IMF Staff Country Reports

South Africa: Selected Issues

Publication Date:

October 5, 1998

Electronic Access:

Free Download. Use the free Adobe Acrobat Reader to view this PDF file

Summary:

This Selected Issues paper highlights that cautious monetary and fiscal polices of South Africa during 1997 resulted in a return of financial investor confidence and capital inflows during 1997 and through April 1998. These policies helped the South African economy emerge successfully from the exchange market pressures of 1996 and weather the contagion from the East Asian crisis in the second half of 1997. Throughout 1997 and up until May 1998, inflation and market interest rates fell considerably, net international reserves increased, and the net open forward position of the Reserve Bank was reduced sharply.

Series:

Country Report No. 1998/096

Subject:

Banking Commercial banks Expenditure Exports Financial institutions Imports International trade Production Total expenditures Total factor productivity