The Regulatory Environment and SMMEs. Evidence from South African Firm Level Data

Neil Rankin

Working Papers from University of Cape Town, Development Policy Research Unit

Abstract: The paper specifically examines: labour regulations and their relationship with employment and investment; trade regulations; permits and licences for businesses; visa regulations; the predictability of regulatory application; and the costs of regulation. It also investigates the ways firms respond to regulations. There is evidence that these regulations constrain firm growth, particularly among smaller firms. Labour regulations are not the only type of regulations that have a disproportional effect on smaller firms. Government regulation comes in many forms, such as tax regulation, labour regulation and regulations concerning the import and export of goods. This paper uses data gathered from a number of South African firm-level surveys to investigate how government regulations impact on firms. In many cases firms are asked about the perceived impact of regulations. This places regulation in context.

Keywords: South Africa: Labour Regulations; employment and investment (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: A1 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Pages: 82 pages
Date: 2006-09
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (14)

Published in Working Paper Series by the Development Policy Research Unit, September 2006, pages 1-82

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http://hdl.handle.net/11427/7347 First version, 2006 (application/pdf)

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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:ctw:wpaper:06113

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