Regional Impact of the Global Economic Crisis on the Free State Province in South Africa: A Computable General Equilibrium (CGE) Assessment

Abstract

The decline in the world economy that followed the 2008-2009 global economic crisis had detrimental effects on most economies. Not enough attention has been paid to the process through which crisis-related pressures affected regional economies and sub-national governments. A regional computable general equilibrium model was developed to analyse impacts of the crisis on the regional economy of the Free State province in South Africa. Key results included a general fall in prices in the province, a fall in demand in sectors that are more vulnerable to global conditions, falling wages and declining incomes for agents and provincial government.