo
• Journal: Bulletin of Geography. Socio-economic Series
• Year: 2014
• Volume: 24
• Issue: 24
• Pages: 203-218

Dates

published

2014-06-01

received

2014-03-03

revised

2014-03-15

accepted

2014-03-28

online

2014-11-15

Contributors

author

Christian M. Rogerson

• University of Johannesburg, Faculty of Management, School of Tourism and Hospitality, Bunting Road Campus, Auckland Park, Johannesburg 2006, South Africa

References

• Abrahams, D., 2003: Local Economic Development in South Africa: A Useful Tool for Sustainable Development. In: Urban Forum, Vol. 14 (2/3), pp. 185-200.
• Akudugu, J.A., 2013: Organising and Implementing Local Economic Development Initiatives at the District Level in Ghana, unpublished PhD dissertation Rheinischen Friedrich-Wilhelms Universitat, Bonn.
• Akudugu, J.A. and Laube, W., 2013: Implementing Local Economic Development in Ghana: Multiple Actors and Rationalities, Bonn: ZEF Working Paper Series, No. 113.
• Archary, L., 2011: Comprehensive Rural Development Programme: Rural Infrastructure Development, Pretoria: Department of Rural Development and Land Reform.
• Barca, F., McCann, P. and Rodriguez-Pose, A., 2012: The Case for Regional Development Intervention: Place-based Versus-Place-neutral Approaches. In: Journal of Regional Science, Vol. 52, pp. 134-152.
• Bartik, T.J., 2003: Local Economic Development Policies, Kalamazoo, Michigan: Upjohn Institute Staff Working Paper No. 03-91.
• Bond, P., 2003: Debates in Local Economic Development: Policy and Practice. In: Urban Forum, Vol. 14 (2-3), pp. 147-164.
• Cullinan, M., 2011: Green Governance: Building Resilience in Our Urban Systems. In: Technical Assistance Unit Review, Vol. 3 (July), pp. 34-43.
• Department of Economic Development, 2010: The New Growth Path Framework, Pretoria: DED.
• Department of Economic Development, 2011a: Accord 3: Local Procurement Accord, Pretoria: DED.
• Department of Economic Development, 2011b: Accord 4: Green Economy Accord, Pretoria: DED Department of Economic Development, 2012a: Strategic Plan 2012/13-2016/17, Pretoria: DED.
• Department of Economic Development, 2012b: Terms of Reference for EDD’s rapid RLED intervention in KZN, unpublished internal document, Pretoria: DED.
• Department of Economic Development, Department of Rural Development and Land Reform and CSIR, 2012: ‘Functional Regions’ - A Spatial Development Response, Upublished Terms of Reference, Pretoria.
• Department of Provincial and Local Government, 2006: Stimulating and Developing Sustainable Local Economies: National Framework for Local Economic Development (LED) in South Africa, Pretoria: DPLG.
• Department of Rural Development and Land Reform, 2012a: Mid-Term Review of the Department of Rural Development & Land Reform, Pretoria: DRDLR Department of Rural Development and Land Reform, 2012b: Background, available at: www.ruraldevelopment.gov.za, Accessed 14 November 2013
• Department of Trade and Industry, 2011: Medium-term Strategic Plan 2011-2014, Pretoria: DTI.
• Department of Trade and Industry, 2012a: Industrial Policy Action Plan (IPAP) 2012/13 - 2014/15, Pretoria: DTI.
• Department of Trade and Industry, 2012b: Incubation Support Programme (ISP): Programme Guidelines, Pretoria, DTI.
• Gunter, A., 2014: Mega Events as a Pretext for Infrastructure Development: The Case of the All African Games Athletes Village, Alexandra, Johannesburg. In: Szymańska, D. and Biegańska, J. editors, Bulletin of Geography: Socio-Economic Series, Vol. 23, pp. 39-52. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.2478/bog-2014-0003
• Houghton, J., 2011: Negotiating the Global and the Local: Evaluating Development Through Public-Private Partnerships in Durban, In: Urban Forum, Vol. 22, pp. 75-93.
