Economy, Government, and Environment Lecture Notes

These flashcards provide vocabulary and definitions based on lecture notes covering South African governance, economic indicators, types of societies, and environmental impacts.

Deforestation

The cutting down of trees, which is responsible for nearly $25\%$ of all carbon dioxide emissions.

Reforestation

The practice of planting new trees in areas that have been depleted.

Unemployment

A condition that occurs when people are willing and able to work but cannot find a job.

Informal sector

Refers to jobs found outside the formal sector and in subsistence agriculture.

Standard of living

The level of income and quality of life people have in a country.

Lifestyle

A bundle of behaviours including social relations, consumption, entertainment, and dress, as well as education standards and health.

Rural societies

Societies found in remote areas with low population density that produce primary goods for secondary industries.

Carbon footprint

A measure of the impact human activities have on the environment and climate change regarding greenhouse gases produced by burning fossil fuels.

Global warming

The long-term rise of the planet's temperatures caused by increased concentrations of greenhouse gases from human activities.

Modern society

A society characterized by consumerism and materialism, based on buying and selling goods and services on a large scale.

Self-sufficient societies

Groups that provide for their own needs using available resources and minimize their carbon footprint by altering transport, energy, and diet.

Gross Domestic Product (GDP)

The metric used to measure economic growth; an increase indicates the economy is growing.

Inflation

A measure of how much more expensive a set of goods and services have become over a certain period, usually a year.

Government

A democratically elected group of people who have the authority to manage the affairs of a country and provide essential services.

National Budget

A plan showing the government's planned income and expenditure for a financial year.

Financial year (South Africa)

The government's fiscal period which runs from $1$ April to $31$ March of the following year.

National Treasury

The entity responsible for managing national government finances and compiling the National Budget.

Direct tax

Money a business or individual pays directly to the government based on income, such as personal income tax or company tax.

Indirect tax

Money paid for goods and services purchased, such as value-added tax (VAT), fuel levy, and sin tax.

Legislative branch

The branch of government that debates and passes laws, consisting of the National Assembly and the National Council of Provinces (NCOP).

Executive branch

The branch consisting of the President, deputy ministers, and ministers who have executive power.

Judiciary

An independent branch made up of the Constitutional Court, Supreme Court of Appeal, High Court, and Magistrate's Courts.

South African Constitution

The Supreme Law of the country that governs all three branches of government.

Metropolitan municipalities

Municipalities existing in the eight biggest cities of South Africa with more than $500,000$ voters.

Premier

The leader in charge of the affairs and departments of a provincial government.

Black Economic Empowerment (BEE)

An affirmative measure used to redress economic inequalities through the utilization of laws.