The impact of the international economic crisis on child poverty in South Africa

Margaret Chitiga (), Bernard Decaluwe (), Ramos Mabugu, Hélène Maisonnave, Veronique Robichaud (), Debra Shepherd (), Servaas van der Berg () and Dieter von Fintel
Additional contact information
Margaret Chitiga: Department of Economics, University of Pretoria
Veronique Robichaud: Department of Economics, Laval University, Quebec, Canada
Authors registered in the RePEc Author Service: Margaret Mabugu

No 201015, Working Papers from University of Pretoria, Department of Economics

Abstract: This paper reports on a study to provide insights into the magnitude of the shocks associated with the recent global economic crisis in macroeconomic terms in South Africa, the country’s capacity to withstand or cushion these shocks, and the extent of fragility in terms of poverty levels and child wellbeing. The analysis combines macro-economic and micro-economic tools to assess the extent of the crisis’ impact on the country. The study finds that the poverty headcount ratio increases little in the moderate crisis scenario, but substantially under the severe scenario. However, under both scenarios there is a relatively successful return to close to the business as usual trend. It is important to note though that under both scenarios, more poverty sensitive measures (the poverty gap ratio and the poverty severity ratio) decline more, and remain in negative territory longer, showing that the major impact of the crisis is on the poorest, and that this impact is most difficult to overcome.

Keywords: ECONOMIC CRISIS; COMPUTABLE GENERAL EQUILIBRIUM; FORECASTING AND SIMULATION; ALMOST IDEAL DEMAND SYSTEMS; CHILD POVERTY MEASUREMENT; SOUTH AFRICA (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: C31 C68 D31 E37 G01 I32 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Pages: 32 pages
Date: 2010-06
New Economics Papers: this item is included in nep-afr
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (3)

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Related works:
Journal Article: The Impact of the International Economic Crisis on Child Poverty in South Africa (2015)
Working Paper: The Impact of the International Economic Crisis on Child Poverty in South Africa (2015)
Working Paper: The impact of the international economic crisis on child poverty in South Africa (2010)
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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:pre:wpaper:201015

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