• Hoogendoorn, G. and Visser, G., 2010: The Role of Second Homes in Local Economic Development in Five Small South African Towns. In: Development Southern Africa, Vol. 27 (4), pp. 547-562.
• Lawrence, F., 2013: The Role of Local Economic Development Agencies in the South African Economic Development Landscape. In: Urban Forum, Vol. 24 (4), pp. 523-541.
• Malefane, S.R., 2013: Small, Medium and Micro Enterprise and Local Economic Base Restructuring - A South African Local Government Perspective. In: Journal of Public Administration, Vol. 48, pp. 672-691.
• Marais, L., 2010: Donor-driven Local Economic Development in Peripheral Areas of KwaZulu-Natal: The Gijima Programme. In: Development Southern Africa, Vol. 27 (4), pp. 517-530.
• Marais, L., 2013: The Impact of Mine Downscaling on the Free State Goldfields. In: Urban Forum, Vol. 24, pp. 503-521.
• Masutha, M., 2014: Small Business Incubators in South Africa: Emergence, Geography and Local Impacts. Unpublished MSc Dissertation, University of Johannesburg.
• National Planning Commission, 2011: National Development Plan: Vision for 2030. Pretoria: National Planning Commission.
• National Treasury, 2012: Regional Economic Development Context. Presentation at the ERLN Workshop Durban 25-26 September.
• National Treasury, CoGTA, DTI, EDD & SALGA, 2012: National Group ‘on fire’. Pretoria: National Treasury, CoGTA, DTI, EDD & SALGA Nattrass, N., 2011: The New Growth Path: Game Changing Vision or Cop-out?. In: South African Journal of Science, Vol. 107 (3/4), pp. 1-8.
• Ndabeni, L.L., 2012: Small Medium and Micro Enterprises in South Africa’s National System of Innovation. Preliminary report prepared for the Global Research Network for Learning, Innovation and Competence Building Systems, Economics Institute of the Federal University of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
• Nel, E., 2001: Local Economic Development: A Review and Assessment of its Current Status in South Africa. In: Urban Studies, Vol. 38, pp. 1003-1024.
• Nel, E. and Binns, T., 2002a: Decline and Response in South Africa’s Free State Goldfields: Local Economic Development in Matjhabeng. In: Third World Planning Review, Vol. 24, pp. 249-269.
• Nel E. and Binns, T., 2002b: Place Marketing, Tourism Promotion and Community-based Local Economic Development in Post-apartheid South Africa: The Case of Still Bay - the “Bay of Sleeping Beauty”. In: Urban Affairs Review, Vol. 32, pp. 184-208.
• Nel, E. and Binns, T, 2003: Putting ’Developmental Local Government’ into Practice: The Experience of South Africa’s Towns and Cities. In: Urban Forum, Vol. 14 (2-3), pp. 165-184.
• Nel, E. and Goldman, I., 2006: Overview of LED in South Africa and the Findings of the World Bank/ /DBSA study, Paper presented at the National Workshop on LED, Johannesburg, 14-15 August.
• Nel, E. and Rogerson, C.M. editors, 2005a: Local Economic Development in the Developing World: The Experience of Southern Africa. New Brunswick NJ and London: Transaction Press.
• Nel, E. and Rogerson, C.M., 2005b: Pro-poor Local Economic Development in South Africa’s Cities: Policy and Practice. In: Africa Insight, Vol. 35 (4), pp. 15-20.
• Nel, E. and Rogerson, C.M., 2007: Evolving Local Economic Development Policy and Practice in South Africa with Special Reference to Smaller Urban Centres. In: Urban Forum, Vol. 18, pp. 1-11.
• Nel, E. and Rogerson, C.M., 2013: Special Economic Zones in South Africa: Reflections from International Debates. In: Urban Forum, Vol. 24, pp. 205-217.
• Nel, E., Binns, T. and Bek, D., 2009: Misplaced Expectations?: The Experience of Applied Local Economic Development in Post-apartheid South Africa. In: Local Economy, Vol. 24, pp. 224-237.
