The economic impacts of maize-based bioethanol production in South Africa

In South Africa, the production and use of biofuels is increasingly being contemplated as a policy instrument to stimulate rural development and reduce poverty by creating sustainable income earning opportunities. By using social accounting matrix, this thesis examines economic gains, if any, in Sou...

Full description

Bibliographic Details
Main Author: Gebregiorgis, Bereket M.
Format: Second cycle, A2E
Language:Swedish
Inglés
Published: 2015
Subjects:
Online Access:https://stud.epsilon.slu.se/7585/
Description
Summary:In South Africa, the production and use of biofuels is increasingly being contemplated as a policy instrument to stimulate rural development and reduce poverty by creating sustainable income earning opportunities. By using social accounting matrix, this thesis examines economic gains, if any, in South Africa following maize-based bioethanol production using the country’s surplus maize as feedstock. The findings suggest this particular biofuel policy leads to a moderate increase in domestic industries’ production, value-added and foreign exchange earnings. However, the vast income inequality among the country’s various population groups remains unchanged.