Key Opportunities and Challenges for 4IR in South Africa

Rachel Alexander ()
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Rachel Alexander: Centre for Business and Development Studies, Copenhagen Business School, and SARChI ID, University of Johannesburg.

No 202111, SARChI-ID Working Papers from SARChI Industrial Development (SARChI-ID), University of Johannesburg (UJ)

Abstract: The Fourth Industrial Revolution (4IR) can involve changes that range from minor adjustments to the features of products, to the creation of new sectors and technologies that transform how the economy operates and how people’s daily lives are structured. 4IR is spreading around the world at different paces. This fourth and concluding paper in SARChI Industrial Development Working Paper Series WP 2021-8 provides insight into two key questions. The first is, ‘What are the barriers and opportunities for South African firms related to 4IR?’ To answer this question, the paper presents a set of key drivers, opportunities and challenges. To guide action on identified opportunities and challenges, relevant recommendations that have been developed through a variety of recent publications are included. To answer the second question, ‘What are the risks and opportunities for South Africa as 4IR spreads?’, this paper considers the effects of the spread of 4IR systems on South Africa’s economy, environment, and employment and presents a variety of perspectives that have been shared by key stakeholders.

Keywords: 4IR; Industrial development; South Africa (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: L22 L52 L62 L64 L91 L96 O14 O25 O31 O33 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Pages: 63 pages
Date: 2021-10, Revised 2021-10
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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:adz:wpaper:202111

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