National Institute for Economic Policy

National Institute for Economic Policy - in its early days this group was known as the Macro Economic Research Group.

"The concept of an economic policy for South Africa evolved out of the ANC's Department of Economic  Policy, which was established in 1986 and based in Zambia. A number of conferences were  held which resulted in the ANC's first Economic Policy Draft Discussion Document. At  this time the ANC was the only political party in South Africa, which had an Economic  Policy Document for discussion. After the unbanning of the ANC, it was felt that the ideas  presented in the Economic Policy Document needed further investigation. Out of these  investigations, two recommendations emerged:


 * That an immediate start be made on the creation and operation of a Macro-Economic Research Group (MERG), and
 * That an independent national institute be created to undertake economic policy research, education and training.

"The Macroeconomic Research Group (MERG) was set up in late 1991 by the African National Congress to formulate a macroeconomic  policy for a democratic South Africa. Dr Vella Pillay was appointed to its Economic Policy  Advisory Group � a peer group of economists to assess the research being undertaken  by the Group. In December 1992, Dr Pillay was invited to co-ordinate and direct the work  of MERG. Given the early prospects for a general election based on universal suffrage and  hence the need for a policy framework on the economy, Dr Pillay redirected the role of  MERG into preparing such a policy framework, organised two major sets of workshops having  the purpose of preparing the documentation and discussing these within the democratic  movement and with the participation of researchers and economists from universities and  other institutions in the country and from abroad. An editorial team was organised to pull together the relevant research and produce a coherent and unified economic policy  framework. This was published in December 1993, under the title Making Democracy Work.

"The National Institute for Economic Policy (NIEP) was established in December 1993, as the successor to MERG. Mr Max Sisulu was  appointed as its first Executive Director. Building on the critical foundation work  undertaken by MERG, the NIEP has emerged as a key agency in shaping the economic research  and policy agenda in the new South Africa. With the dawning of democracy, the NIEP itself  is undergoing a transformation and implementation of economic policies designed to  positively impact the reconstruction and development of South Africa."

Funding (in 2002)
"NIEP activities are funded from two sources: income from commissioned research and international donor support. Its current research and capacity building programmes are partially funded by the African Capacity Building Foundation (ACBF) and the United States Agency for International Development (USAID)."

Associates (in 2000)
Accessed April 2008:


 * Goolam Aboobaker - Chief Director Economic & Development Sector: Office of the Presidency
 * Isamil Adams - Associate Professor: Department of Economics: University of the western Cape
 * Trevor Bell - Professor of Economics: University of Durban Westville
 * Fuad Cassim - Former Senior Lecturer: Economics Department: Wits
 * Cheryl Carolus - UK Ambassador
 * Renfrew Christie - Dean of Research: University of the Western Cape
 * Merton Dagut - Dean: Faculty of Commerce: Wits
 * Alec Erwin - Minister of Trade & Industry
 * Ben Fine - SOAS, University of London
 * Stephen Gelb - Policy Analyst: DBSA
 * Frene Ginwala - Speaker of the House
 * Derrick Hannekom - Member of Parliament
 * Sadiq Jaffer - Director Economic Development: Department of Economic Affairs Northern Cape
 * Jaya Josie - SOAS, University of London
 * Paul Jourdan - Former Director: Department of Trade & Industry
 * Timothy Layman - Lecturer: School of Government: University of the Western Cape
 * Lieb Loots - Senior Professor: Department of Economics: University of the Western Cape
 * Manku Mahlalela - Deputy Director Training: Bloemfontein Metropolitan Council
 * Mlungisi Makalima - Permanent Secretary: Department of Welfare: Eastern Cape
 * Trevor Manuel - Minister of Finance
 * Tito Mboweni - Governor: SARB
 * Job Mokgoro - Director General: SAMDI
 * Jay Naidoo - Director: J&J IT Logistics
 * Vella Pillay - Advisor: Bank of China
 * Maria Ramos - Director General: Department of Finance
 * Andre Roux - Investec Cape Town
 * Zav Rustomjee - Advisor to Minister: Department of Trade & Industry
 * Neva Seidman-Magetla - Director: Fiscal Monetary & Public Sector: COSATU
 * Bethuel Setai - Economic Consultant
 * Max Sisulu - Deputy Chairman: DENEL
 * Ivan Stein - Former Economics Lecturer Wits
 * Huda Syed - Senior Lecturer Comparative Education: University of the Western Cape
 * Harry Zarenda - Associate Professor and Deputy Dean: Faculty of Commerce: Wits

Contact

 * Web: www.niep.org.za (no longer works)