Lessons for Sub-Saharan Africa from Latin American Experience?

Abstract: There are many issue areas in which African policymakers and analysts may learn from Latin American experience. These include appropriate incentive structures, industrialization strategy, response to external shocks, anti-inflation policies, policies on foreign direct investment, and economic integration. Comparisons of particular country experiences can also be useful if carefully made. Attention is called to the possibility of fruitful comparisons between specific Latin American countries' experiences and the current problems of Cameroun, Côte d'Ivoire, Kenya, Senegal, Zambia and Zimbabwe. Résumé: I1 y a maintenant de nombreux domaines oh les dirigeants et les analystes africains peuvent tirer des lecons de l'experience latino-americaine. On peutciter, entre autres, des structures incitatives adoptees, une strategic del'industrialisation, une reponse aux chocs externes, les politiques de lutte contrel'inflation, les politiques concernant les investissements directs etrangers etl'integration economique. Des comparaisons des experiences particulieres de pays si elles sont soigneusement faites, peuvent egalement se reveler utiles.L'attention est attiree sur la possibilite de comparaisons fructueuses entre lesexperiences precises des pays dpmerique lathe et les problemes que connais-sent actuellement le Cameroun, la C6te d'Ivoire, le Kenya, le Senegal, la Zambieet le Zimbabwe.     

Lessons learnt from Nkwe Enterprise Finance

Nkwe Enterprise Finance, a financial service to fund microenterprises in the North West province, suspended its operations after just over two years of lending. This happened against the background of three significant events. First, a new apex for pro-poor microfinance was designed, which resulted in the need to reconsider the nature of Khula's ongoing role as wholesaler to microfinance institutions. Second, the Financial Services Charter was signed in October 2003, in which banks committed to targets for so-called empowerment lending, including black small and medium enterprises. Third, a large number of microfinance initiatives continued to fail to reach sustainability and scale. This article investigates the reasons for the suspension of Nkwe's activities and draws conclusions on the lessons that should be learnt for the future development of microenterprise funding in South Africa.     

Improving The Management of Indonesia's National Parks: Lessons from two Case Studies

Although Indonesia has placed a considerable percentage of its land and coastal areas under protection, It has to date failed to provide adequate management, particularly of its national parks. This is due to a number of factors, both organisational and financial. Using studies of recent attempts to introduce more effective management in two major Indonesian national parks, this article looks at what kinds of changes are needed to strengthen the present park management system.     

中国合作医疗的国际经验借鉴

完善的社会保障体系对国民经济的持续发展和社会的稳定具有不可估量的作用，而农村合作医疗保险制度由于涉及到“三农”问题、弱势群体问题、公共卫生体系等敏感而重大的问题，更成为社会关注的焦点问题。鉴于传统合作医疗制度在运行中几起几落，新型农村合作医疗制度要达到预期目标并保持持续发展，借鉴国外合作医疗的经验教训就必不可免。     

Japanese industrial development Lessons for South Africa?

This paper is critical of the scenario planning approach which attempts to offer a formula for development for South Africa in the 1990s based upon the success of Japan, amongst other economic ‘winners’. It is argued that the complexities and debates surrounding Japanese modernization make the application of ‘lessons’ extremely problematical. Points of controversy arising out of the two ‘miracle’ periods of Japanese economic growth, the Meiji era of the nineteenth century and post World War Two era, are examined in some detail. The Tokugawa legacy, Japanese ethics and in particular Confucianism, capital formation and investment spurts, the agricultural contribution, militarism and economic gains from warfare, the role of the state, the zalbatsu and business structures, dualism, labour supplies, export performance and finally education are all factors central to the debate on causes of economic growth in Japan. The paper concludes with some suggestive and very tentative ideas about ‘lessons’ for South Africa.     

Revolution and reform of economic policies: Lessons for South Africa from China∗

The process of revolution in China itself his undergone profound reform. The most important reforms are reflected in a new direction of economic policies which focus upon a revival of market processes. This shift to greater reliance upon markets provides substantial support for similar programmes to be undertaken by South Africa and the developing nations of Southern Africa.     

Land reform: Lessons for South Africa from the Republic of China on Taiwan

Before the implementation of land reform in 1949, the skewed distribution of land ownership and the unhealthy tenancy system in the Republic of China on Taiwan was of great concern to the Kuomitang Nationalist government. Apart from hindering economic development, it also threatened the social and political stability of the island. Taiwan is today regarded as one of the newly industrialized countries. Its remarkable economic achievements are to a large extent closely linked to the successful execution of a land reform programme. Faced with similar problems of an unhealthy distribution of land ownership, policy makers and those who have influence on policy in South Africa can learn a great deal from the Chinese experience.     

