2010年-世界发展银行全球_Enterprise_Surveys___South_Africa_Country_Profile_2007_15页_1mb

South Africa Country Profile 2007 Summary

Core Content

The South Africa Country Profile 2007 is part of the Enterprise Surveys conducted by the World Bank and its International Finance Corporation (IFC). These surveys aim to assess the business environment and firm productivity across various sectors and firm sizes. The report provides insights into the challenges faced by firms in South Africa and compares them to the Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) region and the Upper Middle Income group.

Key Business Environment Indicators

Corruption

Corruption is a significant issue in South Africa, as it affects the business environment and increases the costs and risks for firms. The Graft Index measures the proportion of times firms are expected or requested to pay informal payments for six public services, and South Africa scores 4.3, which is relatively high compared to the regional average of 18.3 and the Upper Middle Income group of 6.4. Key findings include:

• 33.2% of firms expect to give gifts to secure a government contract.
• 2.7% of firms expect to give gifts to obtain an import license.
• 0.0% of firms expect to give gifts to obtain a construction permit.
• 19.5% of firms expect to give gifts to obtain an operating license.

Regulations, Taxes, and Business Licensing

The process of obtaining permits and licenses is time-consuming and costly for firms in South Africa:

• Days to Obtain Import License: 30.3 days for South Africa, compared to 19.2 days for the SSA region and 22.7 days for the Upper Middle Income group.
• Days to Obtain Construction-related Permit: 55.0 days for South Africa, compared to 119.4 days for the SSA region and 79.2 days for the Upper Middle Income group.
• Days to Obtain Operating License: 36.2 days for South Africa, compared to 23.9 days for the SSA region and 38.1 days for the Upper Middle Income group.
• Senior Management Time Spent in Dealing with Government Regulation: 5.9% for South Africa, compared to 5.6% for the SSA region and 11.7% for the Upper Middle Income group.
• Average Number of Visits or Meetings with Tax Officials: 0.8 for South Africa, compared to 0.9 for the SSA region and 1.9 for the Upper Middle Income group.

Legal Forms of Ownership

The distribution of legal forms among firms in South Africa is as follows:

• Closed Shareholding Company: 56.4%
• Sole Proprietorship: 24.3%
• Partnership: 7.9%
• Limited Partnership: 9.0%
• Other: 2.1%

Compared to the Upper Middle Income group, South Africa has a higher proportion of closed shareholding companies and a lower proportion of open shareholding companies.

Average Firm Characteristics

• Age: 15.6 years
• Female Participation in Ownership: 22.6%
• Private Domestic Ownership: 89.7%
• Private Foreign Ownership: 8.9%
• Government/State Ownership: 0.1%
• Other Ownership: 1.4%

Finance

Firms in South Africa rely heavily on internal financing:

• Internal Finance for Investment: 68.5%
• Bank Finance for Investment: 25.8%
• Trade Credit for Investment: 3.9%
• Equity, Sale of Stock for Investment: 0.0%
• Other Financing for Investment: 1.7%

External financing is more common for working capital:

• Working Capital External Financing: 30.7%
• Value of Collateral Needed for a Loan: 103.6% of the loan amount
• % of Firms with Bank Loans/Line of Credit: 30.1%
• % of Firms with Checking or Savings Account: 97.9%

Infrastructure

Infrastructure deficiencies in South Africa create challenges for firms:

• Number of Power Outages per Month: 2.1
• Value Lost Due to Power Outages (% of Sales): 1.6
• Number of Water Shortages per Month: 2.3
• Average Duration of Water Shortage (hours): 5.1
• Delay in Obtaining Electrical Connection: 15.8 days
• Delay in Obtaining Water Connection: 13.9 days
• Delay in Obtaining Mainline Telephone Connection: 18.9 days

These delays and inefficiencies increase operational costs and hinder productivity.

Trade

Trade is an important component of the South African economy, but it comes with challenges:

• % of Exporter Firms: 18.4%
• % of Firms Using Foreign Material Inputs: 37.8%
• Average Time to Clear Direct Exports Through Customs: 4.5 days
• Average Time to Clear Imports from Customs: 5.2 days
• Losses During Direct Export Due to Theft: 0.4%
• Losses During Direct Export Due to Breakage or Spoilage: 1.0%

These losses reflect the risks associated with the export process.

Crime and Informality

Crime and informality are major concerns for firms:

• % of Firms Believing the Court System is Fair: 59.6%
• Security Costs (% of Sales): 1.6%
• Losses Due to Theft, Robbery, Vandalism, and Arson (% of Sales): 1.0%
• % of Firms Formally Registered at Start: 91.0%

The presence of an informal sector affects the formal private sector, creating unfair competition and operational challenges.

Innovation and Workforce

Firms in South Africa show varying levels of innovation and workforce composition:

• % of Firms with International Quality Certification: 26.4%
• % of Firms with Annual Financial Statement Reviewed by External Auditor: 71.7%
• % of Firms Using Their Own Website: 36.0%
• % of Firms Using Email for Communication: 70.5%
• Average Number of Temporary Workers: 5.8
• Average Number of Permanent, Full-time Workers: 48.9
• % of Full-time Female Workers: 29.1%

Main Findings

• The business environment in South Africa is generally more challenging than the regional average but slightly better than the Upper Middle Income group.
• Corruption and regulatory inefficiencies are significant barriers to firm performance.
• Infrastructure deficiencies, particularly in electricity and water supply, increase operational costs.
• Financial markets in South Africa are not fully developed, with a heavy reliance on internal financing.
• The informal sector remains a concern, affecting the formal economy's growth and stability.
• There is a moderate level of innovation and digital adoption, though still lower than the regional average.
• Female participation in ownership and workforce is notable, though not as high as in the Upper Middle Income group.

Conclusion

The Enterprise Surveys highlight that while South Africa has made progress in some areas, it still faces substantial challenges in creating an efficient and fair business environment. These challenges include corruption, inefficient regulations, inadequate infrastructure, and the prevalence of the informal sector. Addressing these issues is crucial for improving firm productivity, encouraging investment, and promoting sustainable economic development.