How COVID-19 Is Shifting Priorities Amid Lack Of Agility In Implementation Of Infrastructure Projects

Authored By:

Thabang Lisbon Rakoena, MSc.(Wits)

,

August 19, 2020

This paper argues for prioritising #infrastructureprojects to make #economic progress by observing the following: macroeconomic environment, policy uncertainty, and the impact of the #Covid19 in #SouthAfrica (SA) through the resulting economic lockdown. This will be performed by looking at the situation before the lockdown and the anticipated economic outlook post-lockdown. Consequently, the article recommends the important policy position leaning on the unbalanced growth economic strategy.1 This should not be viewed as a panacea but rather as an add-on to the proposed Sovereign Bond initiative, which looks at fueling the economy through boosting liquidity – the stimulus budget. The paper will also look at the relevance of infrastructure #development, for instance, construction projects, as a quick-win in terms of job creation as well focusing on the infrastructure projects which should be prioritized. The paper will also acknowledge reforms which are afoot, which if adhered to and given enough publicity could improve the country’s economic #growth and credit rating.

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