scholarly journals Towards regional economic development in South Africa: Conceptualising the ‘region’ associated with economic development through the Durban Aerotropolis

Urbani izziv ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol Supplement (30) ◽  
pp. 194-211
Author(s):  
Nomkhosi Luthuli ◽  
Jennifer HOUGHTON Houghton
Keyword(s):  
South Africa ◽  
Economic Development ◽  
Economic Activity ◽  
Local Economic Development ◽  
Regional Economic Development ◽  
Development Planning ◽  
Development Project ◽  
Development Projects ◽  
Regional Economic ◽  
The Social

This paper critically considers the conceptualization of the ‘region’ in regional economic development. It utilizes the Durban Aerotropolis in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa as a case of reference through which the conceptualization and underpinnings of ‘region’ associated with economic development are understood. This exercise is prompted by the nomenclatural shifts in local government from local economic development to regional economic development which is causing shifts in approaches to the implementation of economic development projects. The findings presented in this paper show that in the conceptualisation of the region in the instance of the Durban Aerotropolis, understanding the function, form and scale of a regional economic development project becomes pertinent to the social construction of the region with consequences for the project focus and implementation. In the discussion, function is examined as the purpose of a regional economic development project, form refers to the kind of economic development mechanism or strategy which could assist in fulfilling that purpose and scale speaks to the extent, reach and magnitude of the project, without which the implications are challenging practical enactment or implementation of regional economic development projects. The social constructions of region outlined in this paper thereby attest to the multiplicity of definitions which are typically based on the context in which the concept is being used and thus shows the ‘region’ inherent in regional economic development as produced through, and for, an assemblage of economic activity in space. From this we understand the region in regional economic development to be a social construct which presents itself as an assemblage of economic activity in space. Although we understand regions as spatially contingent, the theoretical and empirical conceptualisation of regions within regional economic development planning, policy–making and practice must draw on the specifics of contextuality to ensure its utility to economic development.

scholarly journals Power laws, demography and entrepreneurship in selected South African regions

2018 ◽  
Vol 114 (5/6) ◽  
Author(s):  
Daan Toerien
Keyword(s):  
South Africa ◽  
Economic Development ◽  
South African ◽  
Local Economic Development ◽  
Power Laws ◽  
Development Planning ◽  
Size Distributions ◽  
Skewed Distributions ◽  
Enterprise Growth ◽  
Different Parts

Statistically significant Pareto-like log-log rank-size distributions were recorded for population and enterprise agglomeration in the towns of three different regions of South Africa, and are indicative of skewed distributions of population and enterprise numbers in regional towns. There were no distinct differences between groups of towns of regions from different parts of the country. However, the regional agglomerations differed from those of groups of towns randomly selected from a database. Regions, therefore, appear to have some uniqueness regarding such agglomerations. The identification of Zipf-like links between population and enterprise growth in regional towns still does not fully explain why some towns grow large and others stay small and there is a need to further explore these issues. The extreme skewness in population and enterprise numbers of different towns’ distributions should, however, be considered in local economic development planning and execution.

scholarly journals A value-oriented approach to assessing regional economic development projects

2020 ◽  
Vol 13 (4) ◽  
pp. 155-170
Author(s):  
Ruslan Kostiukevych ◽  
Leonid Melnyk ◽  
Tomáš Krulický ◽  
Alina Kostiukevych ◽  
Larysa Melnyk
Keyword(s):  
Economic Development ◽  
Regional Economic Development ◽  
Development Projects ◽  
Regional Economic ◽  
A Value ◽  
Oriented Approach

scholarly journals Cuba: characterization of two provinces with tourism potential for regional economic development. Case. Cienfuegos and Las Tunas

2021 ◽  
pp. 13-28
Author(s):  
José Octavio Camelo-Avedoy ◽  
Nely Rodríguez-Alvarez ◽  
Yoandris Mercado-Pupo ◽  
Roberto Fidel Reyero-Nieto
Keyword(s):  
Economic Development ◽  
Regional Development ◽  
Economic Activity ◽  
Geographical Location ◽  
Regional Economic Development ◽  
Emerging Countries ◽  
Regional Economic ◽  
The World ◽  
Tourism Potential

In different territories of the world, especially in emerging countries, it has been considered that, taking advantage of the fact that they still conserve their natural attractions, make tourism a strategy to increase the economic activity of a certain region; It is not that the authors consider monoproductivity as a viable equation, but coupled with other economic dynamics, tourism can help to generate more income. This publication is located on the island of Cuba, in which the objective is to propose that two provinces become involved or increase their participation in activities oriented towards tourism, in consideration of their geographical location. A hypothetical approach has been used. Regarding tourism; Incorporating the province of Las Turnas and increasing activities in the province of Cienfuegos will generate the integration of a greater person to obtain an economic income. It has a descriptive scope. With an orientation on Regional Development.

scholarly journals The Making of a ‘Big 5’ Game Reserve as an Urban Tourism Destination: Dinokeng, South Africa

2020 ◽  
pp. 892-911
Author(s):  
Calum Burton ◽  
Christian Rogerson ◽  
Jayne Rogerson
Keyword(s):  
South Africa ◽  
Economic Development ◽  
Local Economic Development ◽  
Manufacturing Sector ◽  
Development Project ◽  
Urban Tourism ◽  
Small Enterprise ◽  
Big 5 ◽  
Game Reserve ◽  
Development Programming

Since 2000, against the background of chronically high levels of city unemployment and of the stagnation or rundown of the manufacturing sector, many urban governments across South Africa pivoted towards the building of competitive tourism economies as an anchor for local economic development, employment creation and small enterprise development. With the tourism sector being the most popular sectoral focus for local economic development programming in South Africa, the evolution of place-based development initiatives around tourism is a topic of policy relevance. This paper contributes to tourism scholarship concerning new product innovation and development for urban tourism in South Africa. It investigates the unfolding planning and challenges of a unique tourism development project for the creation of a ‘big 5’ game reserve located on the periphery of the country’s major metropolitan complex and economic hub, Gauteng province. The evolution of the project and the challenges of destination development are themes under scrutiny.

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

2014 ◽  
Vol 24 (24) ◽  
pp. 203-218 ◽  
Author(s):  
Christian M. Rogerson
Keyword(s):  
South Africa ◽  
Economic Development ◽  
Local Economic Development ◽  
National Policy ◽  
Development Planning ◽  
Green Economy ◽  
Dynamic Nature ◽  
Five Dimensions ◽  
National Economic ◽  
Framework Conditions

Abstract 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.

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