ATI, ITPC

A number of initiatives in the form of institutes, operating under the umbrella of BEPA (Bureau of Economic and Policy Analysis, the research arm of the Department of Economics since 1971), have been founded recently. These include:

• ATI (the African Tax Institute);

In June 2002, the Southern African Tax Institute (SATI) was established in collaboration with the International Tax Programme at Harvard University with the primary goal to build capacity in the public sector in Africa in the areas of Tax Policy and Tax Administration. In June 2007, it was renamed the African Tax Institute (ATI) to give effect to the reality that participants from all over Africa are attending the ATI’s various programmes, workshops and conferences. To find out more about the ATI, visit www.ati.up.ac.za.

• the ITPC (Investment and Trade Policy Centre);

The Investment and Trade Policy Centre was also established in 2002 with the view to train public officials involved with Trade and Investment in their countries, whether they negotiate trade agreements with other countries, work in customs offices, or represent their countries in foreign missions. UNCTAD and the WTO presented a course in negotiation skills on campus in 2002 and again in 2003.

The Department is involved in various projects concerning economic development. We do work for a number of provincial governments and city councils, helping them implement sound economic policy measures and development plans. We also serve Ntsika Enterprises who studies the SMMe's in South Africa, to be able to devise sound development policy for industry development.

The Department maintains a macroeconometric model that represents South Africa at the biannual world trade forecast of the United Nations' Project LINK. We have completed a major training programme for more than 16 African countries, with the aim of building capacity in modelling and policy analysis in their respective countries, sponsored by the United Nations. We are also building capacity in CGE and microsimulation modelling, to be able to serve all our clients' needs.

• South African Reserve Bank Chair in Monetary Economics

• Bureau for Economic Policy Analysis (BEPA)   BEPA Publications

Important Links

Suppliers of Primary Data:

• STATS SA www.statssa.gov.za
• SARB www.reservebank.co.za
• National Treasury www.treasury.gov.za/

Suppliers of Secondary Data:

• Quantec: www.quantec.co.za

Societies:

· Economic Society of South Africa: www.essa.org.za/default.htm

· African Econometric Society: www.africametrics.org

· Economic Research Southern Africa (ERSA): www.econrsa.org

• National Bureau of Economic Research NBER: www.nber.org

Contract Research:

· Business Enterprises at the University of Pretoria Pty Ltd (BE@UP) www.be.up.co.za

Short Courses:

• Continuing Education (CE at UP) www.ceatup.com.