• Osiba Research, 2011: Rethinking Small Business Support in South Africa. Unpublished Report submitted to the DTI, Pretoria.
• Pillay, M. and Rogerson, C.M., 2012: Agriculture-Tourism Linkages and Pro-poor Impacts: The Accommodation Sector of Coastal Kwa-Zulu-Natal, South Africa. In: Applied Geography, Vol. 36, pp. 49-58
• Ramluckan, S. and Thomas, W., 2011: Raising Businesses. In: Agenda, Vol. 2, pp. 18-21.
• Ramukumba, T., 2012: The Local Economic Development in the Eden District Municipality, Western Cape Province, South Africa: A Case Study of Emerging Entrepreneurs in the Tourism Industry. In: American Journal of Tourism Research, Vol. 1 (1), pp. 9-15.
• Rodriguez-Pose, A., 2008: Milestones and Challenges of LED Practice and Academic Research. In: @local.glob, Vol. 5, pp. 22-24.
• Rodriguez-Pose, A. and Palavicini-Corona, E.I., 2013: Does Local Economic Development Really Work?: Assessing LED Across Mexican Municipalities. In: Geoforum, Vol. 44, pp. 303-315.
• Rodriguez-Pose, A. and Tijmstra, S. 2007: Local Economic Development in Sub-Saharan Africa. In: Environment and Planning C: Government and Policy, Vol. 25, pp. 516-536.
• Rogerson, C.M., 1996: Image Enhancement and Local Economic Development in Johannesburg. In: Urban Forum, Vol. 7 (2), pp. 139-158.
• Rogerson, C.M., 1999: Local Economic Development and Urban Poverty Alleviation: The Experience of Post-apartheid South Africa. In: Habitat International, Vol. 23 (4), pp. 511-534.
• Rogerson, C.M., 2000: Local Economic Development in an Era of Globalisation: The Case of South African Cities. In: Tijdschrift voor Economische en Sociale Geografie, Vol. 91, pp. 397-411.
• Rogerson, C.M., 2002: Tourism-led Local Economic Development: The South African Experience. In: Urban Forum, Vol. 13, pp. 95-119.
• Rogerson, C.M., 2003: Towards Pro-poor Local Economic Development: The Case for Sectoral Targeting in South Africa. In: Urban Forum, Vol. 14, pp. 53-79.
• Rogerson, C.M., 2004a: Pro-poor Local Economic Development in Post-apartheid South Africa: The Johannesburg Fashion District. In: International Development Planning Review, Vol. 26, pp. 401-429.
• Rogerson, C.M., 2004b: Pro-poor Local Economic Development in South Africa: The Application of Public Procurement. In: Urban Forum, Vol. 15, pp. 180-210.
• Rogerson, C.M., 2004c: The Impact of the South African Government’s SMME Programmes: A Ten Year Review. In: Development Southern Africa, Vol. 21, pp. 765-784.
• Rogerson, C.M., 2006: Pro-poor Local Economic Development in South Africa: The Role of Pro-poor tourism. In: Local Environment, Vol. 11, pp. 37-60.
• Rogerson, C.M., 2007: Tourism Routes as Vehicles for Local Economic Development in South Africa: The Example of the Magaliesberg Meander. In: Urban Forum, Vol. 18(2), pp. 49-68.
• Rogerson C.M., 2008a: Consolidating Local Economic Development in South Africa. In: Urban Forum, Vol. 19, pp. 307-328.
• Rogerson, C.M., 2008b: Integrating SMMEs in Value Chains: The Role of South Africa’s Tourism Enterprise Programme. In: Africa Insight, Vol. 38 (1), pp. 1-19.
• Rogerson, C.M., 2009: Local Investment Incentives for Urban Economic Development: Recent Debates in South African Cities. In: Urban Forum, Vol. 20, pp. 437-453.
• Rogerson C.M., 2010a: Local Economic Development in South Africa: Key Strategic Challenges. In: Development Southern Africa, Vol. 27, pp. 481-495.
• Rogerson, C.M., 2010b: In Search of Public Sector Private Sector Partnerships for Local Economic Development in South Africa. In: Urban Forum, Vol. 21, pp. 441-456.
• Rogerson, C.M., 2010c: Economic Governance and the Local Business Environment: Evidence from Two Economically Lagging Provinces of South Africa. In: Urban Forum, Vol. 21, pp. 349-366.
