加强南非商业环境的结构性改革.pdfVIP

StructuralReformsto

BolsterSouthAfrica’s

BusinessEnvironment

TidianeKindaandNashaMavee

SIP/2026/017

IMFSelectedIssuesPapersarepreparedbyIMFstaffas

backgrounddocumentationforperiodicconsultationswith

membercountries.Itisbasedontheinformationavailableat

thetimeitwascompletedonJanuary21,2026.Thispaperis

alsopublishedseparatelyasIMFCountryReportNo26/35

2026

MAR

©2026InternationalMonetaryFundSIP/2026/017

IMFSelectedIssuesPaper

AfricanDepartment

StructuralReformstoBolsterSouthAfrica’sBusinessEnvironment

PreparedbyTidianeKindaandNashaMavee

AuthorizedfordistributionbyDeliaVelculescu

March2026

IMFSelectedIssuesPapersarepreparedbyIMFstaffasbackgrounddocumentationforperiodic

consultationswithmembercountries.Itisbasedontheinformationavailableatthetimeitwas

completedonJanuary21,2026.ThispaperisalsopublishedseparatelyasIMFCountryReportNo26/35.

ABSTRACT:SouthAfricastandsoutashavingoneofthemostrestrictivebusinessenvironmentsamong

peers.Burdensomegovernmentregulations,especiallyforlicensingandpermitting,weakprocurement

practices,andlimitedcompetitioncanposeriskstobusinessconfidenceandinvestment,stifleinnovation,

increasecompliancecosts.Becausetheyburdensmallfirmsdisproportionately,theyparticularlyinhibitjob

creationpotential.Oureconometricanalysis,usingcross-countryfirm-leveldata,findsthatproductmarket

regulations,notablyrelatedtolicensingandpermitting,hinderfirms’growthandproductivity.Thisisparticularly

trueforSouthAfricanfirms,andespeciallysmall