SAQA All qualifications and part qualifications registered on the National Qualifications Framework are public property. Thus the only payment that can be made for them is for service and reproduction. It is illegal to sell this material for profit. If the material is reproduced or quoted, the South African Qualifications Authority (SAQA) should be acknowledged as the source.
SOUTH AFRICAN QUALIFICATIONS AUTHORITY 
REGISTERED UNIT STANDARD THAT HAS PASSED THE END DATE: 

Demonstrate an understanding of public administration functions and policy within the broader market economy 
SAQA US ID UNIT STANDARD TITLE
242910  Demonstrate an understanding of public administration functions and policy within the broader market economy 
ORIGINATOR
SGB Public Administration and Management 
PRIMARY OR DELEGATED QUALITY ASSURANCE FUNCTIONARY
-  
FIELD SUBFIELD
Field 03 - Business, Commerce and Management Studies Public Administration 
ABET BAND UNIT STANDARD TYPE PRE-2009 NQF LEVEL NQF LEVEL CREDITS
Undefined  Regular  Level 7  Level TBA: Pre-2009 was L7  12 
REGISTRATION STATUS REGISTRATION START DATE REGISTRATION END DATE SAQA DECISION NUMBER
Passed the End Date -
Status was "Reregistered" 		 2018-07-01  2023-06-30  SAQA 06120/18 
LAST DATE FOR ENROLMENT LAST DATE FOR ACHIEVEMENT
2024-06-30   2027-06-30  

In all of the tables in this document, both the pre-2009 NQF Level and the NQF Level is shown. In the text (purpose statements, qualification rules, etc), any references to NQF Levels are to the pre-2009 levels unless specifically stated otherwise.  

This unit standard does not replace any other unit standard and is not replaced by any other unit standard. 

PURPOSE OF THE UNIT STANDARD 
This Unit Standard is intended for elected political leaders and public sector officials involved with the service delivery activities at a top strategic level. This Unit Standard will enable the learner to understand the nature of markets and the economic principles underpinning them. The qualifying learner will be able to understand the economic role of government. In line with this, the learner will be able to analyse a framework for understanding the limits to markets as a form of social organisation and for identifying the precise nature of market failure, forms of associated collective intervention, and the delineation of the respective spheres of market and the state.

The qualifying learner is capable of:
  • Demonstrating an understanding of methods, concepts and frameworks that underpin the economic way of thinking.
  • Demonstrating an understanding of the economic role of government.
  • Demonstrating an understanding of economic growth and its linkage to non-economic dimensions of society.
  • Analysing current economic problems. 
    		•

    LEARNING ASSUMED TO BE IN PLACE AND RECOGNITION OF PRIOR LEARNING 
    All learners accessing this unit standard must be in possession of Level 6 Public Administration diploma, degree or equivalent. The learner must also be competent in Economics at Level 6. 

    UNIT STANDARD RANGE 
    N/A 

    Specific Outcomes and Assessment Criteria: 

    SPECIFIC OUTCOME 1 
    Demonstrate an understanding of the methods, concepts and frameworks that underpin the economic way of thinking. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERIA     

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 1 
    The nature of markets in a market economy is understood and explained. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 2 
    Basic economic principles are defined and discussed. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 3 
    The methods frameworks that underpin the economic way of thinking are understood and applied in discussing economic issues. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 4 
    Key concepts are understood and applied to the understanding and discussion of economic problems. 
    ASSESSMENT CRITERION RANGE 
    Concepts include, but are not limited to, supply and demand, consumer, firm and industry behaviour (microeconomics), plus measurement, growth and operation of the aggregate economy (macroeconomics).
     

    SPECIFIC OUTCOME 2 
    Demonstrate an understanding of the economic role of government. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERIA     

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 1 
    A framework for understanding the limits to markets as a form of social organization is developed and applied to understanding governments economic role. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 2 
    The precise nature of market failures are identified and examined critically with a view to understanding interventionism. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 3 
    Various forms of associated collective intervention are critically examined with a view to avoiding unforeseen consequences and enhancing the role of government interventions. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 4 
    The respective spheres of market and state are delineated and discussed critically. 

    SPECIFIC OUTCOME 3 
    Demonstrate an understanding of economic growth and its linkage to non-economic dimensions of society (developmental initiatives). 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERIA     

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 1 
    The process of economic growth and its linkage to non-economic dimensions of society. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 2 
    A framework for analysing determinants of a jurisdiction's growth and potential is described and understood in the context of typical public sector initiatives. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 3 
    The role of the major types of capital are reviewed within an overall growth theory framework. 
    ASSESSMENT CRITERION RANGE 
    Capital include, but are not limited to, business capital, human capital, natural capital, knowledge capital, social capital and institutional capital.
     

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 4 
    Issues of social concern are associated with the actions of both the market economy and government and the roles of each are evaluated against current public sector initiatives. 
    ASSESSMENT CRITERION RANGE 
    Issues of social concern include, but are not limited to, health care, environmental quality, poverty, social security, income and employment, and education. In turn, these issues are affected by an array of public policies that government has available to influence private sector decisions, including expenditures, subsidies, taxation, regulation, intergovernmental relations, and associated issues of the budget deficit, the size and growth of government, and intergovernmental relations.
     

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 5 
    Students will use economic theory to understand how markets and government policies interact to help resolve or perhaps worsen these issues. 