• Rogerson C.M., 2011a: Tracking Local Economic Development Policy and Practice in South Africa, 1994-2009. In: Urban Forum, Vol. 22, pp. 149-168.
• Rogerson, C.M., 2011b: Mining Enterprise, Regulatory Frameworks and Local Economic Development in South Africa. In: African Journal of Business Management, Vol. 5 (35), pp. 13373-13382.
• Rogerson, C.M. 2012a: Tourism-Agriculture Linkages in Rural South Africa: Evidence From the Accommodation Sector. In: Journal of Sustainable Tourism, Vol. 20, pp. 477-495.
• Rogerson, C.M., 2012b: Mining-Dependent Localities in South Africa: The State of Partnerships for Small Town Local Development. In Urban Forum, Vol. 23, pp. 107-132.
• Rogerson, C.M., 2013a: Reframing Local Economic Development Futures in South Africa. In: Journal of Public Administration, Vol. 48 (4), pp. 640-656.
• Rogerson, C.M., 2013b: Tourism and Local Development in South Africa: Challenging Local Governments. In: African Journal for Physical, Health Education, Recreation and Dance, Vol. 19 (Supplement 2), pp. 9-23.
• Rogerson C.M. and Rogerson J.M., 2010a: Local Economic Development in Africa: Global Context and Research Directions. In: Development Southern Africa, Vol. 27, pp. 465-480.
• Rogerson, C.M. and Rogerson, J.M., 2010b: Improving the Local Business Environment of Johannes burg. In: Development Southern Africa, Vol. 27 (4), pp. 577-593.
• Rogerson, C.M. and Rogerson, J.M., 2011: Improving the Business Environment for Local Economic Development in South Africa. In: Journal of Public Administration, Vol. 46, pp. 994-1009.
• Rogerson C.M. and Rogerson J.M., 2012: Business Development and Local Economic Development in South Africa: Addressing the Disconnect. In: Acta Academica, Vol. 44 (2), pp. 41-69 .
• Ruecker, A. and Trah, G., 2007: Local and Regional Economic Development: Towards a Common Framework for GTZ’s LRED Interventions in South Africa.
• Eschborn: GTZ Sibanda, M.M., 2013: Small, Medium and Micro-enterprises in Local Economic Development: A South African Local Government Perspective. In: Journal of Public Administration, Vol. 48, pp. 657-671.
• Stoddart, H. and Rogerson, C.M., 2009: Tourism Routes, Local Economic Promotion and Pro-poor Development: The Crocodile Ramble, South Africa. In: Africa Insight, Vol. 38 (4), pp. 1-17.
• Swartz, M.N., 2011: Comprehensive Rural Development. Pretoria: DRDLR.
• The Presidency, 2011: Policy Forum: Tackling Inequality and Poverty in South Africa. Pretoria: The Presidency Programme to Support Pro-Poor Policy Development.
• Tomaney, A., Pike, A. and Rodriguez-Pose, A., 2010: Local and Regional Development in Times of Crisis. In: Environment and Planning A, Vol. 42, pp. 771-779.
• Tomaney, A., Pike, A. and Rodriguez-Pose, A., 2011: Local and Regional Development: Reflections and Futures. In Pike, A., Rodriguez-Pose, A. and Tomaney, J. editors, Handbook of Local and Regional Development, London: Routledge, pp. 618-630.
• Turok, I., 2010: South Africa’s Challenge of Shared Prosperity. In: Local Economy, Vol. 25, pp. 265-268.
• Turok, I., 2011: Spatial Economic Disparities in South Africa: Towards a New Research and Policy Agenda. Cape Town: Human Sciences Research Council.
• Van der Heijden, T., 2008: Key Issues in Local Economic Development in South Africa and A Potential Role for SALGA. Unpublished Position Paper prepared for the South African Local Government Association, Pretoria.
• Van der Merwe, C. and Rogerson, C.M., 2013: Industrial Heritage Tourism at The ‘Big Hole’, Kimberley, South Africa. In: African Journal for Physical, Health Education, Recreation and Dance, Vol. 19 (Supplement 2), pp. 155-171.
• World Bank, 2002: Local Economic Development: Quick Reference, Washington D

Identifiers

DOI

10.2478/bog-2014-0023