Econ3x3
How suitable is a ‘developmental state’ to tackle unemployment, inequality and poverty in South Africa?
27th March 2014 The National Development Plan envisions the achievement of a ‘capable and developmental state’. Developmental states are usually associated with... →
What does the ‘middle class’ mean in a polarised, developing country such as South Africa?
12th March 2014 In a developing, highly unequal country such as South Africa, it is unlikely that a definition of the middle class that is based on an income... →
What is the role of manufacturing in boosting economic growth and employment in South Africa?
11th February 2014 There is a widespread view that countries no longer need to industrialise in order to develop. However, in South Africa manufacturing remains the... →
Cape Town’s trade in wild medicines: ecological threat or essential livelihood resource?
29th January 2014 Cape Town is the urban centrepiece of a globally unique and highly diverse natural environment which should take priority in conservation... →
How did hunger levels in the former homelands catch up with the rest of South Africa? A hundred years after the Land Act of 1913
14th January 2014 A century after the Land Act of 1913, and 20 years after the abolition of homelands, differences in poverty persist between the former homeland... →
Why are foreign-run spaza shops more successful? The rapidly changing spaza sector in South Africa
13th November 2013 This article examines the contrasting business models in the spaza shop sector, and compares foreign-run businesses with South African businesses.... →
The impact of youth employment incentives and wage subsidies: Results of a trial run
29th October 2013 The Employment Incentive Tax Bill offers tax subsidies to firms to employ new young workers. An evaluation of the impact of a wage subsidy voucher... →
The matric certificate is still valuable in the labour market
15th October 2013 Increasing levels of youth unemployment and learners’ poor performance at school have led to claims that the matric certificate no longer has much... →
What caused the increase in unemployment in the late 1990s? Were education policies partly responsible?
18th September 2013 In the late 1990s the Department of Education restricted the re-enrolment of over-aged learners and the number of times underperforming learners... →
The effect of basic infrastructure delivery on welfare in rural and urban municipalities.
4th September 2013 Access to a comprehensive set of basic infrastructure services is essential to attain social development goals and ensure equal opportunity for all... →
Unlocking the growth and employment potential of business in the margins
13th August 2013 Marginalised businesses provide livelihood and income opportunities for a large section of the population. However, these businesses are not able... →
The significant decline in poverty in its many dimensions since 1993
30th July 2013 The measurement of poverty should include dimensions of well-being that cannot be measured in monetary terms. Data on health, education and... →
Is the middle class becoming better off? Two perspectives
16th July 2013 Two very different pictures emerge when one compares income changes of the relatively affluent ‘middle class’ with those of people in the literal... →
How do the non-searching unemployed feel about their situation? On the definition of unemployment
26th June 2013 New evidence suggests that non-searching unemployed people are significantly less satisfied with their lives than people who are not economically... →
The impact of sectoral minimum wage laws in South Africa
12th June 2013 The introduction of minimum wage laws in five non-agricultural sectors has not been associated with a significant loss in employment in the years... →
How much do unions and bargaining councils elevate wages?
29th May 2013 Past studies have found that trade union members earn substantially higher wages than non-union workers. New results suggest a much lower union... →
How high is graduate unemployment in South Africa? A much-needed update
13th May 2013 The frequently reported ‘crisis in graduate unemployment’ in South Africa is a fallacy based on questionable research. Not only is graduate... →
Who are the middle class in South Africa? Does it matter for policy?
30th April 2013 The middle class is a hot topic in media and policy circles. But how should the middle class be defined, particularly in a country with high levels... →
The Budget’s fiscal stance: The non-cyclical element may be a cause for concern
16th April 2013 It is estimated that less than half of the present main budget deficit of 5.7% is explained by cyclical factors. The remainder reflects a... →
The Budget: both the fiscal stance and ‘structural stance’ are sound
25th March 2013 Many economists have argued that the government’s fiscal stance in the recent budget is verging on the risky. This article argues that the fiscal... →
Reducing unemployment: Waiting for high growth? Waiting for Godot?
12th March 2013 In trying to reduce unemployment in South Africa, the pursuit of higher economic growth is the single most agreed-upon policy strategy. The... →
The unemployed in South Africa: Why are so many not counted?
26th February 2013 The official rate of unemployment includes only the unemployed who are actively searching for work. However, findings from new data challenge this... →
The original criticisms of the Adcorp Employment Index
20th February 2013 Adcorp’s estimated unemployment rate is so low that it disposes of the unemployment crisis. But Adcorp uses a crude currency-demand method to... →
Adcorp’s employment and unemployment figures are not taken seriously by researchers – yet they can do much harm
12th February 2013 Adcorp’s unemployment figures are derived from weak research and is repeated too often by gullible journalists. Based on a flawed methodology and... →
How will a job-search subsidy create jobs?
6th February 2013 It is well known that the price of transport is high in South Africa. These high costs are a barrier to individuals searching for work and applying... →
Reducing inequality to promote growth: A proposed policy package
1st February 2013 There is considerable theoretical and empirical evidence to support the assertion that inequality is bad for growth. In unequal societies it is... →
Minimum wages and compliance in South African agriculture
23rd January 2013 Minimum wage policy in post-1994 South Africa has been pursued with the explicit aim of ensuring that workers in low-paid, vulnerable occupations... →
Is informality being disallowed by government?
22nd January 2013 South Africa’s economic policymakers have to confront the challenge of creating jobs to absorb the unemployed. The 2011 census reveals an... →
Jobs growth from informal producers that supply the formal sector? The case for intermediaries
21st January 2013 Government’s vision for the development of informal businesses(1) is that, with the right supply-side inputs (such as micro-credit, business and... →
The Jobs Fund and a youth wage subsidy: Design and implementation issues
18th January 2013 The official (narrow) unemployment rate in South Africa continues to float around the 25% mark, failing to respond to a handful of policy... →
How structural inequality limits employment and self-employment in poor areas
17th January 2013 Because unemployment in South Africa is at levels considered unthinkable in other parts of the world, it has been seen as something of a conundrum... →
The National Development Plan and exports as a catalyst to generate employment growth: Can it work?
16th January 2013 The National Development Plan (NDP) is an ambitious initiative to address a range of social and economic issues. Topping the list are high... →
Who creates jobs, who destroys jobs? Small firms, large firms and labour market rigidity
15th January 2013 Firm-level data for the period 2005 to 2011 indicate that job creation and destruction rates in South Africa are only slightly lower than among... →
Industrial policy and unemployment: Can South Africa do better in labour-demanding manufacturing?
6th December 2012 In spite of policy statements prioritising labour-absorbing growth, de facto support has favoured heavy industry and been damaging for employment.... →
The unemployment debate is too fragmented to address the problem (December 2012)
6th December 2012 The debate on unemployment is fragmented into at least three sub-discourses, i.e. those of macroeconomists, labour economists and poverty analysts.... →
Is Marikana a forerunner of national labour market instability and disruption? (December 2012)
5th December 2012 The tragic events at Marikana raise the question whether the events and subsequent developments are indicative of a fundamental change in labour... →