    SPECIFIC OUTCOME 4 
    Analyse current economic problems. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERIA     

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 1 
    Current South African economic problems are discussed and analyzed so as to demonstrate understanding of frameworks for market, state and growth and convey the nature of the economic way of thinking. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 2 
    The tools and techniques used by the economic profession brings in the examination of issues, both economic and beyond economics, are applied to understanding and discussing current economic problems. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 3 
    Current economic policies and programs are criticised and supported using economic reasoning. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 4 
    World views and tool boxes that economists bring to the study of the economy and its role in human activity are utilised in supporting and criticising South African interventions. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 5 
    Employ the work of economists when specialist knowledge and technique are called for in public administration and policy. 


    UNIT STANDARD ACCREDITATION AND MODERATION OPTIONS 
  • Any individual wishing to be assessed (including through RPL) against this unit standard may apply to an assessment agency, assessor or provider institution accredited by the relevant ETQA, or an ETQA that has a Memorandum of Understanding with the relevant ETQA.
  • Anyone assessing a learner against this unit standard must be registered as an assessor with the relevant ETQA, or an ETQA that has a Memorandum of Understanding with the relevant ETQA.
  • Any institution offering learning that will enable achievement of this unit standard or assessing this unit standard must be accredited as a provider with the relevant ETQA, or an ETQA that has a Memorandum of Understanding with the relevant ETQA.
  • Moderation of assessment will be conducted by the relevant ETQA at its discretion. 
    		•

    UNIT STANDARD ESSENTIAL EMBEDDED KNOWLEDGE 
  • The Public Services Act.
  • The Municipal Systems Act and the Municipal Structures Act.
  • The Promotion of Administrative Justice Act.
  • The Promotion of Access the Information Act.
  • The Batho-Pele White Paper on Transforming Public Sector Service Delivery.
  • Public Sector Corporate Governance policies and procedures.
  • Public Finance Management act.
  • Methods, concepts and frameworks for economic thinking.
  • Economics.
  • The economic role of government.
  • Development and societal issues as they relate to economics and vice versa.
  • Economic analysis tools and techniques. 
    		•

    UNIT STANDARD DEVELOPMENTAL OUTCOME 
    N/A 

    UNIT STANDARD LINKAGES 
    N/A 


    Critical Cross-field Outcomes (CCFO): 

    UNIT STANDARD CCFO IDENTIFYING 
    Identify and solve problems using critical and creative thinking processes in order to demonstrate an understanding of public administration functions and policy within the broader market economy. 

    UNIT STANDARD CCFO WORKING 
    Work effectively with others as a member of a team, group, organisation or community to integrate broader economic concepts into public sector initiatives. 

    UNIT STANDARD CCFO ORGANISING 
    Organise and manage oneself and one's activities responsibly in order to demonstrate an understanding of public administration functions and policy within the broader market economy. 

    UNIT STANDARD CCFO COLLECTING 
    Collect, analyse, organise and critically evaluate information in order to determine effects of broader market economy on public administration functions. 

    UNIT STANDARD CCFO COMMUNICATING 
    Communicate effectively using visual, mathematical and/or language in the modes of oral and/or written persuasion to analyse broader economic issues affecting public sector initiatives. 

    UNIT STANDARD CCFO SCIENCE 
    Use science and technology effectively and critically, showing responsibility to the environment and health of others, as a tool to gather information pertaining to broader economic issues and to communicate information with other stakeholders. 

    UNIT STANDARD CCFO DEMONSTRATING 
    Demonstrate an understanding of the world as a set of interrelated systems by recognising that problem solving contexts relating the public administration functions do not exist in isolation and that a variety of broader economic issues will affect the functioning of the public sector. 

    UNIT STANDARD CCFO CONTRIBUTING 
    Participate as responsible citizens in the life of local, national and global communities by ensuring that broader economic issues are carefully considered in overall public sector functioning.

    Be culturally and aesthetically sensitive across a range of contexts when integrating and dealing with broader economic issues in public sector functions. 

    UNIT STANDARD ASSESSOR CRITERIA 
    N/A 

    REREGISTRATION HISTORY 
    As per the SAQA Board decision/s at that time, this unit standard was Reregistered in 2012; 2015. 

    UNIT STANDARD NOTES 
    N/A 

    QUALIFICATIONS UTILISING THIS UNIT STANDARD: 
      ID QUALIFICATION TITLE PRE-2009 NQF LEVEL NQF LEVEL STATUS END DATE PRIMARY OR DELEGATED QA FUNCTIONARY
    Core  58246   Bachelor of Human Settlements Development  Level 6  Level TBA: Pre-2009 was L6  Passed the End Date -
    Status was "Reregistered"     		 2018-06-30   
    Core  57827   National Diploma: Public Administration  Level 7  Level N/A: Pre-2009 was L7  Passed the End Date -
    Status was "Reregistered"     		 2023-06-30  PSETA 


    PROVIDERS CURRENTLY ACCREDITED TO OFFER THIS UNIT STANDARD: 
    This information shows the current accreditations (i.e. those not past their accreditation end dates), and is the most complete record available to SAQA as of today. Some Primary or Delegated Quality Assurance Functionaries have a lag in their recording systems for provider accreditation, in turn leading to a lag in notifying SAQA of all the providers that they have accredited to offer qualifications and unit standards, as well as any extensions to accreditation end dates. The relevant Primary or Delegated Quality Assurance Functionary should be notified if a record appears to be missing from here.
     
    NONE 


    All qualifications and part qualifications registered on the National Qualifications Framework are public property. Thus the only payment that can be made for them is for service and reproduction. It is illegal to sell this material for profit. If the material is reproduced or quoted, the South African Qualifications Authority (SAQA) should be acknowledged as the source.