ECS2603
ASSIGNMENT 2 SEMESTER 2 2025
UNIQUE NO. 870653
DUE DATE: 15 AUGUST 2025
, Question 1: Comparative Analysis Report (2013–2023)
1. Introduction: Why Monitor Economic Growth & Measurement
Monitoring economic growth in South Africa (SA) and Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) is
critical for diagnosing development performance, guiding fiscal and monetary policy,
informing international investors, and addressing macroeconomic challenges like
unemployment and inequality. Growth is typically measured via the annual percentage
change in real GDP, which strips out inflation and allows meaningful year-on-year
comparisons.
2. Growth Rates: SA vs. SSA (2013–2023)
SSA real GDP growth rates from the scenario:
o 2013: 5.17%, 2014: 4.88%, 2015: 2.87%, 2016: 1.25%, 2017: 2.50%,
2018: 2.75%, 2019: 2.67%, 2020: –2.00%, 2021: 4.33%, 2022: 3.65%,
2023: 2.80%.
South Africa’s real GDP growth (based on World Bank and Macrotrends):
o 2020: approximately –6.17%
o 2021: +4.96%
o 2022: +1.91%
o 2023: +0.70% macrotrends.networldbank.orgWorld Bank Open Data
Note: SA’s growth data for 2013–2019 not provided by these sources, but trends—
average growth around 0.7% over a decade—suggest consistent underperformance
relative to SSA worldbank.org.
Year SSA Growth (%) SA Growth (%)
2020 –2.00 –6.17
ASSIGNMENT 2 SEMESTER 2 2025
UNIQUE NO. 870653
DUE DATE: 15 AUGUST 2025
, Question 1: Comparative Analysis Report (2013–2023)
1. Introduction: Why Monitor Economic Growth & Measurement
Monitoring economic growth in South Africa (SA) and Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) is
critical for diagnosing development performance, guiding fiscal and monetary policy,
informing international investors, and addressing macroeconomic challenges like
unemployment and inequality. Growth is typically measured via the annual percentage
change in real GDP, which strips out inflation and allows meaningful year-on-year
comparisons.
2. Growth Rates: SA vs. SSA (2013–2023)
SSA real GDP growth rates from the scenario:
o 2013: 5.17%, 2014: 4.88%, 2015: 2.87%, 2016: 1.25%, 2017: 2.50%,
2018: 2.75%, 2019: 2.67%, 2020: –2.00%, 2021: 4.33%, 2022: 3.65%,
2023: 2.80%.
South Africa’s real GDP growth (based on World Bank and Macrotrends):
o 2020: approximately –6.17%
o 2021: +4.96%
o 2022: +1.91%
o 2023: +0.70% macrotrends.networldbank.orgWorld Bank Open Data
Note: SA’s growth data for 2013–2019 not provided by these sources, but trends—
average growth around 0.7% over a decade—suggest consistent underperformance
relative to SSA worldbank.org.
Year SSA Growth (%) SA Growth (%)
2020 –2.00 –6.17
