The structure of the economy of the City of Johannesburg, its economic history and the energy of its people lie at the centre of local economic development policy. Indeed, economies grow and create jobs through a creative, development programme that appreciates and values the local reality.
One of the foremost theorists of development economics, Michael Sherraden, persuasively contends that local economic development should exploit local assets to grow local output. His theory of asset-based development finds value in empowering local persons, especially those in the margins of the mainstream, local economic activities and structures – the forgotten people of Johannesburg.
Similarly, Amartya Sen’s capability approach is an intellectual monument to defeating stagnancy and poverty, especially in its call for empowerment of local economies, society’s attempts to attain economic opportunities, a bottom-up approach to development, and upliftment of the status of vulnerable members of the community. Indeed, these are my ideals in public administration and community leadership: the embrace of shared growth and the creation of lasting economic value for our residents.
For over 130 years, the Johannesburg economy has been the location of opportunities. The mining boom provided jobs to vast number of people; its output accounts for a significant share of the national economy; its resources stimulated industry; and its people generate an energy shared by the rest of the population. Over the years, a succession of renewal programmes have succeeded each other, but challenges abound.
For example, the City of Johannesburg is challenged by an unemployment rate of 33% and sector analysis shows that crucial industries have shifted operations, undermining the economic competitiveness of the city. Statistics indicate that in 1996, manufacturing accounted for 20% of the Johannesburg economy but by 2013 that share of the manufacturing economy had shrunk to 16%. Contractions are recorded of other sectors during same period, including electricity and other household consumables that declined by 1% and 7% respectively. Mining production has also declined substantially in Johannesburg.
Sectorial decline is the leading variable explaining high levels of unemployment, and this is occurring in an economy that for a significant period experienced the phenomenon of jobless growth. Other implications of economic sector decline are insufficient research and innovation in the affected sector, human capital stagnation, and dearth of innovation.