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Trade, Industrial and Competition Policy

The Trade, Industrial and Competition Policy Research Programme investigates how these policies can drive or constrain economic growth, productivity, and market efficiency. Join us in advancing knowledge through in-depth and rigorous research that shapes policies that promote innovation, fair competition, and sustainable development. The following are some topics and questions the research programme is interested in:

  • Government's Role in Supporting Industries: What should the government’s role be in supporting different industries, and how does this vary across sectors?
  • Impacts on South Africa's Economy: How do trade, industrial, and competition policies affect South Africa's productivity, economic growth, and labour market outcomes?
  • Leveraging Technology: How can technology be utilised to address economic challenges and drive progress?
  • Learning from Global Best Practices: Which international experiences offer valuable insights for developing best practices in the Southern African context?
  • Identifying Constraints to Growth: What are the major barriers to economic growth, and how can they be overcome?

Trade, Industrial and Competition Policy Research Programme Fellows

This research programme is supported by the following ERSA Research Fellows:

Willem Boshoff
Willem H. Boshoff
Willem Boshoff has over 16 years of experience in the economic analysis of complex competition cases. Before starting his own practice, he was director at Econex (Pty) Ltd. Willem is the co-director of the Centre for Competition Law...
lukasz_grzybowski
Lukasz Grzybowski
Lukasz Grzybowski is a Professor at the School of Economics at the University of Cape Town, holding a Ph.D. in Economics from the University of Munich and a Habilitation from Paris Panthéon-Sorbonne University. His primary fields of...
Lawrence Edwards pic
Lawrence Edwards
Lawrence Edwards is the Director and Professor of Economics at the research unit Policy Research in International Services and Manufacturing (PRISM) at the University of Cape Town. He is a Research Associate/Fellow at the South Afri...
Justin Visagie website image
Justin Visagie
Prof Justin Visagie is a Senior Research Specialist at the Human Sciences Research Council with a focus on urban economics, development economics and applied microeconomic research. He is also an Associate Professor at the Departmen...

JEL Codes Relevant to this Research Programme

Should you be wondering whether or not your research is relevant to this Research Programme, we have included the JEL Codes aligning to it.

Trade Policy:
B17, B27, F0, F1, F2, F3, F4, F5, F6, G15, L16, O24, P33, P45, Q17, Q27, Q37
Industrial Organisation and Competition Policy:
D4, F12, K21, L0, L1, L2, L3, L4, L5, L6, L7, L8, L9, N1, O14, O25

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Upcoming Events & Training

16 June, 2025
- 18 July, 2025
Training Opportunity: Advanced Empirical Methods in Finance and Economics
Apply by 3 March, 2025
9 June, 2025
- 10 June, 2025
Winter School on Urban and Regional Economics in Africa
Apply by 28 February, 2025
7 April, 2025
- 7 April, 2025
Request for Proposals: Shaping digital competition policy and regulation in South Africa
Submit Proposal by 7 April, 2025
12 May, 2025
- 16 May, 2025
Training Opportunity: Introduction to Economic Growth and Development
Apply by 3 March, 2025
7 April, 2025
- 11 April, 2025
Training Opportunity: Cross-Section Econometrics
Apply by 24 February, 2025
23 July, 2025
- 25 July, 2025
Call for Papers: 3rd RISE Workshop on Advancing Economic Policy Tools for Modern Macroeconomic Challenges
Apply by 30 April, 2025

Research

Request for proposals

We invite you to submit your papers for any of our upcoming initiatives. If you are interested in participating in one of our future projects, please select the initiative below and we’ll notify you regarding the next steps. Alternatively, you can also submit a working paper for research aligned with one of our economic research themes under the Working Paper Submission section in the Research menu tab.