THE ECONOMIC GEOGRAPHY OF SOUTH AFRICA: INTERNATIONAL PARALLELS AND LOCAL DIFFERENCE

ABSTRACT

This paper provides a review of the state of the art of research produced by South Africa's small pool of economic geographers. The focus is particularly on current debates and research in local economic geography which has been produced in the last decade (post-1990) covering the period of the post-apartheid transition and beyond. Three broad sections of review and analysis are presented. These deal with the themes of economic drivers, the state and the changing space economy; enterprise studies; and, so-termed economic geography in practice or research issues on local economic development in South Africa. The review of local economic geography is located in the context of international research noting certain parallels and differences. The strength of local economic development studies and of a broad policy relevant emphasis in research emerge as distinguishing features of contemporary South African economic geography writings.