
GTAC and Development Southern Africa are excited to announce the publication of a special issue titled “Spending Reviews and the Evolution of South African Public Finance Management Reforms“.
This marks the first special issue published by the Government Technical Advisory Centre (GTAC). The collection offers a comprehensive exploration of the evolution of spending reviews, from their early roots in budget innovations in the United States to their adaptation within South Africa’s unique fiscal context.
The articles delve into both theoretical frameworks and practical methodologies, highlighting how South Africa’s modular approach has addressed local constraints while advancing capacity-building initiatives. With in-depth analysis on topics like wage bill trends, cost modelling, and decision analysis, this issue provides critical insights into how spending reviews have been employed as a tool for fiscal discipline and policy reform. The lessons learned are applicable to both developed and developing countries, making this a must-read for those interested in contemporary public financial management.
The articles are available for free until 9 January 2025.
Articles:
- Editorial: Spending reviews and the evolution of South African public finance management reforms by Ronette Engela
- South African government personnel expenditure 2006–2021: Methodological considerations in using remuneration data by Hermi Boraine & Liam James
- From zero-base budgeting to spending review – achievements and challenges by Richard Allen & Robert Clifton
- Using models to cost government policies and programmes in South Africa by Conrad Barberton & Jonathan Carter
- The government wage bill: Employment and compensation trends in South Africa by Michael Sachs, Arabo Ewinyu & Olwethu Shedi
- The development of a spending review methodology in a developing country context by Ronette Engela
- Spending reviews’ capacity-building initiatives: Reflections on the experience and methodologies employed by Mbali Buthelezi
- Integrating decision analysis into South Africa’s spending review methodology by Amanda Jitsing
- Applying spending review theory to developing countries: The case of South Africa by Tania Ajam
- How a spending review of compensation spending changed government policy in South Africa by Antony Altbeker & Hermi Boraine