Taxation and tax reform in LDCs: Lessons for South Africa

Taxation in South Africa will increasingly have to focus on political and economic developmental demands. Two important lessons from the experience of developing countries with taxation and tax reform are that the tax system should aim at not taxing the poor (rather than trying to level down the income of the rich) and that tax policy has a special role to play in generating revenue for development, a role which it should endeavour fill in a neutral way. With these lessons in mind taxation and tax reform are analysed in South Africa. It is concluded that the tax system is relatively efficient but that there has been retrogression in attaining equity objectives.     

Lessons of Post-War Development Experience

Abstract: This paper traces the development process from the optimism of the post-war era to the present scenario of adjustment, retrenchment and stabilisation. What were the mistakes and the success stories, and the lessons that can be drawn from them these last 40 years ? The paper takes a hard look at the ‘Golden Years’ of the 1950s and 1960s; it analyses the ‘debt-led’ growth of the 1970s and the resulting lost decade of the 1980s in Africa and Latin America. It goes on to examine the successes and failures that emerge from the history of the development process, and argues in favour of learning these lessons by resuming a policy of ‘redistributionwith growth’ and re-establishing strong international institutions to ensure future growth in developing countries. Résumé: Le présent document retrace le processus de développement depuisl'optimisme de l'apres-guerre au scenario actuel de l'ajustement, de redressement et de stabilisation. Quels ont ete les erreurs et les SUCCCS et les enseignements que l'on pourrait en tirer au cours de ces 40 dernieres annees? Le document examine a fond la « belle epoque » des annees 1950 et 1960; il analyse la croissance guidee par la dette des annees 1970 et en consequence, la decennie perdue des annees 1980 en Afrique et en Amerique Latine. I1 continue en examinant les SUCCCS et les echecs provenant de l'histoire du processus de developpement et donne les raisons pour lesquelles ces enseignements doiventttre retenus en reprenant une politique de « nouvelle repartition et de croissance » et en creant de nouvelles institutions internationales assez solides capables d'assurer a l'avenir la croissance dans les pays en developpement.     

The Limits of Pension Privatization: Lessons from Argentine Experience

The paper studies the operation of the mixed pension system established in Argentina in 1994. It points to the limitations that the new system has encountered to achieve some of the most important objectives of pension policy and pension reform. The analysis looks at the mechanisms affecting pension system performance, with particular attention to the way in which the new pension rules have interacted with the local macroeconomic, social, and political context. The empirical analysis of this experience is oriented to provide lessons for Argentina’s future reforms, as well as for many Latin American countries with similar pension arrangements.     

Designing Agricultural Technology for African Women Farmers: Lessons from 25 Years of Experience

African women farmers are less likely than men to adopt improved crop varieties and management systems. This paper addresses two issues: How does gender affect technology adoption among African farmers? How does the introduction of new technologies affect women's well-being? Three conclusions come out of an extensive and critical review of the literature. First, African households are complex and heterogeneous. Second, gender roles within African households and communities cannot be simply summarized. Third, gender roles and responsibilities are dynamic; they respond to changing economic circumstances. The paper demonstrates the complexity and importance of efforts to design interventions for African women.     

Mortgage Finance Markets: Lessons from the Past and Keys to the Future

This special section of the journal provides an empirical examination of the mortgage market to help identify key market participants, how incentives affected behavior, and how participation in the market changed over time. The findings will help to identify lessons that can be applied to the regulation and structure of the mortgage finance industry in the future. In particular the research examines loan product choice in the subprime market under different regulatory regimes, mortgage broker compensation market penetration, and the changing role of the Federal Housing Authority (FHA).     

日本"减量经营"的经验及对中国的借鉴意义

日本经济在战后高速增长期间,一度实行粗放型的经济增长方式。第一次石油危机爆发后,企业被迫实行“减量经营”。日本政府因势利导,成为“减量经营”的主导者,推动经济增长方式的转变,使日本制造业的国际竞争力显著增强,为上世纪90年代中期日本成为世界制造业强国奠定了基础。近年来中国经济增长速度虽然明显加快,但所采取的仍然是以粗放型增长为主的经济增长方式,这种生产方式带来的问题与日本当时的情况有许多相似之处。日本推行“减量经营”的成功经验对当前中国发展节能型、高附加值经济有重要的借鉴意义。一、传统经济增长方式使日本经…     

Contribution of external aid agencies to the social sector: Lessons for South Africa

The contribution of a major aid agency, UNICEF, to the social sector in three African countries is reviewed and important lessons are drawn for developing the social sector in South Africa. UNICEF's commitment to children and women and its substantial development expertise bestow many advantages on developing bilateral relations with UNICEF. It is equally important to develop sound social policies and adequate community‐based programmes in which UNICEF's expertise and resources can be incorporated. Guidelines are formulated for reducing dependence and vulnerability to donor assistance in the social sector.